After weeks of leading the division by varying distances, this could be the weekend that Folkestone Invicta are finally promoted to the National League as Champions of the Isthmian Premier.

Masses of supporters wearing amber and black are expected to descend on St Albans City on Saturday to see if Jay Saunders side can finish off the job in which has to be remembered is the managers first in charge at the Alcaline Stadium. Which is made even more remarkable by the fact that Invicta didn’t play a “home” game at Cheriton Road until the middle of October due to the laying of the club’s new pitch.

After losing their first two games of 2026, Saunders side are twelve unbeaten, and following their own recovery from being 1-3 down to Carshalton last week – sub-Ryan Kingsford netting the equaliser – and the ninety-third minute goal from Cray Wanderers sub-Max Fiddes which beat second placed Aveley, this Easter weekend becomes all about Invicta

“We could have won it last week,” Saunders admitted speaking to KSN this week, “But I didn’t expect the results to go our way the way that they did. In my head, I always thought the opportunity to win it would be over Easter and so its proved. We have trained well this week and now have to go to St Albans and get the job done, which won’t be easy and there are no easy games in this League, but what an opportunity to have and we are looking forward to it!”

St Albans season is all but done as they are in mid table and cannot reach the play-off or be caught from the relegation pack, and Saunders reflected on how this weekend would have looked when the two sides met when Folkestone were playing home games at Margate back in August!

“When we took the job in the summer and the Chairman told us we would be “away” practically every game, we all thought play-offs would be a great achievement having effectively having to play first two months of the season away from home. We had a new set of players who didn’t know what the Alcaline Stadium was like or what a home game was, so everything was against the boys to be fair!

“But you have to give each and every one full credit – they took on board what we wanted from them and what we needed from them and have gone out each week, nine times out of ten, carried out to the letter what we have asked of them. Its not luck that we are in this position at this stage of the season – they have all worked extremely hard and for everyone associated with the club I am so pleased we have got this opportunity!”

“But we still have got to get it done! It’s in our hands now – two points from the last five games and we will be doing all we can to get over the line on Saturday!”

“It’s certainly a game to look forward to without the added importance. I love going to St Albans personally – it’s an old-fashioned non-league ground that I always enjoyed playing at and always enjoy managing there. We are all looking forward to it.

“The Club is being fantastic and the sponsors GSE Group are running coaches for the supporters, so we will go there with a good following, and we will do what we can to get over the line. If it doesn’t happen, then we roll onto our home games with Ramsgate on Monday. But I am sure we will be doing everything we can to get it done Saturday!”