Folkestone Invicta bring Gillingham game forward

Saturday 04th July 2009

GILLINGHAM will now begin their pre-season fixtures with a trip to Folkestone Invicta next Saturday, 11th July, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Gills were expected to open their warm-up campaign with a game at Tonbridge Angels, but the match was cancelled.

The Angels have carried out extensive work to the pitch at Longmead Stadium and the club felt it would not be in suitable condition to proceed with the game.

Fortunately Invicta boss Neil Cugley has agreed to move their match forward and Mark Stimson will take his full first team squad to Cheriton Road next weekend.

Folkestone Invicta have confirmed that admission prices will be £8 (adults) and £4 (concessions), and kick-off is at 3pm.

Six of the Gills’ ten pre-season games are against Kent non-league sides. Stimson takes his side to Dartford (14 July), Faversham Town (16 July), Welling United (18 July), Bromley (28 July) and Whitstable Town (4 August).

Meanwhile, Folkestone Invicta’s reserve side has come under the umbrella of the youth section and will be playing in the Bulmers Cider Kent League.

The team will be managed by Gary Towse, with Steve Gardiner (coach) and Pete Saunders (coach).

The versatile Saunders, the chairman of the youth section and administrator, told the fans’ forum at www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk : “The first training session will be on Thursday, 9th July at 7pm at the main ground. Any players wishing to trial should meet then.

“Support will be very welcome during the season and the monies raised at the reserve fixtures will be needed to fund the running of the reserves. Hopefully this investment in the younger players will benefit the whole club in the future.”

MARGATE, meanwhile, have been given extra time to pay their unpaid tax bill, following their date at the Royal Courts of Justice in midweek.

The Hartsdown Park club issued a statement on www.margate-fc.co.uk saying, “Despite managing to raise over half the money required to settle the debt to HMRC, Margate Football Club has only been given 12 more weeks, by the court, to settle the balance of the amount outstanding.

“This means that the directors still have a mammoth task ahead of them, in not only raising this money but also sufficient money to fund a squad to bring us success this coming season.”

Visit Gilligham's website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com

Visit Folkestone Invicta' website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Visit Margate's website: www.margate-fc.com