Nickname(s) The Sparks Chairman Ricky Kidd Founded 1897 | Ground Capacity 2,000 (113 seated) Manager Malcolm Porter | |
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Full name South Park Football Club Ground King George's Field
South Park, Reigate Leagues Isthmian League, Combined Counties Football League Premier Division | ||
South Park Football Club are an English football club based in Reigate, Surrey. The club is affiliated to the Surrey County Football Association. They play in the Isthmian League Division One South, which they were promoted into following the 2013–14 season.
Contents
History
The club was founded in 1897 and joined the Redhill and District Football League as a founding member. 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.
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. 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.
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. After this period the club remained playing in the local leagues, where they achieved some success over the years.
In 2001, nearby club Reigate Town Football Club moved into South Park and merged with the current club. As a result, the club was renamed South Park & Reigate Town Football Club until 2003 when they reverted to South Park Football Club. 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. The club's first ever FA Vase match was held in 2008–09, a second qualifying round 2–1 home defeat to Shoreham.
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. 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.
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.
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
Ground
South Park play their home games at King George's Field, Whitehall Lane, South Park, Reigate RH2 8LG.