Long-serving managers Neil Cugley and Ian Chapman renew their rivalry that goes back several years now when Folkestone Invicta travel to West Sussex to take on fellow Bostik Premier side Burgess Hill Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

That rivalry was perhaps at its height when Chapman’s Hillians threatened to run away with the Ryman Southern Division championship with a record-breaking unbeaten run that attracted interest even from the national media.

In the league it was 3-1 down at the Green Elephants early in January (2015) with the home deserved winners despite a goal from Frankie Chappell.

Such was Burgess Hill’s momentum that no-one was ever likely to overtake them at the top of the table and they completed their memorable season with a 1-1 draw at The Fullicks Stadium on the final of day to the campaign, Ian Draycott on target for Invicta in reply to a first half strike from Jon Keelan.

Folkestone ended the season as runners up, but a distant 11 points behind their rivals showed just how dominant the Hillians were in 2014/15.

The two sides were then also drawn against each other in the FA Trophy – Invicta achieving a fully deserved goalless draw in Sussex before the visitors took the honours with Dan Perry getting the only goal of the game in the replay on a very, very wet night at the Fullicks.

And while Chapman’s men were looking forward to life in the Premier Division, Invicta were to suffer one of their more disappointing defeats as Merstham were comfortable 3-0 winners of the play-off final at Cheriton Road.

Looking back to that season, Neil Cugley said: “They (BHT) certainly had a good side then, but they’ve struggled at the higher level.”

Indeed, only a quirk of fate saved Burgess Hill from a return to the lower league 12 months ago.

Looking forward to Saturday’s game, Cugs said: “I was on the phone to Chappers straightaway to say how pleased we were with the easy draw (in the Cup) and he came back with just the same!”

Ade Yusuff and Sam Hasler both miss the tie through suspension, but we will bring you more team news later in the week.