Folkestone Invicta have announced that John Ter Horst has left the club and signed for Pitching In Isthmian League South East Division side Ashford United.
Johan had two spells with Invicta having come through the club’s youth system. Overall, he made 171 appearances (123 starts and 48 as a substitute) and scored 75 goals, which is a decent goals to games ratio.
In his first spell he made 73 appearances (58 starts and 15 as a substitute) and scored 34 goals.
He made his debut as a substitute against Herne Bay in what was then the Ryman League Division One South in a 3-2 defeat on 10th November 2012, and his first start was against Maidstone United, also in a League game, on 9th February 2013, when he scored both goals in a 2-2 draw.
His raw talent and goalscoring exploits started to attract the scouts and having had a trial at Charlton Athletic, he signed for then Premier League Hull City (along with Burgess Hill Town’s Greg Luer, now at Eastbourne Borough).
Having spent three seasons with ‘The Tigers’, where he was given a Premier League squad number but didn’t actually play in the Premier League, he was released and joined National League Maidstone United, but again he found chances limited and so returned to Invicta on loan, with his first appearance being in a 5-1 win at home against Enfield Town on November 28th 2017, when again he scored twice.
He then signed permanently at for the start of the following season. His last appearance for the club was in the Velocity Trophy Quarter Final against Brightlingsea Regent last season, when he put us 1-0 ahead, and then took and scored our second penalty in the shoot-out.
In total in his second spell at the club, he made 98 appearances (65 starts and 33 as a substitute) and scored 41 goals.
Neil Cugley said; “Whilst I’m sorry to see Johan go, I think it’s a good move for him as he will get more game time and at his age that is what he wants. “I don’t see any reason why, at the lower level, he’ll not get 25 or 30 goals.
“Had our finances allowed I would have kept him, but I couldn’t guarantee him a place in the starting line-up, and I felt he was beating himself up a bit, so a move seemed the obvious answer. “I’d like to wish him every success at Ashford.”
Johan left the reasons for his leaving in an honest but complimentary post on social media, which agreed with what Neil said; “With the new season underway, I wanted to take the chance to say thank you to everyone at Folkestone Invicta for their support over the last few years.
“It had been made clear that I was unlikely to get many first-team appearances at the club this season, so I’ve decided to pursue regular football elsewhere.
“I’ve had some hugely enjoyable times at the club, in a great dressing room, and with brilliant backing from the supporters. “Because of my journey with Invicta, the club will, of course, always be a special one in my career, and who knows what the future holds.
“But right now, I’m excited by my next challenge at Ashford United, which began with a great FA Cup win today. “Good luck to all at FIFC for the rest of the season, and I’ll see you soon I’m sure.”
Thanks for all you’ve done at Invicta Johan, and good luck at ‘The Homelands’ in the next stage of your career.