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.

For the defunct Australian rules football club, see South Park Football Club (SAFA).
South Park
Full nameSouth Park Football Club
Nickname(s)The Sparks
Founded1897
StadiumWhitehall Lane
Capacity~ 2,000
ChairmanRicky Kidd
ManagerMartin Dynan
LeagueIsthmian League South Central Division
2019–20Isthmian League South Central Division (season abandoned)
WebsiteClub website

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.

A historical South Park FC club badge

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
  • 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
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References
  1. "CCFL_League_Table". Combinedcountiesleague.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2010-08-02. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  2. "History – South Park F.C". Pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  3. Bernard, Rob (2012-02-05). "Hopping all over the World Two: South Park". Worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  4. SOUTH PARK at the Football Club History Database
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "Surrey Premier Cup Results 2011–12". Surrey FA. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  8. "South Park 0 Met Police 3 FA cup 4thQualifying round « evenmoreseniorbushe". Evenmoreseniorbushe.wordpress.com. 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  9. "Introducing our new club badge". Twitter. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  10. Townsend, Ian. "South Park make a final statement on the events of this week". Isthmian League. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  11. "Mick Sullivan leaves South Park – but maybe not by mutual consent???". northkentnonleague.co.uk. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  12. Youlton, Clive (October 31, 2018). "Former Brentford, Crawley Town and Met Police defender ready for South Park challenge". Surrey Advertiser. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  13. "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.
  14. "South Park". Isthmian League. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  15. "Saturday Premier Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  16. EEFC Webmaster. "Epsom & Ewell win League Cup Final! – Epsom & Ewell Football Club". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  17. "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.

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