SE Dons FC (H) Match Preview

Punjab United
11 minutes ago
3 min read

Punjab United vs SE Dons, Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round, The Steve Cook Stadium, Saturday 22nd August 2026, 3:00pm Kick-Off

The magic of the FA Cup is just around the corner as in just over 48 hours time, Punjab will be taking on our friends at SE Dons in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round and will look to equal their best ever run in the competition by winning on Saturday. Since our first league game of the season which ended in a 1-1 draw, Punjab were on the road on Tuesday night as they took on Cray Valley PM. Despite going 1-0 down at half-time, they responded instantly with Wayne Bushell firing home at the back post. Cray Valley thought they won the game in the 94th minute but there was still another chance as Wayne Bushell again poked home the equaliser and sent the Punjab fans into absolute scenes.

Saturday's opponents will be SE Dons who were promoted from the Southern Counties East Division One last season and will be looking to gain back-to-back promotions in the SCEFL Premier Division.

Punjab will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going in all competitions and equal their best run in the FA Cup which was making it to the 1st Qualifying Round.

The programme for this afternoon's game can be seen below:

Our Opponents:

SE Dons currently play in the Southern Counties East Premier Division and will soon be playing their games at VCD. In the 2025/26 season, SE Dons finished 2nd in Step 6 and won 4-2 against Rochester United in the playoff-final to gain promotion to Step 5. This will be the third occassion SE Dons have played Punjab and it's currently 1-1 so far.

History:

Founded in 2014 by John McHugh, his son Andrew and son-in-law Ryan Palmer, SE Dons has grown from a Sunday League side into one of the most recognisable grassroots football clubs in the country.

The club built a huge online following through its matchday content and behind-the-scenes videos, attracting over 240,000 YouTube subscribers and millions of followers across its social media platforms. That exposure has made SE Dons one of the most followed non-league football clubs in England while helping shine a spotlight on grassroots football.

In 2024, the club took a major step towards the National League System by taking over Forest Hill Park, ensuring the club’s survival and competing under that banner during the 2024/25 season. It proved to be a memorable campaign, with the team reaching the SCEFL Challenge Cup Final, Division One Cup Final and the First Division Play-Off Final, although they narrowly missed out on silverware and promotion.

Competing under their own name for the first time in 2025/26, SE Dons enjoyed a landmark season. A second-place finish was followed by a 4-2 victory over Rochester United in the First Division Play-Off Final, securing promotion to the SCEFL Premier Division and Step 5 football for the first time in the club’s history.

Managed by Antonio Gonnella, the 2026/27 season marks another significant milestone as the Dons prepare for their FA Cup debut while competing against some of the most established clubs in the Southern Counties East Football League.

Beyond football, SE Dons remains committed to its community and the values on which the club was founded, proudly honouring those who have helped shape its remarkable journey.

Getting There:

The nearest train station to Punjab United is Gravesend. You can then either get the bus which takes 30 minutes or get a taxi from the station which takes 11 minutes.

The Steve Cook Stadium

Dunkirk Close

Gravesend

Kent

DA12 5ND

Extra Information:

The Steve Cook Stadium will be opening at 1:30pm, with many products on offer from simple soft drinks to beers. The Punjab Cafe will also be open and offer food and drink.

In terms of disabled parking, it is crucial that anybody who requires it, contacts the Punjab team via email (punjabutdfc@gmail.com). Parking may be busy and can fill quickly, if you do decide to park around residential areas, please be mindful and respectful of residents.