Invicta over the worst as work starts

By David Watters

Folkestone Invicta

Work is underway at Folkestone Invicta’s storm-hit main stand to make the Fullicks Stadium safe for Ryman South football.

With Invicta scheduled to host Guernsey in a lunchtime kick off on Saturday week, the club's delighted officials have announced that contractors from landlords Shepway District Council had started work on Thursday on the Wilf Armory Stand, pictured. Part of the 30-year-old’s structure was lifted off two weeks ago in the first of a series of storms to hit Britain, forcing closure of the stadium on safety grounds and the club to miss out on two lucrative festive fixtures.

The closure meant the postponement of games against Herne Bay on Christmas Saturday and the New Year’s Day visit of Thanet rivals Ramsgate, leading to a serious cashflow problem that has seen Neil Cugley’s squad voluntarily give up a week’s wages and the club’s fans help cover running costs.

Supporters Club chairman Clive Arnold handed over another £500 this week - £200 to help keep Invicta's on-going CVA payments on course and the £300 regular contribution from fans towards the playing budget. Some of the cash has also come in from club Secretary Richard Murrill’s long-established 50p-a-goal scheme as well as donations from well-wishers via the club’s official website.

Invicta Chairman Mark Jenner thanked the club’s players for their gesture ahead of the trip to Merstham on Saturday and urged fans to turn out in force at all their remaining home games to help overcome the financial battering they’ve taken from the storms.

Jenner said: "We need more people through the gate and if our loyal season ticket holders also want to pay on the day, we’d really appreciate it – it’s not a gesture we’re likely to discourage! The players very generously agreed to forego last week's wages though they were fully entitled to that money at what we appreciate is an expensive time of the year for everyone."

Manager Neil Cugley also praised his players and added his voice to the call for fans to get right behind the team as they bid to achieve their play-off target. From this weekend on – weather permitting – Invicta are on a virtual two-games-a-week schedule with 11 matches before hosting Burgess Hill Town on February 22.

Cugley said: "I really do hope people come and watch us now it seems that we may be past this problem. The more people who come and watch us, the better the spirit and atmosphere around the club. It has shown what a great bunch of lads we’ve got here now and they really deserve a good atmosphere to play in.

"It can only help push us onto the play-offs and we’ve been playing some really good football and scoring plenty of goals in the last couple of months. When they’re playing like that these players really deserve to be watched by more people."

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