Folkestone capture Rowland

After losing defender Steve Norman to Ryman Division One side Dartford last weekend, Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley has been quick to add to his playing squad in time for Saturday’s Ryman Premier League match against Boreham Wood at the Buzzlines Stadium, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant.

Cugley has revealed his new signing to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk and it's a player from Nationwide Conference South outfit Welling United.

He said: "We’ve got a new lad coming in called Keith Rowland and he’ll be available on Saturday.

"We really needed the numbers for that game because we’re quite short and Keith has played professionally for quite a few clubs so he’s got a wealth of experience and I think he played for Northern Ireland too so it’ll be a good addition to the squad.

"He started this season at Welling and he’s just been released from them and I rang the Welling manager up the other day, got Keith’s number and he said he’d like to come down for a short term period to help us out.

"I’m not sure how short term it’ll be yet, that depends on finances because he is getting paid and also on how he performs so we’ll see how it goes".

Rowland’s former clubs include Dublin City, Hornchurch, Barnet, Chesterfield, Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth and Redbridge.

He can play in defence and midfield and has been a Northern Ireland international. He joined Conference South side Welling United in January 2005 from Redbridge.

Cugley almost captured the signature of another defender but no deal has yet been done.

"Tony Kessell recommended a defender to us and he nearly came down but things with him haven’t quite worked out over the past few days and we haven’t been able to come to an agreement so that one looks dead in the water," revealed Cugley.

The Folkestone manager has though been in touch with ex Invicta left back Paul Lamb who left the Club earlier in the season.

Cugley remarked: "I spoke to Ramsgate about possibly bringing Lamby back to Folkestone and I spoke to Paul himself and we will review the situation next week depending on if he wants to come to us and also depending on finances again.

"He is a decent player who again can help us get through this difficult time".

Along with the capture of Rowland, the Seasiders will be boosted by the news that promising young defender Liam Friend is recovering well from an eye injury sustained last weekend.

"He thinks he’ll be fine, we will assess him tonight at training and if he’s 100% then he will definitely play," revealed Cugley.

"His eye looked pretty bad on Saturday and it was more than just a black eye back then but he thinks he’ll be ok, so we’ll wait and see on that one".

Cugley also gave an update on the situation with Luke Howell, saying, "Mark (Saunders) is going to go up tomorrow to speak with the manager and we’re hopeful the agreement will at least stand for this Saturday if not longer. But if it doesn’t then Ben Sly will just slot into his place".

Visit Folkestone Invica's website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Boreham Wood
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 9th December 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone