Soccer Shorts: I'm delighted to receive such an honour, says Folkestone Invicta legendary boss Neil Cugley

Here are today’s Soccer Shorts articles

ASHFORD UNITED have signed striker Brett Ince from their Southern Counties East Football League rivals Hollands & Blair, while Tommy Fagg has decided to stay at Homelands Stadium.

BRAINTREE TOWN have unveiled former Welling United and Ebbsfleet United manager Jamie Day as their new manager.  Danny and Nicky Cowley have left the Essex club to take charge of their Vanarama National League rivals Lincoln City after guiding part-timers Braintree to a third place finish last season.

BROMLEY have had their proposed new south stand development at Hayes Lane (affectionately known as the Benches End) approved by Bromley Council. 

The National League club will demolish the existing south stand and terraces, remove the astroturf pitches behind the existing stand and the erection of a new building to accommodate a stand with 1,485 seats and a multi-purpose facility with badminton, volleyball and indoor cricket facilities, a café and viewing boxes and new car parking for 134 cars once the funding has been raised.

The Ravens finished a respectable fourteenth-place on their National League debut last season.

CRAY VALLEY will begin their interviewing process tomorrow as they search for a new manager after Paul Gross stepped down after two seasons in charge of the club.

DARTFORD midfielder Lee Noble has committed his future at the Vanarama National League South club next season, the 11^th player to do so.

DULWICH HAMLET have scooped the Community Club of the Year Award at the Non-League Paper’s Awards ceremony at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge last Wednesday.

FAVERSHAM TOWN have confirmed that winger Charley Robertson, 20, has left the club to relocate to the North West this summer.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA legendary manager Neil Cugley spoke of his pride after being collecting the Non-League Paper’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards ceremony at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge last Wednesday.

Cugley, 59, led his beloved club to the Ryman League Division One South title last season just finished collecting 114 points.

He has been in charge of the club for 1,001 games during his 19 seasons in charge at Cheriton Road.

“I Knew that the club had been nominated but when (my wife) Pauline and I got there it turned out that I’d got the Non-League Paper’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

“With my 1,000^th game at the club I suppose it was inevitable that I’d get so much attention personally, but I have to say some of it has been a bit embarrassing and others deserve more of a share of the credit.

“But it was a really nice day for both Pauline and me and I’m delighted to have received such an honour.

“Non-League football has been a major part of my life and give or take a few of the down times, I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”

HERNE BAY are celebrating success in Europe after their walking football team claimed the Almelo Cup in Holland.

The Bay won an all-English Final against HASUF UK, a representative side made up of players from Heanor Strollers, Alfretonians, Sheffield United and Folkestone Wanderers. 

A Gerry Allen strike sealed a 1-0 victory for Herne Bay, who came out on top with 27 teams from across Europe.

MAIDSTONE UNITED are now planning for life in the National League after securing promotion in dramatic fashion at Ebbsfleet United.

Directors Terry Casey, Oliver Ash and Bill Williams have issued a joint-statement on www.maidstoneunited.co.uk as the club prepare for life in the top flight of non-league football, joining Kent rivals Bromley and Dover Athletic.

“It has been a whirlwind few days,” said the trio.

“Now that the unexpected has happened and the dust and confetti are settling we are having to urgently address the issues which confront us next season.

“We had a long meeting at the club to run through all the various challenges and set out an action plan for meeting them head-on.

“We have looked at where our running costs are going to increase: items such as greater stadium security and policing costs, greater travel costs and expenses linked to more matches played further afield.

“We also wish to increase the budget available to Jay for his playing squad to enable us to be as competitive as possible in the National League while continuing to manage the club as a solid and sustainable business.

“We aim to ensure that revenues exceed costs and that debt is not excessive in relation to recurrent revenues and asset value.

“We know we face a major challenge in expanding the stadium. To put this into context we are still settling final matters relating to the expansion of the Conway main stand in the close season. Now we find ourselves victims of our success in having to increase capacity by 1,000 in order to meet the requirements of an A grading by the FA and the League.

“Having said that we know that it makes sense for us to do this now as our attendances have been going up steadily since opening the Gallagher Stadium in 2012. There is every chance that we could fill the Gallagher Stadium with more than 3,000 on several occasions this season and it would be great to have the capacity to do so.

“Building a new stand at the North End has to happen quickly in order to comply with League rules. We are doing all we can and hope that the result will satisfy the League and FA. We plan to apply for planning at the latest by the first week of June and will share drawings, precise details and further information with you at that point as well as making a full presentation of the project at the 30 June annual new season opening party (did we already mention that…? If not please note in your diaries!).

“During the building works, which could last about six months altogether, there will be some disruption to match day attendances. We may find the overall capacity is temporarily reduced to about 2,500. This is unavoidable. It gives us an incentive to finish the works as quickly as possible and get the new stand ready. Once we do so we should have a modern 4,200 capacity stadium, which is fit for the foreseeable future. Mind you we’ve said that before…

“How do we finance the new stand? Well cash-flow is very tight due to previous stadium projects. We have therefore tried to keep the cost down to a minimum. The new stand will be a simple terrace with railings but will have some flexible seating installed, principally for segregated matches. We will have to add entrances and exits, toilets and refreshment facilities. The current budget is between £600,000 and £750,000.

“Remember we also have to budget for replacement of the 3G pitch for season 2017/18 which will cost some £150-200,000.

“We will be applying for grants from the Football Foundation but as we have already had some grant assistance previously these may be limited on this occasion.

“We plan to launch a supporter fund-raising scheme shortly to enable you all to support us financially in whatever way you can for the new stand and make it substantially a supporter driven project. More details shortly.

“We are also approaching our wonderfully loyal current business supporters and new businesses in town to ask for extra support for this project. Playing at National League level will give far greater exposure to all our sponsors and partners and we hope this will enable us to achieve the essential increase in commercial revenues.

“Finally, we are going to try and beat our record for season ticket sales. Buying a season ticket for National League 2016/17 will not only guarantee you watching the Stones during a season when the stadium capacity will be reduced; it will also enable you to demonstrate your support for the club, Jay and the team at a time when we will really appreciate financial help for the new stand project.

“Yes, prices have had to go up, but by no more than we feel necessary in order for the club to survive and prosper at this level and also to enable us to help finance the expansion.

“This is an exciting time for your club and we need your support more than ever to keep the extraordinary adventure going.”

WELLING UNITED have added to their squad after snapping up central defender George Allen, 21.

Allen started out at Stevenage before being loaned out to Bishop’s Stortford, a loan that was extended for a further season.

Welling manager Mark Goldberg has also signed Bermuda international Jonte Smith, 21.

The striker penned a deal with the Wings for next season on the back of a fine spell at relegated Ryman Premier League club Lewes.

Smith trained with the Wings last season and joins on a permanent basis after signing for the Vanarama National League club.

Smith has appeared a number of times for Bermuda as a full international. He scored his first international goal away at Cuba in March this year and has scored regularly for Ryman Premier League side Metropolitan Police (24 goals in 19 games) and PS Kemi Kings in Finland (22 goals in 28 games.

Smith scored an impressive 10 goals in 15 games for Lewes last season.