Saturday sees us welcome Isthmian South East Division side Herne Bay for our final pre-season fixture ahead of the big kick off at Wingate & Finchley. Invicta had originally been scheduled to travel to Ashford United but the Nuts & Bolts have been drawn to play Hollands & Blair in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round. 

Kit

Supporters who are old enough to have supported Folkestone & Shepway Football Club will be in for an afternoon of nostalgia on Saturday as Invicta will take to the field in our brand new red & white away playing kit. This is because our visitors are awaiting delivery of their new blue home kit and will be wearing last season’s all yellow away kit. 

If you want to get your hands on our new 23/24 kits the Folkestone Invicta Supporters’ Club shop is open on match days or you can order online here

From The Managers

Joint Head Coach Micheal Everitt spoke this week:

“We are looking forward to this final test before the season begins. We know it will be a good challenge for us, Steve Lovell will bring a good team that is well organised and provides a threat.

We’ve been working hard in training to get to where we want to be and after Saturday all eyes will be on that first game at Wingate & Finchley on the 12th. With 3 matches in a week to start the season we need to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running.

The support we’ve seen through pre-season has been fantastic, especially in what has been pretty poor weather for most of them, and we hope to see a good crowd again on Saturday.”

Previously

We met Herne Bay home and away last season before their relegation from the Isthmian Premier Division, winning both fixtures 2-1. The Bay visited Cheriton Road back on August Bank Holiday Monday when goals from Kadell Daniel & Ade Yusuff seal the 3 points.

Yusuff also scored in the return fixture on Boxing Day, equalising from the penalty spot before Ibrahim Olutade scored the winner. 

You can see highlights of the home fixture on Invicta TV

The Opposition

Herne Bay were relegated in April after just 1 season in the Isthmian Premier Division. Former Invicta player Kevin Watson stepped down as manager, with former Gillingham manager Steve Lovell taking charge for the new season. Lovell spent the first half of last season in charge of eventual Isthmian South East Division runners up Ramsgate, departing at the end of January with The Rams second behind eventual champions Chatham Town. 

Lovell has taken a few of the players he worked with at Ramsgate including former Invicta forward Kane Rowland, as well as goalkeeper Josh Bexon and midfielder Gil Carvalho. Former Invicta captain Liam Friend has also joined The Bay as a player-coach.

Admission  

All of our pre-season friendlies are priced at £5 for adults (age 16-64), £3 concessions (age over 65) and FREE for under 16s. Admission will be pay on the gate with cash and card is accepted on both turnstiles. Season tickets and Junior Passports are not valid for pre-season fixtures.

Food & Drink

Bar Invicta will open from 1:30pm, and accepts cash & card. The Wilf Armory Bar and The Seasider will be open from 2pm and also accepts both cash & card. The food van and tea hut will also be open but will accept CASH ONLY.