Stones game off already, but the good news is that Delo's deal keeps Jack with Invicta till 2013

FOLLOWING last weekend’s cancellation of the home game against Walton Casuals, Invicta will again be out of action on Saturday with the match against Maidstone United at Sittingbourne already having been called off.

As Secretary Neil Pilcher reports elsewhere on our website:

“The Ryman League have shown commendable common sense with this coming weekend’s fixtures and have allowed clubs to postpone games subject to agreement from both sides.

We have been in touch with Darren Lovell, the Maidstone United Secretary, who reported that there was still five inches of snow on the playing surface at Bourne Park where the pitch remained frozen prior to last weekend’s downfall with a very poor forecast (of sub-zero temperatures) right up to Saturday.

Pilch adds: “We have taken the option of postponing the match rather than having a pointless pitch inspection on Saturday morning.” 

The rearranged date is Wednesday, March 14, kick-off 7:45pm.

But meanwhile back at The Buzzlines, manager Neil Cugley reports that outstanding goalkeeper Jack Delo – a virtual ever-present since joining Invicta from Ramsgate three years ago – has signed a new contract, tying him to the club till the end of next season (2012/13).

Cugs said: “It’s just a shame it’s not a five-year deal - goalkeepers only get better with age and, still at only 26, Jack has plenty of very good years ahead of him.

“As long as they stay fit, keepers can keep going for a long time – just look at the likes of Tottenham’s Brad Friedel (40) – and Jack’s a good trainer as well as being a lovely bloke who really cares about this football club. It’s good to get him on board.”

Delo joins Stuart King, James Everitt, Josh Burchell and Darren Marsden among those already on longer term deals at Invicta.

· With last weekend’s postponement, fans missed out on an afternoon of cut-price football with the manager and players stumping up the cash to offset the shortfall with prices slashed by at least 50 per cent – and more for concessions.

That ‘offer’ now carries forward to the rearranged fixture - to take place on Wednesday 7th March, kick-off 7:45pm.

To avoid confusion on the subject, it was originally reported that the Club planned to allow this offer to be valid for our home game against Ramsgate on Saturday 25th February but this cannot be put in place because of Ryman League rules.

 Gate prices for the Ramsgate match are the usual £8 and £4. The chairman has posted an explanation on the Rams website to avoid any confusion among our friends from Thanet.