Folkestone Invicta swoop for teenage pair from Gillingham

“To be honest, I didn’t know that much about them both but I told him this is the money we have available and we struck up a deal and I’m absolutely delighted with the signings!

“Frankie will bring freshness to the left hand side and they both will bring competition for places and things are looking really good in defence at the moment.

“As I was saying with Mark this is really the way we have got to go in the future because we’ve made enquires about so many players but because of location more than anything, it has been really hard to get quality players in.”

Over recent years the Seasiders and Gillingham have become close football allies, much due to the connections of former Gillingham midfield maestro Saundo, who is now player-coach at Cheriton Road and very much manager Neil Cugley’s right hand man.

Glyde and Chappell had numerous clubs after their signatures and player-coach Saunders said: “I phoned them up to see if they’d had any enquires from other clubs and I know Ramsgate had spoken to them but I think what helped for them, was having someone like me where they know me, know what I’m like and it always helps to have someone at a football club who you know.

“I know Dover were interested in them. I know Hess was onto them; he enquired about them, tried to sign them and I think it was just the standard really.

“Dover are in a league below and these lads wanted to play at as high a standard as possible and Dover couldn’t give them that”.

Saunders added: “I spent time with these kids when I was at Gillingham as part of my rehab when I came back from my broken leg and I actually trained with the youth team quite a bit.

“As I said to these lads the other day, coming out of Gillingham and joining us is going to be totally different; it’s going to be more demanding physically because all they’ve been used to playing against are other eighteen year olds.

“I know the pair of them will be looking to get back into the Football League as soon as possible but I’ve told them to get back there, they’ve got to put 120% into each and every game in order for them to stand out and get themselves noticed.

“We’ve made four signings now and I know Neil (Cugley) wants to bring in a few more and we’ve got competition for places.

“Roy (Guiver) came in from Hythe and did a really great job for us, marking the top league striker Hockton out of the game when he played against Margate.

“We’ve got Friendy who has developed so much last year and then Kevin Watson and Kola who are both really experienced and now Charlie and Frankie will be there fighting for their places in the side.”

However, also instrumental in bringing Glyde and Chappell to Folkestone was Mark Patterson; previously assistant manager at the Buzzlines Stadium and highly respected in the Invicta dressing room for his player coaching and wealth of football knowledge.

Patterson left the Seasiders on very good terms at the turn of the year to take up an offer from Gillingham to head up their youth academy.

Saunders said: “I’ve got no doubt about their ability and having spoken to Mark Patterson who has been working with them closely for a few months he said they will do a good job for us.

“They’ve had two or three years of full time training, they’ve been coached properly and that’s half the battle and now they just need to get used to the League and work as a team.”

Patterson has gained first-hand knowledge about Glyde and Chappell.

He said: “Both of their attitudes are first class and a number of youth team players got released recently and these two were included in this but the Gillingham manager said that if he could’ve taken them on he would’ve.

“There were a lot of clubs interested in them and I know because clubs contacted me personally when they released.

“I know Jim Ward was interested at Ramsgate and a couple of Conference South teams in the London area made enquiries as well.

“Hess at Dover rang me up and we had a long chat about them and he was really interested but I think Folkestone have done really well to get both of them.

“I think they will both will make it back to the professional level as they’ve got the ability, they’ve got the temperament and they’re just really good lads to have in your team.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they have other non league clubs interested in them before the year is out and getting them on contracts was essential for Folkestone.”

Patterson explained about the importance for the development of each player, of dropping down to Ryman Premier League level for the forthcoming season.

He said: “It will benefit their careers because when they drop down to the Ryman League or the Northern League for example, they’re going to get kicked, they’re going to get knocked about and it will make them learn to stand on their own two feet.

“You find a lot of youngsters who have been rapped up in cotton wool at League clubs, don’t make the grade at a move to non league and then can’t hack it because they’re not aggressive enough. These two can definitely stand up to that and I know they will do really well for Folkestone Invicta.”

These two latest signings arrive after Cugley captured the signature of 29 year old David Piper on a one year contract early last week from Conference South side Bognor Regis, which was followed by the arrival of 25 year old creative midfielder Ryan Briggs from Dartford.

However, the Invicta boss stated his dealings in the transfer market are far from over as he prepares for his eleventh season in charge at the club.

He added: “Obviously we still need a goalkeeper and ideally I would like to bring a forward in. If we can strengthen the attack like we have the defence we’ve got an exciting squad”.

Article courtesy of Andy Bown and Tom Marchant at www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk