Kentish Football 
I'm looking forward to getting started now, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley
But striker Stuart King and the experienced Roland Edge are both away while wing-back/midfielder Josh Vincent – who missed the last month or so of last season – has picked up a groin strain and has not been able to train so far.
Young forwards Joe Lester and Ryan Philpott will be added to the rest of last year’s squad for the opening two matches – first at Deal on Saturday, than at home to Canterbury City next Tuesday.
Manager Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “Those two have both worked hard in training and we want to see how they get on match situations.
“Joe was with Invicta in his younger days and has since been with both Faversham and Ramsgate while Ryan did well in our youth side towards the end of last season.”
But, all in all, it’s going to be very much ‘as you were’ for Folkestone this coming season with only Micheal Everitt and Damian Abel having left the club, both moving to their Ryman League Division One South rivals Whitstable Town.
Again working on a fairly tight budget, boss Cugley’s squad will be limited in numerical terms, but still high on the kind of quality that saw Invicta finish a strong fourth in the league last season before losing in the play-offs to powerful Dulwich Hamlet.
Cugley said: “We’ll have a strong 14 or 15 players for all of the pre-season games, so there won’t be too many substitutions. I think the players prefer it that way.
“But we’ve only got six warm up games this time, so I’m happy with the situation and looking forward to getting started now.”
Looking ahead to the season proper, and a kick-off against old rivals Worthing at home on August 17, Cugley said: “They are always a good side, as we’ve found out over the last few years, and that should be a good one for both the team and the supporters to get their teeth into.
“The fixture list doesn’t appear to have been very kind to us in the first month or two, though we won’t really know how strong many clubs are going to be until we all get started in earnest.
“But it’s going to be important that we do well in the cups as well as making a decent start in the league.”
In the FA Cup, Folkestone have been drawn away to Ryman League newcomers Herne Bay on August 25 – only seven days into the season proper.
And in the FA Trophy. Merstham are the visitors to Cheriton Road on Saturday, September 15.
The Surrey outfit, who are managed by former Bromley manager Hayden Bird, has enticed the versatile Tutu Henriques, 29, to leave Hayes Lane after the South African spent eight loyal season’s at the Kent club after signing from Carshalton Athletic when the club were in Ryman League Division One.
Deal Town v Folkestone Invicta
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 21st July 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Charles Sports Ground, St Leonards Road, Deal, Kent CT14 9AU
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