After the disappointments of the World cup and Arsenal doing the double (hahah) it was back to business for Newpark. Andy Roffe implemented a gruelling six week training program at Greenwich park to keep the team cogent and fitness levels high. We all remember Rowley ducking out of the running in favour of a double creamed croissant at the parks cafe! Sad departures included Fran Egan who left us for a stint in Malia. Chris Roffe and Rowley abandoned to some an already sinking ship and joined ye olde Corinthians of the Kent League. Arrivals included Tommy Mac, a veteran of the Kent League. Richard "Franco" Franklin and the dependable Sam "Henchoz" Burgess. Even martial arts supremo "Wiggy" would lend a hand when needed. The Roffe influence of the team continued with Andy playing on and ensuring sponsorship for another campaign and with the advent of a young hairy Albanian called Harry Fox, who had a bigger mole then anyone else in the showers. Simon Dole also left but was to make a dramatic return come May 2003 after nine months out through being announced missing. The 2002-03 campaign kicked off with a 1-4 defeat at the hands of the physical Catford Wanderers. Andy Roffe was dismissed in the 10th minute for deliberate handball. Debuts to Des (remember him) and Brian Ducros were noted. Next was a void fixture with Wickham that yielded 3 points as they could not field a team. Old sparring partners RASRA were next in contention. After a bruising encounter the score ended 1-1 with Danny Jones on the scoresheet. A debut to Rob "Jeffers" Morris looked promising. Newpark for the second time in succession had a man dismissed; Franco off for picking a fight with "Drew the pirate". A suspension would loom for the big man. Johnson & Phillips were beaten in the first game of October 2-0, Morris with both strikes. A win at Farnborough 4-1 saw Newpark take top spot. Bridge, Morris, Roffe A and Bryan Ducros netted for the "Blues". Maloney returned after a stint in Southern Asia with more serious ailments to worry about then a little thing called Malaria. On the day of the Murphy fancy dress 21st party Eltham Invicta drew the crowds and a 1-1 stalemate disappointed both teams. Morris again on the scoresheet. A week later Old Roan A inflicted a 6-0 demolishing job over Park. Regan sent off for vile invective towards an official. "Why you being a c***" were the words spoken. Two back to back home wins against Farnborough and perennial whipping boys North Kent farmed 12 goals shared by; Norton (4), Morris (3), Dowdle, Maloney, Ducros, Roffe A and Des. 6-3 and 6-2 were the scorelines respectively. Newpark had 3rd place in the league. Catford and RASRA lead the way in November. A cup tie with North Kent went to extra time 4-3 with Norton netting the winner in the 107th minute. A Morris brace and a Jones header restored parity before Norton swopped to send Park through to the last 8, of course byes were permitting. However the cup run would end in tears 0-4 at the hands of Elliot Sports come January. Back to the league and Newpark would finish 2002 just as they started it with a defeat. A 1-2 defeat against Blackheath would send shock waves through the division. A Roffe goal was not enough. Come January and Blackheath were beaten in a narrow win 4-3. A 90th minute Jones goal salvaged some retribution. Norton, Morris and Dowdle also netted that day on a gloomy Janaury afternoon.  February was by far the worst calender month Newpark had ever encountered. Two hammerings at the hands of league contenders RASRA and Old Roan A 2-7 and 2-6 left Park in ruins. The prospect of promotion looked grim. How would Newpark respond? The perfect tonic was found away to Johnson & Phillips with a 4-1 win. Freshly rejuvenated Gallagher netted twice, Jones and Maloney completed the rout. Next stop would be Wickham A where a 3-1 victory was marred by some dreadful refereeing. "I'll report you the league Mr. Collins" summed up the officials afternoon. Regan came to the rescue with two penalty saves to keep the score at 2-1. A runaway Bridge goal made it 3-1, prior to that Gallagher and Dowdle had netted for Park. Newpark were back in there. Another 1-1 with Eltham Invicta courtesy of a Jones 91st minute penalty kept the points on the board but the top three RASRA, Old Roan and Catford were proving too much of a leading pack to catch. Norton and Gallagher ensured victory at North Kent 2-1 the final score. The crunch game with Catford proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Newparks promotion credentials. 2-0 down at half time, a Dowdle free kick smashed the underside of the bar, Gallagher went close before Morris netted a rebounded Murphy lob. An own goal from Bartlett compounded our misery. It was hard luck but the dream of division 2 was over. Four games remained and Newpark took maximum points with a double over Avery Hill and Eltham Palace respectively. Bogey team Avery Hill provided the hardest test in a narrow home win 3-2. Morris, Gallagher and Norton the scorers. Back to back wins over the lowly Eltham Palace 1-0 and 2-0 boasted morale as Morris, Jones and Franklin netted for park'. Morris was dismissed becoming the forth dismissal of the season and prompting an FA investigation. The last game of the season saw a patched up Newpark defeat Avery Hill 2-1. It was the most passionate performance of the season with Gallagher getting a brace to steal the points.  Newpark legendary luminaries from that day included; John Felts, Andy Roffe,Terry Bexley, Chris Roffe, Steve/John Abrahart, Harry Fox and Tom Dowdle who had played his last game after 3 seasons for Newpark. 2002-03 proved to be Newparks most successful campaign. Would 2003-04 follow suit?

SEASON STATISTICS 2002/03

TOP GOALSCORER: ROB MORRIS 11 GOALS

Squad: Regan, Murphy, Bartlett, Franco, Henchoz, Macca, Wiggy, Ducros, Dowdle, Des, A Roffe, H Fox, Maloney, Jones, Norton, Morris, Bridge