WORST SINCE THE 70s, SAYS CUGLEY

LONG-SERVING Neil Cugley reckons the coronavirus outbreak is the biggest crisis to hit English football since the Three-Day Week.

Cugley is now in his 23rd season in charge at Folkestone Invicta, making him by far the longest serving manager in the top seven tiers of the Pyramid.

And he’s clearly lost none of his old magic, having steered the Kent side to the verge of a league and cup double this season with a promotion chase in BetVictor Isthmian Premier complemented by a semi-final place against Bracknell Town in the Velocity Trophy.

Sadly, the enforced lay-off means Cugley may not get the opportunity to add to his already glittering trophy cabinet, leaving the wily Invicta chief to reflect on the most unique situation he has seen in almost 50 years.

“The only thing was the Three-Day Week and the miners’ strike in the 70s,” the 63-year-old, who has completed over 1,100 games in charge of the club, told

KentOnline. “That was a strange time. That’s the only time I can remember anything like this. But that was not anything to do with life and death.

“I must have been only 18 so it was a long, long time ago. It was a similar thing for two months.”

Asked what effect the the coronavirus outbreak could have on a club like Folkestone Invicta and the rest of Non-League, Cugley added: “It’s going to be a challenge. One thing about Folkestone now is we have been a wellrun club for a while ao we will get through it, I’m sure we’ll get by.

“If the wage bill is a little bit reduced next year, then so be it.”