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South Park F.C.

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 9 min
For the defunct Australian rules football club, see South Park Football Club (SAFA).

51°13′24″N 0°12′56″W / 51.22333°N 0.21556°W / 51.22333; -0.21556

South Park Reigate
Full nameSouth Park Reigate Football Club
Nickname(s)The Sparks
Founded1897
StadiumWhitehall Lane
ChairmanRicky Kidd
ManagerRob Kember
LeagueIsthmian League South Central Division
2023–24Isthmian League South Central Division, 9th of 21
Websitehttp://southparkfootballclub.co.uk/

South Park Reigate 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.

History

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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 association aimed to improve athletic facilities for the two clubs and 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 amenities were added to the shelter, such as a clubhouse, showers, and toilets, to provide the club with much-needed improvements to fulfill its sporting aspirations.[2] After this period the club continued playing in the local leagues, where they achieved some success over the years.

A historical South Park FC club badge

In 2001, nearby 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]

In the 2013–13 season, the club won the Combined Counties Premier division, being promoted to the Isthmian League Division One South. After a reorganisation of the Isthmian League structure occurred for the 2018–19 season the club became a member of the Isthmian League South Central Division.

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] Harrison Williams took charge of the club in February 2022.[14] In November 2022, Harrison left the club and his assistant Tom Cope took over the side and was named the First Team Manager.[15]

South Park renamed themselves South Park Reigate in July 2022, the decision was made by the club as they believe it will enhance their profile locally as well as in the wider football community.

In the 2023–24 season, they reached the Third round of the FA Trophy after beating Bognor Regis Town 4–1 away and will play Hereford away in the Third round

Ground

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South Park plays their home games at Whitehall Lane, South Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 8LG.[16]

Non-playing staff

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As of November 2018.[16]
Position Name
Chairman Ricky Kidd
Club Secretary Nick Thatcher
Manager Tom Cope
Assistant manager Seanan McKillop
Assistant manager Adam Pittwood
Goalkeeper coach Charlie Bright

Awards and honours

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Records

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  • Highest League Position:
    • 1st in Combined Counties Premier Division: 2013–14[17]
  • FA Cup best performance:[4][20]
    • Fourth qualifying round: 2012–13
  • FA Vase best performance:[4]
    • Fourth round: 2011–12
  • FA Trophy best performance:
    • Third round: 2023–24
  • Highest Attendance:[1][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "CCFL_League_Table". Combinedcountiesleague.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "History – South Park F.C". Pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b Bernard, Rob (5 February 2012). "Hopping all over the World Two: South Park". Worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f SOUTH PARK at the Football Club History Database
  5. ^ "FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round | This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b "South Park 1 Bedfont Sports 0 Combined Counties Div1 Challenge Cup Final – a set on Flickr". Flickr.com. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Surrey Premier Cup Results 2011–12". Surrey FA. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  8. ^ "South Park 0 Met Police 3 FA cup 4thQualifying round « evenmoreseniorbushe". Evenmoreseniorbushe.wordpress.com. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  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 30 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Mick Sullivan leaves South Park – but maybe not by mutual consent???". northkentnonleague.co.uk. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  12. ^ Youlton, Clive (31 October 2018). "Former Brentford, Crawley Town and Met Police defender ready for South Park challenge". Surrey Advertiser. Retrieved 13 November 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. ^ Seckington, Kaylee (3 February 2022). "Steady improvements the aim as Harrison Williams swaps Redhill for South Park". Surrey Advertiser. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Cope takes charge of South Park". South Park FC. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  16. ^ a b "South Park". Isthmian League. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Premier Division table". Combined Counties Football League. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Saturday Premier Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  19. ^ EEFC Webmaster. "Epsom & Ewell win League Cup Final! – Epsom & Ewell Football Club". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Police arrest South Park's cup development; This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
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