South Park - Whitehall Lane

 

South Park FC

Whitehall Lane

South Park

Reigate

Surrey

RH2 8LG

01737 245963

Official Website

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Ground Number: 273
Tuesday 7th May 2013
South Park 3-1 Molesey
Combined Counties League

SOUTH PARK FC - A BRIEF HISTORY 

The club was founded in 1897 and joined the Redhill and District Football League as a founding member. 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. After this period, the club continued playing in the local leagues, where they achieved some success over the years. In 2001, nearby 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. This gave them the chance to join the Combined Counties League, having played in the Crawley and District League up to that point. Starting in Division 1, they finished 3rd behind Worcester Park and Farnham Town in 2011. The former were unable to take promotion, and so South Park went up in their place. After three seasons in the Premier Division, they won the title. They've been in the Isthmian South Central ever since and added the Reigate Suffix to their club name in 2021. Their best finish came in 2018 when they finished 8th.

In the FA Cup, South Park reached the 4th Qualifying Round in 2013. They beat Cobham, Lancing, Walton & Hersham, Harefield United and Brentwood Town, prior to a 3-0 defeat to Metropolitan Police in front of a record 643 crowd. They also reached the FA Trophy 2nd Round in 2017, losing at Tranmere Rovers (bettered last year by reaching the 3rd Round)and the FA Vase 4th Round in 2012 when they went out to Whitley Bay. Local honours include the Surrey Premier Cup and Combined Counties D1 Cup in 2011 and the Surrey Senior Cup in 2024.

MY FIRST VISIT

As my parents were away, I decided to go to football for the 4th day in a row. I had the choice of 3 matches in the Combined Counties League - at Westfield, Hartley Wintney and South Park. As I had been to the other 2 for photos, I decided to go to South Park, a suburb of Reigate, even though it was a little further than the other 2. I had the day off work and had put my car in for its MOT and annual service. I was expecting a fairly big bill, but not one as big as the £673 I got, as it needed new brake pads and discs, a new tyre, something to do with the suspension as well as all the usual bits and pieces. I will miss football when it all ends in a week or so, but at least it will give me the chance to save some money. I had dinner before I left at 6.15, allowing extra time in case there was traffic.



I had seen South Park play earlier this season when they beat Harefield United 4-1 in the FA Cup. They were currently 5th in the league, whilst opponents Molesey were mid-table. I had only seen them once, as they beat Windsor 3-1 back in 2004 when former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall was involved with the club. I made good time for the journey as the M25 had no delays for once, not even round the bit near the M3 where I always get stuck. I got to the ground at 7.15 and after a quick look in the bar went in. The first half was a typical end of season game, really cagey and not many chances. The second half had only just started though when 2 quick goals put them firmly in control of the game. They had the better of the next 10 minutes but slowly Molesey were starting to get back into it. They had a good passage of play and were rewarded with a goal just before full time. However, South Park sealed the game with a third goal in injury time to cement their place at the top of the table.

MY SECOND VISIT

This revisit was only decided upon a couple of hours beforehand thanks to a kind hopper called Leatherhead Pete offering a lift. It would have been very tight on the train but I could have just about made it. I was glad to revisit as I'd not researched the club history for my blog and wanted to improve it. The lift was greatly appreciated but the traffic was awful, 70 minutes to do 15 miles. We got there at 1.30 and I went in the clubhouse to do my blog and have a pint of Thatchers Gold for a reasonable £4.20. There was a great reggae band warming up for later, it's a shame it wasn't more local to me, as it really appealed. The mobile data was very slow, but I was glad to get the blog up in a nice place. I got into the ground at kickoff, via donation for the South Park v Ex Pros XI. 

It was 1-0 to South Park legends on 9 minutes, Joe Jackson with a low shot. Drizzle had started by now and Barry Hayles equalised on 11 minutes for the ex pros. The ex pros went ahead on 15 minutes, a finish from just inside the area by Nicky Forster. A decent bacon cheeseburger was purchased for £5.50 as South Park laid siege to the Ex Pros goal. They did make it 2-2 on 39, a left-sided corner put home at the back post by Nicholls.   Following a short break, South Park went ahead, a high shot from Mark Ward from just inside the area to make it 3-2. Shortly before the end, it was 3-3, another from Forster I believe.

 

THE GROUND

WHITEHALL LANE is quite a basic ground, even for this level. It is, however, really well kept and in nice surroundings, a really nice place to watch football on a spring evening. There is a small seated stand behind one goal, holding around 100, whilst the only other area of cover is under the changing room block. The rest of the ground is open hard standing, but that's all you need at this level. There is a tea bar and a clubhouse, neither of which I tried, but seem to offer a nice selection of stuff. The programme priced at £1 was decent value. Although not the greatest in the content stakes, it was certainly well produced and smartly presented, even if they do that annoying thing where they put the home goals first (IE a 4-1 away win is presented as 1-4)

THE GROUND - 2025 UPDATES 

 The ground had seen the addition of an extra seated stand since my last visit, adding another 100 to the seated cover.It was still a functional venue, well-kept. The clubhouse offered drinks at reasonable prices, £4.20 for a Thatchers Gold. The tea bar was good, the bacon cheeseburger for £5.50 was good value and filling. There was no merch that I could see.