Dagenham & Redbridge

Dagenham & Redbridge FC is a professional football club that was formed in 1992 following a merger of Dagenham FC and Redbridge Forest FC, who play at Dagenham’s old ground at Victoria Road in east London. 

However, the club badge lays claim to have been formed in 1881 through the original lineage of Ilford FC who are one of three clubs to merge and form Redbridge Forest, although a current Ilford FC, who can be read about here also list their previous history to that date.

Dagenham FC

Dagenham were formed in 1949 as founder members of the Metropolitan & District League, of which they finished runners-up in the inaugural season. However, the title was lifted in 1950-51 as the club advanced to become founder members of the Delphian League.

Once again ‘The Daggers’ ended in second place in their first season before being crowned champions in 1952-53. Following another couple of runners-up finishes the club moved into their Victoria Road home prior to lifting the league title in 1955-56 and 1956-57.

A switch was made to the Corinthian League in 1957, winning the competition in 1958-59 before the league was disbanded leading to a move to the Athenian League for the 1963-64 campaign, where a runners-up place followed in 1967-68.

The same season also coincided with a run to the second round of the FA Cup which ended in a 1-0 home replay defeat to Reading following a 2-2 draw at Elm Park. Dagenham’s progress continued as they embarked a couple of tremendous FA Amateur Cup campaigns.

In 1969-70 Barking, Emley, Walton & Hersham and St Albans City were seen off before the Daggers lost the final 5-1 to Enfield. Undeterred the team led by manager Ted Hardy defeated Bishop’s Stortford, Leytonstone, Whitley Bay and Slough Town to return to Wembley Stadium. 

However, the showpiece ended in another chastening experience as a Steve Heighway inspired Skelmersdale United won 4-1. Meanwhile the team also put together some notable FA Cup performances, reaching the first round in 1969-70, round two in 1970-71 going down 1-0 away to Southend United before losing 4-1 at home in the first round to Walsall in 1971-72.

Hardy departed as Dagenham ended as Athenian League runners-up in 1971-72 and 1972-73 before becoming members of the newly formed Division Two of the Isthmian League, whose title was won at the first attempt in 1973-74 to gain promotion to Division One as well another FA Cup run which ended in round one away to Aldershot.

Dagenham returned to Wembley in 1976-77 in the final of the FA Trophy after again defeating Slough Town in a semi-final. The Daggers were leading Scarborough through a Terry Harris goal until the last ten minutes as they ended up losing 2-1.

Division One of the Isthmian League was renamed the Premier Division, with Dagenham finishing runners-up in 1977-78, a feat that was repeated in 1978-79 as the team also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy before going out to Kettering Town.

Dagenham were not to be denied in 1979-80 After defeating Woking in the last four encounter the boys from Victoria Road lifted the FA Trophy with a 2-1 victory against Mossley.

The side was led by captain Denis Moore who played in all four finals at Wembley along with goalkeeper Ian Huttley as George Duck and Chris Maycock scored the goals for the side managed by Eddie Pressland.

Former manager Hardy returned to the club in December 1981 as Dagenham successfully applied to join the Alliance Premier League, now the National League for the following season, finishing a very creditable fifth place in their debut campaign as well reaching the second round of the FA Cup, going out at home to Millwall.

The team reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in 1982-83 and 1983-84, losing out first to Northwich Victoria and then Bangor City. After Hardy’s second departure Dagenham narrowly escaped relegation on a couple of occasions before going down in 1987-88 from the then Conference.

However, one bright spot came in 1984-85 in the FA Cup. A replay win away to Swindon Town was backed up with a 1-0 home win against Peterborough United before the run ended in the third round 1-0 away to Carlisle United.

Cambridge United were dumped out of the Cup in 1985-86 before defeat away to AFC Bournemouth in round two. In the league things weren’t not much easier back in the Isthmian League with a sixth place Premier Division finish as good as it got in 1989-90. In their final season Dagenham ended ninth in 1991-92.

Redbridge Forest

Redbridge Forest FC could trace their roots back to 1979 through the formation of Leytonstone/Ilford FC which came about through the mergers of Leytonstone FC and Ilford FC and which later included Walthamstow Avenue FC. An in depth look at the story can be read here.

Dagenham & Redbridge

Redbridge Forest had moved into Victoria Road as tenants in 1988, initially for a year as Leytonstone/Ilford. After the club reached the Conference as league champions in 1990-91, they finished seventh, a division above their landlords before a merger was agreed upon as both clubs were struggling financially with low attendances. 

New club colours of red and blue were decided upon to reflect the histories of all four clubs involved, with the team taking up Forest’s position in the Conference. Arguably, the most important decision was to appoint Forest boss John Still as manager. 

The new side ended third in 1992-93 and then sixth before Still departed for Peterborough United to be replaced by Dave Cusack and then Graham Carr before the appointment for a third time of Ted Hardy in 1996 after the Daggers had been relegated to the Isthmian League.

Hardy took the side back to Wembley in the final of the FA Trophy in 1996-97 when they lost 1-0 to Woking after veteran striker Tony Rogers was dismissed. Hardy led the side to third and two fourth place finishes before he was replaced by Garry Hill in 1999.

Hill’s team powered their way to the Isthmian League title in 1999-00 twenty-four points clear of their nearest challengers with Danny Shipp leading the line, prior to ending third in the Conference season of 2000-01 and then ending as runners-up in 2001-02 behind Boston United.

It later transpired that Boston, with manager Steve Evans among the guilty, had made illegal payments to players. Dagenham & Redbridge attempted to have the league placings overturned and went to court over the matter. Boston kept the title but started the following season with a deduction of four points.

The frustration of the injustice was multiplied in the 2002-03 campaign in the play-offs. Morecambe were beaten on penalties before the Daggers went down at the Britannia Stadium to Doncaster Rovers after extra time in a season where Mark Stein and Steve West led the scoring.

The Daggers went into decline for a few seasons despite the goals of Paul Moore, including an astonishing 9-0 home defeat by Hereford United in 2004. Hill was replaced by experienced boss John Still for his second spell with the club at the end of the 2003-04 campaign.

Still’s third season at the helm ended with the Conference title in 2006-07 with Paul Benson putting away the goals and featured future record appearance holder Tony Roberts in goal. The team consolidated in League Two of the Football League for two seasons.

In 2009-10 the Daggers reached the play-offs, hammering Morecambe in the semi-final before defeating Rotherham United 3-2 at Wembley through goals from Benson, Daniel Green and Jon Nurse as the club won promotion to League One. 

The step up proved too steep as the team was relegated after just one season despite a valiant fight. A battle for League Two survival was won in 2011-12 before Still left the club to become manager of Luton Town to be replaced by Wayne Burnett during the 2012-13 season as Dag & Red again escaped the drop.

Despite battling against the odds with a small budget, Burnett took the team to ninth in 2013-14 and then mid table in 2014-15 as veteran striker Jamie Cureton scored the goals. Burnett released many of the squad in a bid to freshen things up. Unfortunately, the move backfired.

The manager was dismissed in December 2015 with the team having won just one game in the league at that point of the season. The Daggers turned to John Still who returned for a third spell as manager in January 2016.

Despite an upturn in form, Still's men could not stave off relegation back to the National League as they were cast adrift with York City. In the summer of 2016, the veteran manager once again went about releasing and signing new players for another spell as a non-league club.

The goals of Oliver Hawkins helped the side to fourth in 2016-17 which was backed up in mid-table with Michael Cheek starring the following season. Still moved on once again to be replaced by Peter Taylor in June 2018.

US based company Trinity Sports Holdings bought the club in September 2018 as several promising young players were added to the squad. However, the results were worrying as Taylor was replaced by Daryl McMahon in January 2019.

The side avoided relegation and then ended the curtailed 2019-20 campaign in seventeenth spot. Paul McCallum top scored the following two seasons, as the Daggers narrowly missed out on a playoff place in 2012-22.

McMahon was replaced by Ben Strevens in March 2023 who led the side to fifteenth place in 2023-24.

Dagenham & Redbridge FC will play in the National League in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Sunday February 1984 

I was a student in Boreham Wood and I had discovered the joy of day travel cards and the non league annual. I was on my second large groundhop. After visiting Clapton I caught the tube to Dagenham East station and took the ten minute walk to Victoria Road. The gates were open as there was a programme fair being held in the upstairs clubhouse behind the Main Stand. 

The Main Stand was a wooden structure which sat either side of the half way line with open standing either side. To the right was a few steps of open terrace going round to the far North Stand, which was a long covered terrace. Behind the far goal was an open grass bank. It was a decent enough ground, but not as good as I had previously imagined for a club of Dagenham's status. 

I went on my way on the District line and went to visit Bridge Avenue and the home of Hornchurch. 

Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Aldershot Town 1 (Tuesday 30th November 1999) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 1,150) 

I was now living and working in London and wanting to get to some football after a long summer of cricket at Lord's. After a day at work I decided to choose the game between the top of the table Daggers and Aldershot Town who I knew would have a large following as they clawed their way back through the leagues following going bust in the early 90's. 

I arrived at the ground and went into the clubhouse, paying a small fee at the door. The place was vibrant and traditional and pretty busy. After a few pints I decided to go into the ground, going into the home end. It had changed a little bit since my previous visit in the way of being tidied up to meet the health and safety requirements. 

A small open terrace replaced the grass bank for away fans. I took my place in the North Stand, which home fans affectionately called The Sieve, owing the amount of holes that let rainwater through it at one time. 

The Shots did have a good following and this obviously attracted plenty of youths to support The Daggers, making the area around the segregation pretty feisty. Dagenham & Redbridge were simply too good for their visitors, with Danny Shipp standing out up front. 

The Daggers went on to lift the title at the end of the season. I saw them once again at St Albans City, where they easily defeated one of their nearest challengers.

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Scarborough 0 (Tuesday 6th March 2000) Football Conference

I met up after a long tube journey in rush hour ready for a beer ready to meet some friends in the clubhouse. As Boro didn't have many fans there on a midweek night, there was no segregation. Daggers went one up early on through Lee Goodwin with Boro never really looked like equalising, despite having plenty of the play. 

I remember it being a long journey home nattering with some other Seadogs about the clubs' financial crisis of the time.

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Scarborough 0 (Saturday 18th January 2003) Football Conference (att: 1,566)

Boro were in a bit of turmoil having gone into administration again a couple of days before the match and manager Russell Slade tendering his resignation so this was to be his last match. We went pretty early to the game with me joining Butch, Liz and Carl from King's Cross.

I had missed the previous seasons 4-2 defeat when Ian Kerr took temporary charge of the team after Neil Thompson's departure. I was on my way with my mate Dave Cammish when we were prevented from getting there before half time.

I was unaware of the rail replacement buses on the District line tube route where engineering works were taking place. We went to a Bethnal Green pub instead where illegal TV coverage showed us Manchester United come back from a 3-0 half time deficit to win 5-3 at White Hart Lane.

Carl and Butch in the away end

After going into a 'local' pub near the station so Carl could use the facilities we walked up to the ground to have a few pints and to chat with other Boro fans. A petition was being put together to try and get Slade to stay and feelings were pretty high. Not everyone was impressed with the board and one or two were annoyed with the manager. 

Victoria Road had now improved with the opening of the new Main Stand which ran most of the length of the pitch. The eight floodlight pylons down the sides had been replaced by one in each corner. Next to the Main Stand was another smaller length stand of the same height which was allocated to away fans wishing to sit down. 

Boro tried their best but Daggers scored late in the second half through a Steve West volley after Olivier Brassart earlier hit struck the upright with a free kick after the dangerous Karl Rose had been fouled for the Seadogs. The football in a poor game distracted from Slade if truth be told. 

At the end of the match he came across to the decent away following and one or two went on the pitch to thank him and try and persuade him to stay. We went back inside the clubhouse for a beer before leaving. 

Slade changed his mind on the Monday after the match and remained as manager of Scarborough FC. 

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Scarborough 0 (Saturday 22nd November 2003) Football Conference (att: 1,107)

The day had started out well as England defeated Australia in the rugby World Cup final but that would be as exciting as the day got.

Another trip to the east and another one nil defeat, with Mark Bentley getting the winner. The pattern was the same as ever. Beers in the clubhouse. Daggers scoring. Boro not looking like equalising. At least the welcome was always warm at Victoria Road. No wonder with our record there!

Wednesday 26th September 2007

I was on a days groundhopping around Essex. After visiting the home of Romford FC at the time, Rush Green Road, I took a bus down to Victoria Road. All the entrances to the ground were locked, but I was met with a busy scene as new portakabins were being used as offices by the local community. 

I went inside the clubhouse where some cheery ladies and a bloke were cleaning up. I explained what I was doing and I was a fan of Scarborough Athletic. The man said it was no problem and led me down the players tunnel and told me to do what I wanted as long as I didn't go on the pitch.

With the tidying up at the Bury Road or Clock End and the TV gantry on top of the North Stand, the stadium was starting to look very smart. It had even got a new name through sponsorship naming rights and was now officially called The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium. I think Victoria Road sounded better! 

What pleased me more than anything was the fact that despite The Daggers now being a Football League club, the people connected with them didn't forget the same kindness and friendliness from the past.

Dagenham & Redbridge 0 AFC Wimbledon 1 (Saturday 30th July 2016) Pre Season Friendly (att: 508)

It had been a really difficult summer for me. I struggled with depression and anxiety following the proposed changes at work which meant having to move into the city to work in the alien and highly pressurised environment of Bond Street coupled with the uncompleted grieving process having lost both my parents over the previous few years.

To lose all interest in going to any football was definitely most unlike me. With the help of counselling, care and consideration from my GP, friends, relatives and brilliant representation from the RMT Union, I gradually felt better.

 It was time to see how I’d cope with getting back on the horse, so to speak. As the 30th July is a special date in any true English football fans life, as it was on that date in 1966 that England became World Cup winners, I decided it was a perfect day to venture out.

I’d been meaning to visit the Chigwell Construction Stadium as Victoria Road was currently being known as in a sponsorship deal for some time, since the improvements. I thought AFC Wimbledon would make interesting opponents following their promotion to the League’s third tier. The hosts on the other hand had lost their League status at the end of the previous season.

After taking a tune to Fenchurch Street I caught a train and then another tube to Dagenham East to walk to the ground. Admission was £10 with the programme, which doubled up for the Leyton Orient game a few days earlier costing £2.

My intention was to stay away from alcohol for the day as I wanted to lose some weight as well as aid my recovery. I was also playing cricket the following day for the Wenlock Arms CC when refreshment would definitely not be in short supply.

I treated myself to pies and chips for a late lunch and stuck to drinking tea and water, taking up a place in the cover opposite the Main Stand.

The new stand behind the west goal really was an impressive structure with its raised single tier of seating and changing rooms underneath. It tidied up the whole arena and gave it an enclosed feel. The open terracing at the other end was also neater than I previously remembered? It certainly was a different place to the one I first visited back in the early 80’s.

The Daggers wore their new neat away kit for their final friendly game, which turned out to be quite typical of that kind of fixture.

John Still had released many and brought in a plethora of new signings as he once again looked to put together yet another entertaining squad on a shoestring budget. He was a manager who I greatly admired both for his achievements on the pitch and his warm personality.

His side played lots of nice football throughout in pleasant conditions. The Dons scored what would turn out to be the only goal of the game when David Fitzpatrick headed home on twenty five minutes in front of the 98 viusiting supporters sat in the stand behind the goal.

Dagenham tried for an equaliser in the second half but it was not to be. It had been a decent enough game with lots of pretty football. Most importantly, I came out of it feeling so much better.

Wanting to be tired for a good nights sleep I walked all the way back to Upney, spending some really pleasant time sitting and using my mindfulness technique to relax sitting watching the wildlife by the lakes in Mayesbrook Park before taking a train to East Ham to get some shopping.

Thursday 3rd December 2020

The weather was a filthy on the penultimate day of my marathon charity walk visiting all the top five tier football clubs in Greater London to raise money for junior cricket development in Thailand, which can be read about here.

Victoria Road was my furthest point east, so I was relieved to pass through what seemed like endless housing developments from Becton to arrive at the ground to take a video as proof of my exploits.

I was delighted to see the gate at the bottom end when led to Wantz Road was open to save me a bit of time on my return.