Kentish Football 
It's been the hardest season I've ever had in football, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley
Folkestone Invicta grabbed fifth-place following their 1-0 home win over Herne Bay at the weekend – and third-placed Faversham Town doing them a massive favour by coming away from Leatherhead with a 1-0 win.
Maidstone United have made Tuesday night’s game against Folkestone Invicta an all-ticket affair and Cugley is delighted to be in with a chance of grabbing promotion at the end of a tough campaign.
A delighted Cugley said: “If you said that at Christmas this was going to happen, you would’ve taken me to the funny farm because at the time we were looking at the bottom than the top.
“All credit to the players. The ones that have come in have been outstanding with a great attitude.
“I can’t wait! Really looking forward to it. Can’t wait! Big days like this don’t come often in non-league football. The players are looking forward to it. We’ll do everything we can. We’ll enjoy it the best we can. We’re pleased we’ve got Maidstone, we’ve not got too far to go and we enjoyed the game up there earlier in the year.”
But the gates receipts from an all-ticket crowd of over 2,000 people will certainly help the cash-strapped club over the summer.
“It helps big time, that’s why we wanted Maidstone really. We don’t deny that. It’s very important,” said Cugley.
“It’s the one we wanted so we’re not moaning. It’s a big crowd. They’ve finished second and are on a roll. They’re expected to be the side that get through. There’s a lot of pressure on them to do that. We’re the last ones in the play-offs and sneaked in there last minute and we can enjoy it.
“We’ll carry on like we usually do.”
Reflecting on the past season, Cugley said: “Incredible really. Early August we didn’t have a chairman or we didn’t have a secretary. The only thing we had was a tax bill!
“We slowly managed to get it sorted out, then by the time we got going and worked things out we couldn’t afford some of the players we had so we cut the wages and sold Kingy (Stuart King to Maidstone United) to pay another bill and we’ve done all that and we’ve come through all that.
“It’s been difficult. It’s been the hardest season I’ve ever had in football, I’ve got to say that!
“To get this far is a credit to the players. I’m so pleased for them. It has been a very difficult season.”
Cugley added: “Yes, I expect they’ll pay something off again. Of course it does (help). It’s massive.
“I wouldn’t say there was pressure on Saturday because we knew we needed the money from this Maidstone game. Hopefully that will help us a bit better and hopefully we don’t have to go through what we had this year next year.”
But Cugley insists he is not going to Maidstone on Tuesday just to pick up a much-needed cheque – he wants to win the game and seal a trip to either Faversham Town or Hythe Town in Saturday’s play-off final.
“Once you get there you want to win a game of football, same as last year,” said Cugley.
“We went to Dulwich and lost and we were disappointed that we lost to Dulwich. It’s natural. Players are very professional, they want to try to win the game. There’s no pressure on them to do so but it would be lovely if we can.”
Out of the four sides involved, only Folkestone Invicta have play-off experience.
Cugley’s side defeated Leatherhead (on penalties) and Godalming Town both at Cheriton Road when they secured promotion back in 2010, before suffering relegation from the Ryman Premier League after one season.
Last season Folkestone Invicta suffered a semi-final defeat at Dulwich Hamlet, courtesy of two goals from Ray Powell, who now looks certain to win the Kent League for VCD Athletic on Tuesday, assisting Tony Russell.
Cugley said: “We were lucky enough to win one of them when we won both games against Leatherhead and Godalming a few years ago and last year we went and lost to Dulwich.
“Half the team are still here. I’ve not changed it much. They know what it’s all about. As I’ve said before, they’ve been brilliant anyway. We’ve only lost three of the last 24 games over the last few months.
“We’re looking forward to it, very confident and we’re very happy.”
When asked how Tuesday’s game will be won or lost, Cugley simply replied, “Whoever gets the most goals I think, don’t you!”
Before he added: “It will be a good game. We’ve had two games against them already. I think both have been drawn. It will be fairly open. They play a bit more direct than us, but they’ve got a lot of quality in the final third.”
Cugley says the 3g playing surface will suit his side.
“We only play one way,” he said. “We’re a footballing side and on their pitch we’ll get it down. It’s a good one to go to because at this time of the year pitches are bouncy and bobbly and we know that it will be lovely and we can play.
“Next to Dulwich I would say we are one of the better footballing sides.”
Maidstone United v Folkestone Invicta
Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Semi-Final
Tuesday 30th April 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
at The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ
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