Legendary Neil Cugley invites past and present players to join him to celebrate his 1,000th game in charge of Folkestone Invicta

FOLKESTONE INVICTA manager Neil Cugley invites players’ old and new to join him to celebrate his 1,000th game in charge of the club.

The legendary Cugley, 59, reaches the milestone on Saturday when he takes his championship winning side to Three Bridges, but Cugley invites former players to join him to celebrate his achievement on the final day of the season when Folkestone Invicta play Tooting & Mitcham United at Cheriton Road on Saturday 23 April.

Cugley suffered four successive years of Ryman League Division One South play-off heartbreak, but led his club to the league title with six games to spare when Walton & Hersham were thrashed 6-0 at Cheriton Road on Good Friday, 25 March 2016 to walk away with the club’s first league title.

“As you’re aware and have kindly already allured to the fact that Neil will soon be celebrating his 1,000^th game as Folkestone manager,” said Dayne Southern, Cugley’s step-son.

“Neil and the club will be celebrating this achievement at the last game of the season at home to Tooting & Mitcham on 23 April.

“Neil has asked that any ex-players that have played under him are welcome to come down and celebrate the achievement and reminisce.

“Neil has said that should any players want to come down they will be given free entry to the game.  All Neil asks is that he’s contacted beforehand to be able to have tickets available at the game.”

Gordon Bartlett has been in charge of Vanarama National League South side Wealdstone for 1,198 games.

Please email dayno3@googlemail.com with your request for tickets.

Tributes have been made to Cugley, one coming from retired referee Martin Yerby.

“I would like to comment on Neil Cugley as a manager from a match official’s perspective as I officiated many of his games,” said Yerby.

“From a match official’s perspective, Neil’s teams always played the game in the right way, hard but within the laws.

“Whether Neil agreed with your decision making during the game or not, he always comes onto the field and shakes your hand and thanks you.

“He never berates officials and always willing to talk about the game with you afterwards over a drink.

“He conducts himself like a gentleman and officials’ totally respect him for that. Well done Neil.”

Former Dover Athletic and Gillingham coach Darren Hare added: “1000 games!! An astronomical achievement!! One of the nicest and professional men in football, long may the run continue!! Congratulations and regards.”

Cugley is on the verge of possibly selling former Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks Town and Sittingbourne striker Harry Smith, 20.

The tall striker notched his 12^th goal in 15 games since moving from their Ryman League Division One South rivals Sittingbourne.

Smith has been on trial at Scottish Premier League giants Aberdeen and Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.com: “He did well, I understand and scored in a friendly they had arranged while he was up there.

“He’s done really well for us too. You don’t get too many six foot six forwards of his age who score at virtually a goal-a-game – he’s definitely for a chance of playing at higher levels.

“He’s a big part of our plans and we’d love him to stay with us in the (Ryman) Premier but they (Aberdeen) are not the only club looking at him and we’ll have to see how things work out.

“We don’t want to lose him but we wouldn’t stand in his way if a really big chance came his way.”

Cash-strapped Sittingbourne clearly also believed in Smith’s potential and while Folkestone Invicta paid only a nominal fee for his services, the Brickies insisted on a 15% share in any sell-on  transfer fee when he switched clubs last December.

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