Neil Cugley has unfinished business to attend to at Folkestone Invicta

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley says his side are fit and raring to go next season.

The Cheriton Road outfit were sitting in fourth-place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table at the time of the coronavirus health pandemic, which forced The Football Association to declare the campaign null and void.

Cugley has already started preparing for the 2020-21 season, which kicks off on Saturday 19 September 2020, although the Isthmian League hasn't released its fixture list.

However, Folkestone Invicta have announced their seven-match pre-season campaign, which kicks off with a trip to Isthmian League South Division side Ramsgate on Saturday 1 August.

Sadly, as things stand at the moment, all pre-season games in this country will be played behind closed doors as the UK government has banned spectators at football matches.

“Now the dates have been released for the start of the season and hopefully they will stay, we need to get some games in before then, although it’s still quite a few weeks before the scheduled start,” Cugley told the club website.

“As you’ll see (all of our pre-season games) are currently all away but at the moment that doesn’t make much difference as unfortunately supporters aren’t allowed in to see the games.

“Hopefully, that will perhaps change before we finish them and before the League season starts, which is why the venue for the Ashford game (on 12 September) is currently undecided and it gives us more time to ensure our ground is safe for supporters to return when allowed.

“We’ve been training for the last two Saturdays and the players are already looking ready for the new season.  It’s amazing how well they keep their fitness between seasons nowadays, even more so this year, things have definitely changed since I played!

“I’m delighted that we have managed to keep the majority of last season’s squad as we’ve had interest from other clubs for a number of our players.

“I think there is a bit of unfinished business as last season we were well placed in the League and had reached the Semi-Finals of the League Cup.

“The chairman came down last Saturday and he confirmed that the player budget will be the same as last season.

“I’m happy that we’ve got a proposed date to start as it gives us something to aim for and I’m fairly optimistic at this stage although who knows what will happen in the next few weeks, things are still a bit uncertain but hopefully we’ll get more news and we’ll all meet again soon.”

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk