Veteran striker could still return after exit

Folkestone Invicta’s veteran striker Paul Booth has hung up his playing boots, at least at Ryman League level.

Booth, who turns 38 on 8 January, has been one of the successful strikers in Kent Non-League football over the last 20 years, scoring goals for fun wherever he has played. He is the club’s second top scorer this season with 16 goals, the last coming in a Ryman South clash at Tooting & Mitcham a fortnight ago.

After scoring a total of 42 goals in 61 starts for Invicta and making two appearances as a substitute, officials announced on Sunday that the forward, pictured in action, had decided the time was right to step down a level and be able to spend more time with his family.

In a statement released by the club, Invicta manager Neil Cugley said he fully understood his reasons for taking up an offer to play Southern Counties East League football at Tunbridge Wells before revealing that the door was still open for him to return.

Cugley said: "He want to spend more time with his family and also feels that things have not gone for him as they did last year when he made such an impact when he first signed for us in late October.

"He’s also seen how well Atko [Richard Atkins] and Draycs [Ian Draycott] have done for us and realises he might be spending an increasing amount of time on the bench if he stayed on here.

"Tunbridge Wells – who are of course much closer to his home – came in with a seven-day approach for him and he has decided to try his luck at that level.

"We will be retaining his Ryman League registration, however, and who knows – let’s just say - if he he finds he’s still enjoying playing, he wouldn’t be a bad player to have in the squad if we make the play-offs again, which is, of course, our objective."

It was Booth who scored the only goal of the game for Maidstone United to beat Invicta in the end of 2012-13 season play-off semi-final. He also scored for Invicta in last season’s final when Folkestone drew 1-1 with Leatherhead but were then beaten on penalties.

Cugley reckons Booth can also be proud of the way he guided Johan Ter Horst through to become Folkestone’s top scorer in the 2013-14 campaign – the youngster’s first full season in senior football – sparking the interest that led to his eventual move to Premier League Hull City in the summer.

Cugley added: "Boothy is a great pro who has been an absolute pleasure to work with. We all saw how Johan benefited and learned from playing alongside him and his influence on the squad has been outstanding.

"We can only thank him for everything he’s done during his time here and wish him well for the future."

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