Striker Jake Hutchinson - Isthmian Premier’s 2025/26 season Golden Boot winner - leaves newly-promoted National League South side Folkestone Invicta

Striker Jake Hutchinson has made a surprise Folkestone Invicta exit.

Hutchinson, 24, had finished as Isthmian Premier’s top scorer for the 2025/26 season with 28 goals - 24 in the league - during the title-winning Isthmian Premier campaign for Jay Saunders’ side.

The club announced they had exercised a clause in his contract for him to stay ahead of an inaugural National League South season but, just 22 days on, Hutchinson has departed Cheriton Road.

Manager Saunders told the club website on Thursday: “Jake’s a great lad who did well for us last season and, obviously, scored lots of goals.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to come to an agreement for next season.

“We wish him well moving forward.”

It proved a memorable campaign last time out for two members of the Hutchinson household, with Isaac Hutchinson - Jake’s older brother - also enjoying similar success.

After beginning the season at Bristol Rovers, the 26-year-old joined Cheltenham Town last September on loan and returned to the Robins in February, having been recalled by Gas for a month.

Eighteen goals - adding to two he netted for Rovers - and a position in the League 2 team-of-the-season followed for Isaac.

The pair are sons of Tobi Hutchinson, a former Eastbourne Town and Eastbourne United player, who managed the latter.

Jake admitted: “It’s mental when you think about it.

“Probably for the last few seasons, it’s maybe even been a case that we have both not had very good seasons. Especially last year, that was a tough year for both of us.

"It’s surreal we have both ended up with 20-odd goals.

“My dad jokes - because we tend to play on Saturdays - ‘If one of you scores, the other one isn’t going to.’. That probably hasn’t been the case this year.

“There