League One side Gillingham visit the Buzzlines Stadium this weekend, with manager Mark Stimson telling the Seasiders he intends to bring his FIRST TEAM squad down to the coast. Had the friendly been played as originally scheduled – later on in the pre season campaign – it was unlikely the Seasiders would face a first team contingent from their Kent counterparts. But with Tonbridge Angels pulling out of a friendly against the Gills because of pitch conditions, Folkestone were more than willing to plug the fixture gap.

Seasiders boss Neil Cugley remarked, “To play their first team right at the beginning of pre season will be very enjoyable and will give a lift to everyone at the Club with the issues we currently have off the field. The players are looking forward to it, the fans will be I'm sure and I think we'll see a few Gills fans come down as well.

“We appreciate them coming down and with them getting promoted it'll make it even better. Following their promotion people will know a lot more about their players and what a good side they've got and what a good job Mark Stimson has done in getting them up. I know Mark Patterson and Scott Lindsey very well and they say what a hard working manager he is and how he deserves every success he gets there so good luck to him.

“We've also recently had news of two good Cup ties; F.A Cup and in the Trophy so there's a nice few positives which have come about on the football side of things.”

Cugs called his squad back into pre season training at the beginning of the month with a number of familiar faces about the Buzzlines with all of last season's squad agreeing to stay at the Club for the following season.

“I think players like routine, the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday scenario and after a good break I think they're looking great in training. We've started with some intensive training sessions and they'll be more to come and obviously with the Gills game coming up we want to reach a certain level of fitness otherwise they're going to embarrass us. They've all come back raring to go and have done everything we've asked of them.

“I think people have been really impressed with Frankie Chappell who has lost a lot of weight and has pushed right up near the front in the sessions so far. He must've lost at least a stone and has obviously been putting a lot of work in himself. I think he is more settled now that he is with us whereas when he was before he spent a fair bit of time out on loan.

“I've also been impressed with the younger lads like your Burchys and JVs as where a year ago they found it a bit harder, this year you can see the improvement. Some people are natural athletes like Liam Friend, then you get others who need to work at it that bit more. Then there's players like Jacko who have been around a lot but are still up there and that's pleasing to see.”

Last season Army PTI Instructor Lee Dyson took the pre season fitness sessions but financial constraints have seen Invicta do things ‘in house' this year.

“When we've sat down and planned what we're going to do, we've taken on things that people like Lee have brought to us in the past, along with people like Scott Lindsey and Mark Saunders who both brought good ideas into the Club.”

Attacking midfielder Michael Yianni and goalkeeper Kieran Mann also took their places with the squad for pre season training and both players should be well known to the Invicta faithful. Yianni was with the Club as a youngster before playing for Ramsgate and Margate amongst other clubs, whilst Mann was a highly rated goalkeeper who left the Club to go to University.

“Both of them have done well. With Michael we were more concerned about his fitness but that hasn't been an issue so far. It's understandable that he is a bit rusty with the ball but we know he is a class player and that won't be a problem once he gets back into things during pre season.

“Kieran we know is a good goalkeeper and he will push Jack (Delo) and they get on well. Gary Towse takes them off and they've been working hard. Having Kieran back gives us competition and knowing him quite well, he'll be doing everything he can to break in the side.”

Trialists including midfielder Billy Summerville who spent some time at Hythe Town last season have also joined up with Cugley's squad along with local footballer James Gibson.

“He (Summerville) is 18 and has been at Gravesend and Charlton in their youth teams so his pedigree is good and he has done well in pre season so far and he wants to give it a go so we'll have a look at him.

“James we've seen around the local football circuit and he's been to the sessions so far and has played Sunday League but he looks to have a bit of quality about him. We're having a closer look and he's another one who wants to give it a go and that's all you can ask.”

One striker has turned down the overtures of the Invicta boss, citing the fact that the well documented uncertainty surrounding the Club's future meant a move to Cheriton Road wasn't preferred at this time.

The Web Team have also heard exclusively from the manager tonight that former Gillingham forward Jacob Arnold-Smith who endured a successful loan spell at the Club towards the end of last season, has opted for a move to Scotland to study for four years and has therefore declined Folkestone's offer to stay at the Club for the forthcoming season.

“He was one of the strikers I was chasing and it is a disappointment not to get him because he did do well for us last season. We can understand his reasons for not wanting to stay in this area and the off the field issues we have at the minute gave the other forward I was interested in doubts about coming down which you can't blame him for and he was honest about it - it's not the easiest of times to attract players. Jacob has made a big decision and we wish him all the very best in his studies and football.

“We do have other options up front in the squad as it stands; James Everitt has said he's keen to play up there, Yianni can play there too so we'll be seeing how players perform pre season before deciding whether to go after other attacking players.”

After confirming his intentions with the Invicta gaffer, Jacob also spoke exclusively to www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

He explained, “Well I'm off to Scotland next Thursday, to Sterling Uni where I'll be studying Law, History and Sports Studies. The Uni system in Scotland is different to England where in the first year you try out different subjects and then drop a couple and take on one. But alongside studying there I'll get to train everyday with Falkirk FC with their reserves and if I do well then they'll give me a trial with a chance to go pro. On a Saturday I'll be playing in a semi pro league in the Sterling area and Wednesdays I'll hopefully be playing in Falkirk's reserves.

“I'm on a scholarship there so everything is paid for me and that's why I couldn't turn down the move because it's not something I could get from Folkestone and Canterbury Uni.

“I loved it down at Folkestone last season and the players were great, Cugsy was well alright and I loved the banter you got from the fans which was a laugh. I was literally split between the two and I had it all planned out; I had a place at Canterbury and I was set to join Folkestone but then Falkirk came in. They'd been watching me and they were interested and after meeting their manager and people from the club they made their offer.

“I spoke with Cugsy earlier and he said it was something I couldn't turn down and if it didn't work out I could always come back but if I didn't take the chance then I'd never know what I could have gone on to.”