It's a shame more people don't come and support us - Cugley

Tuesday 06th April 2010

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he is preparing for a battle when he takes his side to relegation threatened Whitstable Town on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

At the time of writing, before Whitstable’s trip to Sittingbourne on Tuesday night, Mark Lane’s side are rooted to the foot of the Ryman League Division One South table and are one of three sides on 29 points, so they will be scraping for every point they need to avoid a drop back down into the Kent League after three seasons at this level.

Folkestone Invicta, meanwhile, are only one point behind Croydon Athletic in second place and if they win their last remaining six games will clinch the title.

Invicta have conceded only 18 goals during their 36 games - but goalscoring has been a problem this term, having only found the net 48 times.

“We don’t get enough goals and I keep saying that,” Cugley admitted when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, following his side’s unimpressive 2-0 home win over Chatham Town yesterday.

“It doesn’t matter whose here, that’s one area we’ve got to look at.”

Looking ahead to his side’s visit to Whitstable, Cugley will be hoping that strikers Brendon Cass (who has scored 16 goals this season, 11 for Chatham) and Simon Austin bring their goalscoring boots with them.

“Obviously Whitstable will be fighting and having a go,” warned Cugley.

“It will be a hard game, going to Whitstable. We’ve got to be switched on. We’re going to train before then and get ourselves a bit more lively.

“It’s a nice club, Whitstable. It’s always going to be difficult where they’re situated (to attract players) I think for them to be a top side.

“I know what they’re like, I watched them play, I saw them beat Ramsgate the other day and it won’t be easy.”

A crowd of 314 watched the Kent derby against Chatham Town at Cheriton Road on Easter Monday - but Cugley is disappointed with crowds this season.

“If the club was in a better situation (off the pitch instead of having to pay £800 per month Company Voluntary Agreement), I’m sure we’d have 100 maybe 200 more but because it’s been so on and off this season. It’s a shame that more people don’t come here and support the team,” said Cugley.

“We did this around five years ago when we got promoted from the Southern League Southern then and we were averaging 500 odd then so there is quite a few that’s left for different reasons.

“I think the troubles within the club hasn’t helped, whether we’d start or not start the season.”

Folkestone Invicta would have had comfortably clinched the league title by now had they not faced a ten point penalty for their well documented financial problems.

“There’s nothing I can do about that,” said Cugley. “As I’ve said before, there’s nothing the players can do. It should be the people that got the club into that predicament - not the players or myself.”

Reflecting on last summer, Cugley said: “I weren’t planning this year really, just working out if we were in the Amateur League or Kent League so it would be quite nice to go away (at the end of this season knowing the club has still got a future).

“A lot of the players have signed on and things will be announced soon to tell people what’s going on there.”

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

Whitstable Town v Folkestone Invicta

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 10th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At The Belmont Ground, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP