Flanagan aiming for midtable

Folkestone Invicta captain Adam Flanagan is delighted that his team-mates are starting to perform to their full potential, having won their last three Ryman Premier League games, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant.

Despite a tricky start to the season, the Seasiders have turned the situation around admirably.

“It was always going to be a tough start for us and you look at the teams we had and you’ve got to give them credit as they were very strong, Flanagan told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

“But I’m happy now as we’ve got that one win that every team needs to get to kick the season off, which was at Slough.

“If we’d beaten Harrow Borough in the first game of the season then maybe we would have been a little more positive in those tough games after”.

He added, “Now we’re going into games where we’ve won three in a row. We’ve got Hendon on Monday night; everyone is feeling really positive, everyone would have had a little bit of a rest and hopefully if we win that then it’ll push us into mid table and we can see where we can go from there.”

Saturday’s league victory was the perfect tonic for Folkestone after being knocked out of the FA Cup in a midweek replay at Welling United.

“When we pulled Welling it was a little bit of a bogey team but I thought ‘why can’t we beat them?’ and I honestly thought because we’d won the three games on the bounce they might come into the game not weary of us,” said Flanagan.

“We played them on the Saturday and we were unfortunate not to take our chances but the Tuesday was more gutting really because there were little incidences in the game which turned it for them.”

A well struck free kick from Steve Norman gave Invicta the lead on the night of the replay but Welling hit back after the break with an equaliser and took the lead through a controversial penalty, before adding another to defeat Folkestone 3-1.

A glorious Cup run last season saw Folkestone make the First Round Proper to take on League Two side Chester City away. It was Flanagan himself who put Invicta ahead into the first half.

He recalled: “The Chester goal made me laugh really because I remember seeing the ball come in and I thought I’d just stick whatever I could in and there was some commotion and when I scored I didn’t know what to do so I just stuck my hand in the air!

“I got a bit of stick off the girlfriend because she’s never watched Match of the Day on a Saturday so she stayed up to watch my goal and she said it was over in about 10 seconds and she couldn’t believe she stayed up 2 hours to watch 10 seconds!”

“It was a fantastic feeling though and it gives me a little taste of what it was like for my dad because he played in League games and he’s been in an F.A Cup final. He said it’s a great feeling to score in front of so many people and for me that’s probably the most people I’ve scored in front of”.

Flanagan started his football career as a striker when he played for various school teams.

His dad Mike was an England youth international and a forward for Charlton Athletic, where he made over 450 League appearances.

Adam recalls: “When I had breaks from school my dad used to take me into Charlton and I would have a kick around and it gives you a little bit of a taste for it and it progressed from there really.”

As a schoolboy Adam played for Gillingham and then signed for the Gills on YTS terms. He said: “I wasn’t confident enough in my ability though to go full time so I stayed in digs with a lady who was related to Clive Walker and he was with Dagenham and Redbridge at the time.

“So he asked me down there and they were in the Conference at the time and unfortunately I couldn’t break through.

“Clive ended up leaving a little while after and then a new manager came in and it’s hard for a younger player to progress into a team with a new manager.”

It was three years ago when Neil Cugley brought defender Flanagan to the Buzzlines Stadium from Hastings United. Since then he has consistently excelled at the heart of the Invicta defence.

A hero with the Folkestone fans Flanagan has also won the player’s ‘Player of the Year’ for the past three seasons.

He said: “At the time Hastings had got relegated from the Premier Division and the team got disbanded and I like to think I’m loyal to all my clubs so I stayed on when players were leaving.

“I came down to train with the new manager and eventually we talked about money. I don’t like talking about money with part time football because you do it for enjoyment, the money is just a bonus, but Hastings wanted to half my money and I just couldn’t do that.

“So the manager put me in contact with Cugs (Neil Cugley) and he convinced me to come to the Club. At the time Folkestone had just got relegated with Hastings and they were leaking goals at the back so I thought I could come in and do a job”.

Adam is now captain of the side and added: “The responsibility is good for me as a player and I get on with all the lads and they get on with me, there’s a really good spirit around the team.

“Even if I wasn’t the captain then I’m not the sort of player to go round screaming and swearing at people to do their jobs. I’d like to say I’m a leader but I lead by example and I try and give 110% every time I play.

“Sometimes I won’t play well but at least I can say I tried and if people give me the same effort which I put in then I know as a team we’ll do alright. The lads do put the effort in but the fans have got to remember that everyone has an off day.”

One of Cugley’s recent signings, Ellis Remy, was a former team mate of Flanagan’s at Hastings.

Remy scored a hat trick at the weekend and will undoubtedly be keen to add to what is looking an impressive goal ratio since coming to the Buzzlines Stadium.

Flanagan said: “I rang Cugs regarding bringing Ellis to the Club because I played with him the year we got relegated with Hastings and I met him when he was down at Cheriton Road the first game of the season with Harrow.

“He was just looking to play football and I got his number and said he should maybe think of coming down here because we weren’t strong going forward at the time. H

“He knew Walid (Matata) so he could travel down and Cugs was all for it.

“He’s worked really hard in training and he’s got the potential because he was with a League club and you don’t play for a League club unless they see something in you.

“He’s sorted out a deal with the Club now so he’s earning money which is pleasing for him.

“He got that great hat trick at the weekend and being a typical forward he won’t stop reminding us of the fact he’s got 5 goals in 6 games now!”

With Liam Friend playing an increasing number of games in the backline alongside Kola Okikiolu and himself, Flanagan gave his thoughts on the progression of youngsters through the Club’s youth system.

He said: “I’m really surprised with just how well Folkestone do with their young lads – I’ve not been at another club that’s had so many good ones coming through. Friendy has surprised me the most this year as he’s come out of nowhere and settled into the team. He’s a real prospect for the Club in the future.

““Then you’ve also got Ratty who’s a regular now and he’s only 19 so he’s got years ahead of him and there’s Ben Sly and Joe Neilson progressing well so the Club is producing young lads all the time which is pleasing to see. It’s a credit to Neil (Cugley) and Micky Dix”.

Meanwhile, the club will be issuing a statement at some point today, following the release of former Dover Athletic and Welling United striker Matt Carruthers.

The supporters club have also donated a sum of £1,000 to the football club.

Invicta, who are without a game on Saturday, welcome Hendon to the Buzzlines Stadium on Monday night.

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