Striker Johan Ter Horst has rejoined Folkestone Invicta on a four week loan deal from Maidstone United.
The 22-year-old’s last appearance in the black and amber of Invicta came in the 2013/14 play-off final against Leatherhead at The Fullicks Stadium, which, despite the home side eventually missing promotion to the (then) Ryman Premier Division on penalties remains one of the most fondly remembered days in the club’s history.
Ex-Harvey Grammar school pupil Ter Horst, whose parents live in Saltwood, was sold to Premiership Hull City a few weeks after that game and made good progress during the time that Steve Bruce was still manager, but played mostly for their Under 23 squad in the National Development League.
In his final season at Folkestone he played alongside veteran striker Paul Booth and wide man Dane Luchford – all three netting more than 20 goals in a team that finished second in the table and scored 102 goals in league games alone.
Johan swept the board at the club’s end of season awards night and was a clear winner of the supporters Player of the Year trophy.
The Tigers’ difficulties over the past few seasons have been well documented elsewhere, though their development squad were consistently successful throughout most of that time.
With their first team relegated at the end of last season despite the efforts of now highly successful Watford manager Marco Silva, Ter Horst was one of those released last summer and moved back nearer home as a full-time professional at Maidstone United.
After a pre-season injury forced him to miss the first few games, he has forced his way into the Stones first team squad, making several starts and even more appearances off the bench, scoring their consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat after the long trip to Hartlepool.
Johan has twice visited the Fullicks Stadium recently and was here to watch our FA Trophy Replay against Leiston and was back just the weekend before last when he was catching up on old times with club officials and players at the John Tredwell Memorial game.
This loan deal has been set up by Invicta manager Neil Cugley to cover striker Ian Draycott’s belated honeymoon. We believe that Ian and wife Nicola – who he married at Hayne House in Saltwood just after the end of last season – are spending three weeks in the Caribbean.
Cugs said: “I’ve known about this for a long time, of course. I hope they have a lovely time away.
“We’re confident that Johan can do a good job for us and score a few more goals to remind everyone just what a good player he is.”
Draycott will be in the side tomorrow against Enfield before flying out to the sunshine with Ter Horst likely to be on the bench for that game before making his second debut for the club at Wingate & Finchley on Saturday.