Folkestone Invicta manager Jay Saunders tells how he joked with Joe Pigott about signing – and ended up getting him | Invicta face Maidstone in FA Cup second qualifying round

Jay Saunders has told how his move to bring Joe Pigott to Folkestone started as a joke.

Pigott had offers to stay in the Football League after leaving Leyton Orient as a free agent at the end of last season.

But the 31-year-old, whose former clubs include Charlton, AFC Wimbledon and Ipswich, ended up signing for Isthmian Premier Folkestone.

Pigott played under Invicta boss Saunders at Maidstone, initially on loan from Cambridge, before signing a permanent deal.

His form with the Stones earned a move back to the Football League with the Dons, where his career flourished.

Spells at Ipswich, which included a season-long loan at Portsmouth, and Leyton Orient didn’t work out, and he spent the 2024/25 campaign back on loan with the Dons.

Pigott wants to get back to enjoying his football and the chance to reunite with Saunders should ensure that happens.

He could face his former club when Folkestone meet Maidstone at Chatham Town’s ground in the FA Cup second qualifying round tomorrow night (Friday, 8pm).

“We met for breakfast and had a catch-up and I said, ‘Where are you at?’ said Saunders.

“He said, ‘I’ve got some Football League offers’ but I think a few of them location-wise weren’t right for him and he had a few National League offers and they weren’t quite right.

“I kind of just threw it out there, jokingly, ‘You can always come and sign for us at Folkestone’, and it went from there.

“It became, ‘OK, I’m interested, let’s have a chat’ and we had a meeting, me, him and Josh (Healey), the chairman, and he got on really well with him.

“I think Pigs could see what he wants to do with the club and what we want to do with the club and he bought into it.

“He’s got a young family and being closer to home appeals.

“He’s 31 now and