In part 2 of a review of the 2008/2009 season, manager Neil Cugley talks about the second half of the season and laying the foundations of a fresh, local side who have improved game after game, culminating in a superb 4-0 victory over Walton Casuals at a sunny Buzzlines Stadium on the last day of the season.

Turning points

Cugs mused, “Once we got the Christmas matches out of the way I think the players begun to show some maturity. Credit to them as we never got turned over like some people expected; it was only the odd goal here and there and us not taking our chances.

“We looked at the fixtures for January and February and suddenly there weren’t that many which looked ‘difficult’ and if we were going to stay up and progress, that period was critical.”

It was indeed a tricky Christmas period for the Seasiders as they faced Worthing, Ashford Town and Sittingbourne who were all pushing for play off places at the time. Out of the three, Worthing have just lost their semi final play off against Cray Wanderers who now face Metropolitan Police (beating Fleet Town) to decide who seals promotion to the Ryman Premier.

“Result did start to improve in the New Year and that helped confidence in the dressing room. Then it was time to say to the players that came in that they’ve had a dozen or so matches it’s time to start being a part of it and we found a system which suited us.”

Before Christmas, the gaffer was able to secure the services of Frankie Chappell from Blue Square South side Welling United which strengthened the back line.

“Chaps returning was a good signing for us and it gave us some balance at the back and obviously Dicko came in alongside Friendy who we already know is a good player. Those three played alongside Burchy and JV or Ratty, who begun to operate as wingbacks and our backline didn’t look too bad at all.

“I was also lucky enough to be able to get Darren Smith in to give us a bit more quality in midfield. The players started to believe in themselves and the attitude was there, we were training twice a week and all credit to them for putting up with me and Micky Dix pushing them to be better players. For a lot of them it was their chance and they had to take it as they wouldn’t get another one – a lot of them have taken it.”

In January, goalkeeper Charlie Mitten left the Club. Mits was unfortunate with injuries in his first season at the Club last year but played in every match up until the Christmas period and was Invicta's saviour on more than one occasion.

“That was one of the bigger worries when Charlie left and he was a class keeper. Fortunately we were able to bring in Jack (Delo) who is highly rated and I think he has done very well for us. Charlie was a big part of getting the points we needed to stay up. He picked up an injury and I had to make a decision and we released Charlie who has gone on to show what a good keeper he is as he’s been first choice at Welling."

Youthful promise

The Seasiders continued to pick up points throughout January and February and finished March with three straight victories, the final one of those an 8-2 demolition away at Crowborough Athletic. Gillingham youth striker Jacob Arnold-Smith signed for Folkestone and picked up a hat trick against Crowborough and he also grabbed the winning goal over Ashford Town in the Easter Bank Holiday derby, turning Daniel Brathwaite and curling a shot past Josh Willis in the Ashford goal.

"We got the points we needed to secure relegation in March I think and over the last couple of months we have started playing some good football; we’re getting the ball down, trying to play, trying to encourage the younger lads to want the ball – people may think I’m moaning on the sidelines about us giving it away but it’s more for people not wanting the ball.

"I think there’s a bit of self belief noticeable in people like JV, Burchy and Dicko that they are good enough for this league and they should be playing at this standard and they’re showing that now and they're getting fitter and stronger. That’s why the results are coming and the only real disappointment lately I think was against Cray who were just too strong for us and I thought they would win the league. I thought they were a lot better than Kingstonian who we could’ve easily taken points from.”

Kingstonian ended up taking the Ryman One title, beating Cray 2-0 in what was ultimately a title decider and putting together a string of six victories on their way to promotion.

"We also talk about lads like Friendy and Ratty as if they’re old heads but they’re still young lads and they’ve done well for us.

“Mev has always been a good lad with great enthusiasm in the midfield complimenting your Jackos as Jacko won’t be making the tackles and putting himself about in the way Mev does.

"Jimmy D has got twenty plus goals, what more can you say about that? He needed a regular strike partner and if he'd had one then who knows how many he would've notched up.

“Ever since he took himself off the transfer list - and I can understand him becoming disillusioned as we made promises we couldn’t keep - he has been outstanding. People ask me why he is captain and I say his enthusiasm on the pitch and on the training ground have been superb since he wanted to stay at the Club. There have been a few clubs lately that have been interested in him but he wants to stay and be a part of it."

The future

The future of the Football Club remains in the balance with senior figures negotiating with Revenue and Customs to try and establish a path forward in the interests of both parties. In Ryman Division One Invicta finished strongly in a respectable 11th place, only five or six victories away from a play off spot.

"On the pitch the plan is to continue as we have been and sign the players on we have got in the squad and maybe if possible, bring in a couple of others to make us a bit stronger and give us at least some depth.

“We’ve not been running with a squad or even a small squad, it has been tiny. Twelve players and we’ve been bringing in people from the youth team like Jon Driscoll and Billy Swallow to at least give us options and to be fair to both of them, they have shown real promise.

"When we went with a young side it was a long term plan – it wasn’t just a case of bringing in players that could see us through. We specifically wanted players who could learn from this year, get twenty or thirty games under their belt and become better players. That’s what has happened. We’ve started this rebuilding process earlier than a lot of other clubs will.

“With the help of people like the Supporters Club and other people at the Club, Brian Merryman in particular, who have been magnificent, we’ve all pulled together and got through the season and we’ve done well. People alongside me like Towsey, Dixy, Willo and Joe the physio, have all been tremendous and have made things enjoyable under the circumstances and I can’t praise them highly enough.”

And off the pitch?

“I’ve been given assurances that they’re trying to sort things out but I haven’t got anything to do with that. I’ve got to worry about on the field. We know the days of going out and bringing in players like we did at the beginning of last season which we found out we couldn't afford, are gone. We’ve made the cutbacks earlier than I’m sure other clubs will have to and that’s given these lads more experience for next season".