We will naturally miss Liam Dickson, says Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley

Friday 05th July 2013

LIAM DICKSON will not be with Folkestone Invicta this coming season because of work commitments.

The popular defender will be working in the north east for some time – and is only expecting to be back in his native Folkestone some four days in every fortnight, making regular football, and especially training, very difficult to organise. Boss Neil Cugley told www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk: “Dicko was working away at times last season, but that was not insurmountable.

“We knew there could be a problem this time, and he told me last night that he’ll be working in Newcastle and it’s going to be difficult for him to get home on a regular basis.

“He’s been brilliant for us since he came into the first team almost five years ago and has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He’s such a good lad and we will naturally miss him.”

Dickson was brought into the first team squad along with his youth team colleagues Josh Burchell and Josh Vincent midway through the 2008/2009 season following the departure of more than half a team of experienced players because of financial cutbacks.

Folkestone were relegated that year, but bounced back 12 months later to gain promotion in spectacular style through the Ryman League Division One South play-offs.

That despite having 10 points deducted after the club went into administration. Yet they still finished second behind since discredited Croydon Athletic.

Playing primarily as a left-sided defender/fullback, Dickson has so far made 194 first team appearances – plus another 15 games started on the bench – and has scored four goals.

But boss Cugley may have already found a ready-made replacement for Dickson, a player he rates very highly and who he praised recently for having matured into an accomplished Ryman League player.

Cugley said: “We’re looking at several players in pre-season, and one of those is a left-back. We put him through his paces in training last night and he did well.

“We’ll see how he does when we start the pre-season games, but at this moment, I’m hopeful that he could quite easily do a good job for us.”

Along with several other trialists, the new man is likely to get his first chance to impress when Folkestone Invicta travel to Ashford United on Saturday 13 July.

Paul Chambers’ side finished in third-place in the Kent Invicta League last season and were promoted to the Southern Counties East Football (formerlly known as the Kent League).

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