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Compiled by Editor - [email protected]
Invicta Newslines INDEX for 2005/6



RM: 15.07.05 - Mark Munday gets the call to Ramsgate


Mark Munday has left Folkestone Invicta to join Ryman League Division One newcomers Ramsgate.

Confirming the move, manager Neil Cugley said “I would like to personally thank Mark on behalf of everybody at the club for being such a good servant for us and for everything that he has done for the club. I am disappointed to be losing Mark but can understand his reasons for going as he will be guaranteed more first team football at Ramsgate and being a Thanet resident will be looking forward to being a part of what is an exciting time for the club after their promotion to the Ryman League Division One”.

31-year-old Munday made 95 starting appearances for Invicta, with a further ten as a substitute, scoring 17 goals.

He joined Invicta during the summer of 2003 from Margate, where he had helped the side win the Premier Division and promotion to the Nationwide Conference in 2000-01. Mark rejoined Margate in 1997 from Gravesend & Northfleet, after also having a spell with Herne Bay. He had also previously had an earlier spell at Ramsgate and he spent the end of the 2002-03 season on loan at Dover Athletic.


DA: 15.07.05 - Seasons Greetings


SEASON GREETINGS

Just when you thought it was safe to get out the barbie, don the shorts and slap on the factor 25 ... no this is not a joke, the new Ryman season is almost upon us and we have an interesting series of friendly matches as an entree (or hot dog).

Gravesend & Northfleet (of the Conference) are the first visitors to the recently re-christened Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road tomorrow (Saturday 16th July 3pm) and Wednesday sees a full-strength Gillingham ko 7.45 visiting.

Invicta manager Neil Cugley is oozing confidence after some good training sessions with what he must think is the best squad its been his good fortune to start a season with.

New signings from Ashford (Matt Bowers and Paul Jones) will be anxious to make an impression at the Buzzlines stadium, the rest of the squad have all ready proved themselves at the Ryman Premier league and have nothing to prove. As is the way of friendlies Cugs will want to give opportunities to everybody.

FIXTURES
No league fixtures to hand at the moment but the Ryman Premier starting date is Saturday August 20th.

Oops found the listing, first game away to AFC Wimbledon (well we got to play 'em sometime), the supporters club will probably run a coach for that, let them know if your interested. Margate are our Christmas present and Easter Bunny.

FA DRAWS

FAC First Round Qualifying 10.09.05 Folkestone Invicta v Cobham or Egham Town

FAT First Round Qualifying 15.10.05 Folkestone Invicta v Whyteleaf


DA: 16.06.05 - Press Release, FIFC & Buzzlines


Leading coach operator and travel company Buzzlines is set to sign up as the new main sponsor of Folkestone Invicta Football Club.

As part of the deal, the Ryman Premier League side, which was founded in 1936 and is one of the top clubs in Kent, will be renaming its Cheriton Road ground the Buzzlines Stadium.

The team will also train and play in a strip sporting the distinctive Buzzlines blue logo. Visitors to the Club will be hosted in the Buzzlines Hospitality Suite.

Buzzlines Managing Director Nigel Busbridge said: “As an established local company we are proud to be sponsoring Folkestone Invicta in its 70th season. We wish manager Neil Cugley and his squad every success in the forthcoming season.

Buzzlines is taking an interest in all aspects of the Club, demonstrating that the company wants to work in a true partnership. This sponsorship will lead to success on the field for the Club and increased brand awareness for Buzzlines. I am sure such success will lead to further benefits for us all.'



The sponsorship officially commences with the start of the new season which sees Invicta play host to Gravesend & Northfleet on Saturday 16 July. It brings substantial financial support to the Club.

Buzzlines, which is based at Lympne Industrial Park, near Hythe, is the fastest growing coach operator in the South East. Its state-of-the-art vehicles are set to make regular appearances at the newly-named Buzzlines stadium.

OUR NEW PARTNERS
For further media information, interviews, broadcast and photographic opportunities, please contact Delphine Houlton or Philip Jones, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033

Buzzlines Fact file
Nigel and Kathryn Busbridge launched Buzzlines in 1990.
Buzzlines Coaches and Buzzlines Travel, its sister company founded in 2005, are committed to delivering “personal service with professional pride”.
Buzzlines Coaches is the fastest growing coach operator in the South East.
Buzzlines Coaches has achieved Coach Marque accreditation from the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
Buzzlines Coaches is a member of the Guild of British Coach Operators. Buzzlines Coaches actively supports the safer transport campaign charity Belt Up School Kids (BUSK).
Buzzlines Coaches is committed to raising safety standards aboard all vehicles used to transport children to and from school as well as during the school day.
Buzzlines Coaches introduced the first yellow school coaches built to BUSK standards to Kent.
Buzzlines Coaches continuously upgrades its fleet of prestigious coaches to take advantage of the most advanced safety and environmental standards and features.

Buzzlines Coaches provides other coach operators across Europe with a 24-hour recovery and replacement vehicle service as well as access to the state-of-the-art repair facilities at its dedicated workshops at Lympne.
Buzzlines Coaches currently runs a fleet of more than 50 modern vehicles and employs at least 70 staff drivers.
Buzzlines Coaches supplies bespoke corporate travel services to blue-chip companies across the South East.
Buzzlines Coaches is based at Lympne Industrial Park, near Hythe, Kent.
Buzzlines Travel offers coach holidays, short breaks, day trips and excursions, including concert and special event trips, as well as booking services for other leading transport operators and accommodation providers, across the UK and mainland Europe.
Buzzlines Travel, which includes En Route Travel and Kent & Sussex, is based at Red Lion Square, Hythe, Kent.
Buzzlines Coaches and Buzzlines Travel support Kent Air Ambulance Trust.


CA: 16.06.05 - Folkestone Invicta Forum Rumours

FOLKESTONE INVICTA FORUM RUMOURS
(RM 16.06.05)
Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley has confirmed the signing of Stuart Myall from Eastbourne Borough after the player finished last season on loan at the club.

Myall joins midfielder Matt Bower and striker Paul Jones, both from Ashford Town, as the Folkestone club’s summer signings.

And the manager has responded to website rumours by adding that no players are likely to be released by the club during the close season.

“I can categorically deny that we have any intention of selling any of our players. There has been interest from other clubs in some of our players – which in some ways is a good thing – but as the league we are in will be stronger next season and as one of the top non-league clubs in Kent now we do not feel that it is in our best interests to let any of our players go,” said Cugley. “It would be a different matter if any of our players were offered the chance to go full-time in football as then we would not want to stand in their way,” he added.


CA: 15.06.05 - Stuart Myall Signed

STUART MYALL SIGNED
Neil Cugley will have Stuart Myall's signature by the middle of this week and that will mean that Folkestone Invicta will be starting the pre-season with the biggest squad for many a year.

Judging by some of the comments on the forum there are one or two of you out there who don't like Invicta playing 9 or 10 pre-season friendlies in a month. I put this point to Neil on the phone this morning and he was adamant that the boys want to play games and he is happy to set them up in the knowledge that his squad is big enough to cope.

RM's Pen picture
STUART MYALL (Midfield): Joined Invicta from Conference South club Eastbourne Borough during March 2005, having also played for Ringmer this season. Stuart began his career with Brighton & Hove Albion and joined Hastings Town in 1998 after being released by Brentford. He joined Eastbourne from Hastings United during the 2003/04 season. Can also play in defence. Date of birth: November 12, 1974.



08.06.05

TOO MANY PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES!
Spare a thought for Neil Cugley and the management.

 Now I don't care for a long list of pre-season friendlies myself but ... some football facts to consider:-

  • The season lasts approx 36 weeks
  • The close-season lasts approx 16 weeks
  • The football club incurs expenses/costs 52 weeks of the year
  • Main income streams to the club are focussed around the playing season; Gate Receipts, Sponsorship, Stripes Club/Club Shop, Prize money from FA competitions
  • How can we keeep the football club trading over the close-season without football matches to focus attention on?
    I think we have to trust that Neil and the Management will not let the players take unecessary risks with their fitness.
We should not really be surprised that the clubs management see solutions to their financial ails in activities spread around pre-season friendlies. The list of forthcoming fixtures can be found on the Home page.

Have a good summer. Dave (Ed)


18.05.05

BITS & PIECES
Manager Neil Cugley has said that he is "very confident that Stuart Myall will be wearing Folkestone colours next seaosn." The manager has been anxious to make the transfer of Myall permanent after the former Hastings player finished the season on loan at Invicta from Eastbourne Borough.

Cugley continued to say that he felt that the Ryman Premier League would be "even stronger next seaosn, although we will ourselves have a stronger squad and be in a better position to cope ourselves".

The club will have a new home and away kit next season and is also close to announcing details of a new sponsor.

Work on the pitch has commenced after the deliverance of top soil.

The club has announced details of pre-season friendlies against Gravesend & Northfleet at home on Wednesday July 20th, Maidstone United at home on Tuesday July 26th, Hythe Town away on Saturday July 30th, Chatham Town away on Tuesday August 2nd, Dover Athletic at home on Tuesday August 9th and Horsham at home on Saturday August 13th.

The Ryman Premier League season starts again on Saturday August 20th.

The Dover game will be a testimonial match for James Dryden and will probably also be for the Malcolm Welsh Shield.

Invicta are also hoping to arrange pre-season friendlies against Gillingham, Welling United and Tonbridge Angels.


Tuesday, 17, 2005

2004/5 1st year in the Ryman: Richard Murrill's end of season review

Folkestone Invicta's 2004/05 season will forever be remembered for the tragic death of Paul Sykes after the popular 28-year-old striker collapsed on the pitch during the club's ill-fated Kent Senior Cup semi final at home to Margate.

The tragedy was something which would change lives forever and something which no football club could reasonably expect they would ever have to deal with. It was amidst this adversity that the football community rallied round to show all the good things that the game can bring and the events of April 12th put any petty football squabbles firmly into their place in the great scheme of things.

Suddenly all that had gone before did not seem quite so important after a season in which Invicta had competed in the Ryman Premier League for the first time, had completed a memorable league double over relegated local rivals Dover Athletic, had gone out of the F. A. Cup on penalties for a second successive season and a season during which striker James Dryden had broken both the club's senior appearance and goalscoring records.

After years of tradition of playing at Southern League level, structural changes saw Folkestone's senior club switch to the geographically-more-friendly Ryman League last summer and the club made its historic entrance into the new league with a 1-0 away defeat and a 1-0 home win over former Southern League colleagues Salisbury City and Chelmsford City respectively.

First games against more traditional Ryman League opposition saw Invicta lose 2-1 at home to eventual champions Yeading and win 4-0 away to Leyton, who were to go onto reach the final of the play offs. That midweek win at Leyton showed all that is best about Invicta as an attacking force, with a three-pronged attack of John Ayling, James Dryden and Simon Glover all appearing on the scoresheet.

But unusually for a side managed by Neil Cugley, it was to be as a defensive force that Invicta were to emerge this season. The admirable Dryden weighed in with a career best 29 goals in all competitions, but finding a suitable partner for him was to be a problem. Ayling made just two starting appearances before embarking on a scholarship in the United States and the feeling was that had Invicta still possessed Allan Tait (now with Conference club Crawley) then they might even have gone close to winning the league.

Summer signing Simon Glover remains an enigmatic figure who divides opinion His undoubted pace is something which sets him apart from other players, but the jury is still out as to whether his best role is as a frontman, wide player, just behind the front two or even as an effective substitute a la Ayling. A return of 13 goals for the former Dover Athletic player was no disgrace though.

Little Jamie Wood was only given a couple of early season games to prove his worth before finding his feet again at former club Cray Wanderers, whilst the loan signing of Ian Pulman from Margate was not the answer to Invicta's attacking problems.

It was to be the arrival of Paul Sykes from Dartford during November which added impetus to Invicta's attack in the run up to Christmas and the emergence of pacy teenage striker Joe Neilson excited manager Cugley.

Now the manager has put his faith in former Ashford Town striker Paul Jones to partner Dryden for the 2005-06 season.

Last term was a season during which Dryden cemented himself as a legend at the club as he was voted Supporters' Player of the Year for the third season in four. When Dryden broke the club's senior appearance record at home to Hamtpon & Richmond Borough during January, his achievement was overshadowed by a sensational walk off by controversial referee Gavin Hoare. But Dryden was not to be denied his moment of glory when his winning goal away to Dover on Easter Monday saw him break the club's goalscoring record in front of a 2390 crowd. Four goals away to Kingstonian on the last day of the season saw Dryden finish the season in style.

Dryden was also to start in all of Invicta's league matches over the season, whilst this was also the season during which local lad Micheal Everitt also firmly established himself as a first team regular as he missed just one league match.

It was Invicta's home form and sound defensive record which was to help them maintain their survival. Adam Flanagan was his normal unflappable self at the heart of the defence, where John Guest emerged as a centre half of real quality and wrote himself into club folklore with the home winner over Dover at Christmas. Former Chelmsford defenders Steve Norman and Kevin Watson added quality to Invicta's squad, whilst nobody at the club strikes a ball better than left back Paul Lamb who again added good balance to the side. Teenagers Will Dunlop and James Everitt also made the step up from the reserve side and neither let anybody down. In goal, Tony Kessell was once again a model of consistency and when he was injured in the F. A. Cup at Raynes Park, veteran Maurice Munden again came to the club's rescue.

In midfield, Scott Lindsey and Mark Munday both contributed experience and know how, although the years are catching up with them and the youthful exuberance of Martin Chandler was missed when he succumbed to injury. Andrew Burke added a touch of creativity to the Invicta side, although never it seems totally convinced the manager, who is now looking to persuade former Hastings player Stuart Myall to stay at the club and provide the spark in midfield.

Invicta struggled away from home despite taking points away to all four of the clubs who made it to the end-of-season play offs and it was around the Easter period that the club ultimately own its relegation battle with consecutive victories over Leyton, Dover and Harrow Borough.

Invicta went down in the F. A. Cup on penalties to Harrow and also bowed out of the Bryco Cup in a midweek quarter final shoot out at Heybridge Swifts The club also suffered a disappointing early F. A. Trophy exit against Cray Wanderers, but the events of their Kent Senior Cup tie against Margate in April were to put setbacks like that firmly into perspective.

The Ryman Premier League is a division which in many ways suits Invicta down to the ground and the club will no doubt approach the next season with good heart come the close season.

2005-06 will have some way to go before being as eventful as the season which has just gone by though.


Saturday, 14, 2005

Step 3 - Isthmian League Premier Division 2005/6

IL1 AFC Wimbledon
ILP Billericay Town FC
ILP Braintree Town FC
IL1 Bromley FC
ILP Chelmsford City FC
SLE East Thurrock United FC
SLE Fisher Athletic FC
ILP Folkestone Invicta FC
ILP Hampton & Richmond Borough FC
ILP Harrow Borough FC
ILP Hendon FC
ILP Heybridge Swifts FC
ILP Leyton FC
SLE Maldon Town FC
CS Margate FC
CS Redbridge FC
ILP Slough Town FC
ILP Staines Town FC
IL1 Walton & Hersham FC
ILP Wealdstone FC
ILP Windsor & Eton FC
ILP Worthing FC

Neil Cugleys comments ... Well at first glance it looks like less travelling, Salisbury having switched to the Southern league, most away games within the 100 mile radius. It looks a stronger league than last season but we're a stronger side, some of these Essex sides are quite wealthy so it'll be quite a good test for us. We are better prepared for the season with a full squad, I'm looking forward to it.


Friday, 13, 2005

Constitution of the Leagues @ Friday, 13 May 2005.

Information supplied by theFA .com

Following a meeting of the Alliance Committee on Wednesday, to follow are the recommendations to be made as at 11 May 2005 regarding the constitution of the leagues for Season 2005/06.
These recommendations are subject to ratification by the Leagues Committee at their meeting on Thursday 19 May:

Step 1 - Conference National

Accrington Stanley FC - Aldershot FC - * Altrincham FC or Eastbourne Borough FC - Cambridge United FC - Canvey Island FC - * Carlisle United FC or Stevenage Borough FC - Crawley Town FC - Dagenham & Redbridge FC - Exeter City FC - Gravesend & Northfleet FC - Grays Athletic FC - Halifax Town FC - hereford United FC - Kidderminster Harriers FC - Morecambe FC - Northwich Victoria FC - Scarborough FC - Southport FC - Tamworth FC - Woking FC - York City FC

* Pending the outcome of play-off final matches

Step 2 - Conference North

Alfreton Town FC - Altrincham FC - Barrow FC - Droylsden FC - Gainsborough Trinity FC - Harrogate Town FC - Hednesford Town FC - Hinckley United FC - Hucknall Town FC - Kettering Town FC - Lancaster City FC - Leigh RMI FC - Moor Green FC - Nuneaton Borough FC - Redditch United FC - Stafford Rangers FC - Stalybridge Celtic FC - Vauxhall Motors FC - Worcester City FC - Worksop Town FC - NPL Champion Club - NPL Play-Off Winner

Step 2 - Conference South

Basingstoke Town FC - Bishops Stortford FC - Bognor Regis Town FC - Cambridge City FC - Carshalton Athletic FC - Dorchester Town FC - *Eastbourne Borough FC - Eastleigh FC - Farnborough Town FC - Havant & Waterlooville FC - Hayes FC - Histon FC - Hornchurch FC - Lewes FC - Newport County FC - St. Albans City FC - Sutton United FC - Thurrock FC - Welling United FC - Weston Super Mare FC - Weymouth FC - Yeading FC

*Altincham FC and Eastbourne Borough FC are involved in the Conference North/South Play-Off Final.

Dependent on the outcome of the Confernce North/South Play-Off Final match, Forest Green Rovers will be allocated to either Conference North or South.

Step 3 - Isthmian League Premier Division

AFC Wimbledon - Billericay Town FC - Braintree Town FC - Bromley FC - Chelmsford City FC - East Thurrock United FC - Fisher Athletic FC - Folkestone Invicta FC - Hampton & Richmond Borough FC - Harrow Borough FC - Hendon FC - Heybridge Swifts FC - Leyton FC - Maldon Town FC - Margate FC - Redbridge FC - Slough Town FC - Staines Town FC - Walton & Hersham FC - Wealdstone FC - Windsor & Eton FC - Worthing FC

Step 3 - Northern Premier League Premier Division*

AFC Telford United - Ashton United FC - Blyth Spartans FC - Bradford Park Avenue FC - Burscough FC - Farsley Celtic FC - Frickley Athletic FC - Gateshead FC - Guiseley FC - Hyde United FC - Ilkeston Town FC - Leek Town FC - Lincoln United FC - Marine FC - Matlock Town FC - North Ferriby United FC - Ossett Town FC - Prescot Cables FC - Radcliffe Borough FC - Runcorn FC Halton - Wakefield & Emley FC - Whitby Town FC - Witton Albion FC - Workington FC

*Two of these clubs will be confirmed as promoted to Conference North in due course

Step 3 - Southern League Premier Division

Aylesbury United FC - Banbury United FC - Bath City FC - Bedford Town FC - Chesham United FC - Chippenham Town FC - Cirencester Town FC - Evesham United FC - Gloucester City FC - Grantham Town FC - Halesowen Town FC - Hitchin Town FC - Kings Lynn FC - Maidenhead United FC - Mangotsfield United FC - Merthyr Tydfil FC - Northwood FC - Rugby United FC - Salisbury City FC - Team Bath FC - Tiverton Town FC - Yate Town FC

Step 4 - Isthmian League Division One

Ashford Town FC (Kent) - Banstead Athletic FC - Bashley FC - Burgess Hill Town FC - Corinthian Casuals FC - Cray Wanderers FC - Croydon Athletic FC - Dover Athletic FC - Dulwich Hamlet FC - Fleet Town FC - Hastings United - FC Horsham FC - Kingstonian FC - Leatherhead FC - Lymington & New Milton FC - Metropolitan Police FC - Molesey FC - Newport IOW FC - Ramsgate FC - Tonbridge Angels FC - Tooting & Mitcham United FC - Walton Casuals FC - Whyteleafe FC

Step 4 - Northern Premier League Division One

Bamber Bridge FC - Belper Town FC - Bishop Auckland FC - Bridlington Town FC - Brigg Town FC - Chorley FC - Clitheroe FC - Colwyn Bay FC - Eastwood Town FC - Fleetwood Town FC - Goole FC - Gresley Rovers FC - Kendal Town FC - Kidsgrove Athletic FC - Mossley FC - Ossett Albion FC - Shepshed Dynamo FC - Spalding United FC - Spennymoor United FC - Stocksbridge Park Steels FC - Warrington Town FC - Woodley Sports FC

Step 4 - Southern League Division One West

Ashford Town FC (Middx) - Beaconsfield Sycob FC - Bedworth United FC - Brackley Town FC - Bracknell Town FC - Bromsgrove Rovers FC - Burnham FC - Cinderford Town FC - Clevedon Town FC - Dunstable Town FC - Hemel Hempstead Town FC - Leighton Town FC - Marlow FC - Paulton Rovers FC - Rushall Olympic FC - Solihull Borough FC - Stourport Swifts FC - Sutton Coldfield FC - Swindon Supermarine FC - Taunton Town FC - Thame United FC - Willenhall Town FC

Step 4 - Southern League Division One East

Arlesey Town FC - Aveley FC - Barking & East Ham United FC - Barton Rovers FC - Berkhamsted Town FC - Boreham Wood FC - Chatham Town FC - Cheshunt FC - Corby Town FC - Dartford FC - Enfield FC - Enfield Town FC - Great Wakering Rovers FC - Harlow Town FC - Ilford FC - Potters Bar Town FC - Rothwell Town FC - Sittingbourne FC - Stamford FC - Uxbridge FC - Waltham Forest FC - Wingate & Finchley FC - Wivenhoe Town FC

Clubs Relegated From Step 4 (as at 11 May 2005)

Croydon FC to Isthmian League Division Two
Dorking FC to Isthmian League Division Two
Egham Town FC to Isthmian League Division Two
Erith & Belvedere FC to Kent League
Oxford City FC to Spartan South Midlands League
Rocester FC to Midland Football Alliance
Rossendale United FC to North West Counties League
Tilbury FC to Essex Senior League

April 2005 News click here