Local football: Regent's Park target dream date in FA Cup
Published: 23 September 2010
by STEVE BARNETT
AMATEUR football club Regent’s Park have set their sights on a mighty new goal after targeting “a dream date” in the prestigious FA Cup.
The ambitious side have made a flying start to the season, winning their opening two games in Division One of the Middlesex County League.
But joint managers Scott Cole and Steve Wise are looking beyond just winning promotion after unveiling a five-year plan to turn Regent’s Park into a semi-professional side.
Nicknamed the Panthers, the club want to claw their way to the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League, where they would join neighbouring rivals Kentish Town FC and earn a place in the FA Cup.
Aspirations also include finding a new home ground with proper stands for supporters, a structured reserve team and youth development programme – and even the funds to offer first-team players a win bonus.
Camden Sports Development officer Steve, known as Wisey, said the hard work is under way, but admitted there was a long road ahead.
“We’ve already started our search for sponsorship and are confident we’ll put the necessary funds together to turn Regent’s Park into a semi-pro side that Camden and Islington can be proud of. Obviously, if there are any businesses out there that would like to help support us, then we’d be delighted to hear from them.
“We want to offer an outlet so that talented footballers can play at a high standard. Ideally, by next season, we’d like to abolish fees so players don’t have to pay to play. Eventually, we’d even like to offer our first-team players a win bonus per-game.”
Even with a mountain of hard work ahead of them, Wisey had some light-hearted forward thinking. “We’ll see you at Wembley, and we’ll even have your press pass ready for the big day,” he quipped.
The Panthers have made a positive start to their quest, with back-to-back wins in the Middlesex County League.
Loz Nethersole scored twice as they beat North London 2-1 on the opening day of the season.
The formidable striker was at it again on Saturday as he bagged another brace to lead Regent’s Park to a resounding victory over Hendon. Substitute John McCulloch and Joe Gomes were also on target in a thumping 4-1 win.
Looking forward, Cole challenged players from Camden and Islington to step forward and join the Regent’s Park revolution.
“To be successful it’s important that we develop our first team and put together a strong reserve team and youth programme. To make it to the top I think we’ll need a pool of at least 60 players, and a structure in place that gives our younger players the chance to progress into our first-team.
“We’re also looking for players who think they’re good enough to add something special to the squad we’re building, so if anyone is interested they should give us a call and we’ll come and watch them play or invite them to training. It’s important to us that the main core of the squad is packed with players from either Camden or Islington because we want to be a local team giving something back to the community. Otherwise what’s the point in trying to achieve any of our goals? We’ve seen what Kentish Town FC have done and we want to follow in their footsteps. The fans are ready for a new team, and we’re ready to give them one that they can be proud of.”
• Anyone interested in helping to fund the Regent’s Park’s revolution, or players who thinks they can add something to the squad, please contact Steve Wise on 07775 426951 with their details.
Men behind the Regent’s Park revolution
TWO men are tackling the challenge of turning Regent’s Park into a semi-professional side.
Between them Scott Cole and Steve Wise have been involved in the beautiful game for over 60 years.
Cole, cousin of Premiership star Joe Cole, spent eight years at Enfield Town FC before going on to captain Stansted in the Senior Essex League.
The 39-year-old father-of-six, who hails from Somers Town, also enjoyed unrivalled success as a youngster, winning the London Cup four years in a row and the English Schools Cup with Sir William Collins Secondary, now South Camden Community School.
Cole revealed it changed his life. “My biggest influence in football was Pat Walsh, former PE teacher at Sir William Collins. He taught me how to be a human being on the pitch, I owe him everything,” he said.
“Wisey” played for Arsenal when he was 14 before going on to sign schoolboy contracts with Tottenham and Watford. The 56-year-old, who lives in Highgate, has also played in America and Greece.
Among his boyhood highlights was scoring the winning goal against Luton Boys in the semi-final of the London Cup.