Folkestone Invicta Football Club can confirm that defender Callum Davies will depart the club this summer after 8 years at Cheriton Road.
Having come through the youth setup at Gillingham, Callum joined Invicta from Maidstone United in August 2016 on an initial 3-month loan deal before making then making the move permanent later that season.
Callum would form an integral part of the side that secured survival in the Isthmian Premier Division on the final day of the 2016/17 season.
Following the departure of Liam Friend to Margate in the summer of 2017, Callum was appointed captain by manager Neil Cugley ahead of the 2017/18 season.
Callum scored his first goal for the club against Leatherhead at Cheriton Road in October 2017, the first of 4 goals that season with 3 more coming away from home at Tooting & Mitcham, Margate and Hendon. As Invicta went on to finish 4th and secure a playoff place, Callum cleaned up at the end of season awards as he was voted Players’ Player, Supporters’ Player and Young Player of the Season.
In 2021/22 Callum would return to goalscoring form with his 5th and 6th goals for the club, scoring in a 7-2 FA Cup win away at Ashford Town (Middlesex) and a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw away at Cray Wanderers in the Isthmian Premier Division.
In April 2023 he would become only the 8th player to reach 300 appearances for Invicta in a 1-0 win over Margate.
In August 2023 Callum scored his 7th and final goal for Invicta, and his first at Cheriton Road in nearly 6 years, as he scored in a 2-1 defeat to Enfield Town. The goal would later be voted Invicta TV Goal of the Month.
In his final season Callum again cleaned up at the end of season awards, taking home Players’ Player, Supporters’ Player and Manager’s Player of the Season at our End of Season Awards last month.
Callum departs the club having made 348 appearances (342 starts) which puts him 8th on our all time appearance list. He was the longest serving member of last season’s playing squad.
Callum spoke to us and had this message for supporters: “I don’t really know where to start. I joined in 2016, at a point where I didn’t enjoy football and it’s probably been the best decision I have ever made (behind marriage).
Firstly, I would like to thank Neil Cugley for bringing me to the club and putting up with me for years, he truly is one of a kind, the players past and present, all the staff, chairman and ultimately the faithful Seasider fans.
Everyone has always been extremely good to me, and I cannot say a bad word about the club. I leave the club with a heavy heart but great memories on and off the field. Unfortunately, due to my family and work commitments, I don’t feel I could commit 100% this season and therefore I wanted to let Dukes know early so he can make decisions for impending season. I would like to thank Andy for his time and support and wish him and the boys all the best next season. I will be following the results (one in particular) and wish them every success in the future.
Once again, thank you for all the fans for their continual support.”
Manager Andy Drury spoke: “I want to thank Callum for all he has done for this football club over the past 8 years. I’ve both played with and now managed him and he has given his upmost for the club over a long period of time and will go down, no doubt, as a club legend who will be welcome back here at any time. We of course wish him all the best for the next chapter of his career.”
