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Compiled by Editor - [email protected]
Invicta Newslines INDEX for 2004/5

Thursday, May 05, 2005


NEW SIGNINGS
Text: RM
Folkestone Invicta have started to make plans for next season by signing both Matt Bower and Paul Jones from Ashford Town, whilst manager Neil Cugley is still hoping to persuade Stuart Myall to make his loan signing permanent.

28-year-old Matt Bower previously made 19 starting appearances and a further five as a substitute for Invicta during the 2001-02 season, scoring one goal. The versatile player started his career in local football with Bromley Green but was snapped up by Ashford Town, where he became a first team regular during the 1998/99 season. He subsequently joined Welling United before returning to Ashford after his first spell with Folkestone Invicta.

Striker Jones scored both goals when Ashford Town beat Invicta 2-1 at Homelands during August 2003. The quick frontman is a former Gillingham youth team player who has attracted the attention of Football League scouts. He was top goalscorer with Hastings when the Sussex club won the Dr Martens League Eastern Division during the 2001-02 season. He joined Ashford during the summer of 2003 from Welling United, for whom he had played since July 2002. He started the 2003-04 season before suffering a broken leg.


Tuesday, May 03, 2005


Dear Shareholder
Just a reminder that the next shareholders meeting is Monday 9th May at 19.30 in Stripes rear bar.

Please advise by next Saturday of any items you may require to be discussed or if you unable to attend Please advise by email to myself or in writing to the club offices or via personal contact to members of the board.
Phil Orris - Co. Secretary.



Saturday, April 30, 2005


FINAL SCORES
Saturday 30th April
Premier Division
Billericay Town 1-1 Hendon
Dover Athletic 1-2 Eastleigh
Heybridge Swifts 1-3 Harrow Borough
Kingstonian 1 (0)-(1) 5 Folkestone Invicta ***
Leyton 2-0 Chelmsford City
Northwood 1-4 Braintree Town
Salisbury City 3-1 Wealdstone
Staines Town 1-3 Cheshunt
Tonbridge Angels 3-2 Hampton & Rich Boro
Windsor & Eton 1-1 Yeading
Worthing 1-4 Slough Town

Jim Dryden scores 4 of Invicta's five, a hat-trick plus a penalty. Joe Neilson got the 5th. HT 0-1
Invicta finish their season in 14th place of the Ryman premier.
FINAL Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.


Saturday, April 30, 2005


END OF THE SEASON

April 30 - RP - Kingstonian v Folkestone Invicta - 3pm ko
May 02 - KSC - Dover v Margate - 3 pm ko.

 Today we complete our first season in the Ryman Premier league, with the trip to Kingston. Such is the closeness of the teams, we can finish the season mid-table if we win, or potentially as low as two places above the relegation places. Congratulations to league champions Yeading who move up to Conf South, sympathies are with Kingstonian, Tonbridge Angels and Dover Athletic who are all relegated plus one from Wealdstone, Harrow or Cheshunt. Billericay, Eastleigh and Braintree are joined by Hampton &Rich; or Leyton in the playoffs for Conf South.

Invicta's season will be remembered for one thing only, the sad loss of Paul Sykes on April 12th in the John Ullman KSC semi-final at the Westbourne stadium. Following the tragedy Invicta withdrew from the cup and now Dover Athletic and Margate face each other in the final which will be played at the Westbourne on Monday 2nd May (3pm ko) with all proceeds gong to the family (Cary and baby Thomas Sykes). A large crowd is expected with sizeable support from Invicta, Dover and Margate and other Kent clubs who just want to give succour to another member of the Kent family of football. It really is quite extrordinary how Paul's passing has united us all. Let's hope that we can all gain strength for the future with the memory of a fine role-model to unite us even further.

Volunteers are needed on Monday, so if you can help to make it a special, safe occasion for all football fans, please contact Clive (01303 257266), he will be delighted to hear from you.


Thursday, April 28, 2005


AN INTERVIEW WITH SANJAY:

I have just completed an interview with another Invicta Fan. This time it is Dave Addison aka Dave(ed) One of Invictas three clubmen of the year.
I caught up with Dave in his attic perched in front of his PC.

Dave after a long season time to find out more about you.

Favourite other team? Cobblers (Northampton Town), Liverpool

First Folkestone memory? Couldn't understand why I hadn't been to a game before, my neighbour was a regular supporter and nagged me for 2/3 years before I gave in.

Earliest football influence? Cliff Holton, centre forward for the Cobblers for two years (prev Arsenal) but scored over 50 goals in that time.

Best Folkestone moment? FA Cup Oxford United v Folkestone Town, despite losing it was a good day out.
Oh those toilets and the cage behind the goal such memories and The Thames Valley Police! Sanjay

Best Footy moment?I was a steward at White City in 66 World Cup, Uruguay beat France 2-1

Best Invicta moment? Nicky Dent scoring from the centre circle, wish I could remember the match details,  Ashford Home Malcolm Walsh Shield I think. getting the website up and running and

Worst? Tuesday April 12th, 2005 witnessing poor Paul Sykes losing his life on the pitch at Cheriton Road.

About you

Age? Wrong side of 50

Job? IT Manager (Retired in 2000 - due to ill health - diagnosed Parkinsons in 1994)

Other Job? Webmaster for Folkestone Invicta. Its not really a job, more a way of life as it tends to occupy my every wakeful moment.
Best bit about the Website? Keeping people informed
Worst bit? Moaners and lack of help, CAN YOU HELP?  

Food? Anything Italian.

Drink? Vin Rosso or Red Wine

Hobby? Cinema,

Favourite Film? Gladiator reminds me of Scott Lindsey!

Music? Pat Methany, Miles Davis, Weather Men, Walter Trout, etc.

What about your own football career? What career, goalkeeper in the Cubs and Scouts ... pretty undistinguished.

Holidays? Italy is the destination of choice, I love the country, the people, the food, the wine ... but I think this year it'll be down to my F'stone beach hut with a wine box, a good book and the crossword.

Is that the naturist beach ? No comment

Come on don’t be shy I heard a rumour about a man a laptop and a smile? No comment

The camera does not lie! No comment!

Hopes for the future? That the current campaign to clean-up the game from the grassroots is successful and that we can shame all the so-called professionals in the premiership that cheating is unacceptable. Players that accumulate bookings for petty non-footballing incidents such as swearing and abussive language, kicking the ball away, diving to influence the officials, get more severely dealt with. These people are undermining the role-models for the future generations. Restore authority to sporting bodies and Help kick racism and ungentlemanly conduct out of our sport. Provide officials with the technology they need to make fairly instant decisions which all must adhere to.



Many thanks Dave keep up the good work we all be lost with out our daily dose of the message board. The web site is one of the best very easy to read.
Sanjay.


Wednesday, April 27, 2005


RESULTS
Tuesday 26th April
Premier Division
Slough Town (0)1-3(2) Heybridge Swifts
Worthing (0)1-1(1) Billericay Town

FIXTURES
Thursday 28th April
Bryco Cup Final
Hampton & Rich Boro v Slough Town
(at Staines Town FC)

Saturday 30th April
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Hendon
Dover Athletic v Eastleigh
Heybridge Swifts v Harrow Borough
Kingstonian v Folkestone Invicta
Leyton v Chelmsford City
Northwood v Braintree Town
Salisbury City v Wealdstone
Staines Town v Cheshunt
Tonbridge Angels v Hampton & Rich Boro
Windsor & Eton v Yeading
Worthing v Slough Town

FINAL Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.

Monday 2nd May
John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Final
Dover v Margate
Played at Westbourne Stadium Folkestone, proceeds to Paul Sykes family.


Tuesday, April 26, 2005


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

James Dryden was again the toast of Folkestone Invicta as he was chosen as Supporters' Player of the Year for the third seaosn in four and for the second successive season.

It capped another remarkable season for the 25-year-old local striker during a campaign in which he had broken both the club's senior appearance and goalscoring records.

Centre half John Guest was second in the supporters' poll, with goalkeeper Tony Kessell and central defender Adam Flanagan joint third.

Flanagan was voted as Players' Player of the Year and Folkestone Herald Player of the Year, with defensive partner Guest chosen as away supporters' Player of the Year.

17-year-old James Everitt won a new trophy in memory of Derek Knight as Young Player of the Year. Long-time supporter Derek died earlier this year and the trophy was presented by his son Christian.

Ken Arnold and Dave Addison were chosen as Club Men of the year, with a special award going to William Webb for all his work behind the scenes

Text: RM, POM/POY Page

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE
On a personal note I would like to thank everybody concerned with my nomination for one of the Clubmen of the year awards for which I am extremely proud. It has taken pride of place on the mantle piece, I might even dust it once in a while.

Neil Cugley will be taking a full squad to Kingston on Saturday, secure in the knowledge that we will continue in the Ryman Premier next season, no more Dover but big gates from AFC Wimbledon for one year at least.

I'm sure that Neil will pick a side with the continuing mix of young and old which he will hope can blend into a winning side next season. He has already signed up his squad for 2005/6 but will continue to look to strengthen in certain areas. Pre-season Friendlies are being arrranged now.

The last competetive fixture of the season is away to relegated Kingstonian who will be out to spoil our party and remind us all what a big name they used to be in the Non-League world. So if you haven't yet booked your seat in the coach, what are you waiting for!


Saturday, April 23, 2005


FINAL SCORE
Saturday 23rd April
Premier Division
Braintree Town 3-0 Worthing
Chelmsford City 3-2 Kingstonian
Cheshunt 1-1 Windsor & Eton
Eastleigh 1-0 Heybridge Swifts
Folkestone Invicta 0-3 Staines Town
Hampton & Rich Boro 0-3 Billericay Town
Harrow Borough 1-0 Tonbridge Angels
Hendon 1-2 Salisbury City
Slough Town 1-1 Northwood
Wealdstone 0-1 Dover Athletic
Yeading 1-1 Leyton

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.


Thursday, April 21, 2005


A BIG THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGES, TRIBUTES, etc
I don't mind admitting to shedding a few tears this week , the response from people all over the country has been brilliant. The world of football (non-league and league) has come together to see us through Pauls funeral and beyond with their wonderful messages of support for which we thank them. The forums of the main Kent sides have all been swamped and all arguments about the pro's and con's of forums must be put to one side. What we can say is that this has been a very positive use of the internet, in the last 24 hours over 850 hits were registered on our website. I am gradually copying all messages onto a special web page so that we can keep a more permanent record of what Paul Sykes meant to us. Our thoughts are particularly with Carly, young son Thomas, and the rest of the immediate family who have the greatest loss to bare. Rest in peace Paul.

TONIGHT & SATURDAY
Well the season is almost at an end and the final placements in the league are still being fought over. A win tonight will see us safe and enable us to enjoy Saturdays home fixture against Staines. Final placements may well be decided by other teams around us but 49 points will be sufficient, and I think all of us Invicta fans would rather control our own destiny. Syko will be with us in spirit urging us on so lets get behind the team and we can dedicate this season to him, the much loved Paul 'Syko' Sykes.

FIXTURES
Thursday 21st April
Premier Division
Folkestone Invicta v Slough Town

Saturday 23rd April
Premier Division
Braintree Town v Worthing - Chelmsford City v Kingstonian - Cheshunt v Windsor & Eton - Eastleigh v Heybridge Swifts - Folkestone Invicta v Staines Town - Hampton & Rich Boro v Billericay Town - Harrow Borough v Tonbridge Angels - Hendon v Salisbury City - Slough Town v Northwood - Wealdstone v Dover Athletic - Yeading v Leyton


Wednesday, April 20, 2005


Old Boy Makes Good

Nice to see you ... to see you nice ... Allan Tait receives the CTFC.net goal of the season as voted by users of the Crawley website, CTFC.net Photo supplied by Peter Bellamy, [email protected]


The following results have been recorded in the Ryman League Premier Division
Tuesday 19th April 2005

Billericay Town (1) 1-2 (1) Chelmsford City
Yeading (1) 3-3 (3) Slough Town


Tuesday, April 19, 2005


FRIDAYS ARRANGEMENTS
Neil Cugley has asked me to put an item on web news to say that Pauls wife Carly has said that everybody is welcome back to Stripes after the funeral (Stripes open from 2.30pm) on Friday so that you can have a drink and share in what is going to be another emotional day whether you have been able to get to the funeral or not.

REMINDER of the Funeral arrangements
Paul Sykes’ funeral will take place at St Andrews Church in Buckland, Dover at 1.30pm on Friday April 22nd, followed by Barham Crematorium at 2.30pm. Family flowers only.

DONATIONS TO THE PAUL SYKES FAMILY
If you want to make a donation to the family of Paul Sykes then you may send your cheque to Folkestone Invicta chairman Bob Dix, made payable to "Folkestone Invicta FC" at the following address.

Send to: Bob Dix, Folkestone Invicta FC, The New Pavilion, Westbourne Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone CT19 5JU

or ALTERNATIVELY you may wish to use the PayPal Credit Card facility set up by Dover Athletic at www.doverathletic.com until May 2nd.



LAST OF THE HOME GAMES
On Thursday night Folkestone Invicta have to play the penultimate home Ryman Premier game against Slough. Slough have been left with a severe backlog of fixtures, presumeably the result of earlier Cup success and seem to be in free-fall. Nevertheless another tough ask for Neil Cugley and his men whom I sure would appreciate your support in trying to avoid the relegation zone and hopefully retain our place at this level for season 2005/6.

Apr 21 - RP Invicta v Slough 7.45pm
Apr 23 - RP Invicta v Staines Town 3pm


Saturday, April 16, 2005


Paul (Syko) Sykes - Rest in Peace

(photo courtesy: colash)


FINAL SCORE
Saturday 16th April
Premier Division
Braintree Town 1-2 Staines Town
Chelmsford City 1-2 Yeading
***Folkestone Invicta 1-3 Heybridge Swifts
Hampton & Rich Boro 2-1 Wealdstone
Kingstonian 0-1 Cheshunt
Leyton 1-0 Windsor & Eton
Northwood 0-3 Eastleigh
Salisbury City 1-2 Harrow Borough
Slough Town 0-6 Billericay Town
Tonbridge Angels 3-2 Dover Athletic
Worthing 0-0 Hendon

*** The one minute silence was well observed by everyone.
All things considered I think many of us would have gladly been elsewhere. A very open game, our midfield had a better game than I've seen in a long time but if I were totally honest I'd have to say it was because Heybridge allowed us to play. Swifts were much more incisive and easily converted their opportunities into goals. Later into the second period Myall was introduced into the game, a very accomplished player who's first touch was immaculate and we suddenly produced a lot more chances, Glover scored a consolation goal in the 74th minute. If Glover ever learns to trust his team-mates sufficiently to pass the ball, then all his fine runs across the pitch might actually achieve something other than gentle applause. Simon can be a match winner, should be match winner.

See RM's Full Match report on Sunday.
HT: 0-2 FT : 1-3 Scorers: Griffiths (26) (59), Gillespie (39).
Scorers: Glover (74)

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.


Thursday, April 14, 2005


Message from Carly (and 9month old Thomas)
"We want to thank everyone at Folkestone Invicta, Margate FC, the ambulance crew, hospital staff and for all the messages of support posted to the forum.

The Supporters' Club requests that anybody collecting money or wishing to collect money for the family of Paul Sykes should hang on to the money and bring it along to the Kent Senior Cup Final on Bank Holiday monday May 2nd to hand it over then.

Today's post mortem into the death of Paul Sykes has proved to be 'inconclusive' and further analysis is required. An inquest into Paul's death will be held at Ashford's Magistrates Court on Wednesday April 20th.


Wednesday, April 13, 2005


PAUL SYKES - Funeral arrangements, KSC Final, etc

Paul Sykes’ funeral will take place at St Andrews Church in Buckland, Dover at 1.30pm on Friday April 22nd, followed by Barham Crematorium at 2.30pm. Family flowers only.

Folkestone Invicta have pulled out of the Kent Senior Cup as a result of Tuesday night’s events and Margate will now meet Dover Athletic in the final at Invicta’s Westbourne Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday May 2nd, kick off 3pm. All proceeds from the game both through the turnstiles and any raffle money will go to Paul’s family.

After consultations between the club and the Sykes family, Saturday’s home game with Heybridge Swifts will go ahead as planned. There will obviously be a minute’s silence before the game.

Invicta will be withdrawing the number ten shirt worn by Paul Sykes until further notice.


Wednesday, April 13, 2005


Paul Sykes - a tribute
words: Richard Murrill

tragically died on Tuesday night after collapsing on the pitch during the club’s Kent Senior Cup semi final tie against Margate.

Sykes, just 28 years old, received treatment on the pitch from respective physios Dave Williams (Folkestone Invicta) and John Griffin (Margate) after he had stopped breathing and paramedic staff also did their best to revive him on the pitch before he was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford where he was later pronounced dead.

Sykes leaves a wife Carly and young son Thomas, born in July 2004.

Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley paid tribute to the striker. “We are all obviously distraught and this is a time when any worries about football become irrelevant as all our thoughts go out to Paul’s family and closest friends. They are the ones that matter, football and football clubs will go on but this is a time when everybody needs to rally around Paul’s family and friends. Football is a competitive game and it is not always the nicest business to be involved in but it is at times such as this that the football world has shown what a kind and considerate world it can be with all the tributes we have received from other clubs about Paul. Everybody knows what a great character Paul was to have around, he was a player who always gave 100% and his infectious personality shone both on and off the field. He livened up the dressing room and the crowd and although a very competitive player he was always one of the first to shake hands after the game and enjoy a drink with both team mates and opponents. He will be sadly missed.”

Margate manager Chris Kinnear added his thoughts on the players whose goals helped to take Margate to the Dr Martens League Premier Division championship in 2000-01 and with it promotion to the Conference.

“I think that Paul played the best football of his career at Margate and his partnership with Phil Collins at the time was unstoppable, they both had power and pace and both could score goals. I had only been talking to Paul about that before Tuesday night’s game. Paul did very well for us here and his time at the club only came to an end when he smashed his knee in a game against Bath City. Sometimes Paul was his own biggest critic as he wanted to be as good as he could make himself and that sometimes held him back, but in other ways made him better. He was a good lad. This is a tragedy.”

Invicta chairman Bob Dix also paid tribute to the player. “Paul approached the club during November when he knew that we were looking for strikers and said that he would like to come and play for us. Unlike many players these days he didn’t ask about money and was prepared to play just for travelling expenses which showed just the type of person he was. Very genuine. Unfortunately nowadays you don’t get that type of attitude in footballers or in other walks of life. His primary objective was playing football and helping to take the club forward which is what he did. I haven’t known him as long as some people in the game but had known him when he joined us on loan when Tim Hulme was the manager back in the mid 1990s and was pleased to see him back. He will be sadly missed by the club.”

Police have said that there were no suspicious circumstances into the death but that the coroner would be informed.

Invicta manager Neil Cugley, reserve team manager Micky Dix and KCFA Chairman Keith Masters had all travelled to the hospital and there were emotional scenes as the ground as news came through of his sad death as players and officials from both clubs struggled to come to terms with the tragic news.

Sykes had been a popular player with both clubs and few could take in what they were being asked to cope with. The striker had always been the life and soul of the party and had been his usual jovial self on Tuesday night as he shared his usual laugh and joke with supporters and players and officials of both sides such as his long-time friend Kevin Raine, assistant manager at Margate.

The kick off had been delayed for 35 minutes due to an accident on the M20 and Sykes collapsed after about 23 minutes, shortly after Margate had opened the scoring through Rocky Baptiste. The game was subsequently abandoned.

This was a night which firmly put football’s rivalries into perspective and tributes to Sykes have been pouring into the Folkestone Invicta website from a variety of clubs, some of which are not even in Invicta’s league, all united in their grief and sense of shock.

The three clubs still involved in the Kent Senior Cup – Folkestone Invicta, Margate and Dover Athletic – all have strong links with Paul Sykes and there is already talk of the Kent Senior Cup Final due to be played on Bank Holiday Monday May 2nd being turned into some kind of memorial match for the much-loved striker.

Sykes joined Invicta in November 2004 from Dartford. Originally an apprentice at Gillingham, Paul then made his name at then Conference club Welling United. He joined Margate during the 1995/96 season and soon established himself as the club’s leading goalscorer as he was a member of Chris Kinnear’s side which won promotion from the Dr Martens League Southern Division and then won the Premier Division in 2000-01. After recovering from some serious ankle and knee injuries he joined Dartford during the 2002-03 season and subsequently had a spell with Dover Athletic before returning to Tommy Sampson’s Darts. He also had a spell on loan at Invicta midway through the 1995-96 season. In total he made 24 appearances for Invicta, with a further three as substitute, scoring four goals.

Folkestone Invicta club officials were meeting on Wednesday morning. The club is due to play at home to Heybridge Swifts in the Ryman Premier League on Saturday afternoon.


Tuesday, April 12, 2005


PAUL SYKES
It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Invicta striker Paul Sykes. He collapsed about 30 minutes into tonights delayed kick-off match. Invicta physio Dave Williams and Margate physio John Griffin tried to revive him whilst awaiting the ambulance, he was taken to William Harvey Hospital and was pronounced dead. Everybody is in shock here so more information will not become available until tomorow. Paul was well known to both sets of players having previously been a Margate player. Paul is going to be sadly missed.


Monday, April 11, 2005

NEWS FROM THE DUGOUT
I managed to have a few minutes chat with Neil Cugley about tomorrow nights Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final and asked who might be missing. He advised that Kevin Watson was doubtful and would have a fitness test tomorrow. Stuart Myall was not signed early enough to qualify for the KSC. Other than that everybody was fit and up for the challenge. (Ed. I hope that they've been practising their penalties).

As regards preparations for the future, all current players have agreed to sign for next season, and Neil will also be looking to strengthen in some areas.

FIXTURES - to 230405
Tuesday 12th April
KSC SF
Folkestone Invicta v Margate 7.45pm (winner to meet Dover in the final)

Premier Division
Hampton & Rich Boro v Kingstonian - Slough Town v Staines Town

Saturday 16th April
Premier Division
Braintree Town v Staines Town - Chelmsford City v Yeading - Folkestone Invicta v Heybridge Swifts - Hampton & Rich Boro v Wealdstone - Kingstonian v Cheshunt - Leyton v Windsor & Eton - Northwood v Eastleigh - Salisbury City v Harrow Borough - Slough Town v Billericay Town - Tonbridge Angels v Dover Athletic - Worthing v Hendon

Tuesday 19th April
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Chelmsford City - Yeading v Slough Town

Thursday 21st April
Premier Division
Folkestone Invicta v Slough Town

Saturday 23rd April
Premier Division
Braintree Town v Worthing - Chelmsford City v Kingstonian - Cheshunt v Windsor & Eton - Eastleigh v Heybridge Swifts - Folkestone Invicta v Staines Town - Hampton & Rich Boro v Billericay Town - Harrow Borough v Tonbridge Angels - Hendon v Salisbury City - Slough Town v Northwood - Wealdstone v Dover Athletic - Yeading v Leyton


Sunday, April 10, 2005

VIEWS FROM THE TERRACES: Recent Postings from the forum

Becoming a Bigger and More Established Club - Jamie Lee - Thu Apr

Now that we are basically guarenteed premier football nxt season i think the club should become more professional starting with the website , I.e Showing highlightes of the game having live interviews with Neil Cugley and starting to have audio and visual showings of games , i know over the hill have done this but they are not quite up to standard on the pitch , Also having a proper plan set up for seating and stewards , this would help avvoid incidents like last week , kids playing football behinf the goals and by stripes , also generate money from seating, Is there ever any order in the car park i.e stewards showing cars to places , What are your views and contributions
GREAT IDEA - clive Thu Apr 7 19:27:51 - THE SHOPKEEPER

BUT I think you will find Dave 1066 does all the videos as a labour of love. We need someone to do it for us.
Our set up is good and getting better all the time.
We will have stewards .

FIFC is run by very few people and only very few are paid! Anyone who wants to help talk to us we listen.
Re: Becoming a Bigger and More Established Club - AR Thu Apr 7 19:27:24

1) I think it should be clearly signed at the entrance and around the ground that children who come in for free with their parent remain the responsibility of that parent and should be adequately supervised at all times. The club is not a creche and it is not for other fans to have to point out the danger of playing soccer near the entrance or where people are carrying tea and then be the recipient of some scornful remark from the parent. 2)I believe someone already collects monies at the entrance to the seats. 3)We may ourselves be scornful about some of the 'jobsworth' stewards we encounter on our travels but I have to admit that where they are deployed properly the clubs do have an organised air about them. Trouble is they all add to the costs and I dont think we have the funds. Equally can we afford not to as we skate on thin ice with the 'incidents' all adding up? 4) I think it will be difficult to have order in the car park until we can call it our own and fans are not constantly vying for space with the bowlers. I hope the club progresses but remains friendly and efficient rather than slips into matey and slapdash.
Becoming a Bigger and More Established Club - marc - Thu Apr 7 20:50:00 - marc

have noted the the comments on here since saturday regarding what happened, but from a incident in which the ref stopped the game because of a drink being thrown, it seems to have been turned into bikes and kids,though i try and keep my kids under supervision at times its hard, and yes children do play football in the ground, but on the hole it is next to the bowels club,and does not seem to really bother people i try to stop mine but its hard on all parents when children are playing there not to allow yours to, and maby if footballs were not brought into the ground then problem stopped. if balls are allowed to be brought in then its bloody hard to stop anyone kicking it. still tying to work out why a beer drinking fan throwing it over a player is being linked to bikes and kids playing ball though
Re: Becoming a Bigger and More Established ClubStumpy - Thu Apr 7 23:34:15

It is tricky, trying to tread a happy medium between being a friendly, relaxed place and a free-for-all, but I do think we have to face up to the times we live in and the "compensation culture".

If someone somehow gets hurt as a result of the kids playing football or somebody careering around the ground on a bike then it is is very likely that the club could be held responsible; I don't know what insurance we carry, but we certainly could not afford any kind of award that might result. For this reason I think both of these things have to be stopped.

As for the beer debate, I like a pint as much as anyone (more than some), but I'm not sure it's a good idea to take one out onto the terraces. Having said that, lots of people do, the majority of them don't cause any trouble and it is a pity that the stupidity of one guy who has had a bit too much should call the thing into question - but the trouble is that it does. If the ref reports it then the FA are obliged to take some kind of action and, coming on the heels of the Gavin Hoare affair, it isn't very clever at all.

On balance, I don't see how we can stop, or even if we should stop people taking a pint out, but maybe it would be sensible to make clear over the PA before our remaining home games that abusive behaviour, etc will not be tolerated - as long as this message is put across sensibly and not too heavily then it shouldn't dampen the atmosphere that is usually so good.
the above - Dilip's brother - Fri Apr 8 08:05:59

Lots of good, sensible comments here.

The stewarding issue will be looked at more closely at the next shareholders meeting, though a very close eye is being kept on the situation till then.

The biker man should be stopped, but as long as all the kids are as well behaved as Marc's we shouldn't have too much trouble.

Having been at another local ground recently, I was struck by the number of teenagers they have there, either as spectators, or helping to run the club as gatemen, ball retrievers etc etc.

Tbat is something that's badly missing at Invicta.

Getting back to the above, all constructive suggestions and ideas of how the club can become more professional are welcome. I've no doubt that Supporters Club officials have noted the comments, while the chairman would I'm sure also welcome any sensible comments regarding the way the club is run.

I know we're forever banging on about it, but we do need more volunteers to help run things, both on matchdays and at other times.
Re: the above - Stevey (DAFC) - Fri Apr 8 08:51:47

When you talk about another local club, do you mean Dover? Of course the game against yourselves was a one off with the number of stewards, however the club still has at least 6 during a normal match.

Two of the Supporters Trust Board members organise local schools and teams to provide the ball boys at the game, and the rest of the ground is maned by a host of volunteers. The only people who get paid are the bar staff and the tea hut staff on match days.

I guess that the trouble with yourselves is that you suffer from a lack of volunteers. As you go up the leagues, you should have a greater away support coming through which at times need to be stewarded.

Also as the season is over for you, why not do kid for a quid and go to the local schools. By attracting fans for the remainder of this season, they may come back the next?

As for the stewarding, I did feel severly worried at our Boxing Day game where I didnt see any steward or police presence. Incidients such as the Hoare and the beer throwing idiot do happen occassionally, so its best to take precautions. Again it comes down to the same problem - volunteers.

Good luck in the future!

Some unexpurgated recent postings from the fifc forum, if you're not having your say WHY NOT!


Saturday, April 09, 2005

FINAL SCORE
Saturday 9th April
Premier Division
Billericay Town 0-0 Worthing
Cheshunt 0-0 Folkestone Invicta
Dover Athletic 2-0 Hampton & Rich Boro
Eastleigh 0-0 Braintree Town
Harrow Borough 2-1 Leyton
Hendon 0-0 Slough Town
Heybridge Swifts 1-2 Salisbury City
Wealdstone 1-1 Tonbridge Angels
Windsor & Eton 0-0 Chelmsford City
Yeading 2-0 Northwood

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.


Friday, April 08, 2005

REVIEW
This weekend sees us playing our penultimate away fixture of our first season in the revamped Ryman Premier league. We completed two league doubles over Easter (Leyton and Dover) and since then a home win over Harrow (we drew away in the league).

Current form would suggest that tomorrows trip up to Herts ought not to trip-up Neil Cugleys mix of seniors, juniors and enthusiasts. It has not been the most pleasing spectacle of late but it has been successful, nine points in three games is good at whatever level you are playing your football and we are now getting the rub of the green. I personally think that providing we don't suddenly get an overnight injury list we will complete our season without further defeats (apart from penalty shoot-outs!) .

John Guest returns for selection after his 2 match suspension, you may remember he was amongst the scorers in the 4-3 home win last November against Cheshunt. Kevin Watson looks unlikey to be fit this weekend, he has had a recurrence of a knee injury.

BEST BEHAVIOUR
Neil Cugley returns to the dugout on Saturday after the 2 match suspension that followed the infamous walk-off of referee Gavin Hoare back on January 22nd. The FA are not taking any further action against the club or officials but have warned us about avoiding further crowd incidents, in the light of any more crowd troubles the FA will return to the events of the flare-up of January 22nd. Spectators are urged to be on their best behaviour, particularly during this interim period where the club and its officers, the shareholders and the supporters club agree on what measures are required to control any future problems.

Apr 09 - RP Cheshunt v Invicta 3pm Apr 09 - KL Invicta Res v Slade Green Res 3pm Res Season ends. Apr 12 - KSC SF Invicta v Margate 7.45pm (Winners face Dover in the Final)

Thursday nights result was Slough 1 Hendon 3


Wednesday, April 06, 2005

MIDWEEK SCORES
Tuesday 5th April
Premier Division
Heybridge Swifts 6-1 Northwood
Leyton 1-2 Yeading
Slough Town 2-3 Kingstonian
Staines Town 0-0 Braintree Town

Thursday 7th April
Premier Division
Slough Town v Hendon

MATCH REARRANGED
Date agreed for the Home Ryman Premier fixture against Slough, is Thursday Apr 21, 2005 ko 7.45pm

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.


Saturday, April 02, 2005

GOSSIP
The gossip that Tony Kessell has signed for Conference Souths Eastbourne Borough is partially correct. Kessell will be with Invicta until the end of the season then if Borough finish in the play-off zone Kess will join them as cover only, returning to Invicta. To enable Kess to cover in May, the registration with boro had to be signed and sealed by the end of March.

FIXTURES 040405 to 160405
Monday 4th April
Bryco Cup - Semi Final - Second Leg
Chelmsford City v Hampton & Rich Boro

Tuesday 5th April Premier Division
Heybridge Swifts v Northwood 7.30 - Leyton v Yeading - Slough Town v Kingstonian - Staines Town v Braintree Town

Thursday 7th April
Premier Division
Slough Town v Hendon

Saturday 9th April
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Worthing - Cheshunt v Folkestone Invicta - Dover Athletic v Hampton & Rich Boro - Eastleigh v Braintree Town - Harrow Borough v Leyton - Hendon v Slough Town - Heybridge Swifts v Salisbury City - Wealdstone v Tonbridge Angels - Windsor & Eton v Chelmsford City - Yeading v Northwood

Tuesday 12th April
Kent Senior Cup SF
Folkestone Invicta v Margate 7.45pm

Premier Division
Hampton & Rich Boro v Kingstonian - Slough Town v Staines Town

Saturday 16th April
Premier Division
Braintree Town v Staines Town - Chelmsford City v Yeading - Folkestone Invicta v Heybridge Swifts - Hampton & Rich Boro v Wealdstone - Kingstonian v Cheshunt - Leyton v Windsor & Eton - Northwood v Eastleigh - Salisbury City v Harrow Borough - Slough Town v Billericay Town - Tonbridge Angels v Dover Athletic - Worthing v Hendon


Saturday, April 02, 2005

DRYDEN 89 NOT OUT PRESENTATION
I had the pleasure of presenting a red book to James Dryden today containing some of the website articles about his recent achievements where he now holds the club records for numbers of appearances and goals. Two minutes later and he'd added to his goal tally with the solitary goal of this afternoons match. Quite a milestone for one so young (only 25) and here's hoping that he continues to be a record breaker for Invicta for as long as he wants to play his football in our home town.

SEASON TICKET SPECIAL
If you are a current season ticket holder then you have probably received a renewal letter from General Secretary Alan Hall advising you of the 2005/6 season rates.

If you are not currently a season ticket holder be advised that for applications/renewals special rates apply to tickets purchased before the end of April 2005. Adults: £130 Standing, £145 Seated, Senior Citizens/Junior £70 Standing, £85 Seated.

From May 1st onwards, Adults add £10 and SC/Jun add £5.

The Gate price for 2005/6 will be £8 standing and £4 for SC/Junior.

Send forms/cheques to Alan Hall at 42 Walton Gardens, Folkestone CT19 5PR. Cheques should be payable to Folkestone Invicta FC Ltd.

EVENTS ON 22ndJan 05 surrounding Mr G Hoare
Neil Pilcher, Club Secretary has made the following statement regarding the events that took place on that date.

The club has received a reply from the FA concerning events at our game with Hampton & Richmond Boro on Saturday 22nd January 2005.

Having reviewed our comments I can confirm that the FA does not propose to take ay further action on this occasion.

However the FA also stated that they would consider disciplinary action against the club should further reports of spectator misconduct be received and that the FA reserves the right to refer to this matter in such circumstances.

Therefore, whilst the club is pleased with the outcome we would ask for spectators to behave in the appropriate manner to ensure we are not called before the FA again. We shall continue with our "low-key" stewarding which has been effective in our climb through the leagues.
Many thanks for your co-operation.

Well I must say I'm heartily relieved that the FA have accepted Folkestone Invictas view of events but the warnings are still there, we must be seen to be in control of events at Cheriton Road. Just this afternoon the referee had to stop the play for a few minutes so that a club official could be brought to a minor flare-up and eject somebody from the ground. Some times officialdom strives too hard to enforce health and safety rules but I rather think that our "low-key" approach can sometimes appear invisible to the outsider and perhaps we will have to do a bit more soul searching about more visible controls.

HOME MIDWEEK GAMES TO BE PLAYED ON MONDAYS
Yes folks they've moved the middle of the week to the left a bit! Its not such a bad idea really because its the only day that is fixture-free when European and Internationals have a rest day. Club secretary Neil Pilcher explained to me that the number of televised european games, particularly Tuesday & Wednesday, have caused a big reduction in attendances at the Westbourne stadium. Neil went on to say that he hoped everyone understood the economic arguments behind this decision and that supporters would continue to support the club. I will of course and I'm sure that we can encourage friends and neighbours to get out from behind the TV set!


Saturday, April 02, 2005

FINAL SCORE
Saturday 2nd April
Premier Division
Billericay Town 1-1 Yeading
Braintree Town 1-1 Dover Athletic
Cheshunt 2-2 Salisbury City
Eastleigh 3-0 Chelmsford City
Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Harrow Borough
(Dryden 2nd min)

Hendon 0-0 Tonbridge Angels
Kingstonian 0-1 Windsor & Eton
Northwood 2-0 Wealdstone
Slough Town 0-1 Hampton & Rich Boro
Staines Town 0-2 Leyton
Worthing 2-1 Heybridge Swifts

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.


Friday, April 01, 2005

Richard Murrill interviewed James Dryden for the Kentish Express earlier this week

photo: James Dryden 2004
Striker James Dryden has been speaking of his pride at breaking the club’s senior goalscoring record with Easter Monday’s priceless winning goal at Dover Athletic in front of a 2390 crowd at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

And the popular 25-year-old striker has revealed how he was very nearly not on the pitch to score the vital goal after sustaining a toe injury early on which required hospital treatment the following morning.

“I was injured in a challenge after about five minutes and was going to come off at half time, but Neil (Cugley) told me to stay on and it was lucky that I did as I was there to score towards the end of the game”.

It was Dryden’s 89th goal for Invicta and broke the record of 88 set by Paul Chambers since Invicta gained senior status in 1991. Dryden had equalled the record with two goals in the last 20 minutes to give Invicta a vital 2-1 home win over Leyton on Good Friday.

When Dryden broke the club’s senior appearance record at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough back in January his achievement was overshadowed by the controversial walk off of referee Gavin Hoare that day.

Dryden has now made 235 starting appearances for Invicta, with a further 41 as a substitute, and he could hardly have picked a more high profile stage to break the goalscoring record.

“To break both the clubs’ appearance and goalscoring records is absolutely brilliant and to break the goals record in front of a big crowd in such an important game as Dover away makes it even better. I’m very pleased and can’t stop smiling,” said Dryden who lives in the town.

Local lad Dryden has long been the darling of home supporters and he cemented his place as an Invicta legend with Monday’s 84th minute winner from Paul Lamb’s deep left wing cross which gave the Folkestone side a Ryman Premier League double over their bitterest local rivals.

Dryden acknowledged that the Dover game was amongst the biggest of his career so far and described the goal as his “best ever”, even topping the special second goal he had scored in the home game against Leyton on Good Friday.

“I had missed what was an easier chance earlier in the second half than the one which I scored and thought that it was going to be one of those days. I thought that I was going to be taken off after my earlier miss.” Said Dryden. “But thank god that Neil kept me on and I was able to score and then see our fans go absolutely crazy behind the goal,” he added.

Dryden was also quick to praise his team mates and singled out both Micheal Everitt and Adam Flanagan as being “absolutely superb” in the Dover game.

Dryden joined Invicta at the age of 15 and a highlight of his time in the club’s youth ranks came when he scored a hat-trick in the closing five minutes against a Furness youth side managed by Andy Hessenthaler, who went on to manage Gillingham.

Speaking about his early days at the club, Dryden recalls that “Paul Fisk and Andy King were the ones who really started to make things happen for me by putting me straight into the reserve team when I wasn’t even getting a regular game with the youth team”.

He made his first team debut as a substitute in the Kent League when aged just 16 at Crockenhill and scored on his senior debut in 2-1 win away to Burnham on December 4th, 1999. He has been voted Supporters’ Player of the Year in both 2001-02 and 2003-04 and has hit one hat-trick – at home to Chatham Town in October 2003.

Dryden, not surprisingly, has been chosen as the F. J. Fullick & Co Player of the Month for March.

When asked about his future targets, he stated that his wishes were that “we stay up this season and that I continue to play for Folkestone Invicta for as long as possible. Hopefully I will be able to score a few more goals so that nobody will be able to break my record”.




Thursday, March 31, 2005

FIXTURES 020405
Saturday 2nd April
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Yeading
Braintree Town v Dover Athletic
Cheshunt v Salisbury City
Eastleigh v Chelmsford City
Folkestone Invicta v Harrow Borough
Hendon v Tonbridge Angels
Kingstonian v Windsor & Eton
Northwood v Wealdstone
Slough Town v Hampton & Rich Boro
Staines Town v Leyton
Worthing v Heybridge Swifts

MARCH POM
The Fullicks Player of the Month for March can only be one person, one Jimmy Dryden ... there's only one Jimmy Dryden.

DOVER DVD
Re-live Lamby's deep cross ... Jimmy's powerful header ... celebrate. Order your own copy (£15) of the 2004/5 Invicta/Dover double dvd from the club shop.


Monday, March 28, 2005

INVICTA'S DRYDEN BEATS HYDE'N

FINAL EASTER SCORES

Easter Monday 28th March
Premier Division
Chelmsford City 1-3 Billericay Town
**Dover Athletic 0-1 Folkestone Invicta
Harrow Borough 1-1 Northwood
Heybridge Swifts 2-1 Braintree Town
Leyton 2-1 Cheshunt
Salisbury City 0-0 Eastleigh
Tonbridge Angels 1-0 Worthing
Wealdstone 2-3 Hendon
Windsor & Eton 0-4 Slough Town

** Attendance: 2,390 HT 0-0, Jim Dryden (83min), FT 0-1, M-O-M J Dryden,
Jeckel/Hyde -O-M Paul Hyde for getting JD booked after the goal, then praising JD and Invicta on BBC/RK.

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages.
Team Form Guide supplied by FootballWebPages.


Saturday, March 26, 2005

FINAL SCORE EASTER SATURDAY
Saturday 26th March
Premier Division
Braintree Town 0-0 Yeading
Eastleigh 0-0 Windsor & Eton 1.00
Hendon 1-0 Harrow Borough 1.00
Kingstonian 0-4 Salisbury City
Northwood 2-4 Hampton & Rich B 12.45
Slough Town 2-0 Tonbridge Angels
Staines Town 1-1 Heybridge Swifts 1.00

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages .

Folkestone Invicta Res 0-2 Whitstable Town Res


Friday, March 25, 2005

FINAL SCORE
Good Friday 25th March
Premier Division
Friday, March 25, 2005 Billericay Town 2-0 Wealdstone
Cheshunt 0-3 Chelmsford City 1.00
Folkestone Invicta 2-1 Leyton 1.00


Thursday, March 24, 2005

INVICTA AT FULL STRENGTH
I spoke to a very confident Neil Cugley this afternoon who was looking forward to the Easter weekend. "Yes we are at full strength," he confirmed that Kevin Watson would be able to start a first team match for the first time since mid-December. "Its been diifficult for Kevin because he has had two (seperate) injuries, just as he was trying to return from one he got the second."

Stuart Myall (30), midfielder on loan from Eastbourne Boro, plays his first home match tomorrow at the Westbourne when Leyton are the visitors for a ONE o'CLOCK Kick Off. Leyton are the only team in the division that Invicta have beaten away (0-4 in August) from home. Victory would be very pleasing and perhaps this will be the turning point in our season. We have a few games against other struggling sides remaining which starts at Dover on Easter Monday. More of that on another day, lets concentrate on the immediate problem of taking some more points off Leyton.



EASTER FIXTURES
Mar 25 - RP Invicta v Leyton (Good Friday) 1pm
Mar 26 - KL Invicta Res v Whitstable Res (Easter Sat. noon)
Mar 28 - RP Dover Athletic v Invicta (Easter Monday) 3pm

ALAN LANCASTER
On a sadder note, Alan Lancaster former secretary of Ashford Town during Neil Cugleys reign, has died. He was in his eighties and had been a regular visitor to Cheriton Road this season. The football club send their condolences to Alan's family.


Tuesday, March 22, 2005

EASTER IS CRUNCH TIME
It would seem from Richard's match report that the players have responded to the call and are putting things right on the field, however it was asking a lot to come away from the Ding with 3 points. However we have an outside chance of achieving two league doubles over the Easter weekend, home to Leyton on Good Friday (ko 1pm) and Monday afternoon at the Crabble 3pm ko.

One, It would go a long way to securing our position in the Ryman Premiere, and Two, it would make things difficult for our illustrious neighbours.

Your presence is required for both games, so "Lets be aving you".

Tonights RP league result was

Cheshunt 0-0 Leyton
This means that Cheshunt are 2 points above Invicta but Invicta have a game in hand.

FIXTURES w/c 250305

Good Friday 25th March
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Wealdstone
Cheshunt v Chelmsford City 1.00
Folkestone Invicta v Leyton 1.00

Saturday 26th March
Premier Division Braintree Town v Yeading
Eastleigh v Windsor & Eton 1.00
Hendon v Harrow Borough 1.00
Kingstonian v Salisbury City
Northwood v Hampton & Rich B 12.45
Slough Town v Tonbridge Angels
Staines Town v Heybridge Swifts 1.00

Easter Monday 28th March
Premier Division
Chelmsford City v Billericay Town
Dover Athletic v Folkestone Invicta
Harrow Borough v Northwood
Heybridge Swifts v Braintree Town
Leyton v Cheshunt
Salisbury City v Eastleigh
Tonbridge Angels v Worthing
Wealdstone v Hendon
Windsor & Eton v Slough Town


Saturday, March 19, 2005

FINAL SCORE

Friday 18th March
Premier Division
Wealdstone 1-1 Slough Town

Saturday 19th March
Premier Division
Chelmsford City 2-1 Worthing
Dover Athletic 2-1 Cheshunt
Hampton & Rich Boro 1-0 Hendon
Harrow Borough 1-2 Eastleigh
Heybridge Swifts 3-0 Kingstonian
Salisbury City 0-0 Braintree Town
Tonbridge Angels 0-2 Billericay Town
Windsor & Eton 2-1 Staines Town
**Yeading 1-0 Folkestone Invicta

** RM said "best performance of the season, very unlucky"
Morgan 32 minute HT 1-0.
Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages .


Saturday, March 19, 2005

NEW SIGNING - should play today at the Ding
STUART MYALL : (Midfielder / Defender): Signed for Eastbourne Boro from neighbours Hastings United during the 2003/04 season. Signed for the then-Hastings Town in 1998 after being released by Brentford; and began his career at Brighton & Hove Albion. He rejoins former Hastings colleagues Flanagan, Kessell and Norman. An assured player in midfield, who can also play in defence. He is on non-contract forms with Invicta.
Date of Birth: 12 November 1974
Place of Birth: Eastbourne Borough
Signed: March 2005
Previous clubs: Eastbourne Boro; Hastings United/Town; Brentford; Brighton & Hove Albion

TODAYS GAME
Jim Dryden should lead the front line today, but Kevin Watson should make the substitutes bench. Joe Nielson should be fit at the start of the Easter weekend.

REGIONAL FINAL (u15's)
Folkestone Invicta 3-1 Tonbridge Angels u15's
The match was played last night in very foggy conditions and the Angels got off to a great start with the early goal, but Invicta came back with goals from Taylor, Wilde and Partridge. This was a good result against a strong side. Well done lads.
Ed. thanks to Elland Boy and David H for youth section info.


Friday, March 18, 2005

ONE JIMMY DRYDEN there's only one Jimmy Dryden
Folkestone Invicta face the toughest fixture of the season with the away trip to runaway leaders Yeading on Saturday morning.

Invicta have been in freefall for weeks, with their last league victory being in early January at home to Billericay. Their away results have been dire with only one league victory to their name last August when they won 4-0 up at Leyton. Invicta have a rare opportunity for two league doubles over Easter when Leyton visit the Westbourne stadium on Good Friday (25th March), and Invicta travel to Crabble on Bank Holiday Monday. Before we start talking about ressurecting our season (oops sorry about that!) there is the major problem of avoiding defeat this Saturday at the hands of the Ding.

I don't honestly know how manager Neil Cugley can convince his squad that they could be winners tomorrow, perhaps reinvoke the spirit of 2001, remember this Neil ...

Feb 2001
BURTON ALBION 0 FOLKESTONE INVICTA 2
Folkestone Invicta enjoyed their best win of the season on Tuesday night when goals from strikers Nicky Dent and Steve Lawrence ended leaders Burton Albion's unbeaten home record in the Premier Division at Eton Park. There were heroes all over the pitch for Neil Cugley's side as centre backs Andy Larkin and Scott Daniels were a tower of strength and James Dryden proved to be an unlikely defensive hero at left wing back ...

With Dr Who making a comeback as well ...

Paul Lamb and James Dryden return to the side tomorrow after serving their one match suspensions, Adam Flanagan has to serve one more suspension and John Guest starts a two match suspension on Easter Monday. With uncertainty about top striker Jim Drydens fitness (he's had his arm in a sling all week) I think we have to discover another JD, preferably by 3pm Saturday.

FIXTURES w/c 180305

Friday 18th March
Premier Division
Wealdstone v Slough Town

Saturday 19th March
Premier Division
Chelmsford City v Worthing
Dover Athletic v Cheshunt
Hampton & Rich Boro v Hendon
Harrow Borough v Eastleigh
Heybridge Swifts v Kingstonian
Salisbury City v Braintree Town
Tonbridge Angels v Billericay Town
Windsor & Eton v Staines Town
Yeading v Folkestone Invicta

Tuesday 22nd March
Bryco Cup - Semi Final - First Leg
Hampton & Rich Boro v Chelmsford City

Bryco Cup - Semi Final - Second Leg
Slough Town v Heybridge Swifts

Premier Division
Cheshunt v Leyton

Check out the Herald for detailed analysis of all the Ryman Premier drop-zone candidates.


Wednesday, March 16, 2005

THE SUNDAY PAPERS

Interested to read about the NLP's Clean Up Our Game campaign in the editorial of Sundays paper.

They report that "all Conference clubs and their colleagues in the Premier Divisions (Southern, Unibond and Ryman) will wear grass-roots green wristbands for their Easter fixtures."

David Emery's editorial continues "the message will be simple; For the good of the game, end the excesses that are causing us all to shy away with embarrassment. He then lists the five points of the campaign."

  • End the foul and abusive language by fans, players and managers.
  • Stop abuse of referees - both verbal and physical.
  • Call time on player dissent.
  • Kick out the divers and cheats feigning injury.
  • In short, give us back the game we knew and loved.
He continues "we believe that an example set by players and fans who are in the game for the love of the challenge rather tha the lure of the cheque book will resonate around the country.

From an idea begun in Non-League, so might the whole of football benefit."

Oh I do hope your right David, I despair sometimes at the snearing response "well it's a mans game isn't it". Well no it isn't actually, the numbers of women and children who play and support our national game make it very much "a family game." Football clubs who fail to become family oriented might as well shut up shop now as they are doomed to extinction.

MIDWEEK RESULTS

Ryman League Premier Division - Tuesday 15th March 2005

Leyton (0) 1-0 (0) Hendon
Yeading (1) 1-2 (1) Staines Town

Now doesn't it give you hope for Saturdays league game away to those high flyers "the Ding"?


Saturday, March 12, 2005

FINAL SCORES
Premier Division
Billericay Town 0-0 Salisbury City
Braintree Town 1-0 Windsor & Eton
Dover Athletic 0-3 Yeading
Eastleigh 1-0 Leyton
Hampton & Rich Boro 2-0 Harrow Borough
Hendon 1-0 Kingstonian
Northwood 2-0 Cheshunt
Slough Town 0-2 Chelmsford City
Tonbridge Angels 0-4 Heybridge Swifts
Wealdstone 3-1 Staines Town
** Worthing 3-0 Folkestone Invicta

** HT 2-0
scorers: Charles 13, Collins 27, Whiteman 56 (pen).

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages .


Friday, March 11, 2005

AFTER THE THAW
The town has been getting a good press lately, the approval of the high speed railway link between Folkestone and London has introduced a goodwill feeling into many other projects which will now be able to get of the drawing board and become reality.

The "wilderness years" which soured relations between the football club and its landlords (Shepway District Council) seem to have been swept aside by high level talks held between Invicta's Bob Dix, Brian Merryman and Andy Ingleston and SDC leader Cllr Robert Bliss and senior council officials.

There would now appear to be agreement that Invicta, already a force of good for the community with 20 youth teams, would be able to do even more for local youngsters if it were able to secure grants from the FA and Sports Foundation to improve and maintain its Cheriton Road facilities.

The council are now actively looking at extending the clubs leases for the ground and for Stripes Club which would provide a secure future for Folkestone Invicta FC Limited and give them access to the extra funding to which so many other successful non-league clubs have been able to benefit from. Hopefully any future pitch/ground development/maintenance can be funded by these additional funds thus allowing the club to improve other areas of the football club.

This is all great news for the band of dedicated Invicta fans and the clubs management who have kept the club going on dedication and a shoe-string budget. Its good to see a few happy smiles around the cheriton road ground again.

LETS BE HAVING YOU!
In the words of an East Anglian football director, your players, fans and management have need of you. We may only be gathering crowds of 200-300 lately but we must turn up the volume and make it sound like 500-600. With only 10 league matches to go until the end of our first season in the Ryman Premiere our position looks perillous. We can no longer stand by and watch other teams drop points, to secure our position we must win points. There's some tough fixtures left, trips to Worthing and Yeading are going to be particularly difficult, followed by 5 home games, so in Delia's words (or Mick Corks) Lets be 'avin' you.

ACCUMULATOR
The old points accumulator has not been kind to us lately, missing from the team at Worthing are the following suspended players; Flanagan, Lamb, J Everitt, Dunlop (all defenders). On the plus side we'll see the return of Burke, Norman, Walker and on the bench Watson. We all wish Neil Cugley well with these important games.

Don't forget the third annual Programme Fair in Stripes on Sunday (see details below the following fixtures.

FIXTURES
Saturday 12th March
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Salisbury City
Braintree Town v Windsor & Eton
Dover Athletic v Yeading
Eastleigh v Leyton
Hampton & Rich Boro v Harrow Borough
Hendon v Kingstonian
Northwood v Cheshunt
Slough Town v Chelmsford City
Tonbridge Angels v Heybridge Swifts
Wealdstone v Staines Town
Worthing v Folkestone Invicta

Tuesday 15th March
Bryco Cup - Fifth Round
Hampton & Rich Boro v Braintree Town
Bryco Cup - Semi Final - First Leg Heybridge Swifts v Slough Town 7.30

Premier Division
Leyton v Hendon
Yeading v Staines Town 7.30

Friday 18th March
Premier Division
Wealdstone v Slough Town


Monday, March 07, 2005

For the 3rd year running the Folkestone Invicta Supporters Club are proud to host

Alan Bird's Annual PROGRAMME FAIR at STRIPES CLUB.

We are expecting 10 dealers and stalls and look forward to finding some special interest programmes, etc, etc ...

  • venue: STRIPES CLUB, Cheriton Road, Folkestone
  • date: Sunday March 13, 2005
  • time: Doors open from 10.30am until 3pm
  • prices: 50p (adults) 20p (children)


Refreshments will be available from 11am with a licensed bar from 12 noon. Please support this FISC fund-raising event.

If you have any questions please contact Clive on 257266.


Saturday, March 05, 2005

FINAL SCORE

Premier Division
Chelmsford City 1-1 Braintree Town
Cheshunt 0-1 Wealdstone
Folkestone Invicta p-p Slough Town ....... Frozen Pitch called off 09:00 050305
Harrow Borough 0-3 Billericay Town
Heybridge Swifts p-p Northwood ........Waterlogged pitch
Kingstonian 0-3 Eastleigh
Leyton 1-1 Dover Athletic
Salisbury City 2-1 Hampton & Rich Boro
Staines Town 1-1 Hendon
Windsor & Eton 4-1 Tonbridge Angels
Yeading 1-1 Worthing

Latest Ryman table supplied by FootballWebPages .


Friday, March 04, 2005

FIXTURES wc 050305

The big freeze continues and inevitably there will be postponements, I will try and keep the list up to date. The snow and ice have created havoc on Kents road and rail networks and the port of Calais has added to the difficulties. The authorities have been running "Operation Stack", this basically means turning large sections of the M20 into lorry parks and the only alternative routes are heavily congested. Any decision regarding travelling to the coast should also consider the congestion as well as the ground conditions.
The KL Hythe Town - Maidstone Utd game is already a casualty.

Saturday 5th March
Premier Division
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town
Cheshunt v Wealdstone
Folkestone Invicta p-p Slough Town ....... Frozen Pitch called off 09:00 050305
Harrow Borough v Billericay Town
Heybridge Swifts v Northwood
Kingstonian v Eastleigh
Leyton v Dover Athletic
Salisbury City v Hampton & Rich Boro
Staines Town v Hendon
Windsor & Eton v Tonbridge Angels
Yeading v Worthing

Tuesday 8th March
Premier Division
Slough Town v Windsor & Eton

Saturday 12th March
Premier Division
Billericay Town v Salisbury City - Braintree Town v Windsor & Eton - Dover Athletic v Yeading - Eastleigh v Leyton - Hampton & Rich Boro v Harrow Borough - Hendon v Kingstonian - Northwood v Cheshunt - Slough Town v Chelmsford City - Tonbridge Angels v Heybridge Swifts - Wealdstone v Staines Town - Worthing v Folkestone Invicta.


Thursday, March 03, 2005

KSC SF
We now know that our opponents in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final are Margate (they beat Cray Wanderers 3-2), the match to be played at the Westbourne stadium probably in April.

POM for February
Congratulations to Adam Flanagan who is awarded the FJ Fullick Player of the month for February. See the POM Page.

SOME HAPPY RETURNS
Midfielder Andrew Burke has re-signed and will be in the squad for Saturdays Ryman Premier home fixture. Andy was Player of the month in November 2004 and made 18 appearances in the earlier part of this season. We have a tough run in to the end of this season so he will add some much needed experience to the team.

Steve Norman will hopefully be fit enough to play on Saturday, Kevin Watson is still sidelined with cartilage problems and Martin Chandler is back in the gym but unlikely to be fit enough to play until next season.

DESPERATE FOR 3 POINTS
Hopefullly we can return to winning ways and start to climb out of the bottom six, with 5 home and 5 away league games remaining it is vital that we start winning some games soon.

RADIO KENT
Mike Green will be covering Saturdays Slough game at the Westbourne stadium for RK's Saturday Sport so should you be unable to make the game you can always tune into the BBC's Radio Kent.

MARCH FIXTURES
Mar 05 - RP Invicta v Slough Town 3pm
Mar 12 - RP Worthing v Invicta 3pm
Mar 19 - RP Yeading v Invicta 3pm
Mar 25 - RP Invicta v Leyton (Good Friday) 1pm
Mar 28 - RP Dover Athletic v Invicta (Easter Monday) 3pm

COMMERCIAL TEAM/COMMITTEE
A Commercial team has been formed to investigate and pursue new and traditional methods of sponsorship. At their first meeting, principally to decide on strategy, Geoff College was elected chair and Bernie Burvill vice chair. Also present were Clive Arnold, Mick Cork and Nel Cugley. A brochure is to be issued detailing differant sponsorship options and an announcement of sold matches for next season should follow soon. Watch this space!

MIDWEEK RESULTS
Tuesday March 1st, 2005
Heybridge Swifts (1) 1-2 (2) Leyton


Tuesday, March 01, 2005

REGISTER WITH THE FIFC FORUM

New rules apply now, basically it means you register as a user of our forum and you automatically have login privileges on the majority of Ryman sites (those that are FootballWebPages.co.uk) including the official Ryman league forum. See link on Front page Essentials.

Should you not wish to join you can still access the threads but you won't be able to contribute. Providing you don't go in for all the very good FWP reports and services membership is free.

You are now greeted with the following message:-

FOOTBALL TALK ONLY ... anything else will be removed.
REGISTER if you want to make postings (ALL are welcome to view only) This forum is for the use of FIFC fans and those with an interest in Ryman league sides. We will not tolerate libelous remarks about any individual.

[start new thread] [all articles] [article summary] [login] [register]

Click on "register" and off you go ... in order to completeregistration you will be required to enter your email address.

Stumpy and I will continue to moderate the forum but hopefully we will no longer have to watch our screens 24/7. fifc's friendly forum ... Register today and start posting ...


Saturday, February 26, 2005

FINAL SCORE

FA Trophy - Fifth Round
Gravesend & Northfleet 3-2 Slough Town
Burton Albion 1-0 Morecambe
Cambridge City 0-1 Hucknall Town
Eastwood Town 1-1 Hereford United (replay 1st March)
Woking 1-0 Carlisle United
Altrincham 2-4 Grays Athletic
Stamford 0-1 Exeter City
Canvey Island 2-2 Bishop's Stortford (replay 1st March)


Premier Division
Billericay Town 4-1 Cheshunt
Braintree Town 2-0 Harrow Borough
Dover Athletic 1-1 Chelmsford City
Eastleigh 1-1 Yeading
Hampton & Rich Boro 1-2 Heybridge Swifts
**Hendon 2-1 Folkestone Invicta
Northwood 3-1 Salisbury City
Tonbridge Angels 3-2 Leyton
Wealdstone 1-1 Windsor & Eton
Worthing v Staines Town

** Glover scored in 35th minute and hit bar in 45th.
HT 0-1
John Frendo made it one all in 50th min
Steve McGrath made it 2--1 in 53rd.
Flanagan headed against bar on the hour
James Everitt sent off for for second yellow in 88th minute.
FT 2-1

Read Richard Murrill's FULL match report Sunday.


Friday, February 25, 2005

A BUSY WEEK

CONGRATULATIONS JIM
86 goals in 230 appearances
Congrats to top scorer Jim Dryden for surpassing Paul Chambers appearance record for Invicta, Jim now needs 3 more goals to surpass Chambo's goal count. A hat-trick up at Hendon would be a nice way to do it and it would settle Mr Cugleys nerves!

KSC
Invictas Kent Senior Cup semi-final at the Westbourne Stadium has been provisionally scheduled for Tuesday March 15th where our opponents will be Margate or Cray Wanderers.

IN DEFENCE OF: Youth Policy
Another youngster has emerged from the Invicta Youth embryo, defender Will Dunlop kept going (he never tyres!), alongside the senior defenders Guesty and Flanners up at Heybridge and will be in contention for a place in the crucial games to be played over the next few weeks.

CUGLEY's VIEW
The Herald (an essential read for Invicta fans) reported that despite the final result up at Heybridge Cugs was pleased with the attitude of his players. "We looked comfortable, were dogged and determined and looked fit right up to the end ... . we'll need all those qualities and more for the Hendon game which now becomes much more important."

Neil also thinks that the departure from the Bryco Cup is not quite so terrible because it would mean fitting in 2 extra semi-final fixtures and at the end of it there is no big money draw now that AFC Wimbledon are also out.

Ed's View (who cares what he thinks!!)
Invicta now look to be in a dog fight with the bottom ten sides all trying to avoid the four relegation slots. It would be nice to win some points away from home as well as at home. The team need a boost from the diehard travelling Invicta support. Ed

PLAYERS SIDELINED
Steve Norman ankle injury sustained in opening minutes of Northwood game, may be fit enough to return to the defence tomorrow. Captain Scott Lindsey who became the proud father of a second daughter last Tuesday should be able to resume his place at the helm (we're not sinking!). Adam Flanagan has accumulated 10 points (points are definately not prizes!) and will miss two games, the first being at Worthing (Mar 12) and second probably the KSC semi-final (Mar 15). Paul Lambs reward for accumulating 5 points is a one match ban which would probably be the KSC game.

IN DEFENCE OF: Officials
It's a hard life being a player at this level of the game and we have been picking up more than our fair share of bookings. Somehow it never seems so bad if they are dished out for late or desperate tackling but the majority are awarded for openly hostile displays of petulance, namely use of foul and abusive language, arguing, kicking the ball away, etc.. The use of bad language as a defence to unjust decisions made by poor officials will not right the wrong but it makes it easy for referees to react the way they so often do and rarely leaves them with opportunity to redress the balance. If football laws are so obviously flouted then the appointed authority have to be seen to respond. Do we allow the ref to control the game we love or do we really want anarchy?

PS Regarding the unhappy events of January 22nd surrounding Mr Hoare, the club have promised to make all the correspondence available to me at the appropriate time. Ed

Go back to the Home/Front Page for revised fixture list.


Tuesday, February 22, 2005

MIDWEEK RESULTS

Monday 21st February
Bryco Cup - Fifth Round
Chelmsford City 3-0 Leatherhead

Tuesday 22nd February
Bryco Cup - Fifth Round
Heybridge Swifts 0-0 Folkestone Invicta
aet 1-1 HS win 3-2 on penalties.
Slough Town 4-2 AFC Wimbledon

Premier Division
Worthing 4-0 Tonbridge Angels

The Bryco Cup Semi-Finalists are:-
Chelmsford, Slough, Heybridge and Braintree or Hampton.

So once again Invicta bow out of a Cup competition on penalties, we could say we didn't loose but do you feel like a winner!


Tuesday, February 22, 2005

FIXTURES w/c 210205

Monday 21st February
Bryco Cup - Fifth Round
Chelmsford City v Leatherhead

Tuesday 22nd February
Bryco Cup - Fifth Round
Heybridge Swifts v Folkestone Invicta 7.30
Slough Town v AFC Wimbledon

Premier Division
Worthing v Tonbridge Angels 7.30

Saturday 26th February
FA Trophy - Fifth Round
Gravesend & North v Slough Town

Premier Division
Billericay Town v Cheshunt
Braintree Town v Harrow Borough
Dover Athletic v Chelmsford City
Eastleigh v Yeading 3.30
Hampton & Rich Boro v Heybridge Swifts
Hendon v Folkestone Invicta
Northwood v Salisbury City
Tonbridge Angels v Leyton
Wealdstone v Windsor & Eton
Worthing v Staines Town


Monday, February 21, 2005

PRESS RELEASE RE COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE

Following recent shareholders meeting the make of the commercial committee is taking shape.

Geoff College and Burnie Burvill will head up the team with Jonathon Holborow from the club with supporters club reps Clive Arnold and Mick Cork.

Bernie and Geoff have been very active already and it is hoped a brouchure will soon be available with details of all sponsorship and advertising packages available.

This is a very postive step forward for Folkestone Invicta . Details from the first meeting will soon be available.

For any further information please contact Clive Arnold. See Contacts Page.


Saturday, February 19, 2005

FINAL SCORE

Chelmsford City (0) 1-0 (0) Wealdstone
Cheshunt (1) 2-4 (1) Eastleigh
**Folkestone Invicta (0) 0-0 (0) Northwood
Harrow Borough (1) 1-4 (2) Dover Athletic [205]
Heybridge Swifts (1) 5-2 (0) Slough Town
Kingstonian (0) 0-1 (0) Braintree Town
Leyton (1) 1-0 (0) Worthing
Salisbury City (1) 1-0 (0) Tonbridge Angels
Staines Town (1) 3-1 (0) Billericay Town
Windsor & Eton (0) 0-1 (0) Hendon
Yeading (0) 0-0 (0) Hampton & Richmond Borough

** see RM's FULL match report.

FIXTURES

Feb 22 - BCQF Heybridge Swifts v Invicta NB 7.30pm
Feb 26 - RP Hendon v Invicta 3pm
Feb 26 - KL Invicta Res v VCD Athletic Res 3pm


Wednesday, February 16, 2005

An Interview with Sanjay

I have just completed an interview with another Invicta Fan. This time it is Geoff Senior aka Amber Rattler.
I caught up with Geoff outside his programme hut.

Favourite other team? Southampton, just ask Clive about the trip to the FA Cup game!

First Folkestone memory? Tommy Saunders [goalkeeper] having a pot of glace cherries in his goal for making his hands sticky!

Earliest football influence? Griggs Tea bar which used to be by the bowls club hedge wot pies!

Best Folkestone moment? FA Cup First round at Gillingham in 1965 2-1

Best Footy moment? Being in Southampton City centre at about 5 pm in May 1976
Saints 1 Utd 0 [Ed] Pre match at Cardiff May 2003.

Best Invicta moment? The crowd noise away at Tunbridge in December 2003 as we won 2-1 Oh what fun etc!

Worst? A few when we let ourselves down after playing well but Welling in the FA Cup No!!!!!

About you

Age? 50+

Job? Paying for the twins at uni!

Other Job? HM Gov Regulatory Inspector / Programme Seller and Dusty Bus driver

Food? YES please anything but stuffed hearts.

Drink? Vin Rouge or Red Wine

Hobby? Painting [toilets]

Music? Santana and Honkers

What about your own football career? A keeper! Highlight scoring a goal from my own area [a la Pat Jennings] whilst playing for the Southampton Labour Party in the Southampton and District League Div 9. We had a few problems with this team as we had too many left-wingers on the books!

Holidays? Italy this year or day trips to Leeds and Winchester!

Hopes for the future? World peace and harmony etc and that none of the characters on the terraces at Cheriton Road ever change ! It is the humour wit and diversity that make non league football so special.

Your Special diet? Oh that the low calorie diet burgers and bacon rolls my favourite is the VAT Beltbuster at Crabble!

Honkers ? Well I found those on the net! Just remember that night at Crawley and the steward at Cambridge looking for air horns Ho Hum

Ebay? What are you looking for old shirts you name it I will bid for if my wife thinks I’m mad.

Splat the Rat can it make a come back? I donated that game to Park Farm PTA one of my great inventions just ask Clive he always played it!

Many thanks
Sanjay.


Tuesday, February 15, 2005

MIDWEEK SCORES
Tuesday 15th February 2005 - Ryman Premier

Hampton & Richmond Borough (2) 2-1 (1) Cheshunt
Hendon (0) 0-0 (0) Chelmsford City
Northwood (0) 0-0 (0) Harrow Borough
Tonbridge Angels (1) 3-2 (1) Folkestone Invicta
Yeading (0) 2-1 (0) Wealdstone


Monday, February 14, 2005

Invicta have no fears where Angels tread

Neil Cugley spent his day off (last Saturday) watching the Tonbridge/Yeading clash at Longmead and declared that his side had little to fear from the Angels. However Neil was impressed by Yeading though who we travel to in 4 weeks time.

Neil felt that Tonbridge put up a good fight but that his team could contain them and pick up all three points. "If we can start the game in a positive frame of mind then we ought to do well, Longmead has been a happy hunting ground for me over the years and with no additional injury worries we should get the result to send us several places up the table."

"Guesty is still out with 2 games suspension (back for the Bryco Cup) and Kevin Watson is hoped to return to the side on Saturday against Northwood at home."

Midfielder Martin Chandler is currently working hard in the gym to regain his fitness now that his knee has recovered due to rest since October (No surgery was required in the end) . Chands hopes to be back in the frey during March.

NEXT FIXTURES
Feb 15 - RP Tonbridge Angels v Invicta 7.45pm
Feb 19 - RP Invicta v Northwood 3pm

February 2005 News click here