Former Maidstone United fans’ favourite winger Joan Luque joins Folkestone Invicta

A former Maidstone fans’ favourite has agreed to join Folkestone in a major coup for the Isthmian Premier club.

Invicta manager Andy Drury has beaten off stiff competition to recruit Spanish winger Joan Luque, 31, for the 2024/25 season.

“I’m delighted to sign Joan Luque,” Drury told Folkestone’s website.

“It’s a signing myself and the chairman (Josh Healey) have worked hard on over the last couple of weeks.

“Joan was player-of-the-year two years ago in National League South and has fantastic ability with the ball, a good work ethic without it, and he will be a huge part of the team this season.

“He wants to be part of a successful team and has seen the signings we have made, and I’m delighted he has chosen to come to us, despite all the offers he had elsewhere.”

Luque joins from National League South Worthing, having previously had a big impact at the Gallagher Stadium. He also had a loan stint at AFC Totton during the 2023/24 campaign.

Luque left the Stones last summer after missing the entire of the 2022/23 National League season following knee surgery.

The campaign before that, he had starred as Maidstone won National League South, as he scored 22 goals and laying on plenty more before he suffered the long-term injury against Dartford.

Others to have agreed to link up with Drury at Folkestone this summer are goalkeeper Jonny Henly, defender Frankie Morgan and ex-Margate skipper Sam Blackman, alongside fellow midfielders Dean Rance and Jack Jebb.