South Park F.C.
South Park Football Club are an English football club based in Reigate, Surrey. The club is affiliated to the Surrey County Football Association.[1] They play in the Isthmian League South Central Division.
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Full name | South Park Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Sparks | ||
Founded | 1897 | ||
Stadium | Whitehall Lane | ||
Capacity | ~ 2,000 | ||
Chairman | Ricky Kidd | ||
Manager | Martin Dynan | ||
League | Isthmian League South Central Division | ||
2019–20 | Isthmian League South Central Division (season abandoned) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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History
The club was founded in 1897 and joined the Redhill and District Football League as a founding member.[2] The facilities of the club were very basic to start with, with the club playing on a sports field between Crescent and Church Roads. 1925 brought a partnership with the local cricket club which formed the South Park Sports Association, the aim of the association to improve athletic facilities for the two clubs and as a result the people of South Park.[2]
The new association found suitable land on Whitehall Lane, the current home of South Park F.C., and purchased four acres through subscriptions and door to door collections.[3] Further purchases of two and four acres respectively ensured that the ground would remain a permanent sports home by vesting them to the National Playing Fields Association. The entire allotment was renamed "King George's Field" in 1935.[3]
The club took a hit during and immediately after World War II, however an air raid shelter on King George's Field proved to be a defining feature of the landscape for the club in its rebound after the war. Donations ensured that amenities were added to the shelter, such as a clubhouse, showers and toilets, to provide the club much needed improvements to fulfill their sporting aspirations.[2] After this period the club remained playing in the local leagues, where they achieved some success over the years.
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In 2001, nearby club Reigate Town Football Club moved into South Park and merged with the current club.[2] As a result, the club was renamed South Park & Reigate Town Football Club until 2003 when they reverted to South Park Football Club.[2] Even more renovations were made to King George's Field with the installation of floodlights and new changing rooms.
2006 saw the club's promotion from the Crawley & District League to the Combined Counties Football League Division One.[4] The club's first ever FA Vase match was held in 2008–09, a second qualifying round 2–1 home defeat to Shoreham.[4]
In 2010, South Park participated in the FA Cup for the first time. They beat Greenwich Borough and Horsham YMCA to set up a tie with Cray Wanderers.[4][5] That season also saw the club gain promotion to the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division, and won a cup double of the Combined Counties Division one cup and the Surrey County premier Cup.[6][7]
In the 2011–12 season South Park reached the last 32 of the FA Vase competition where they were eventually overcome by the holders Whitley Bay.[4]
In the 2012–13 season the club achieved its best ever performance in the FA Cup, reaching the fourth qualifying round, where they were beaten 3–0 at home by Metropolitan Police[8]
South Park updated their badge in July 2018.[9] In October 2018, manager Mick Sullivan, who joined at the start of the season, left the club.[10][11] Jay Lovett was named manager later that month.[12] In november 2019, Martin Dynan replaced Lovett.[13]
Ground
South Park play their home games at Whitehall Lane, South Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 8LG.[14]
Non-playing staff
- As of November 2018.[14]
Position | Name |
---|---|
Chairman | Ricky Kidd |
Club Secretary | Nick Thatcher |
Manager | Jay Lovett |
Honours
- Combined Counties Football League Premier Division
- Champions 2013–14
- Surrey FA Saturday Premier Cup:[15]
- Winners 2010–11
- Combined Counties Football League Premier Cup[16]
- Runners up 2012–13
- Combined Counties Football League Division One Cup:[6]
- Winners 2010–11
Records
- Highest League Position:[4] 1st in Combined Counties Premier Division 2013–14
- FA Cup best performance:[4][17] Fourth qualifying round 2012–13
- FA Vase best performance:[4] Fourth round 2011–12
- FA Trophy best performance: Second round 2016-17
- Highest Attendance:[1][17] 643 vs Metropolitan Police October 20, 2012
References
- "CCFL_League_Table". Combinedcountiesleague.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2010-08-02. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
- "History – South Park F.C". Pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
- Bernard, Rob (2012-02-05). "Hopping all over the World Two: South Park". Worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
- SOUTH PARK at the Football Club History Database
- "FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round | This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 2010-08-20. Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
- "South Park 1 Bedfont Sports 0 Combined Counties Div1 Challenge Cup Final – a set on Flickr". Flickr.com. 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
- "Surrey Premier Cup Results 2011–12". Surrey FA. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- "South Park 0 Met Police 3 FA cup 4thQualifying round « evenmoreseniorbushe". Evenmoreseniorbushe.wordpress.com. 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- "Introducing our new club badge". Twitter. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- Townsend, Ian. "South Park make a final statement on the events of this week". Isthmian League. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- "Mick Sullivan leaves South Park – but maybe not by mutual consent???". northkentnonleague.co.uk. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- Youlton, Clive (October 31, 2018). "Former Brentford, Crawley Town and Met Police defender ready for South Park challenge". Surrey Advertiser. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- "South Park unveil ex Lewisham Borough boss Justin Fevrier as assistant manager to new boss Martin Dynan". Kentish Football. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- "South Park". Isthmian League. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- "Saturday Premier Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
- EEFC Webmaster. "Epsom & Ewell win League Cup Final! – Epsom & Ewell Football Club". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
- "Police arrest South Park's cup development; This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 2012-10-20. Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
External links
- Official website
- South Park at the Isthmian League
- South Park at the Football Club History Database