Dagenham's old Main Stand that existed at Victoria Road between 1956 and 2001.

Dagenham & Redbridge is the product of a seemingly endless succession of mergers and amalgamations. The club as currently constituted was formed on the 1st July 1992 following the merger of Dagenham FC and Redbridge Forest football clubs. The latter was also a merged club, with the likes of Ilford, Leytonstone, Leytonstone & Ilford and Walthamstow Avenue all having been swallowed up into the club that we know today.

The merged Dagenham and Redbridge club were quite a force for the first two seasons, finishing third and sixth under John Still, but then the rot set in when Still left for the League, and two seasons later in 1995-96 they finished last and were relegated to the Isthmian.

It took the Daggers four years to get back, during which time they had a losing appearance at Wembley to look back on and reached the Second Round of the F.A. Cup for the first time. They finished fourth, fourth and third in the Ryman Premier but it wasn't until the arrival of Garry Hill in the summer of 1999 that they put it all together and regained their Conference status. Dagenham took the top spot in September and held it for the whole season, winning the title by twenty-four points and equalling Yeovil's achievement of 101 points in 1996-97.

Storming the feeders doesn't always guarantee success at the higher level but Dagenham coped well with the transition and finished a highly creditable 3rd in their first season back (behind Yeovil and Rushden) as well as taking Premiership club Charlton Athletic to a replay in the Third Round of the F.A. Cup.

The 2001-02 season was a significant one for the club. By now a major force in the Conference until Hill, they ended up locked in a two horse race for the Conference title, and a real prospect of them entering the Football League, and around the turn of the year brought in players like Ken Charlery with the experience and know-how to add to the likes of Mark Stein in their forward line. Sadly for them and the rest of the Conference, not forgetting the good name of football throughout the country, another team wanted League football as well, and were prepared to cheat and break the rules to get it. Boston United, led by Steve Evans - probably the most disliked manager in the English game since Don Revie, finished top of the league on goal difference to the Daggers and were subsequently promoted despite admitting to and being found guilty of cheating - a travesty of justice and a huge blow to fair play and to Dagenham in particular.

The year that Yeovil Town went up into the Football League, in 2002-03, the Daggers suffered yet more heartache, as they were losing finalists at the Brittania Stadium to Doncaster Rovers. Losing out twice by such a narrow margin hurt them badly, and for the following three seasons, they spent it in mid-table wilderness. The February 2004 televised match against Hereford United saw them lose 0-9 at home - Hill quit for Hornchurch shortly afterwards and it seemed their time had gone forever, with momentum badly lost.

However, they were to have a second ressurection only a few years later. John Still returned to Victoria Road as Hill's replacement in April 2004, and in 2006-07 they edged past the bookies favourites Oxford United to grab the Conference title. The team they replaced in the Football League, to the huge satisfaction of almost every Conference team supporter, was ... Boston United. As John Lennon once said, Instant Karma's gonna get you. Well it may not have been quite instant, but karma it was, with the Cheats kicked down to Conference North (and eventually the Northern Premier Division the following year) and the Daggers gaining one of the most deserved Football League positions - albeit five years after the Football Association bottled their duty to maintain the integrity of the game.

Most would have assumed that, given the size of the club, we'd be seeing the Daggers settling in with the Macclesfields and Barnets of this world as a quiet do-nothing League Two side. But John Still is a canny bloke, and a bit of a Daggers institution, having managed them between 1989-1994 and 2004 to the present day, along with a playing career at the old Dagenham club, and management spells with the Daggers predecessors Leytonstone, Leytonstone & Ilford and Redbridge Forest at various times. His place in the various clubs histories was cemented even further when they beat Rotherham United in the 2009-10 League Two play-off final to reach the dizzy heights of League One.

Having reached third tier football, pretty much every bookie and pundit labelled them as cannon fodder for the 2010-11 season, believing that their stay in League One would be over almost before it began. So far that's looked highly possible, with them having spent most of the season in the bottom four. However, as we saw at Huish Park, they have the ability to make other teams squirm a little, with again Still's tactical prowess able to upset the opposition, even if the likelihood of them having the smallest budget in League One is likely to prove the bookies right in the long run.

Regardless of the outcome, it's been good to see another 'proper' non-league club mix it with the big boys without the leverage of a Sugar Daddy. Plus, as a bonus for all Glovers fans, the usual cliche from Leeds, Norwich, Southampton et al about "having to go to the likes of Yeovil Town" in League One is now kindly shared out with a second "pub team". Thanks guys!

The new Main Stand at Victoria Road Photo © 2011 Ciderspace

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FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name

LGE

FAC

FAT

LGC

CC

Total

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: Not Applicable
Lowest League Attendance: Not Applicable
Average League Attendance: Not Applicable

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	0		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:
Away Results Sequence:			Overall Results Sequence:

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The Barking College Family Stand - situated next to the Main Stand and close to the away end Photo © 2011 Ciderspace

General

Ciderspace would have normally recommended that, if at all possible, you travel to this one by train/tube...........but weekends on London Underground turn into masses of engineering work and our 2010-11 visit is no exception with the main preferred route closed. Victoria Road is not the easiest place to drive to - right on the far side of London if you're travelling from Yeovil, so whether you do the M25, North Circular or whatever, then give yourself a generous amount of time ......... then double it.

By Road

The best way to get to the ground by car is to get onto the A13.

From the North (M25 clockwise):

If you are coming from the North use the M25 and follow it round until you reach the M11 (Junction 27). Proceed towards London and follow the signs A406 (S), (A13), (A12). Continue on the A406 and follow signs North Circular, Docklands (A13).
After the Barking, East Ham turn off get into the left hand lane. And follow the signs for Dagenham, Tilbury, Southend, Dartford Tunnel. This will bring you onto the A13.

As you approach Dagenham you will see a leisure complex on your left. This complex consists of Mecca Bingo, a Warner Cinema complex and various restaurants (Spoofers, McDonalds etc). Stay in the left lane and follow signs to the A1306 signed Dagenham, Dagenham East. (Do not continue on the A13 which actually starts to elevate at this point otherwise you will end up visiting Sarfend - actually you can rescue yourself by getting of at the first turn-off, which is also signposted Dagenham East, but from there you're on your own.)

When you reach the next set of lights you will see an ASDA on the right (these lights only give you an option to go straight ahead or turn right). Go straight on. About a 100 yards further past there is a Drive thru' Wimpy which is within a small retail park together with a Sainsbury's Homebase, Halfords etc.

Then, within a 100 yards, there is a set of major lights, go straight over these and within about 600 yards you will see another set of lights and McDonalds on your left. Turn left immediately before McDonalds.

This is Ballards Road. Proceed to The Bull roundabout, which is about 1 mile, and turn left. (WARNING! The speed limit at the Bull end of Ballards Road is 30mph and there is a speed camera there.) After about 500 yards you will see Dagenham East tube station on the left, and Victoria Road is about 400 yards further past.

From the South (M25 anti-clockwise) :

You will need to cross the Thames at Dartford. Leave the M25 for the A13 at Junction 30 following the signs for Central London and Dagenham. Proceed along this road and you will see signs for the Ferry Lane Industrial Estate. Don't take this turn, but this is your cue to get into the left hand lane. Take the next slip road off, signposted Elm Park and Dagenham East, and turn right at the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road.

You will now be going under the road that you have just left and need to go straight over the next roundabout. Proceed to the set of lights and turn left onto the dual-carriageway (still the A13). After about half a mile you will see a McDonalds on your right. Get into the right hand filter lane and turn right just past it.

This is Ballards Road. Proceed to The Bull roundabout, which is about 1 mile, and turn left. (WARNING! The speed limit at the Bull end of Ballards Road is 30mph and there is a speed camera there.) After about 500 yards you will see Dagenham East tube station on the left, and Victoria Road is about 400 yards further past.

Parking :
Dagenham's car park used to be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but this is now only available via prior booking. There are a number of designated disabled spaces that can be reserved if you're a Blue Badge holder. Otherwise, it's a case of finding a side street to park on. The best place for away fans is Pondfield Road on the opposite side of the main club entrances, where you can walk across Pondfield Park and straight into the away end. Obviously the later you arrive at the ground, the harder it will become for you to get something close to the ground. Do not be tempted to park on the pavements - particularly in Bury Road - unless you like collecting big yellow clamping equipment. Do not block driveways or access paths.

By Tube
The closest station to Victoria Road is on the DISTRICT LINE and is DAGENHAM EAST (Zone 5), (don't use Dagenham Heathway which is much further away). Come out of station and turn left along Rainham Road. Victoria Road is about 400 yards, and on the left. The ground is a further 100 yards down Victoria Road.

The mainline station, Dagenham Dock, is around 2.5 miles from the ground, and so under normal circumstances we wouldn't recommend that. It's situated by the Ford motor works and although it's a straight-forward walk it's not not an inspiring one.

2010-11 Visit: The Transport For London website indicates that there is engineering work on the District Line meaning that there is no service between Tower Hill and Dagenham East. Replacement buses operate, but there is no single bus service that will get you there. Realistically? Don't even try it!

The most straight forward route for our 2010-11 visit is to take is to get to Liverpool Street (Waterloo --> Bank --> Liverpool St or Waterloo --> Tottenham Court Road --> Liverpool St for those coming in from Yeovil Junction) and then get on a c2c Rail service to Upminster, and then get the District Line shuttle service that runs from Upminster to Dagenham East. The other alternative is to take a train to Dagenham Dock but (see above) you're a big distance from the ground and will probably need a taxi or a very healthy set of legs.

The North Stand - a side on covered terrace Photo © 2011 Ciderspace

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One of the covered areas of terracing at Dagenham

Local Pubs

For those that arrive by tube the first pub they'll see is, a touch predictably, The Railway. It has a big screen. South down the Rainham Road a couple of hundred yards is The Bull. Could be the choice if you have children with you as it has a play area and a garden. It does a reasonable ramge of food. If you go up (north) along the Rainham Road, just past the turning to the ground the Eastbrook is on the opposite side of the road. These are the closest pubs to the ground, five minutes walk or less.

The local Wetherspoons is the Lord Denham at 270-272 Heathway (A1240). If this is your scene you are better getting off the tube at Dagenham Heathway. You will have a mile or so to walk to the ground.

In all honesty, the local area of Dagenham is not great for real ale, and apart from the Wetherspoon pub, there's not an awful lot to recommend. The Capital Glovers have opted for a more central London mini-crawl, with their likely plans involving The Harp Bar (Covent Garden), The Cask Pub & Kitchen (Victoria), Euston Tap (Euston) and the Mason & Taylor (Bethnal Green). You will need a Zone 1-6 Travelcard (Dagenham East is in Zone 5) or a loaded Oyster Card if you want to join them.

Eastbrook: The Eastbrook is situated north of the ground - moving away from Victoria Road and Dagenham East tube. Head up Rainham Road South (the main A1112) and at the crossroads, turn right into Dagenham Road. Family pub with a beer garden. A slightly boring selection of London Pride and Greene King IPA on tap. Serves simple pub food. Eastbrook, Dagenham Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7UP. Map: Click Here.

Lord Denham: Dagenham's Wetherspoon branch. If you fancy this one, then get off at Dagenham Heathway and it's almost outside the tube station, putting you about 15 mins walk from the ground, or if you're lazy then one tube stop. Not the best Wetherspoon branch we've come across (although by no means the worst - Lincoln grabs that honour). The usual cheap food and drink options that any of their branches offer, including probably the best variety of real ale that you can get within walking distance of the ground - not that this is saying too much. Opening hours are 9.00am - 11.00pm with Sunday shutting half an hour earlier. Don't necessarily expect them to be serving beers at opening time - although coffee and breakfasts will be on show. Lord Denham, 270-272 Heathway, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 8QS. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Railway Hotel: Large pub situated just outside Dagenham East station and therefore five minutes walk from the ground. Has big TV screen for live football. No real ale. Not the best of pubs with a bit of a variable reputation. Choose for convenience, rather than excellence. Railway Hotel, Shafter Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 8AJ. Tel: 0871 223 8000. Map: Click Here.

The Bull: Large pub close to a roundabout, just under a mile south of the ground. This pub spent a fair chunk of 2010 boarded up, but has since reopened. The only thing that we don't know since then is what sort of a pub it's become since the revamp; it's reputation before closure had nosedived, so hopefully the relaunch in April 2010 has done it good. Before the closure, the pub had a decent sized car park, a beer garden geared towards families, and meals served. After ... well no-one seems to know! The pub can be found by moving away from the ground from Dagenham East tube station - it's on the first major road junction along that road. The Bull, Rainham Road South, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 8AQ. Map: Click Here.

Grub

There are three fish and chip shops, several cafes, an Indian and a Chinese take-away amongst other outlets in the Rainham Road. If you want to go for some local ethnic food there's a Pie & Mash outlet another few hundred yards up the Rainham Road past the ground and right into Dagenham Road close to the Eastbrook. Jellied eels? Dunno.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Course we does. Gawd'n bennett, m'ol china - we're all mockneys neow. 'Ave a Britney on me.

Top-Tip :

Don't ask: "Do you work for Ford?"

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