Folkestone Invicta recently announced plans for a new artificial surface at their Cheriton Road home that will be ready for the start of the 2025/2026 season, but boss Andy Drury is focusing on the here and now.

But that is to come in the Club’s future – for boss Andy Drury, his focus is on his side’s opening weekend opponents in the Isthmian Premier Division when Carshalton Athletic visit Shepway. 

Drury spoke to KSN this week and told us, “Last season was a difficult one for us. The expectation levels I put on myself was in the middle of an incredibly difficult year for the Club where there was a lot of change, and a lot of transition.”

“I had to be a big part as well – I have almost had to build two squads in the last six months. We put one together to keep us up last year and we got the best out of that squad and now we have another squad for the new season with a lot of very good players for this level that I now have to get the maximum out of for us to go up near to the top of the League.”

“So, there have been a lot of changes with a lot going on behind the scenes to make the Club more professional – the changing rooms are being done, the pitch has been done with the new one coming next year.”

“There has been a lot of work that has gone on behind the scenes – we are not too far from where we need to be!” 

“We have been back for two and a half, three weeks now and the boys have been on it really since then. They have been impressive – we have a good mentality in the group; I think we are still two or three away from where we need to be player wise – we are still looking – but we have been trying things so far, some have worked, some have not, but that is on me!”

“We have changed shape in some games and have looked much better – we learn a lot in pre-season even when we do not play as well as we have done in some of the games, which leaves me with the decisions to fix things and decide on bits going forward.” 

“We want to win games, but you also want to be in the best position we can for League opening day; we have a couple of players who are still “under cooked” as they have had injuries for a week or two missing a couple of games.”

“We want to win games but at the same time, you do not want to leave players on too long so they might pick up an injury, so we have mixed things up after sixty minutes, forty-five minutes trying to get everyone minutes.” 

“Pre-season is always difficult, but it is there for a reason. It is there to get players fit, but at the same time you must get that mentality of winning games into them…”