Cugley casts his eye over his new-look squad

Thursday 03rd July 2008

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley is eagerly anticipating the start of the pre season campaign with his new look squad reporting for pre season training this week, writes Tom Marchant.

The squad will train three times this week ahead of the first friendly away at Dover Athletic next Tuesday (14th July) evening, followed by the visit of Tonbridge Angels to the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday (19th July) afternoon.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing everybody back as we kick on to be ready for the start of the season and the hard work begins this week, Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

"Everyone’s got to knuckle down and work hard and it’ll be nice to have Scott (Lindsey) back too.

"We’ve had all May off, all June off so it’s long enough I think. Players like to get back, they want to be training now and they’ll be looking forward to it – they all half moan about training but they can’t wait for it either!

"With all the football on recently as well, it gives everyone a lift and makes you even more eager to get back into it."

Joining up with only five players retained from last season are eight new signings; defenders Matt Bourne, Lee Gledhill and Nick Humphrey, midfielders Dave Cook, coach Scott Lindsey and Jimmy Jackson who can also play in defence and strikers James Dryden and Craig Wilkins, the latter who can also play in defence.

And Cugley revealed: "I’ve got a few trialists coming in as well and along with the signings we’ve made so far there will be a lot of new faces around the place. It could be ten, twelve new players we are looking at during pre season.

"We’ll have a close look at how they do in training, check the finances and although we’re looking at them it’s important to remember they are also looking at us and seeing if it’s the club for them. It works both ways.

"I’ll be starting from afresh though and it doesn’t matter what the players have done in the past, it’s what they do now that counts and we’ve got to push on and compete next season."

Gledhill is the latest addition to the Folkestone squad. The 28-year-old has signed from Blue Square South side Welling United and is no stranger to Ryman Division One South having a spell Metropolitan Police last season.

"I’ve known him a long time and I went to watch him years ago when I was first at Folkestone and he was playing at Barnet then," revealed Cugley.

" I’ve kept an eye on him, I knew he went to Welling and he’s good mates with Charlie Mitten who asked me if I was interested and I said yes straight away.

"He can play at centre half but his best position is right back and so we’re well covered now in that area."

The Folkestone boss has not ruled out further signings before the start of the season and in particular remains keen to strengthen in the final third of the pitch with a new striker deemed a high priority.

He said: "Defensively wise we’re well covered but we’re looking for another goalie. I am nearly happy with the midfield, maybe another one in there but we definitely need another forward.

"You want somebody pushing those players we’ve got who can play there. We’ve got Jimmy (Dryden) and Wilko (Wilkins), Corbo (James Corbett) can play there but you want someone else who will keep people on their toes. It’s that final third; attacking midfield and up front."

Cugley believes there will be "five or six" clubs competing for the higher reaches of the League next season, including neighbours Ashford Town.

He said: "Like every league there’s going to be about six clubs who I think will be there, thereabouts come the end of the season.

"Financially they are all well run clubs and can afford to do it and I’d like to think we are one of them now and we want to be competing with those five or six."

Final work on the Cheriton Road pitch was undertaken this week with Director Lynn Woods commissioning further work on the goal mouths and the centre area.
With three weeks until the first home match at the Buzzlines Stadium, the surface should be in top condition for the forthcoming season.

Article courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk