Finally the season is upon us. The warm up is over and on Saturday we do battle for 3 points as we welcome Carshalton Athletic to the Alcaline Stadium for the opening fixture of the Isthmian Premier Division season. 

Invicta

It has been a summer of change at Invicta, with just four of last season’s squad remaining at the Alcaline Stadium. 

Captain Ian Gayle is now the club’s longest serving player having joined two years ago from Eastbourne Borough/Cray Valley PM. Fullback Chris Sessegnon and forward Tom Derry also remain from last season whilst midfielder Dean Rance has signed permanently having spent the back end of last season on loan from Scunthorpe United. 

After seven years at Tonbridge Angels, Jonny Henly joined Invicta in the summer as new no. 1 goalkeeper, with academy goalkeeper Daniel Kennedy joining the first team squad. 

Andy Drury has significantly strengthened his backline this summer, adding the experience of former Maidstone United captain Gavin Hoyte and central defender Marvel Ekpiteta. Teenage defender Joel Odeniran has joined having spent last season playing for Lordswood and Snodland Town in the SCEFL. At left back, Frankie Morgan has joined from Sheppey United and Jamie Mascoll from Chatham Town. 

Midfield has been bolstered by the additions of Matt Young, who scored 15 goals in 44 appearances for Haringey Borough last season, Jack Jebb from Dorking Wanderers, former Margate captain Sam Blackman and Eze Ebuzoeme from Chatham Town. Teenager Josh Chambers joined the squad this week following his release from Gillingham, having spent the last 2 seasons on loan in the National League South with Welling United and Worthing.

In attack Andy Drury has added firepower with exciting winger Evans Kouassi from Canvey Island, centre forward Dan Smith from Bognor Regis Town and former Hornchurch winger Ellis Brown who joins from Cray Wanderers. 

Off the pitch the manager has also bolstered his backroom staff. With Chris Lynch remaining as assistant manager, Andy Morris as data analyst and Michael King as kitman, Beth Cooper joins us as physio, Kevin Brown as first team coach and Steven Miller as head of recruitment. 

If you want to put faces to the new names on and off the pitch you can find profiles of all our players and staff here.

Matchday Programmes

Another place you can put faces to names is in our new matchday programmes. Priced at £3,  36 pages packed with news, interviews, pictures and all the latest from Folkestone Invicta Football Club. Pick one up as you come through the turnstiles for a half time read. 

Club Shop

Supporters can now kit themselves out with the latest hats, scarves and training wear from our online Macron store. Click below to check it out.

The Folkestone Invicta Supporters Club shop at the Alcaline Stadium will be open on matchday for spectators to browse an extensive collection of programmes and memorabilia.

From The Manager

Manager Andy Drury spoke ahead of the start of the Isthmian season:

“We are looking forward to the start of the season on Saturday, it’s nice to have the friendlies out of the way now and to get stuck into what should be an exciting season. 

Everyone at the club is looking for a big improvement from where we were at last season. Our levels, our standards, our expectations are all high and everybody has bought into that. 

We have a good group of players here with a strong leadership group, a good mix of experience and some very talented younger players.

There’s still a lot of work to do and fans may not see the best of us until September or October but we plan to start the season well, starting on Saturday and then heading into Tuesday night.”

On the opposition: “Carshalton will pose a good challenge on Saturday, they are always a decent side who you expect to be in the top 10 in this division and they play good football. Our last meeting finished 3-3 earlier in the year and Saturday will be a good measure of where we are now as a team. 

The manager finished off saying: “I’m looking forward to seeing our supporters filling up the terraces again. We have had good crowds for our pre-season games this summer and with all the work that has gone on around the ground and on the pitch this should be an exciting season for them.

Their support is massively important to us this season as we look to achieve our goals and we want to give them lots to cheer and plenty of entertainment on the pitch.”

Previously

Carshalton’s last three visits to Cheriton Road have all seen them leave with a point.

Last season’s meeting saw the sides share 6 goals with Seidou Sanogo and Tom Derry netting for Invicta, who lead at 3-2 at half time but a second half strike denied Andy Drury’s side the three points. You can see the highlights below. 

Familiar Faces

Two current Invicta players have previously turned out for Carshalton: defender Chris Sessegnon had a spell at the War Memorial Sports Ground in 2021 and spent nearly two years as a robin from the summer of 2020 until early 2022. 

The Opposition

Peter Adeniyi is beginning his second season of his second spell at Carshalton Athletic. A man who had done almost every job at Colston Avenue, from player to director of football, he returned to the club last summer after a spell as manager of Merstham. 

Carshalton have had a superb pre-season, winning 5 of 6 fixtures. With all fixtures played at the War Memorial Sports Ground, Carshalton have beaten Croydon Athletic, Whyteleafe, Bracknell Town, Merstham and a young Wimbledon side and drew with Marlow.

Admission  

Tickets are available to purchase in advance from our online ticket shop. You can purchase your tickets by clicking below. 

Alternatively supporters can pay on the turnstiles, with both cash and card accepted.

With the Sid Burvill Turnstiles currently closed, supporters must enter the ground via the turnstiles adjacent to The Dugout Sports Bar. 

Four turnstiles will be in operation, with designated turnstiles for pre-paid tickets, season tickets, cash and card purchases. Please use the correct turnstile to ensure smooth entry into the stadium. 

Adults (18-59)	£12
Concessions (60+, Students with ID, Blue Light Card holders)	£9
Disabled Supporters	£9 (Carer FREE)
Young Adult (13-17)	£6
Children (under 13)	FREE
Folkestone Invicta Academy, Youth & Disability players (with ID)	FREE

Food & Drink

The Dugout Sports Bar will be open from showing live sport on 13 screens including a new big screen, including matches from the opening weekend of the EFL season and the FA Community Shield between Manchester United and Manchester City. 

The Dugout kitchen will be open. Food will also be available from the food truck inside the stadium. As well as the usual, this week the food truck will have slush puppies, doughnuts and sweets.

Cugley’s Lounge (formerly the Wilf Armory Bar) is open for supporters but no longer sells food or drink. 

We have FOUR new fanzone bars around the ground serving draught beer, Guinness, water and soft drinks. 2 bars are adjacent to The Dugout, one beside the tea hut window and one beside the disability shelter. These bars are CARD ONLY. 

Both cash & card are accepted in The Dugout Sports Bar.