SE Dons
| Full name | South East Dons |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | SE Dons |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Ground | The Bauvill Stadium, Chatham |
| Owner | Andrew McHugh (Don Strapzy) |
| Chairman | Andy Ansah |
| Manager | Antonio Gonnella |
| League | Southern Counties East League Division One |
| Website | https://www.sedons.com/ |
South East Dons are an association football club based in London, England.[1][2] The club formerly competed in the Orpington and Bromley District Sunday Football League and the Sunday Football League in London, before merging with Forest Hill Park in June 2024 to compete in non-league football.[3] They are members of the Southern Counties East League Division One and play at the Ladywell Arena.
It is considered one of the most popular amateur football clubs worldwide with high support by fans on social media.[4][5] Former Arsenal player Zak Ansah plays for the team.[6][7] In their first season in senior non-league football they lost three finals: the Division One playoff final against Soul Tower Hamlets, the Division One Cup against Clapton Community, and the League Challenge Cup against Snodland Town.
History
[edit]SE Dons was founded in 2014 by rapper Andrew McHugh (aka Don Strapzy) and friends. Since then SE Dons have won the Orpington and Bromley District Sunday Football League twice, in 2021 and 2022.[8][9][10]. The club chairman is Andy Ansah.
In June 2024 the club announced on its official X account that they were joining non-league football. Two days later Forest Hill Park announced on its official X account that they had formed a partnership with fellow local Lewisham outfit SE Dons. It was confirmed that the name 'Forest Hill Park FC' would be kept for all footballing competitions in the 2024–25 season, with all footballing names being changed to 'SE Dons Football Club' from the 2025–26 season onwards.[11]
The club announced their first manager in non league as Marc Dacey but he was sacked and replaced by Antonio Gonnella.
Stadium
[edit]Since the merger with Forest Hill Park, the club played their home games at the Ladywell Arena.
During May 2025 it was announced that the club would be playing their home fixtures on a 4G pitch at The Bauvill Stadium under a ground share agreement with Chatham Town.
Honours
[edit]As SE Dons Sunday league team
- Orpington and Bromley District Sunday Football League
- Champions 2021, 2022
- Plumstead Cup
- Winners 2023
- Kent County Cup
- Winners 2019
- Paul Picard Cup
- Winners 2019, 2020
- George Harley Cup
- Winners 2018
References
[edit]- ^ "How SE Dons Became the Sunday League Club That Took on the World". versus.uk.com.
- ^ "Hashtag United, SE Dons and Stretford Paddock FC's success shows how YouTube football is pulling in new fans". inews.co.uk (Archived).
- ^ "SE Dons make Saturday switch". North Kent Non League. 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Meet the 'world's greatest' Sunday league team - SE Dons". BBC Sport. bbc.com.
- ^ "The rise of SE Dons". skysports.com.
- ^ "Prolific and popular SE Dons striker Zak Ansah leaves Isthmian Premier club Herne Bay". kentonline.co.uk. 4 October 2022.
- ^ "2021-22 SE Dons squad". theFA.
- ^ "'Sunday League El Clasico' Shows YouTube Football Can Bring Communities Together". thesportsman.com.
- ^ "SE Dons: The Team with the Best Mindset in English Football".
- ^ "Sunday league football team joins Anthony Nolan in encouraging young men to join the stem cell register". metro.co.uk. 12 May 2022.
- ^ "SE DONS JOIN NON LEAGUE | DONCAST". YouTube. 10 July 2024.
External links
[edit]
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