Folkestone Invicta chairman Josh Healey on excitement around the club’s 3G pitch plans at Cheriton Road

Chairman Josh Healey has spoken of his excitement at Folkestone’s plans for a new 3G pitch.

The Isthmian Premier club confirmed the intention for the new season to be their last on a grass surface at Cheriton Road this week, subject to planning being granted by Folkestone & Hythe District Council, after positive discussions with the local authority.

“For us as a club, it’s massively needed,” said Mr Healey.

“And for the borough. Folkestone & Hythe District Council are shy of the amount of 3G pitches they should have due to their local plan so this will help with that, as well.

“It's exciting times. We have done a lot at the ground, upgrading the Sports Bar, newly-named The Dugout, and the first-team facilities.

“Hopefully, this is the next step, so the club can expand into the wider community.”

Just last month, the formation of Invicta’s first senior women’s team was confirmed.

They would be among those to benefit from the state-of-the-art facilities, alongside the club’s thriving youth-team system, as well as the first team.

Mr Healey noted: “That’s the whole point.

“We want to grow the youth and Academy side of the club, and have an under-23s team, as well.

“It’s pretty much impossible for an 18-year-old to go from playing youth-team football to Isthmian Premier football, with the odd exception.

“We want to grow that side of things at the club and also the women’s team.

"There’s far more to why we are doing it than just for the first team.”

Folkestone remain one of few non-league clubs in Kent to still play on grass - for now.

“If you look at all the clubs around us - aside from Dover, Hythe and Sittingbourne - they’re pretty much all on 3G pitches,” said the chairman.

“Clubs like Herne Bay, Whitstable, Ashford,