Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley wants the Edge over his struggling rivals

Monday 25th October 2010

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he is delighted for his home town club on their FA Cup heroics and tells Scott Porter’s side to enjoy their weekend in Hereford, writes Stephen McCartney.

Hythe Town’s excellent 2-0 victory over Staines Town booked their place in the first round proper for the first time in their history - and will be the first time in 53 years that a Kent League club will be playing at that stage of the competition since Margate lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace back in 1957.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk caught up with the Folkestone boss, who was player-manager at Hythe Town some 20 years ago.

He said: “What can you say? It’s very pleasing for unsung heroes like Kieron Mann (goalkeeper) and Johnny Walker (left-back), who play down there, who are really good lads. No disrespect, they would have never dreamt about getting a chance playing in the first round of the FA Cup.

“To be fair we lost to Leiston (who travel to Dartford on Tuesday night for a place in the first round with a home tie against Port Vale up for grabs for the winner), but they weren’t that sort of standard of players, they were all ex-Sudbury and ex-Chelmsford, where to be fair to Hythe, they really are lads that deserve that day out aren’t they?”

Cugley wasn’t at Reachfields at the weekend as he was on a scouting mission, watching tomorrow night’s opponents Tooting & Mitcham at Concord Rangers.

He said: “I was coming over from where I was watching the game and the reporter (on BBC Radio Kent) said it’s 50-odd years a Kent League club has done it - that’s one hell of an achievement!

Hythe’s reward is a trip to the Football League’s basement side Hereford United on 6 or 7 November - and Cugley reflected on Folkestone’s 2-1 defeat away to Chester City in the first round five years ago.

“Sometimes you think it’s a bit of a disappointing draw and we got Chester and we all wanted the big one - but we had a great time,” recalled Cugley. “We made a big thing of the weekend and made sure we enjoyed it and made sure we had a few beers afterwards.

“Even players who I see now still talk about it. When I bump into them they still talk about that day and how they enjoyed it, even though they’ve left the club and gone to various different teams.

“Hythe are in the same situation. Chester weren’t doing so well, like Hereford aren’t. We were 1-0 up at half-time (through Adam Flanagan) and on that day I was disappointed we didn’t bring them back to Folkestone.

“Obviously I was lucky when I was at Ashford. I managed them when we went to Fulham and Watford and they were really, really special days and ones that may not happen again to me.”

But although FA Cup days like that are special, the bread-and-butter of the league is the most important thing to non-league clubs.

Folkestone can leapfrog over Tooting & Mitcham United in the Ryman Premier League table if they defeat them at Cheriton Road on Tuesday night.

And that will be vital for Cugley, especially as his side are just one place above the relegation zone eleven games into the season.

After training hard last Thursday night, Cugley explained why he gave his players a Saturday off, as they were without a game due to Carshalton Athletic’s FA Cup exploits.

“It’s frustrating at the moment because we’ve got a few injuries,” said Cugley.

“A couple of players played in the reserves. Rob Kember played 90 minutes and Olly Bartram played for 45 minutes so that was a big bonus as those will be in the squad for tomorrow.

“We are starting to get a little bit short on numbers, the injuries and suspensions are just taking its toll at the moment.”

Three points against Tooting & Mitcham will put the Kent club on 13 points.

“We want to start getting some points on the board,” said Cugley. “We need about 50 to stay up and we’ve got to get them whatever happens.

“We want to start kicking on now and the last three games we’re unbeaten, which is quite pleasing. I think we’re slowly getting there. I think the whole club is starting slowly turning around. It’s been hard work. I think the chairman is starting to realising now that things are turning round a little bit so we’d like to turn things round on the pitch as well as off it.

“I don’t want to be defeatist but not long ago we nearly went out of business. Eighteen months later we’re in the Ryman Premier so once you’re in it you want to stay in it. It’s a good league with some good clubs in it, some good people in it and our aim is we’d love to stay in it.”

Folkestone Invicta return to Cheriton Road on Saturday, welcoming Thamesmead Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy.

Mead manager Keith McMahon is doing an excellent job on limited resources up at Bayliss Avenue, with his side sitting in fifth place in the Ryman League Division One North table, just four points adrift of leaders Harlow Town.

“They’re a good side, I suppose there’s not much difference between the sides, no disrespect to a side near the bottom of the Ryman Premier or a side near the top of the Ryman South or North so it will be a tough game,” warned Cugley.

“The manager there has done a very good job and there’s money involved and we’d like it - so we’d be doing our best and so will they I suspect.”

Both Kent sides are two wins away from the first round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, a competition won by Kent side in May 2008, following a historic 1-0 win over Torquay United at Wembley Stadium.

Cugley said: “You’re not going to win the thing as we’re not a big enough club to do that but what you want is one of the bigger clubs and to keep in it as long as you can to get one of the big clubs and have a big day and enjoy yourself and that’s our aim.”

Cugley says his search for a new striker is “ongoing” and added: “Paul Jones has had a set-back so he will be out with his groin injury for a few more weeks, which is disappointing for him and us because he’s been playing so well.

“Jimmy Dryden will see a specialist tomorrow to hopefully get the all-clear to start training so hopefully he could be back in a couple of weeks, so that will be a big bonus for us.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United have agreed terms on a reported £200,000 per week new deal with troubled striker Wayne Rooney, but here in Kent, there are footballers with a heart of gold.

Invicta Chairman Mr Lynn Woods paid tribute to player-coach Roland Edge.

He said: “The club’s administration holds Roland Edge’s contribution in the highest regard. Having graced the game at its highest level Edgey doesn’t have to give 15 hours plus of his time to the club every week for the pittance we can find to compensate him.

“His tireless performances on the pitch tell their own story. He comes here as much as anything for his love of the game and for what he can put back into it, and the players around him, especially the youngsters, are deriving massive benefit from his enthusiasm and experience which they greatly appreciate.”

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

Folkestone Invicta v Tooting & Mitcham United

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 26th October 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU