Pitch perfect surface can get fans smiling again

After suffering promotion heartache in the Ryman South play-off final, Folkestone Invicta are hoping to start putting the smiles back on the faces of their fans on Thursday by getting a major pitch renovation underway.

The Ryman South runners-up, beaten 3-0 by Merstham in last Saturday's final at the Fullicks Stadium, are proving that life goes on despite last weekend’s disappointment after agreeing a deal to make sure they've got the best possible surface to go again in August.

A water-logged pitch, pictured, saw the Kent club suffer a number of expensive postponements last season and in a statement released on Wednesday, Invicta chairman Jim Pellatt looked forward to seeing Neil Cugley's performing on a pitch perfect surface when work is completed.

The chairman said: "Work starts on improving our pitch to a level that will be second to none. Given the quality and the style of football we like to play it is essential that we have a pitch to match.

“Our head groundsman Gary Towse has done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances, but given the problems appearing with ruts, dips leading to water gathering and so on, we have had to bring a contractor in to get to work on the pitch underway as soon as we could."

He added: “We have agreed with the pitch contractor an investment of up to £10,000 for the work and are delighted that the company are able to start immediately."

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