Invicta unveil stadium sponsor

Folkestone Invicta's long-term commercial partner Fullicks have significantly stepped up their involvement with the Ryman League club after being unveiled as their new stadium sponsor.

Invicta's Cheriton Road ground was officially renamed after the Cheriton-based business whose connections to the Ryman South club go back a quarter of a century on Tuesday.

The family-run domestic appliance company, now part of the Euronics buying group with more than 800 outlets across Britain and Europe, already sponsor Folkestone's Player of the Month awards from their nearby showroom.

The family's involvement started with the company's founder Fred Fullick who was a director in the 1980s. Today it continues with his son Paul Fullick, who played in goal for Invicta's youth team, reserves and made a single first team appearance, and is pictured with Folkestone's manager Neil Cugley outside the entrance to the newly renamed stadium.

Cudgley will have a new assistant alongside him on the touchline at the Fullicks Stadium after the club also announced that former striker Simon Austin – whose winning goal shot Invicta back into the Ryman Premier Division in the 2009-10 Play-Off Final against Godalming Town - is returning as assistant manager after taking his first steps into management last season with Kent League newcomers Canterbury City.

Austin replaces player-coach Darren Smith who's joined Leatherhead and Cugley said: "He's a good lad and I needed to being someone else in. Simon was very popular with the supporters and gets on particularly well with the younger players.

"He wants to get more into management eventually. If we can help him do that then great, but in the meantime I’m confident he will do a very good job for us here."

* Folkestone Invicta are working on strengthening links with the town's only dedicated local radio station, Academy FM.

Following a meeting with station chiefs in late June, supporters can look forward to increased coverage including interviews with the manager, players and club officials throughout the week plus live score updates on matchdays.