The 2000-2001 campaign was Newpark FC inaugural season in mens professionall football. We joined the South London Alliance Division 4 and kicked off the season with a home fixture with Red Star Bromley. The game ended 1-1 at Eltham Town but the result was put into shade by off field disruptions and boardroom discontent. An away win at Blackheath Wanderers and a home draw with firm favourites for the title Brockley Reserves culminated into a 3rd position in the league at the beginning of October. Park' suffered a slight glitch in form when Avery Hill and Oakdale inflicted two successive defeats on them. After these losses Park would remain unbeaten until March. Brockley were next again and capitulated 5-2 owing to a Chris Rowley hat-trick. Glenn Dyer netted two that day as well. RASRA, Ravens and Oakdale would feel the wrath of the fire power at Parks' disposal. No fewer then 5 goals were scored in each of those games from Newpark. The festive period brought a lull in games and due to expected bad weather Newpark were not in action for 5 weeks. Two cup runs were brought to an end as well at the hands of C.U.M. FC and CWS. When the league games resumed RASRA were beaten well 5-0 with goals from Roffe, Barron a brace from Dyer and Fran Egan completing the rout. The enigmatic Simon Dole was a presence in the middle and upfront the partnership of Dyer and Roffe was flourishing. Then came a shock defeat at home to Blackheath Wanderers 5-2 Park' went down. Void fixtures against Metrogas (2 games) and CWS (1 game) yielded 9 points to Newparks title challenge without kicking a ball. CWS went down 2-0 at home to Newpark in a midweek fixture. Due to the bad weather a series of double bankers were authorised. Elliot sports provided the opposition. In the first game of that sunny afternoon in April Elliott trounced Park 3-0. However fortunes were reversed in the second game as Park matched that very scoreline in an extraordinary game. A Dyer hat-trick secured the win. The next double game was against North Kent with Park' taking the maximum of 6 points after weathering the storm in both games. Young Phil Smith netted all the goals that day. With 3 games to go Park needed 3 points for promotion. Avery Hill came back from a goal down to steal the points 2-1. And then On cup final day 2001 Ravens inflicted a shock victory 3-2 an own goal from Tom Barron sealed the surprise win. It was down to the last game, the opposition were the resurgent Red Star Bromley. Newpark had 12 players in the squad. Regan back in goal, Murphy and Bartlett in central defence and new signing Danny Bridge in attack. John Norton also started. Newpark dominated from the off and were rewarded with a stunning 4-1 victory. Promotion was secure and the celebrations could begin. However the high jinx was soon muted when allegations of human waste found in a bath tub at the end of season party tarnished the occasion. The culprit has never been found. It was Newparks first ever season and it had ended in success.

 

Record

 

P22  W 14 D 2 L 6 F 54 A 23 P44

 

3rd place

 

Squad: D Regan, B Murphy, T Barron, L Maloney, T Bartlett, M Page, T Dowdle, A Roffe, C Rowley, T Hughes, J Norton, C Roffe, G Dyer, F Egan, S Dole, D Bridge, C Peters, S Hannan  

 

Awards 2000-01

 

Golden Gucci: Glenn Dyer (23 goals)