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.
Full name | South East Dons |
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Nickname(s) | SE Dons |
Founded | 2014 |
Ground | Ladywell Arena, Catford |
Owner | Andrew McHugh (Don Strapzy) |
Chairman | Andy Ansah |
Manager | Mark Dacey |
League | Southern Counties East League Division One |
Website | Club website |
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] The club's sponsors include German Doner Kebab and Puma.
History
editSE 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] In November 2020, the club signed a kit deal with Puma. 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]
Stadium
editSince the merger with Forest Hill Park, the club currently play their home games at the Ladywell Arena.
Current squad
edit- As of 13 August 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
editAs 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.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.
- ^ "SE DONS JOIN NON LEAGUE | DONCAST". 10 July 2024.