Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
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| Full name | Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | The Daggers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Victoria Road, Dagenham (Capacity: 6,000) |
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| Chairman | Dave Andrews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager |  John Still |
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| League | League Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | League Two, 20th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club is an English football team based in Dagenham, East London, currently playing in the Football League Two having been promoted as champions from the Football Conference in the 2006–07 season.
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History
The club can trace its origins back to four famous amateur clubs: Ilford (formed in 1881), Leytonstone (1886), Walthamstow Avenue (1900) and Dagenham (1949). All had some success: particularly Leytonstone, who won the FA Amateur Cup three times and the Isthmian League title nine times.
In 1979, Ilford and Leytonstone merged to become Leytonstone/Ilford, and in 1988 they absorbed the struggling Walthamstow Avenue to become Redbridge Forest. Redbridge Forest achieved promotion to the Football Conference in 1991 before merging with Dagenham in 1992 to become Dagenham & Redbridge.
Recent seasons
The club was relegated to the Isthmian League's Premier Division in 1996, but won promotion in 2000, going on to establish itself as one of the strongest clubs in the Conference, finishing 3rd, 2nd and 5th in its first three seasons back following promotion. The club was only narrowly beaten to the title by Boston United in 2002. Boston United was subsequently found guilty of inappropriately making illegal payments to its players in its title-winning season, following which Dagenham & Redbridge unsuccessfully attempted to have itself declared Conference champions, and hence take Boston's contentious place in the Football League.
The Daggers then declined somewhat, finishing the 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons in mid-table. On February 27, 2004 the club was beaten 9-0 at home by Hereford United, equalling the record highest winning / losing scoreline in the Conference. Compounding the humiliating scoreline was the fact that Sky TV had covered the game live.
Promotion to the Football League
The 2006/2007 season saw Dagenham & Redbridge battle it out with Oxford United for the top of the league spot. Despite Oxford quickly racing to the top, a collapse in Oxford's form combined with an excellent run for the Daggers saw them overtake Oxford in the league. On 7 April, Dagenham & Redbridge beat Aldershot Town 2-1 to be declared Conference Champions, meaning the club would play in the Football League for the first time in its history. The win was secured with goals from Paul Benson and a Dave Rainford penalty. Daggers captain Anwar Uddin joked "We will be the only league team sponsored by an undertakers!" referring to the shirt sponsorship by local funeral directors West & Coe.
The club's first game as champions was played at Cambridge United where the South Stand was packed full of Daggers fans. There was an incredible party atmosphere but unfortunately Dagenham & Redbridge lost 4-2 with both away goals coming from leading goalscorer Paul Benson
Dagenham & Redbridge played its first ever match in The Football League on 11 August 2007, which was a 1-0 defeat to Stockport County. Following a tentative start to league football incorporating two losses and a draw, Dagenham & Redbridge won its first League game at home to Lincoln City on 1 September 2007.
The self styled "Pub Team from Essex" reached the 2nd Round of the Football League Trophy by defeating Southend United 7-6 on penalty kicks on 4 September 2007 after the match ended 2-2.Having won through to the Southern Section quarter-finals the Daggers lost to Gillingham 4-0.
The Daggers collected its first away victory in the Football League on 29 September 2007, with a 1-0 victory at Mansfield Town. Shane Huke scored the only goal, also another first, the first away goal scored by the Daggers in League Football
Dagenham and Redbridge staged a remarkable second half come back to defeat Darlington 3-2 on 26 April 2008 and secure another season of League football.
The Daggers began the 2008/2009 season remarkable beating Chester City 6-0.
Current squad
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Stadium
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Main article: Victoria Road (stadium)
League history
| Season | Division | Position | Top League Goalscorer | Extra Information |
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| 1992-1993 | Conference | 3 | Paul Cavell 19 | – |
| 1993-1994 | Conference | 6 | Paul Cavell & David Crown 9 | – |
| 1994-1995 | Conference | 15 | Ian Richardson 10 | – |
| 1995-1996 | Conference | 22 | ?? | Relegated |
| 1996-1997 | Isthmian Premier | 4 | ?? | – |
| 1997-1998 | Isthmian Premier | 4 | Paul Cobb 24 | – |
| 1998-1999 | Isthmian Premier | 3 | Paul Cobb 21 | – |
| 1999-2000 | Isthmian Premier | 1 | Paul Cobb 18 | Champions |
| 2000-2001 | Conference | 3 | Danny Shipp & Junior McDougald 9 | – |
| 2001-2002 | Conference | 2 | Mark Stein 24 | Runners up on goal difference |
| 2002-2003 | Conference | 5 | Mark Stein & Steve West 16 | First Conference play-off finalists |
| 2003-2004 | Conference | 13 | Chris Moore 10 | – |
| 2004-2005 | Conference National | 11 | Chris Moore 19 | – |
| 2005-2006 | Conference National | 10 | Chris Moore 15 | – |
| 2006-2007 | Conference National | 1 | Paul Benson 28 | Champions |
| 2007-2008 | League Two | 20 | Ben Strevens 21 |
Records
During the 2006-2007 season the Daggers sold Craig Mackail-Smith and Shane Blackett to Peterborough United for a club record fee of £250,000 (£125,000 each)
Honours
- FA Trophy runners-up, (1997)
- Essex Senior Cup (1998, 2001, runners-up 2002)
- Isthmian League Premier Division (2000)
- Conference National Winners (2007), runners-up (2002)
Notes
- ^ "Squad List 2007/08". Dagenham & Redbridge FC. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
External links
- Official site
- Daggers Blog - New Unofficial Blog (Updated July 2008)
- DiggerDagger.com - Unofficial site
- Upminsterdaggers.co.uk - Unofficial site
- Dagenham and Redbridge at the Football Club History Database
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