Lindsey returns to Folkestone as coach

FOLKESTONE INVICTA have appointed former player Scott Lindsey, 35, as their new coach, writes Tom Marchant.

Lindsey returns to the Club after leaving in late 2005 to spend more time with his young family. An inspirational captain during his time at the Buzzlines Stadium where he made 156 appearances and is well renowned for his “never say die” attitude and winning mentality.

Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley, speaking to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk  , said: “Scott is a real leader and he is a winner, an out an out winner and that's what you want and in the changing room he's brilliant. We've said before we want to do well but we want to try and enjoy it as well and he's also good at that side of things.

“He loves Folkestone Invicta Football Club and I get on with him really well with and I'm absolutely delighted to have got him. I think he'll be great for the Club and I know the players that know him from his time here are very pleased that he is coming back.

“He'll sign on as well. He's 35 but he's still very fit and if we need him he'll be there to come on. I've said it before but the great thing is that we‘ve brought players in who want to be at Folkestone and I hope that shows up on the pitch next season”.

Lindsey brings with him a wealth of football experience having played in the Football League with Gillingham, in the Blue Square Premier and in the Premier and First Divisions of the Northern, Southern and Ryman Leagues.

Throughout his career the midfielder has played for Leyton Orient, Gravesend & Northfleet, Canvey Island and Welling United, amongst a host of clubs.

After leaving the Seasiders in late 2005, Scott joined Maidstone United in January 2006 and had a brief spell with the Stones when they were in the Kent League and finished last season as a player at Sittingbourne.

The Folkestone boss also thanked Kevin Bremner for his work at the Club towards the end of last season and said he did speak with him about the coaching position.

“We're disappointed that financially we couldn't come up with a package for him. He came in towards the end of last year and to be fair he did it for nothing,” said Cugley.

“We spoke again and he quite rightly said what he wanted to do the job financially speaking and we understand why he wanted what he did but it would have been very difficult for us to have come up with that and we wanted to put the money into the team.

“We now have Scott as our new coach and we're obviously very pleased he's going to be involved. People involved with the Club will also be delighted to have him back as he is a great bloke to have around.”

Cugley was also able to announce that Lee Dyson will be returning to the Buzzlines Stadium to lead the pre season training.

Dyson initially joined the Seasiders during the summer of 2001 but was unable to establish himself in the first team after picking up an injury and he joined Chatham Town. The defender returned to Folkestone in the summer of 2003 after spells with Maidstone and Dartford.

Dyson is a qualified physio and an ex Army Physical Training Instructor (PTI).

“Lee is one of the highest in the country actually and he's always had the respect of the players and he knows how far to push people. I saw him a little while ago and he said if I needed his help pre season he'd be happy to help out.

“I think he's the best qualified person for pre season we ever had and although it won't be a permanent thing, him coming back for a little while to take the pre season sessions will be great and will get the players fit.”

The Folkestone Manager has now released defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu. Kola joined the Club in September 2006 and was a formidable member of the Invicta backline.

The loss of the solid defender will be eased by the recent signings of centre back Matt Bourne and versatile defender Nick Humphrey whilst fellow new signing Craig Wilkins is also adept in the centre back position.

Young defenders Liam Friend and Frankie Chappell excelled in defence last season and Invicta's backline will be significantly bolstered by the signing of Jimmy Jackson from Margate earlier this week – a player Cugley believes could prove to be “his best signing ever”.

Jackson is renowned for his lethal left foot, crossing ability and is a dead ball specialist and his flexibility means he can also play at left midfield and he played for Margate in a central role last season on occasions.

The boss said: “I spoke to Kola and I explained I wanted to go with local players, players who could come down twice a week and there was no problem at all. He understood the situation as he lives in north London and for him to get down twice a week was very difficult but that's the way we want to do it now and we think that's the way forward for our Football Club.

“He's been a great servant, has played for me for a couple of years and to be fair once he crossed that line he had a right go for you. I've got a lot of time for him and I can only thank him for what he's done for the Football Club.

“When I spoke to him he'd already had a few offers and no doubt his name will pop up somewhere in the future and whoever gets him will get a decent player and we wish him all the best for the future”.

Football Secretary Neil Pilcher said that the Ryman League fixtures for next season should be released around the third week in June.

He explained: “They can be delayed though as the fixtures cascade down from the top so the Premiership is announced then the Championship and other Football League fixtures through to the Conference and then the Ryman/Northern/Southern Leagues. Therefore if there is a delay it will have a knock-on effect and with the current uncertainty over Cambridge City, Nuneaton Borough and Boston United and what Leagues they will be in I would have thought this may be highly likely.

“The reason for the fixtures being arranged in this way is that on the fixture questionnaire form one of the questions is whether your particular club wants to avoid a particular League team. Whilst it doesn't really apply to us although it could perhaps be argued we should mention either Charlton Athletic or Gillingham, there are no doubt a number of clubs who this would affect locally such as Chatham with Gillingham for example and so until the fixtures are known this can't be put in place.”

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk