There will be a party atmosphere at the Fullicks Stadium on Saturday as Neil Cugley celebrates 1,000 games as manager of Folkestone Invicta.

Cugley reaches the landmark tonight (Wednesday) when his side travel to Three Bridges for a game which was rained off at the weekend.

But the real focus is the season-ending home game against Tooting & Mitcham, when friends and former players will turn up to mark Cugley’s millenary.

The celebrations will be two-fold, Folkestone having already been crowned Ryman League Division 1 South champions.

Cugley said: "I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big day for the club in the sense of what we’ve achieved.

"Everything’s fallen into place – it couldn’t have been better. It’s about what we’ve all achieved this year and inter-linked with mine, it’s all gone nicely.

"I’m glad it’s all done in one year and it’s all come at the same time. If it was hanging around until next year, it might not have been the same and it just finishes the whole thing.

"With a lot of friends there and a lot of ex-players coming. It’ll be nice."

Cugley has never been one to dwell on statistics – even one of this magnitude.

He said: "It’s only when people tell you that it puts it into perspective.

"I suppose it is quite a lot of games and I’ve had a lot of phone calls and messages to say well done, which means a lot. It is quite an achievement when you look back on it but I’m not a great one for looking back.

"At the moment, I’m going through all the contracts with the players, trying to get the pre-season games sorted out and talking to a couple of new players so it’s a busy time."

Next season will be Cugley’s 20th in charge at Cheriton Road and he wants to carry on for a while yet.

He said: "There’s no reason why not. There’s not much else I’m good at. I’m not a DIY person, I can’t do anything like that. I’ve always liked sport and like the social side as well that comes with it.

"I’m planning now for next year. When one game’s finished, you’re planning for the next. You never really think about it, your motivation.

"As you get older you can’t do what you want on the training ground but you bring in people who have got those assets.

"Jason Lillis and Roland Edge are good people and they can take hold of that side of things. They’ve been good this year and don’t always get the credit they deserve."

Invicta are two league goals short of 100 for the season while Ian Draycott is looking to claim the division’s Golden Boot for the second year running.

Phil Starkey is away on Saturday but Cugley otherwise has a full squad to pick from.