Folkestone boss Neil Cugley pleased with players' fitness levels

Monday 19th July 2010

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says his side face a tough opening day encounter against fellow promoted side Croydon Athletic, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Ryman League published their Premier fixtures last Friday and Invicta will welcome the Rams to Cheriton Road on 21 August.

“They’ll be a big club because they’re we’ll bankrolled as we know, so they will be a good side,” Cugley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It looks a really tough start. Aveley (who we play in our first away game) were in the play-off’s last year so it’s going to be tough but then again when you go up you expect that don’t you?”

Folkestone Invicta kick-off their pre-season campaign with a trip to Faversham Town on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites were thumped 4-1 by Blue Square Bet South side Dover Athletic at the weekend in their first game.

And Cugley said: “I’m looking forward to it, the players are looking forward to it. I’ve got a full squad, they’ve all trained very well.

“All credit to them, they’ve come back in a good order to be fair. It’s not just our club, I think a lot of players are now, all credit to them, they come back in good condition anyway, don’t they?

“They have a good attitude and most non-league players are like that. It does make it easier when they come back like that as you get the balls out a lot quicker.”

When asked about squad numbers for the Salters Lane warm-up, Cugley said: “We haven’t really got that bigger squad, so obviously I will take a few extras from the reserves and that, but I expect seventeen or something like that.

“My squad will only be fourteen this year, with a few reserve team players making the numbers up, so we don’t get too many players playing too long.”

Cugley expects his side to be below midtable following their two-year absence from the Ryman Premier League, as he works on a limited budget.

“It’s going to be very difficult, we know it’s going to be very difficult with a small squad similar to last year,” he said.

“We have to go and enjoy it, have a good team spirit and we’ll be fit and organised and try and play some football and hopefully that will see us through.”

With experienced players such as Robbie Kember, James Dryden, Micheal Everitt, and newly appointed player-coach Roland Edge, in his ranks, Cugley added: “Of course you would like a lot more money and a bigger squad, but that’s not how the club’s being run. The chairman wants to keep it in tact.

“I’ve said this before, we didn’t want to turn it down, once you’re up there you want to give it a go.”

Meanwhile, Faversham Town, who are preparing for their first Ryman League Division One South campaign, having clinched the Kent League and Kent Senior Trophy double last season, have unveiled the signing of Deal Town’s Dave Bathgate.

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

Faversham Town v Folkestone Invicta

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 20th July 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND