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27 January 2001
Charlton 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 1
FACup 3rd Round
If you had asked me this morning if I would be happy with a 1-1 draw against a Premiership team in the FA cup I would have undoubtedly said Yes. So why at 4-45 this afternoon when the final whistle went did I not feel very good? And why five hours later do I still feel the same?
It wasn't just periods of this match that we dominated it was almost the whole 90 minutes, even Charlton's goal took a deflection before it crossed the line. The visitors played with heart and enthusiasm that was missing form the home side's game. All loose balls were swept up by the eager midfielders and distribution from these players was thoughtful and accurate. Compare this with Charlton's hap-hazard midfield and I would defy anyone who didn't know these two teams to choose which one plays in the Premiership and who was from the Conference (for those of you who don't know there are 92 league places between the clubs).
Match reports, I'm sure, will be available aplenty from the national/local press and certainly all over the internet but I just want to explain how I felt.
At half time I was numb, there was a buzz around our end like I have never known before. I wanted to shout "BE QUIET, I need to get my head around it all". The match was not going the way that I had envisaged, don't get me wrong, I'd dreamed this very scenario many times during this last week, but it was no longer a dream, it was reality!
Not only were the team something special but what wonderfully prophetic supporters we have. They hade been very vocal for the majority of the first half but the chant "Score in a minute, we're gonna score in a minute" had the immaculate timing of a Rolex watch. It was tried once more in the second half but it didn't have the same effect.
So here I was. We were 1-0 up, the teams came onto the field for the second half and I should have been ecstatic but being the pessimist I am I was being cautious. As the half progressed and the Charlton onslaught didn't materialise I became more confident of our advancement to the 4th round of this wonderful competition. I glanced at my watch frequently but I'm sure that it had stopped, then with Charlton's first real flurry and with some bizarre refereeing they were able to deflate me like I haven't been deflated before.
We've had our chance!? I'm not so sure!
If the replay is played at Victoria Road, and I do hope that is the case, I feel we have a real chance, move the game to Upton Park and the advantage will transfer to Charlton.
And here's some thoughts from John
Increasingly I can't quite believe this has all happened, a feeling added to by the appearance of Gary Hill or Junior every time I turn on the telly or open a paper. Of course it's an astonishing result but I felt like yourself and others at the end, disappointed that we hadn't won a highly deserved victory.Just how can a Conference part-time team outplay a Premiership side featuring several internationals? It beats me even after watching 35 years of football - it shouldn't happen.
Being in the 4th round draw and then drawing Spurs also seemed unreal....but who knows, we were so good at the Valley and they were so mediocre, anything could happen.As long as we take Weymouth seriously on Saturday and do our best again next week in the Charlton replay I'll be happy. Probably my best moment in my non-league 'career' exceeding the Amateur Cup Final in 1968 when we(Leytonstone) beat Chesham in front of 52000 at Wembley. Such a shame we didn't win on Saturday, though.
john
David Indge from British Columbia
To begin with, where I am located in British Columbia there is a 8,000 mile distance between here and Dagenham plus an 8 hour time difference so traveling to away games is not that easy. Making it to the home games is not that simple either for that matter. I had been thinking about the game all of the previous week, trying to imagine what was going on. I had looked to see if there was an internet hook up to give play by plays, but saw nothing which was disappointing.
Usually on a Saturday morning through Sky TV, we get a "live" broadcast of 1 game (starts at 7.00 AM here 3.00 PM there) which is followed by a taped second game. During these broadcasts there is always an update as to what is going on. HOWEVER (due to the FA cup games they say), this past week-end they decided to replay the wonderful hammering received by West Ham at Man Utd the week earlier. Of course, as this was high on my list to watch, I did not turn TV on, so all I could do was wait.
While I have not seen The Daggers play for over 18 years, by reading the game reports etc provided by the various web pages I was confident, very confident in fact, the lads would give Charlton a run for their money. It appears as though they gave them more than that. While there are some teams that are obviously more skilled than D & R, there are a lot more that are not. I regard teams like the Charlton's, despite their position in a higher league, as one of the latter.
I finally logged on at 11.00AM my time, making allowances for the time it took for people to get back home and, frankly was overjoyed when I saw the result. To then see we were so close to pulling it off, made it even more so. The game appears to have been a cracker and an upset was in the making. I could only imagine what was going on at Victoria Road on Saturday and what has gone on since. To say Charlton played lousy takes away from the fact D & R made them, or allowed them, to play lousy. You are only as good as your opposition allows you to be. Give credit where it is due this was a great effort from the management and tactical decisions made, to the play of the players putting pressure on Charlton to make them play the way they did.
To then find out we had drawn Spurs at home adds to the excitement. Having logged on to the Spurs site, it's nice to see George Graham not making any silly comments. The replay on the 17th if shown on Sky TV may be picked up here and if so I will be able to catch it on TV. I will be contacting the local service provider to see if this is so and if it is I'll be sitting in front of the TV on the 17th eating lunch. If not, I'll be on the 'net. I am waiting. I can remember the last time something like this happened, was in the early seventies, when the old Dagenham team tied Reading and the replay (after waiting in line for replay tickets) was perhaps the most memorable night I can recollect at Victoria Road despite losing. We even gave them a scare too.
With this result for Dagenham & Redbridge, I think the most memorable in the clubs young history, the new history starts. For it was neither Dagenham nor Redbridge that earned this result, it was Dagenham AND Redbridge cheered on by loyal Dagenham & Redbridge fans.
Steve, I may have droned on here a little so if you find the need to edit, please feel free to do so.
Thanks once again for providing the site, it really keeps me up to date with D & R from a distance and I do enjoy the humour on the threaded message board.
A couple of things Dave. This website specialises in droning on, only it's usually me who does so. The replay will be on Sky TV but if that's a problem there will be updates on www.bbc.co.uk/londonlive and probably many other BBC websites and I would guess that www.bbc.co.uk/radio5 will be doing live commentary. Enjoy it and thanks again for some wonderful thoughts.
A short note from Ron
Steve,
I haven't got a clue who the hell you are, but I was born in Dagenham some 55 years ago and all my family have supported the "DAGGERS". I want to say how proud I am of the result on Saturday and I certainly will be praying hard in wishing the team the success they deserve and to carry forward and demolish Tottenham.
And from Mark (don't forget to visit his website)
I was going to write loads about this, but I thought, what can I say that John or Dave or Steve haven't already said?
I was slightly disappointed at the final whistle, and I can't help feeling that we have missed the boat for the 4th Round, but whatever the result was, the lads did everybody proud. A non-league team going to the home of a half-decent Prem side should invariably get stuffed. Indeed this was the opinion of Mark Lawrenson when he said, very wittily, "They have to get near them before they can tackle them." Well, I would like to congratulate Lawro on his prediction, a supposed expert in football punditry, on the most inaccurate assumption ever. The Daggers didn't just get near Charlton, they gave every ounce of strength in every tackle, and Charlton crumbled under the strain. Several of their namby-pamby high-paid stars fell around like great jessies when tackled, and I was in disbelief when the ref never sent that bloke off for his elbow off the ball, even though he saw it.
To go 1-0 up was amazing and to hold it for so long was unbelievable. Although I kept banging on about how we would win or draw, in my heart of hearts, I expected a 2-0 or worse. But once again Garry's team of grafters did the business, and didn't they do it well!!!!! Outplaying Charlton to chants of "Can we play you every week," and "We thought you were shite, we were right," was just laughable. It was like a little dream world for 3000 people who made the 10 mile journey to the Valley.
The sound when we scored was great, and as I jumped on my seat, I stepped on the back and the seat tipped back, sending me into the row behind!!!! I couldn't believe how the Charlton fans were so quiet either. I expected noise from 17,000 fans, but all we got was a slight ripple or applause when they did something good. Not very often then. The Daggers, although not having bucketloads of chances as has become customary, there was much more passing and control. We didn't just go at it hammer and tongs as usual, we constructed good play and pinned Charlton into their own half.
The move for our goal would have befitted the strength of Alan Shearer, the cross of Beckham and the head of Duncan Ferguson. The class just radiated from this simple piece of play, and it was executed with such precision and skill that no team could defend it.
The boys ran their hearts out and just congratulations basically.
Here comes Len's mini novel, it brought a tear to my eye!
You kindly asked for fan's views the Charlton game.
Well unlike you I must admit that I am pretty euphoric about it. When we were drawn away at Lincoln in the earlier round I thought that we would have a hard game and that probably we would lose. However, on the day, the Daggers completely dominated the game and were well worth the one-nil victory, even if the goal itself was somewhat fortuitous. The team played with confidence and assurance and the only likelihood of Lincoln scoring came from their aerial bombardment and Roberts shaky performance in goal. Whilst this result was probably not the team's best performance of the season or the best result ever achieved by a Dagenham etc. side it was nevertheless very satisfying and seemed to be a coming of age - a rubicon crossed.
Then came the draw for the third round - sitting nervously in front of the TV hoping against hope that a plum draw would come out - Man Utd? Arsenal? even Blackburn would be good. Magically the ball representing "Charlton Athletic" came out followed by that of D & R, pandemonium ensued - a premiership club and a local derby to boot! I can't say that this euphoria lasted that long; as the enormity of the task ahead gradually dawned on me. This was not tempered by the run of results that Charlton put together as the tie approached Man Utd 3-3, Man City 1-4 and Arsenal 1-0. These all seemed like hammer blows to our chances - the only consolation being a hammer blow from our near neighbours from Upton Park (although in my mind this 5-0 drubbing could only be seen as serving to remove any complacency that Charlton might have had). It had also been said time and time again over this period how hard Charlton worked as a side, how they were a team and Curbishley's no-nonesense approach was lauded - no chance of prima donna posturing then!
Thereafter, as the game drew ever nearer, I began having a greater and greater sense of foreboding. Quickly slipping away were the thoughts of "brave Dagenham losing narrowly" this was replaced with thoughts of a 7-0 hammering. This particular damning thought, which must have gone through everyone's mind, was exceptionally galling as I know a few Charlton supporters and when the draw came out my bravado may have taken me a little too far. A big helping of humble pie seemed to be on the menu. During the last days before the game there was more bad news, Tim Cole was spouting off in the press about kicking them into submission, not a sentiment that I wished to be associated with and further more only likely to firm Charlton's resolve and spirit. Then came the football odds: Charlton ten to one on, Dagenham eighteen to one against. The night before the game was spent amongst some Charlton supporters, like Tim Cole I got my revenge in first but felt the hollowness of my words. Could David really fell Goliath? I had a strange mental attitude it was almost like the old days at school before a particularly horrible day - you know "sorry mum I'm feeling too ill to go today".
Having got to the ground these thoughts were starting to dispel. I was going to have a good day no matter what the score was (only please don't let them beat us by too many!). I have to say that the atmosphere was amazing, people bonded together in the common aim, a better feel than the trophy finals - an almost Dunkirk spirit. Any doubts that I had that we would not be up for the game disappeared when I saw Tony Roberts reaction to the reception he and the rest of the team got and by some miracle the players were relaxed, looking forward to it. But when the game started, it was rubbing your eyes in disbelief time, we were striking the ball around confidently (too confidently?) and in the first fifteen minutes created a couple of decent chances. Of course they would go down the other end and score but they didn't and didn't really look like they would. Slowly we tightened our stranglehold on the match.
Then the heavens parted and the angels presented a vista for my eyes! The ball was out on the left and Shippy was having his shirt pulled off him - we screamed for a penalty Well not in this refs eyes! Then very, very slowly - in super slo-mo the ball, caressed by Janney's educated foot was floated like a feather across the box. Like tennis fans three thousand sets of eyeballs watched it's merry course across the goalmouth when the eyes focussed again they were met with a blur coming from the opposite direction, a blue and white blur, a Junior McDougald blur. I don't remember Junior heading a sweeter ball, Surely not - but yes! it was going in, thundering in- but Kiely would get to it! but no he was going in an opposite direction! The ball nestled in the net. Neighbours looked at each other in disbelief - a silence ensued that seemed to last forever and then the biggest sound that you have ever heard. The Charlton players trooped forlornly to the centre circle, game on!
Of course we couldn't hold out to half time but we did. Half- time was spent discussing how much pressure we would be under in the second half when, if, we would crack and otherwise pinching ourselves. Orange and One-to-One worked overtime. The second half kicked off but what ever threat that was there in the first half abated even further. Time ticked on but faith had grown, we could do it. However, I didn't dare look at my watch. Luckily the bloke next to me piped up with "only ten minutes to go". Then came the inevitable - after we had created and not taken a couple of decent chances a twice deflected shot by an ageing substitute was cruelly trickled over the line. It was inevitable- not because they deserved it, not because of their pressure or status, not even because of a series of increasingly bizarre and biased referring decisions but simply because this was football and because it was in the script. We held out for the six minutes of extra time during which both teams might have got a winner but then the whistle blew and we had achieved the most memorable result in the club's history. For the time being thoughts of "what might have been" did not cross my mind. Time to celebrate the heroes in blue and white. Time to look to the future, to the replay, time to reflect on a superb performance and not on the result.
This is still where I am now. I am actually relishing the replay and it holds no fear. For whatever the result I was there when we were four minutes away from beating one of the top teams in the land. Why it's almost worth having kids for, so that you can relate the story in your dotage. Did I ever tell you about the time....?
My only downpoint from the whole experience was the television coverage. Don't these people realise the enormity of the event that we have witnessed? Match of the Day for example - "Lets see how the non league teams got on, starting with Dag......this match had everything......(true so why not show it.) and then cruellest of all "they play football" in a sneering undertone.
However, there were good reports in the papers and I especially take my hat off (should I ever buy one) to Bryon Butler in the Telegraph who said "the point will not be lost on Charlton that Dagenham did not kick them into submission. Dagenham were methodical, uncomplicated and rarely lost their shape". I was glad that the quality as well as the quantity of the performance was not overlooked. Ivan Speck in the Mail said "When Charlton attacks foundered on a defence which stood resolute all afternoon the ball was brought down to pitch level and moved quickly simply to feet". The South London Press reported "Lucky Charlton" and "What a cruel blow to Dagenham who deserved to produce one of the biggest giantkillings in the competition"...their star man award went to "The Whole Dagenham team, what an effort", and every player scored 9. It wasn't just our inevitably biased eyes that saw and revelled in the performance we outfought them and outplayed them
Again another rubicon has been crossed. The child has grown up, nurtured in the playing fields not of Eton but of Heybridge and Borehamwood. This child's development has been as the result of strong parental guidance from Garry Hill and grandfather Ted. Another thought that crossed my mind on Saturday was about Drew Broughton. I thought to myself "Well son if it wasn't for your greed you could be here enjoying how much is this moment is worth? I
Incidentally when I put this through spellcheck "Charlton" came out as "Charlatans" - how appropriate!
And now Alan
The best thing about the Charlton game is that people have started to sit up and take us seriously. Where I work all sorts of people who sniggered at me when told I supported the Daggers. Now the same people are coming up to me and congratulating us on our play and the standard of football that we produced.
I was so proud to have been a Daggers supporter on Saturday, the fans performance behind the goal almost matched that of the team, even though "are you Purfleet in disguise" was probably lost on the Charlton fans, it made me laugh as we sung it. I hope that at least a couple of hundred of those non-regulars who came along were persuaded to become regular attendees at Victoria Road by the performance that they saw.
I hope that the club can build on this success, that the money is not only used for the stand and all weather pitches, but that a slice is given to Garry to help us to push for league football.
Let's not forget the Weymouth game, winning the trophy is still a massive priority for us, but let's finish the job on Wednesday and bring Spurs to the Vic - with their away record, who knows what might happen!
A thank you to Nelson, don't forget his website
Well, here we are - the Wednesday following the Charlton match (part 1) and I feel almost famous! My colleagues and friends keep coming up to me or e-mailing me with messages of congratulations - It's quite unnerving!
All last week, I had spent time telling people on the Charlton chat room that I thought it would be a close match. I was predicting 2-1 to them.
Travelling to The Valley on Saturday, it was weird - I'd never gone to a Daggers game before knowing that we would almost certainly lose comfortably and thinking that as long as we give a good account of ourselves, I'd be happy.
What transpired was beyond, I suspect, anyone's expectations - When people talk about the magic of the FA Cup, THIS is what they are talking about.
Considering that 4 divisions and over 90 teams separated the Addicks and the Daggers prior to the game, nobody would have given us much hope. However, as I approached the ground and got the buzz from all the Daggers' fans, both those I knew and those I didn't, my confidence started to grow and I had the feeling that it could be a very special match.
I saw a friend of mine that I normally stand with and he asked me what I thought the score would be. Despite my earlier reservations, I called out "One-nil to us". He looked at me and shook his head as if I was mad.
Anyway, the game started ok and we looked better than I expected, but I was waiting for the inevitable onslaught of Charlton attacks, but it didn't come - I started to think we might be ok. Then, just before the break, we scored! I looked at Lou for confirmation - was I dreaming? Lou didn't look back because she was too busy jumping up and down like everyone else. "If you can't beat them, join them" I thought and proceeded to scream and wave my arms like an idiot.
Half time and I'm feeling more than slightly sick - We're a goal up and outplaying Charlton Athletic at The Valley - This can't be happening can it?
The teams come out again and Charlton seem to have slightly more of the play than in the first half, but we're still controlling the game. I'm starting to think that my 2-1 defeat might well be right!
Half an hour to go and we're still having the best of it. I'm feeling increasingly sick!
Quarter of an hour to go - my watch has stopped! Hang on, no it hasn't - the second hand is moving - it must have gone wrong? No - It's me - Time appears to be relative to how important the match it and how near the end! Einstein's forgotten rule of relativity. Still, I'm thinking we might get a draw here - they don't look like they could score two.
Ten minutes to go - That last five minutes seemed to take forever, but I'm starting to think there's a chance! I think I'm going to throw up any second!
Five minutes to go - We are going to do it - The thought I'd been suppressing since Junior scored at the end of the first half finally makes itself known and what happens? Bloody John Salako hits a weak shot that deflects past Roberts! I swear - violently! I stop feeling sick and just feel disappointed. Oh well, we tried - we played well...Hang on, it's not over yet - We still have a chance and, of course, the replay!
The added injury time plays havoc with my watch - it's speeding up when we have the ball and stopping when they do! Einstein has a lot to answer for!
Still, the final whistle blows, the Jimmy Seed stand goes mad and Nathan starts saying he wants to go home! (He is only 10).
An amazing feeling - the best game I've ever seen.
I still feel slightly miffed that we didn't win it, but hey - we have every chance on Wednesday!
Still, I'm enjoying my 5 minutes of relative fame!
Rob Newton, it's you
I can only really echo the previous comments. I've been watching the daggers for about 12 years now, and have dreamed that one day Dagenham may take on a premier league team. I have watched the exploits of Woking in the early nineties, and the efforts of Stevenage, Rushden and Hereford in recent years, thinking that maybe Dagenham could emulate these achievements.
Well Saturday was that day and it will forever live long in my memory. The ecstasy of Junior's goal, and the agony of Salako's shot spinning past the studs of Roberts, I will be talking about those moments for years. I will also remember the noise and the great support from our fans right from the very first whistle until the very last. It was a day that will never be forgotten.
Now for the replay!!!!
And some great words from Chris
I had rearranged my little holiday so that I could fly out to Zagreb on Sunday, and I got back yesterday. I was sitting in an internet cafe there and read your thoughts and they were similar to mine except that I wasn't sad at the end .....I also am a pessimist and I was just waiting, knowing that Charlton would score two in the last few minutes, so the fact we drew means that we are still being talked about. Richard Littlejohn brought the conversation around to the Daggers throughout his programme ..... and we will continue to be talked about at least until next Wednesday. I just hope that a few hundred of the "day trippers" at Charlton will become regular fans.
So on Sunday morning I flew off to Zagreb with all the Sunday papers, especially Non League Paper in my bag, my hands still red raw from the clapping, and my voice still hoarse ..... just reliving the moment that Mark Janney crossed that ball and the incredulity of going ahead, and the relief of the half time whistle knowing that we would still be ahead for another fifteen minutes, and the constant looking at the clock, thinking "we can't, can we?".
I am the wrong side of 40, I am over 6 feet and sixteen stone, I have travelled all the world, I have been banged up in a Belarus nick, I have travelled five hours in a Bolivian ambulance with a dead woman ...... but I just sat in the internet cafe in Zagreb reading the reports with tears of emotion in my eyes.
Hopefully I shall have no problems with a ticket for the replay. The club seem to have planned the ticket allocation quite fairly ..... it will be interesting to see the size of the crowd on Saturday.
Dave H, I think!
Blimey where to start....?
I think the Lincoln game was where the "magic" begun for me. Janners goal crept over the line and then for a few moments came the kind of feeling that people go to football for decades for, pure unbridled joy. Add into that the level of excitement where some of your best friends are smashing you to a pulp as they leap around in a frenzy.
Coach home listening to 5 live telling us that we were one of the shocks of the day, desperately trying to listen above the coaches shitty static radio. Match of the day interviewing Janners who ends in his ultimate quote "Huuuhhhh" Then Sunday papers and all due praise, again no lucky victory, we outfought and outplayed Lincoln.
Fast forward to the draw...come on Man U, come on Man U....
Charlton....versus Dagenham and Redbridge (WAHEY! its now mandatory to
cheer when you hear the name on telly or radio) and then YES! excellent
draw!!! Then two things set in...
1. out of all the draws this was a beauty, away to a Premier Club means a
great day out (local too) and lots of money for the club, which is a major
factor for us non leaguers.
2. Oh my God were are gonna play a league team, Oh My Goddddd ! Skip past
the huge queue for tickets where we arrive two hours before the doors
opened, to the day of the match. Me and my mates queued for hours with
1000's of people you'd never seen before. Daggers tickets sell out, a
feeling of immense expectation and gratitude that we got some tickets.
Sadly I didn't get any coach tickets, so I drove and parked a long way away. Walking towards the ground my stomach was doing flip flops and then I saw the coaches, loads of coaches, great stuff the Daggers are out in force. Then I saw the club, well its not Old Trafford but compared to our ground it's the Death Star !
As we approached the ground my mate, my dad and I were all muttering statements of the calibre of "Do well to keep it down to 4" and I feel no shame in that because in honesty that was realism. We were due to play the team that had beat Arsenal the week before. A premier League team with internationals and a ground that held 20K. Curbishley's team, the possible future England manager.
We got into the ground, saw a few familiar faces (swapped excited looks) and then met our mates in the seats. I call them seats but in reality they were just allocated standing spots - No one sat down. You would have to say that the atmosphere was electric, simply because I felt like a current was running through me. I kept grinning at my mates. I was jumpy and nervy and very very happy. A man in a Pink Panther costume walked by, there were balloons everywhere and confetti and streamers and the Daggers fans were loud and proud. It was a huge scary party.
I won't go into the actual action because those with better memories have already described it well, but the chants and the songs were a great signal of how the match progressed. Your obvious Dagenham supporters chants began and then as the game continued WE were TAUNTING CHARLTON ! - Can you believe it? Can we play you every week? Are you Purfleet in disguise? You're not very good!, etc.
We scored....Ok lets say that was an understatement. We had been improving and playing the football of the game (if we remember one thing let us remember that we played some good flowing footie, great balls up to Junior and Shippy who brought people into the game, some lovely passing and some great tackles that I thought harshly penalised at times by a clear Homer of a ref) Shippy battled and battled and headed out of my line of sight, the ball floated over to the back stick. There was Junior (who if anyone deserved to score it was him) on his own to header the ball in. I am trying to describe for posterity what it was like and sadly I cannot, and this is why people go back week after week to games all over the world, because if you could sell the feeling that we lucky Daggers with tickets experienced, you would make Bill Gates look like a beggar.
The best way I could describe it is that it was a combination of a bomb going off, going to a fantastic party at the height of the pogo and being in a state of shock and disbelief. It was amazing. We had achieved the impossible, seriously I was in shock, like I could see it all happening my mates and my father jumping and laughing like loons but deep down was the feeling like it couldn't be real.
The game went on and I was proud that we didn't just sit back and punt the ball away because I think we was playing the best football and that was what was winning us the game. It was getting to the last 10 mins when it dawned on me that we were gonna make history. This wasn't an upset, this was a massive, massive shock. Possibly the biggest result in football history. And it wasn't a fluke, a jammy goal and frantic defending. We played really well and you could see the teams confidence grow from Garry Hill's (kiss his baldy head) famous philosophy of not conceding in the first 20 mins means anything can happen. This was true at Lincoln and it was true at the Valley.
Actually thinking back to Lincoln for a moment, here is something that made me smile when I remembered it. We drew Lincoln away, so I get onto the website, Oh its near Nottingham , they are 20th in Div 3, Oooooooh maybe just maybe I thought. Fast forward to Charlton - no research needed :) It's as I said to my pal, the draw should we succeed pits us against Spurs. Tottenham, Hoddle, Ardiles and Ricky Villa, Sol Campbell etc. etc. Its mad I tell you mad. We may as be playing a Mars All Star XI. It feels crazy. Back to the game, we tire, we pick up an injury, Ashley gets cramp and we miss a good chance. And then yeah they scored, I didn't see it very well but it was a cruel deflection. But then a moment that made me very proud. The fans took just a moment to exhale and sigh at their misfortune and then back to the support. Stronger than ever. With gusto we supported the team as before. There's only one team out there Dagenham and that's you. The announcement for 6 mins of Extra time was a shock as the players were clearly getting tired. The final whistle was in many ways a moment of pride and of anti climax. The team stripped to their shorts, we cheered them and they cheered us back. They went on a lap of honour where the Charlton fans rightly applauded them. I didn't like that and you can take that as a sign of how well we did. I expected them to do a lap of honour after battling hard and going down by three. But we were so much better than that it seemed patronising, we should have applauded Charlton out of sympathy! Then we left the ground to a chorus of statements of "amazing, so close, Oh I don't believe it, I am so proud, where do you think the replay will be? Yes its a shame but you would have taken it before the start, we were SO good, f@cking hell we nearly beat Charlton, I think it has to be Upton Park, the best result after getting a Premier League club is to play them again for more money, We're in the hat for the 4th round!!" and so on.
Walk back to the car, thousands of very quiet Charlton fans and loads of jubilant coaches went past us in a convoy and we waved dazed and happy to them. The radio and television coverage was insane. Cobby calling 5 live from the team coach. Trevor Brooking getting in a little quip that Danny Shipp was an Ex-Hammer. Next day we were all over the back pages, the News of the World had 4 of our players in the team of the week. The Daily Mirror had just two but I pissed myself when I looked. Left Back Stuart Pearce - West Ham and England Legend, Right Back Tim Cole - Dagenham Legend. Tim's comment about the foreigners all failing to understand each other as they argued was priceless. All the papers and media confirmed that Charlton were well lucky to get a replay and that we played and battled them off the field. Then the draw for the next round. Dagenham and Redbridge (Wahey !) or Charlton, at home to, Tottenham. OH MY GOD ! This is just crazy! My grandad's favourite team! Premier League Spurs! if we can beat Premier League Charlton. Since then the announcement that Sky are gonna televise the replay, More Telly, Papers and Radio coverage than you can keep up with.
I'm looking forward to seeing the ground on Sky (when I get back of course) crammed with 5000 people right next to the pitch. I really hope they do that thing pre game with the little photo's of the team in formation, that will be great. The important thing is that the money and prestige and fame continue to roll in. The ticket allocation has caused a fuss but I think its fairer than just first come first served that the glory boys jumped at. So now we wait, a usually immense game in the trophy is being dished up as a trailer before we can buy Willy Wonka's golden tickets.
Of course talk is dominated with one question --- Can We ? Can we beat them?
On the listen to my heart side - It's at home with 1000's of Daggers fans screaming at them from a foot away, the changing rooms are like Parsloes and we outplayed them last time.
On the listen to my head side - Curbishley will not let lightning strike twice, they will know us, they will raise their game and they are a bloody Premier League team and we have just been promoted (101 points) to the bloody Conference.
Its David and Goliath only Goliath has thermo nuclear missiles and David has a Britney Spears CD. Which is why we are all so excited, its been a hell of a ride so far, but who knows if this is where it ends, I am far less sure about that than when I saw the Valley. Will we be posting stories about the Spurs game? They say its the magic of the FA Cup and I believe them, We are Dagenham, playing Charlton for a 4th round game versus Tottenham. Frankly all we need is Roy Race playing alongside Junior! I am a very happy and very proud Dagger I hope I never wake up.
We have completed MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Now lets do MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 COME ON YOU DAGGERS!
and Mike.
Thoughts on Saturday from a lapsed Dagger.
I first went to a match at Victoria Road with a schoolfriend and his dad in the 70's and got hooked. From age 12 to age 20 I travelled all over with Dagenham and had some great days; Two Wembley finals, including the wonderful win against Mossley, and some not so great days, like travelling back from a Trophy game at Scarborough with the front window smashed out having been beaten 3-0, and being bombarded by bricks on the terraces at Watford having been beaten 3-0. Maybe there is a pattern here?
Eventually I got to playing rather than watching and spent most of the 80's and 90's running round a hockey pitch for various local clubs before old age and the needs of being a Dad stopped that. All that time I have looked for the results and seen the ups and downs of the club, the merger with Redbridge Forest, the horror of my Daggers wearing bits of blue on their kit at the occassional evening match. At Wembley 1997 I was an interested observer in the stands, but...
Then this year my son, aged 7, started badgering me about taking him to football and I have been turning up with him regularly again at Dagenham. Things look familiar again, the Daggers are wearing red and white and winning, an the atmosphere is much as I remember it, such that on a couple of occassions I have even brought the 3 year old. I wouldn't even dream of taking the little one to a Premiership match.
What a year to pick to return to the fold. Saturday was the best I can remember since the Trophy win. Along with many, I guess I went to Charlton expecting a good day out and a comprehensive defeat, maybe a sneaked consolation goal to cheer. By 20 minutes into the game it was clear that something special was happening, that Charlton's forwards could not hit a barn door from 6 yards and that the heroes in stripes were playing out of their skins.
After a few choruses of "Can we play you every week?" and "Are you Purfleet in disguise?", the half was coming to a close when the chant went up "We're going to score in a minute, score in a minute..." and damn me if we didn't. As the ball came over it was obvious that Junior would score and it wasn't until I saw MoTD that I realised he headed it across the goal not straight in, I was already screaming my head off, dancing round like an idiot. I broke my son's flag dancing, which cost me a fiver after the game for a new one. Cheap for a moment like that again.
Half time, 1-0 up and on top. I couldn't get my wife on the mobile so I left a message on the answerphone at home, babbling like an idiot (kind of embarassing later but hey).
The second half, Charlton playing better but harrassed at every turn by a terrier in stripes, unable to make clear chances. Even when they hit the post it wasn't a problem. Then, like Nelson's, my watch began to run slow. Legs were definately getting tired out there, the tackles were getting later and more desparate. On the plus side, some of the locals had had enough and headed for the exits, they had seen enough, surely it must be over. With the watch showing 4:45 they finally got the damn equaliser, Roberts sent the wrong way by the deflection and the ball trundling in. I saw where that one went alright.
A momentary silence from the Jimmy Seed Stand, then "Dagenham, Dagenham" started up again. The home team hadn't even finished congratulating themselves on finding the "get out of jail free" card before our crowd were up again. Brilliant show guys. We tried "We're going to score in a minute" again, but it wasn't to be this time, although the lads managed to get a couple of corners before the end despite being almost out on their feet.
Then it was hail the heroes, 3,000 standing applauding them, the remaining Charlton fans joining us to recognise the extraordinary achievement of coming to a Premier League gorund and not just getting a draw, but actually stifling the home team for most of the game. I called the wife again when we finally got out of the ground, but my voice was gone and my son had to tell her all about it "it was good fun mum".
One day he'll understand what he just witnessed, for now, that sums it up pretty well.
Hmmm, put into words how I have felt about the past few days, I'll give it a go but I will have to apologize in advance because I may have to resort to cliches!
When I initially found out that we would play Charlton I have to admit that I was a little worried. Not because I thought we weren't up to it, after the last couple of seasons I know the team are capable of playing quality footie, but more because I have been to the Valley before (to watch the Tykes) and remembered it as a very unfriendly place. From experience, I also knew that the Charlton players had a tendency to try a bit of 'gamesmanship'. (On one occasion I think Mendonca did a dive that a Hollywood stuntman would be proud of. With that type of behavior they had about three penalties in one game!)
So I approached the fixture with trepidation, but also conversely with a strange sense of optimism. I'm usually a pessimistic chap I'll go for 'my team' to lose every time (it's from bitter experience, believe me!). But with the Daggers it's different somehow, that is what makes it so wonderful. I can't help thinking that we are at the beginning of a fantastic and dramatic period in Dagenham and Redbridge's history, and I feel quite privileged to be there. You know that every match they play they have a fantastic chance of winning, so for possibly the first time in my life approaching a game I really thought we would at least get a draw!
Getting my tickets was slightly problematic however. Luckily I was on holiday from work or my three trips back to the clubhouse at various times and days in a desperate attempt to track down particular people ("no mate you need to see X, he'll be in at 12.00 tomorrow. No, no who told you that? You need to see Y he'll be in at 17.52 minutes to 6.00 and will stay for approx. 57 seconds, but only if there's a T in the month and it's a full moon and there's a single daisy growing on the pitch!!! Oh yeah, and you have to be called Lancelot to be eligible to buy them from him and wear a tutu and tiara.") When I did find the right person I had a bit of a fright when he said "oh no mate we've sold out! My reply (which actually can't be printed here) elicited the slightly shocked response of "Oh well if you're a season ticket holder you can get em of course. Why didn't you say that in the first place??" And then I had them: two magical tickets, and all I had to do was wait.
And what a wait! The week before the game was quite wonderful. All my work colleagues know that I'm a Dagenham fan and I have suffered the chiding that that knowledge occasionally causes. But most people at my work seemed as thrilled about the fixture as I was (although most of them are West Ham fans). It was all that we could talk about, especially with all the press coverage. I think a lot of people didn't even know where Dagenham was before we appeared in the Guardian! At home was the same, Andrea and I were constantly discussing all the possibilities regarding the game. Who would score first: Would it be Cobb, would it be Junior? What sort of performance would the team put in, would the Charlton fans be as miserable and spiteful as they seemed to be on their website (that article about Tim Cole's comments regarding 'kicking' a few players. If he ever said it in the first place, do you not think he may have been joking?) .The only low points in an otherwise exciting build up were those certain comments on the CAFC websites and the one or two idiots that came onto this forum to stir up trouble. I was also a little disappointed with some of the 'in-fighting' that happened (and seems to occur occasionally) on our own websites. All these allegations of 'glory hunting etc (what the hell does that mean anyway?) all seem a bit petty really.
Then it was Saturday!!! The nerves had been getting to me the previous night, I couldn't sleep properly, I couldn't even concentrate on the new series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was that bad!! The morning went by in a bit of a blur, we knew there was going to be stuff on Sky so we put set the video and then off we went. At Victoria Road it was like a carnival. People everywhere. Flags and banners and horns and red, blue and white every where. Tried to find a familiar face but couldn't spot anyone. We followed the crowds down to the coach boarding point and then we were off. It was real now!! When we got to Charlton it was foolishly early. But a couple of beers some chips and curry sauce (yes they did curry sauce 'down south' and it wasn't in a pot but poured over the chips as is right and proper) and it was about an hour before kick off. Into the ground, after being made to finish my can of coke (the outrage!) and the ritual abuse from the program seller. (When we were there with the Tykes it was " we only accept cash not coal" HAHAHAHA, now it was "it's got lots of pictures in so you don't have to struggle with the big words"). So the atmosphere was set it seemed it was going to be us and them. The atmosphere of the game was set.
Eventually we made our way through the jubilant crowds into our seats, Colin the tannoy was sat behind us everybody else was a stranger but we were all united in our desire for the Daggers to get a decent result. After an age it was Kick Off time. After an initial onslaught the Daggers got the upper hand, the noise and excitement were tangible. Incessant singing and chanting, flags and banners all over the place, the Charlton fans and players looked absolutely stunned. I really think they thought we were going to be a pushover. Then that glorious moment:: Juniors goal. I know it's a cliché but I really couldn't believe it and I literally did have to pinch myself! From then on the dream continued, Daggers had most of the play and it was like a movie unfolding, all of us there that day thought we knew the ending. But… the dreamer has to wake. Salakos goal rudely dragging me from my reverie. So cruel, I was already composing my text messages to my mates. And then the final effrontery: six minutes of extra time!! Where did that come from? Surely the longest six minutes of my existence.
Well what has happened has happened now we have to look forward to taking Charlton back to the Vic. Can we get a result? Certainly Charlton are now taking us seriously and the arrogant attitude will surely be replaced by a desire to restore their dignity, but you never know.
Whatever happens it has been a fantastic adventure so far, and I think it's going to get even better over the next few years, so all you Daggers fans fasten your seatbelts, I think we're in for a hell of a ride!!!
I wondered if you'd like a Charlton fan's view of the game at the Valley.
It doesn't take an Einstein like equation to come to the conclusion that D&R were by far the better team and were desperately unlucky not to win on the day . You outplayed us comprehensively and our so called stars were eclipsed.
Some of our diehard fans may blame our performance ( or lack of ) on the absence of some of our "stars" such as Kinsella, Stuart & Johansen, but all of those on the pitch in a Charlton shirt were highly paid professional footballers who were shown on the day that they have to play with their hearts for the club at all times. Previous home game had seen us beat Arsenal, and draw 3-3 with Man Utd. We failed to sell our home contingent for the game against youselves which I think is shameful. I think Charlton supporters were guilty of what Alex Ferguson was guilty of when he took of Keane & Beckham when they were 3-1 up, and that is never underestimate the opposition.
I'm sure that you are aware that there were also many West Ham fans in the crowd (There were about 15 around me) who regard D&R as their second team ( a bit like us and Welling I suppose).
In conclusion what can I say, being a Charlton fan I hope we win the replay. We should (and I say this without intentionally patronising D&R) , as a premiership side, have the overall strength in depth to overcome non league opposition. However, if D&R can play with as much passion and committment as they did at the Valley then you have every chance of hosting Tottenham in the next round.
Regardless of the result of the result on Saturday I would like to echo the admiration of most Charlton fans of the way D&R performed at the Valley and that the team and supporters were a credit that would be welcome in any division of football
Everyone has really put a lot of effort into this and I really would like to thank everyone,
Anyone else? email Steve
Keep 'em coming!