TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
MATCH DETAILS
Match details: Torquay United versus Folkestone Invicta – National League South
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Saturday 5th September 2026
Kick-off: 3pm
HEAD-TO-HEAD
First ever meeting
FORM GUIDE
Torquay (W1, D3, L2):
D 1-1 Horsham H
W 2-1 Tonbridge Angels A
D 0-0 Weston Super Mare H
L 0-2 Dagenham and Redbridge A
D 1-1 Hampton and Richmond Borough H
L 0-2 Farnham Town A
Folkestone (W3, D2, L0):
W 5-1 Walton and Hersham H
D 1-1 Maidstone United A
D 1-1 Chelmsford City H
W 2-0 Slough Town A
W 2-0 Hemel Hempstead Town H
TOP GOAL-SCORERS
Torquay: Four players on one
Folkestone: Kevin Lokko/Joe Pigott (3)
FOLKESTONE INVICTA FACT FILE
Year founded: 1936
Nickname: Invicta/Seasiders/Stripes
Last season’s league finish: 1st in Isthmian Premier Division
Notable Honours:
Isthmian League Premier Division:
Champions: 2025-26
MANAGER – JAY SAUNDERS
A hugely experienced manager at non-league level, Jay Saunders made his name as a manager when he guided Maidstone United from Isthmian League Division One South to the National League in the space of four years. He took charge of Tonbridge Angels in May 2022 and guided the club to a ninth-placed finish in the 2022-23 campaign, which was followed by a 14th place finish in 2023-24. In his first full season as Invicta manager, he guided the club to the Isthmian Premier Division title.
PLAYER PROFILE – JOE PIGOTT
Joe Pigott began his professional career with Charlton Athletic. Joined National League South side Bromley on loan during the 2012/13 season, scoring three goals in five appearances.
He made his professional debut in August 2013 in a 4-0 League Cup win against Oxford United where he scored their fourth goal with a penalty. Joe then made his Football League debut as a substitute in a 2-1 win against Leicester City later that month. Pigott then joined Gillingham on loan during the 2013-14 season, scoring on his first start in a 2-1 win against Carlisle United.
He later joined Newport County on loan during the 2014-15 season and had two loan spells with Southend United, making 51 appearances between 2015 and 2016. Whilst with the Shrimpers, he scored a 122nd minute equaliser in the 2015 League Two playoff final at Wembley, before scoring the first penalty in a shoot-out that Southend won 7-6 to be promoted to League One.
Pigott joined Luton Town on loan for the end of the 2015-16 season, before being released by Charlton in the summer of 2016 before signing for Cambridge United in the summer of 2016.
He later joined Maidstone United on loan in January 2017, under Jay Saunders, before joining the Stones permanently in the summer. Pigott returned to the EFL with AFC Wimbledon in January 2018 for an undisclosed fee and scored four minutes into his debut against Blackpool. He also scored against West Ham in an EFL Cup tie in August 2018 and later scored the first ever goal at Wimbledon’s new Plough Lane stadium in November 2020, as he netted twice in a 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers.
He departed Wimbledon for Ipswich Town in the summer of 2021 and later joined Portsmouth on loan for the 2022-23 season. Pigott then moved to Leyton Orient in the summer of 2023 before returning AFC Wimbledon in the summer of 2024 and was part of the squad that won the League Two play-off final. He was released by Leyton Orient in the summer of 2025.
He signed for Folkestone Invicta in September 2025 and made his debut in a 4-1 win against Whitehawk and later scored his first goal for Invicta in a 3-2 win away to Burgess Hill Town. A key member of the 2025-26 Isthmian Premier Division winning squad, making 31 appearances and scoring 15 goals.
PLAYER STATS:
Position: Striker
DOB: 24/11/93 (32)
Previous Club: Leyton Orient
NLS 26/27 Stats: Appearances 5, Goals 3, Yellow/Red Cards 0/0
OLD BOYS
Torquay United: None
Folkestone: None
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Torquay United (3-4-2-1): Toby Savin; Dom Bernard, Jake Wannell, Tyler Hill; Jacob Beaumont Clark, Monashe Sundire, Matt Worthington, Kian Jenkins; Jordan Young, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton; Deon Moore
Folkestone Invicta (3-5-2): Ted Collins; Liam Smith, Kevin Lokko, Jamie Fielding; Ben Mason, Donell Thomas, Alex Woodyard, Harvey Kedwell, Dan Quick; Aaron Cosgrave, Joe Pigott
COYY – STEVE
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