New Folkestone goalkeeper Jonny Henly hopes being part of a highly-competitive division will help bring out the best in the team.

Henly has moved across Kent this summer to become Isthmian Premier Invicta’s No.1 after making more than 300 appearances for National League South Tonbridge.

Manager Andy Drury has lofty ambitions after helping the club avoid relegation in 2023/24.

But Folkestone’s rivals - Dover, Dartford, Cray Wanderers and Isthmian South East champions Cray Valley - will also want to be competing at the right-end of the table.

“All those teams that you have mentioned in and around Kent, I think they would all want to be up there, competing and challenging for promotion,” said Henly. “Hopefully, there will be some good games.

“Kent derbies are always good games to play in, I’ve played in a lot over the years.

“There’s a lot of teams in that league - not just the ones in Kent - that have got a bit of ambition. It will be really competitive and it brings out the best in you.”

Drury previously revealed Invicta had beaten off higher-division competition in order to sign Henly.

“He seems like a really good guy,” 30-year-old Henly said.

“As well as the club, it’s important to have a team that you feel you will enjoy playing in and a manager you want to play under.

“It’s no good being at a side if you don’t have that relationship with the manager.

“He didn’t have to do much selling to me. But he said about what they plan to do in the next three, four or five years as a club.

“For me, a good fan-base is always important, as well.

“Speaking to the gaffer, we’re going to go out to win every game and just take it game-by-game.

“We have made some good signings and, barring injuries, we have a good squad.

“The aim is to go as high as possible in the league and push for the play-offs and, potentially, for automatic promotion.

“That’s the aim for the club in the next few years.”

Henly knows plenty about the Cheriton Road club, having been in the same division as them prior to sealing promotion with Tonbridge in May 2019.

He recalled: “When we were in the same league when I was first at Tonbridge, they were always a strong side.

“We had some good games against them. They have a lot of ambition.

“It was important to me that the club seems to be going in the right direction.

“That’s my reasoning for joining them, as opposed to some other sides I spoke to. It’s exciting times for the club.”

On his new team-mates, Henly added: “The only one I have played with is Tom Derry when he was at Tonbridge for a few years.

“It will be nice to play with him again because he’s a good lad. But I’ve probably played against most of them.”

Henly, who came through Reading’s youth system, hadn’t moved for the best part of a decade, prior to heading to Folkestone - and so was pleased to get everything sorted quickly.

“I just like to get things sorted,” he said. “I don’t really ponder it if I like the sound of something.

“It’s nice to have it all sorted and just enjoy the time off that I have.

“It’s all worked out well and I’m happy with the decision that I’ve made.”

Folkestone have confirmed six away pre-season friendlies.

They will visit Sheppey (July 6), Whitstable (July 9), Ashford (July 13), Sittingbourne (July 16), Herne Bay (July 20) and Tonbridge (August 4).

A 10th straight victory ensured Folkestone under-18s claimed the 2023/24 Kent Youth League Premier Division title on Sunday.

Ashton Mitford and Ryley Pritchard both bagged braces, Sam Smith adding a solitary strike, in a 5-0 victory at Whitstable.

That left them relying on Erith Town, who won 3-2 at runners-up Bromley.

Former captain Callum Davies will leave after eight years and nearly 350 appearances.

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