Cugley rocking about Piper transfer - EXCLUSIVE

Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley, preparing for his eleventh season in charge of the east Kent club, has unveiled his first summer signing today, writes Stephen McCartney.

Right-back David Piper, who moved house from Chandlers Ford, Hampshire to Whitstable a year ago, has signed a one-year contract with the Ryman Premier League club.

The 29-year-old arrives from Blue Square Southern outfit Bognor Regis Town, where he was captain.

The vastly experienced player joined the Rocks from Conference club Woking in the summer of 2003 and has also played for Southampton and Yeovil Town.

And Cugley was pleased to unveil his new signing, EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this afternoon, explaining how he’s managed to snap up Piper.

“Because his wife works for the RSPCA, she’s been transferred about a year ago and he’s got fed up with the travelling,” he said.

“He’s a Conference South quality player and I felt we didn’t play enough football last season. We worked very hard but we didn’t get the ball down and play a lot of football.”



FIRST ARRIVAL:  Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley has today signed David Piper from Blue Square Southern outfit Bognor Regis Town, where the 29-year-old right-back was captain.
Photograph courtesy of www.therocks.co.uk

Cugley was left frustrated when two previous transfer targets, defender James Donovan and midfielder Michael Yianni, opted to sign for their Ryman Premier League rivals Tonbridge Angels and Margate respectively, instead.

“You get used to it down at Folkestone (with) location and finance,” admitted Cugley.

“You do chase along and get certain rejections but obviously things will come out in the wash at the end of the day.

“Donovan lives in South London and Yianni was finance because Margate can offer double more than we can pay.

“Michael is a Folkestone lad and handled himself well and hopefully one day he will play for Folkestone.”

Hythe resident Cugley revealed he’s targeting up to four players to join the Buzzlines Stadium club.

He said: “About three or four really, realistic targets. You have targets but you don’t always get hold of them.

“Obviously we’re trying to get a goalkeeper, maybe a centre half, maybe a midfielder, forward - all over really to make us stronger.”

Invicta report to pre-season training on Saturday, 30^th June, and Cugley said he will become more ruthless this season if players don’t pull their weight.

“We’re very lucky with our players, with some good local lads, with some good attitudes,” he said.

“With the players we’re bringing in and (the) players we signed (during) the latter part of last year, it will be good to have a good pre-season.

“We’re not one of the big spenders so we have to get on and work hard, and with our team spirit, go from there really.”

Cugley admitted his side are playing against some clubs that are splashing the cash in the Ryman Premier League, but insists the future looks bright.

On his budget, he said: “You always want more but at the end of the day the people running the club want it to run properly for the long-term future of the club.

“To be fair everything is improving and Folkestone can become a big club because they have a very manageable debt.

“Any money owed is manageable - we don’t have to spend too much money on the ground if we do go up, because it’s there.”

“I think we done well to stay up last year and we want to improve on that - we made it hard work for everybody.

“I’ve got a squad and (will) bring a few people in. Before, we were a bit too loyal to the players last year and if they don’t come up to the standard this year, they will be released. I will be more ruthless if we have to be.”

Folkestone Invicta’s pre-season friendlies:

Saturday 14^th July (HOME) WELLING UNITED
Wednesday 18^th July (HOME) HERNE BAY
Saturday 21^st July (HOME) EASTBOURNE BOROUGH
Tuesday 24^th July (away) Sevenoaks Town
Saturday 28^th July (HOME) BROMLEY
Wednesday 1^st August (away) Hythe Town
Tuesday 7^th August (away) Dulwich Hamlet
Saturday 11^th August (away) Horsham YMCA

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