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.

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 following season (2002-2003) saw Dagenham & Redbridge finish 4th. Tony Roberts broke the goals conceded record in which he went the whole entire campaign without conceding a goal.

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 their 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 their 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 their 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

As of 7 October, 2008.

Stadium

League history

Season	Division	Position	Top League Goalscorer	Extra Information
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

External links

• Official site
• Daggers Blog - New Unofficial Blog (Updated July 2008)
• DiggerDagger.com - Unofficial site
• Upminsterdaggers.co.uk - Unofficial site