The May Day Bank Holiday weekend 2026 will certainly be one that lives long in the Gonnella household as brothers Ennio and Antonio both led their respective sides to play-off glory inside the space of twenty-four magical hours.

On Friday, Ennio led his AFC Whyteleafe side to promotion into the Isthmian Premier, whilst in glorious Medway sunshine on Saturday afternoon, Antonio led the SE Dons to promotion to the SCEFL Premier after a 4-2 win over Rochester United and after that match we caught up with the Dons boss and looked back over that remarkable twenty-four hours and just what promotion means to the Dons.

“I have to be honest, I was more nervous on Friday for my big brother than I was standing on the touchline for our game,” the younger Gonnella admitted when we spoke to him.

“We had a lot of our family around and I don’t know if that was the reason or not but what I do know is that Friday was a very long night (the Isthmian South East final didn’t end until shortly before eleven o’clock), but is a night that I didn’t think I could top until what happened on Saturday that is,” Antonio added with a cheeky grin.

“It was a tough afternoon for us,” he said talking about his own Final. “I thought we started the game really well and it looked like we were going to cruise it. But that’s typical of Rochester as they are a stubborn side – a very good, organised side and very strong side, who were the only side we didn’t beat in the League all season long until today. So massive respect to them and their players and I am just proud to have got the job done.”

“I was disappointed not to be in front at the break as we did lead twice. We also missed a couple of massive sitters, had one cleared off the line, but we conceded two very poor goals and you cannot give away mistakes like we did when they have a Gary Lockyer in their side (the dual registered Ashford United captain scored both of United’s goals in the Final) – he is a top. Top player but all that matters is that we won on the day!”

“It was so important that we got the third goal – if I’m honest, I thought that we needed the fourth as well as they are a good side and without that we would have been in serious trouble, but the fourth goal killed the game, and it was done!”

“We have had an amazing season – we have been unbeaten at home all season long and we were again on Saturday! I am proud of the boys – we lost the League by two points to a very, very good side (AFC Greenwich Borough) we got eighty-two points and I cannot argue with that; ultimately we just had to get out of the League and I now have work to do for next and I am so excited!”

“I don’t mind if people point us as favourites next year, not because that I am confident from the weekend, but I have seen that League and we are always going to be a Club that is challenging, we will be challenging next year!”

There were nearly fifteen hundred at the Bauvill on Saturday, which more than matched the gate at Rusthall on Bank Holiday Monday for the Premier Division Final and Gonnella paid tribute by saying, “The punters that we have here are the best and dare I say the best in the League. I went to my brothers amazing Cup Final on Friday night, and I think their gate was fifteen hundred but our punters don’t stop from minute one to minute ninety or whenever – we are very lucky to have them and Saturday was for them as much as the players and my staff!”

Image courtesy of SE Dons