We're not in a situation to win the league, says Cugley

Sunday 15th November 2009

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he is looking forward to welcoming three of his former players to Cheriton Road for the visit of Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Journeymen Nick Humphrey, Craig Wilkins and Lee Gledhill (who was Cugley’s skipper) all jumped ship when the club faced it’s financial crisis last October, but Cugley, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, will be welcoming them with open arms.

“They’re tremendous lads, at the time they got us to second in the league and when everything went wrong financially they were tremendous really,” said Cugley.

“They accepted the situation and just moved on. They were contracted players, they could have caused a problem to the club, but to be fair all three off them were superb really and we appreciated that, what they done, you can’t knock them at all.

“They got us in a very good position in the league and handled themselves very well both on and off the pitch so I look forward to seeing them.”

Metropolitan Police arrive at Cheriton Road sitting in tenth place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with a record of four wins and seven draws from their fourteen league outings.

But victory over the Met and present leaders Worthing (who visit Cheriton Road this Saturday), then Invicta will be sitting proudly at the summit after 15 games.

But Cugley believes his side do not have the strength in depth to mount a serious title challenge.

“We’ve got a tiny, tiny squad and with a lot of games coming up we’re not in a situation where we can bring new players in, so we have to get on with it,” explained Cugley.

“The players have been great, are difficult to beat and we’ll have a go and anyone who beats us we will have to make sure that they deserve to beat us.”

The long-serving manager added: “Even though Worthing didn’t start too well, I always thought they’d be right up there in the end with Croydon Athletic and Metropolitan Police.

“I think that will still happen. We’d love to finish above Worthing and Croydon at the end as that would mean you’d be in the play-off’s.”

Cugley paid tribute to long-serving midfielder, Micheal Everitt, 27, who is expected to make his 325th starting appearance for his home-town club on Tuesday night.

“I think it’s suited both him and us,” said Cugley. “He’s always been a good lad, with a great attitude and is a good performer. He’s one of those lads to be fair who has suited Folkestone Football Club well.

“I think other clubs, when things have gone up and down, he could have been released several times but that’s not happened at Folkestone and he’s kept plugging away during the good and the bad times.”

When asked if he has any injury concerns for this week’s programme, Cugley replied, “I hope not! No, I don’t think so! I think the team will pick itself and will hopefully pick itself on Saturday. Just as long as it keeps picking itself, I’m quite happy really.

Folkestone have conceded only seven league goals in thirteen games, something that has pleased the boss.

“We’re very difficult to beat with that eleven,” said Cugley. “They’ve got a good attitude, good self-belief and a good pattern of play and I think we can beat anybody.

“But, take one or two out of that we’ll be struggling.”

Folkestone, however, have scored just 18 goals at the other end, and Cugley added, “It was a problem early on as we weren’t scoring any goals either. Defensively, we have been tremendous. Ironically our youngest area is our defence, they’ve showed great maturity.”

Cugley put to bed any fears that other clubs would poach their most prized assets, saying, “We do contract players, one thing I have been adamant in is to contract players. If you contract players, they can’t put a seven day approach in.

“Our of our eleven, I think 8 are contracted so at least you’ve got stability there. That’s the way I’ve always done it, otherwise clubs come in for your players and then you don’t have any players left.”

Meanwhile, Folkestone’s game at Croydon Athletic was called off, just minutes before the team arrived at the ground, despite passing a pitch inspection at 9:45am.

“It weren’t’ too bad, at least it’s not too far,” said Cugley. “It couldn’t be helped really. To be fair to them they phoned to let us know it was on at half-past ten but as we got further nearer the ground, about a mile from the ground, they told us it was off.

“We just turned the coach round, that’s all you can do really. There was nothing on around in our area - it was a bit of a frustrating day.”

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

Folkestone Invicta v Metropolitan Police

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 17th November 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU