Dorset footballer stars for FA Cup underdog team

A Poole born footballer has described his ‘unbelievable’ experience of playing in an historic cup run for his team.

Patrick McKay, 25, has just played a part in an exciting cup run for his London based non-league team South East Dons.

Step 5 side SE Dons managed to go on their best FA Cup run ever since they were founded in 2012, which included historic wins vs Chichester City and Weymouth, which they won 5-1 in Dorset. 

The Dons however became undone by Sholing Football Club, with a 2-0 defeat in the Fourth Qualifying Round this weekend. 

McKay played a big part in the run for his team, with the 25 year old joining the London club in 2024. 

The midfielder has previously played for Poole Town, but left The Dolphins when he was 18, with a stint at Bournemouth Poppies as well.

McKay said: “It’s pretty unbelievable, but it’s testament to the boys on the pitch, it’s a testament to the coaches on the side, Antonio our manager and obviously the supporters that follow us”. 

McKay returned back to Dorset for the game against Weymouth, with McKay’s family in attendance.

McKay said: “It was amazing to have my entire family come to watch that and I’m grateful whenever they manage to come to my games.

“To win in that fashion against a team that at that point was unbeaten in the league and was looking like the favourites for the step four league that they are in is pretty incredible”. 

Patrick’s father John McKay, 67, said: “What he does at SE Dons makes me proud as I know that they are proud of him.”

This dream FA Cup run was made better for McKay, who has had injury setbacks since he started playing football, but Patrick thinks that he has been ‘the fittest that he has ever been’ 

SE Dons will now put their full focus on the  Southern Counties East League Premier Division, which sees them sit in 15th on 10 points after six games played, whilst other teams in the division have played between 9-11 games. 

This puts the Dons only six points behind fifth place Bearsted and 13 points behind top of the league Fisher. 

McKay’s main goal for the season now is to guide SE Dons for promotion to the eighth tier of English football.