10thnov04

Sykes moves closer to home

The arrivals lounge at Ryman League Premier Division club Folkestone Invicta has been unusually busy of late.

Most recent arrival is striker Paul Sykes, 28, from Southern League Division One East side Dartford.

Sykes, who has also appeared in the colours of Dover Athletic, Margate, Welling United and Gillingham, was reluctantly allowed to leave the Darts by manager Tommy Sampson recently - a story brought exclusively by www.kentishfootball.co.uk -  due to personal circumstances mainly revolving around him living on the Kent coast.

Sykes was cup-tied for the FA Trophy so he will be added to the squad on Saturday when high-flying Cheshunt are the visitors to the Westbourne Stadium.

Kevin Watson has also joined Invicta from Nationwide South side Welling United having appeared against Folkestone in Chelmsford City colours in August.

A former Charlton schoolboy, youth and reserve team defender, he enjoyed three good seasons with Team Bath, scoring 20 goals when they won the Screwfix Direct Western League Premier Division title in 2002/03. He has been capped for both the England Students and British Universities teams.

Attacking midfielder Luke Gedling has also joined from Worthing. A former Southampton youth team player, he originally progressed from Worthing's reserves to the first team before moving to Lewes. He played in the Conference with Gravesend & Northfleet and Aldershot Town and signed for Horsham in September before re-joining Worthing.

Recent signing Andrew Burke has impressed manager Neil Cugley. His fitness has improved after being out of the game for a couple of seasons, and he is now scoring goals, one in each of the games against Cray Wanderers.

Cugley really feels that the former Spurs youngster could be an important signing for the club.

Saturday 12 November 2004
Ryman League Premier Division
Folkestone Invicta v Cheshunt
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Westbourne Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk