Dagenham and Redbridge Fan Of The Week

After a little break due too work commitments its back with a real star this week. Step forward PENFOLD. Apart from being Dangermouses sidekick he is also a secret Daggers fan. Penfold enjoy your week of fame and thanks for taking part.

Dagenham And Redbridge Fan Of The Week

1. Best Dagenham game you’ve ever seen?

Some people would answer this straight away and say 30th May 2010 @ Wembley, but I don’t think that has been the best. For me it would have to be Ipswich Town in the FA Cup. This was a game that I strangely thought we could get something out of and our first half performance that game backed my thoughts up. It was a game where if we had gone in level at 2-2, the 2nd half would have been a different game. Mark Janney narrowly put the ball wide and I think that was a wakeup call for Ipswich.

2. Worst Dagenham game you’ve ever seen?

Again, some will say Hereford 9-0 purely because of the result and some woeful performance to go with it, but I think Chester away, September 2002. We lost 5-2 and it wasn’t a nice trip home after that. Chester were simply the better side on the day and to say we had 11 players out on the pitch would have been very generous. I hope I wont be judged too harshly if I said we would be playing at The Britannia Stadium in may, Id have been checked into a Mental Asylum!

3. Best Dagenham goal you’ve ever seen?

Unfortunately, I wasn’t present at Kidderminster when Benno scored that goal from the corner flag. The best Dagenham goal I have seen could be 1 of 3. Firstly Matt Jones, a naturally left footed winger, cut in from the left hand side, 30 yards out, and sweetly hit a curling shot off his right foot into the top right corner of the net. What made this a better goal was a comment before he did that "Jonesy, you are the weakest link, GOODBYE!"

Secondly, Jon Nurse's goal at Crewe. Yes I did miss it in the first place due to being told off by a Steward, but I managed to see it on the Highlights.

Lastly, Matt Ritchie's ping at Notts County. It all happened rather quickly, as we took the free kick, Matt dribbled about 5 yards before launching a left foot at the ball and just as most of the county players turned around, it was nestling in the back of the net. (At least I think that’s how it happened!)

So out of those 3, would I be harsh to say Matt Jones' strike??

4. Worst Dagenham goal conceded you’ve ever seen?

Now this is a test for my shockingly poor memory!. Adam Miller's cross cum shot whilst playing for Aldershot springs to mind!!  I suppose this was payback for a comment from the crowd "F Off you greasy haired T-Nuc!"

5. Best away game?

Morecambe playoff final 2010! Although the game was unofficially over, there was still an amount of nerves flying around after hearing Morecambe had gone 4-2-4!!! And with our record at Christie Park, anything could have happened. Thankfully, it was still goalless with an hour gone and the conga's started. Mainly the Teletubbies lead the conga, followed by Mr Mankini and Banana Man!!!! This was caught on the live coverage, and numerous texts asking if I was in the conga, I got replies of "you coward". Benno then scored a perfectly legit goal which was somehow ruled out for offside by an official who I have seen to be running the line in the Premiership!!! How messed up the official ranking system is I don’t know, but after that mistake surely he should have been sent back to "Referee School" after that howler. 3 goals after that ensured Morecambe won the last ever game at Christie Park but it wasn’t enough to stop us from visiting that awfully drab stadium called Wembley! The coach was bouncing down the motorway and after a tirade of songs we settled down to fits of laughter… hey we were going to Wembley!

6. Worst away game?

Doncaster - Playoff final 2003. What a way to lose a playoff final and what made it worse, listening to Whitney Houston - Didn’t we almost have it all, on the coach journey home!

7. Best ever Dagenham player?

Best ever? Hmm… Natural Talent - Matt Ritchie, Goalscoring - Cobby/Shippy (Pre99), and some park player called Benson? Truthfully, I'd say Tony Roberts. This man has the Pinache all men want to have. Funny, Nuts, Legend! Always remember him "dancing" to Tom Jones - Sex Bomb at the supporters club event that happened to be hosted on St. Georges Day. If the song had gone on any longer, Robbo would have been wearing his Birthday Suit!

8. Worst ever Dagenham player?

Tony Scully!! Without a doubt the most useless, so called footballer I have ever seen!

9. If you could sign any player for Dagenham who would it be and why?

Cheekily, id like one from each area of the pitch but 1 player id sign for D&R, it would be Lee Novak. Was very impressed with him at Huddersfield and always knows where the net is.

10. Where do you think Dagenham will be in 10 years?

Hopefully, we will still be in League 1. I do however feel that should we be relegated this season, 10 years time we will be back in the Blue Square Premier as we would be able to sustain the current wages and our "stars" will have better offers.

Without real investment, we will be no higher.

My Football Week

I do another blog about non football stuff at http://anthonyhodgson.blogspot.com/ feel free to have a look, oh the shameless self promotion. Well here we go then my take on the big football stories of the week. Enjoy it as always.

The FA Youth Cup

Well done the Daggers in wining against Stevenage in the 1st round. A crowd of 280 watched the youngsters win on penalties 3-2 after the game ended in a draw. The hero of the night was Danny Sambrdige who saved a penalty and then stepped up and scored the winner. Well done mate you were superb on the night. The boys play Bristol Rovers in a few weeks at home in the 2nd round and best wishes and good luck to you all.

The FA Cup

A few shock results in this over the weekend which is what the cup is all about. FC UTD of Manchester did superbly in beating Rochdale away from home. They were 2-0, got pegged back too 2-2 then snuck a winner. That's what the FA Cup is all about. Not the top four in the Premier League winning it year in year out. Its about the little clubs having the chance to be hero's for the day. I can remember Mark Janney being all over the papers years ago when we played Charlton. Its a chance for these types of players who ply their trade in the lower divisions to get five minutes of fame. The potential pick of the second round could potentially be AFC Wimbledon vs MK Dons. I know both teams need too win their games first but the T.V. boys will be all over that like a rash. Me? I hope AFC Wimbledon stuff them it was an utter disgrace what the FA did to that club and fair play to them for making their way back through the leagues. I wish them well in their battle too get out of the Conference and claim their rightful place in the league.

Nani

Well what a surprise? A controversial goal at Old Trafford. To be fair too Nani he did play to the whistle and Gomes should have held the ball. However saying that surely the ref caused the confusion by not giving clear instructions as to what had happened. Where was the sense of fair play to be honest?. I remember Di Canio years ago playing for West Ham, the Everton keeper got injured and the ball came over and he had an open goal, instead of heading the ball into the net he caught it. That's what fair play is about, you can bang on about playing too the whistle as much as you like, Nani handled the ball after he had dived for a penalty then had the cheek to put the ball in the net. That to me goes against the spirit of the game and is cheating.

Manchester City

Well here we go again. Millions spent on players and guess what? They want to fire the manager. Crazy absolutely crazy. Mancinin's record isn't that bad and I could understand it if they were in the bottom 3 but they are fourth for gods sake. There is so much player power in football these days its gone nuts. So here we go then how about trying this for a change? Shut up and play football. If you are not in the side work harder too get in it. When you are there work your socks off to stay there. Fancy that? Or you could always go to the papers as a secret source, or your agent and start a rumour campaign against him. Yeah thought you may take the latter of those options. If he does go, and its an if at the moment, I hope the next manager who comes in kicks you out. He wont though because he will be scared of losing his job wont he. You reap what you show people, and at the moment it isn't looking very pretty.

Remembrance Sunday

I just want to finish with a few words about this coming Sunday and a well done too all at the game Saturday. I have been going too football for many years now and I must say that everyone at that game Saturday did themselves, their club and the men who carried the flags onto the pitch, a huge amount of respect for following the minutes silence impeccably. You could have heard a pin drop and it was very moving. Its easy to get carried away at times with the game that we love and follow and forget that there are things more important than football. These people go to war because someone tells them too, they don't argue or disagree they just go and do it. They give us the freedom too make the choices we make and whatever your feelings on the current conflicts that we are involved in on Sunday, take those two minutes to pause and reflect on the sacrifices that these men and women make every single day. Bill Shankly made one of the most famous quotes of all time when he said 'Football is not a matter of life and death, its more important than that' I'm aware he had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he said it, but football isn't and we need too remember that on Sunday when we remember the fallen and those still fighting. Its the least we owe them.

Until next week thanks for reading and any comments let me know below.

Cheers Anthony

Fan Of The Week

This week its the turn of Ian Pearce. Ian started supporting the Daggers when he was a young lad who couldn't shave. He decided one day that he wouldn't shave again until he saw the Daggers win away and from his photo you can see its been a while. Ian was the first fan I met over Dagenham and Redbridge and we have always shared a beer when we meet. I thank him for his hospitality and friendship. This fella is for you enjoy it.

The Best Dagenham and Redbridge game you’ve ever seen?

Simply has to be the game at Wembley against Rotherham this May. I think it that one game I went through every emotion possible (aside from the one where you need to crap and there are no toilets near, I didn't go through that one ). Seriously though the most amazing day of my life I reckon the achievement was huge.

The Worst Dagenham and Redbridge game you’ve ever seen?

There have been a few. I cant remember many games from the darker past, but there were plenty of games the season we dropped out of the conference. I remember walking out and thinking 'What the F@@k did I just watch there then?'

The Best Dagenham and Redbridge goal you’ve ever seen?

I really loved Paul Benson against Rotherham at home a few years ago, a volley from the edge of the box I seem to recall, or a Matt Ritchie thunderbolt in the 3-0 win away at County the season we just missed the play-offs.


The Worst Dagenham and Redbridge goal conceded you’ve ever seen?

The ones in the big game the other year at Shrewsbury partly because the way they made me feel thoroughly sick, and partly because Shrewsbury seemed to keep opening us the same way and we failed too learn from it until it was too late.

The Best away game you have ever been too?

I have a few big moments I have loved so in no particular order:
Visiting the Old Wembley where we lost 1-0 to Woking. Despite it being a loss it was the first time I had been there and I loved the fact that we got too play there even if it was a loss.
Visiting the New Wembley, a better day result wise, the sheer feeling of ecstasy that cam with it, the fact that I was older and it is more recent, so so so proud to be a Dagger that day (and every day). Because of the coverage and we were getting and the buzz around the place.
Rochdale away a couple of years ago, as it was the first away game Id gone to since moving to Dagenham after a few years away.

The Worst away game you have ever been too?

Sutton Utd away back innnnnnn, I think 1996 or 1997, Arrived in Sutton around 1pm but went to Sutton main station and not West Sutton which happens to be right next to the ground. Was wandering around for ages unable to find the poxy place, and though I cannot remember the score I know we conceded lat on. What a crap day.



The Best ever Dagenham and Redbridge player you have ever seen?

I have many players that I remember well and less well, but a few Ive enjoyed watching over the years- again in no particular order:
Jason Broom, Paul Cobb, Courtney Taylor, Roy Mcdonough, Danny Shipp, Sam Saunders, Danny Green and of course Tony Roberts.

Worst ever Dagenham and Redbridge player you have ever seen?

Anyone who pulls the shirt on and actually gives 100% I wont consider the worst player ever.

If you could sign any player for Dagenham and Redbridge who would it be and why?

Id like too see Sam Saunders brought back from Brentford for nothing and swapping flanks with Danny Green several times. I think that would give us a great edge.

Where do you think Dagenham and Redbridge will be in 10 years?

Probably a few miles away from Barking. Easily accessible by road via the A13.

There you then and thanks Ian for doing this for me. If you want to have a go then email me at anthonyhodgson1@hotmail.com.

Dagenham and Redbridge Fan Of The Week

Our first female fan of the week this week. Amy Vincent is her name and I hope you enjoy your week of fame thanks for taking part Amy. Enjoy it.

 

The Best Dagenham and Redbridge Game You Have Ever Been Too?

 

Probably the best Dagenham game in my eyes was 7th April 2007 against Aldershot Town at home. When that game we was named as the Conference Champions with still a few games spare, the feeling was indescribable. Thrashing Barnet is always a good game too and also how can I forget our beloved victory at Wembley!

 

The Worst Ever Dagenham and Redbridge Game You Have Ever Been Too?

The most recent worse Dagenham game was earlier this season at home against Bristol Rovers. The poor result was due to not only the awful referring by Kettle but I believe our performance that day was below par.

 

The Best Dagenham and Redbridge Goal You Have Ever Been Too?

Best Dagenham goal I think will have to be Mr Tony Roberts back at our 2-2 draw against Basingstoke in the FA Cup. It doesn't matter if you was or wasn't there all true Daggers fan will remember that!

 

The Worst Dagenham and Redbridge Goal You Have Ever Seen?

Most recent worse goal conceded was probably the first game of the season, Sheffield Wednesday away. Despite not being outplayed one of the goals was due to Scott Doe lack of effort to pass/clear the ball to another player, my memory of it isn't too great but to see Scotty perform like that was disheartening.

 

The Best Dagenham and Redbridge Away Game You Have Ever Been Too?

I haven't been to that many away games due to my age but one of my best away games was this season at the Valley in the league. We played outstanding and we deserved that point, nothing beats Nursey scoring then injuring himself! We won 2-2, Charlton lost 2-2. Great atmosphere and what a great day out!

The Worst Dagenham and Redbridge Game You Have Been Too?

Haven't really experienced a bad away game so I can't really state one, sorry.

 

The Best Dagenham and Redbridge Player You Have Ever Seen?

As a youngster I really enjoyed watching Ashley Vickers play. However Tony Roberts has made first match appearances ever since my first game as a daggers fan and he never fails to impress me, for his age what a legend!

 

The Worst Dagenham and Redbridge Player You Have Ever Seen?

I wouldn't exactly say they've been worst Dagenham players or awful ones but at a few times I would get disappointed with Sam Saloma's performance, he had his good and bad days.

 

If You Could Sign Any Player For Dagenham and Redbridge Who Would It Be And Why?

We're lacking with the amount of goals scorer so our best bet would be Adam Le Fondre from Rotherham, I know we can't afford him but his forever netting those goals!

 

Where Do You Think Dagenham and Redbridge Will Be In 10 Years?

Realistically, we'll forever stay a League One side. However I hope to see us as a big fixture in the league one side and that we're constantly in the top half, with our budget improving. But maybe being an average side in the Championship wouldn't hurt either!

 

A new one will appear next week so thanks for taking part. If you wish to have a go then email at anthonyhodgson1@hotmail.com or find me on facebook.