6 February 2001
New ones being added at the bottom
I was looking forward to this match with a degree of anticipation and trepidation. With all my bravado and predictions of a victory deep down I wasn't so sure. The three week wait didn't help my confidence either, it seemed the longer it went on the harder it would be.
I had been invited on various radio programmes to give my opinions about subjects as diverse as: Would we win? Could we win? Should the match have been played at Upton Park? Was I bothered, as the club had made a lot of money already and therefore the result wasn't important? I was even invited into the studio to play a subuteo match against Ian Cartwright (a lifelong -and I mean longer than a couple of years- Charlton supporter) which I won quite comfortably by 6-3!!!! The media attention had been something else, and, not only that but I was receiving phone calls from people I hadn't heard from in many years and not all of them wanted tickets!
On Saturday I arrived at the ground at around about 2-10 and after being accosted by many vendors wishing to give me newspapers that were a week old, or bits of cardboard, or trying to sell me a burger or scarf (which, incidentally, had depreciated to half their orignal cost within 4 hours) I purchased a programme and made my way through the empty turnstiles with my arms full of goodies. I looked around and felt a tingle of excitment. As I walked past the clock end I tried to see how many people I recognised, there were a few and I was thankful for that. When I got around to the half-way line tea bar I went to purchase a cup of tea at 50p (did the price go up for the day?) still good value though when you consider that over three years ago in the same competition at Peterborough I paid 70p for the worse cup of tea I have ever had!! I stood at the back of the stand and drank it slowly, still observing and soaking up all the atmosphere I could. I felt more comfortable now too as I stood with people I recognised, not that I had ever uttered more than a few words to them. (I was at this match alone as Tom had come very early with some friends and had moved down to the corner flag in the hope of getting on television - not much chance if they were waiting for Charlton to win a corner!) These were just fans that I had seen over the years, at away games, in Taunton last summer or standing in the same place every week. I think there was this mutual appreciation thing going on, you know we are here because it is our team and not because we have jumped on the bandwagon. I spoke to one of them before the match as my nerves were beginning to play havoc with the way I was feeling, (normally Tom would listen to my innane ramblings but just wanted to be famous) and I asked him if he was nervous and he replied with logic and coolness "No, not really we have nothing to lose whatever happens" God, don't you just hate people like that?! I replied "Yeah, I suppose so" as I looked around to see if there was someone else who may be feeling just a little bit the same way as me. I smiled, raised my eyebows, pulled strange 'are you panicing like me' faces in the hope of getting a response, but nothing.
It was beginning to get crowded and still I was trying to gauge the feelings within these supporters, I just wanted people to talk to me, to say something...anything. I walked past another gentleman and said "It's a bit different from a cold wet night at Hendon last November" which was the last time that I had spoken to him, he laughed nervously, agreed and at last I felt there was someone else on my wavelength. And as it happens he did give me a Cadbury's mini-roll at half time, perhaps he thought my blood sugar level was a little low!
I had made a lot of predictions over the previous three weeks, most of these had been for a narrow Daggers' victory but I have to confess to you all now, these were just bravado, in my heart of hearts I thought that we we going to be torn apart by a team that had had a chance to do their homework and would come to Dagenham with a different attitude.
The whistle went and within five minutes my confidence in the team had swung back the way it should have been all along and I felt bitterly disappointed with myself and my inner most feelings of doubt. We could win this tie, we were first to every ball, we played football from the beginning and contrary to what had been said about our tactics it was Charlton that resorted to pulling at our players. We just got on with the job in hand and focused on one thing -putting the ball in the back of the net. And, to be honest, we all felt that it was going to happen. But it didn't, and that's that, Charlton were able to capitalise on a 10 seconds lack of concentration, something that we weren't able to do in the previous 90 minutes. Charlton were outplayed, outran and out-attitudeded (I know it's not a real word!), when we attacked, they panicked, it was like watching a Ryman Premier team.
At the end of the day the performance don't count, it's goals, and they scored more than us. So that means that they win and get to move further along in the competition.
The strange thing is, in retrospect, I really believe that we could have got to the Final of this competition, and you all know what would have happened.....we would have lost it to Knigstonian with a last gasp goal.
Well, I've had a chance to think about it now so here goes with ' The musings of dj johnny b'.....
So that's it, we're out of the Cup after a glorious 6 weeks and how do I feel? Well, a bit drained actually (thanks for asking) and still somewhat incredulous it's all happened. I've certainly gone through dreamtime several times in the past 2 months. After the disappointment of the postponed 'match' I wondered if the whole thing might be a big anti-climax, especially with the attention being deflected (an apt word in the Charlton context) by the other 4th round ties. Come Saturday morning and I'm as nervous as I was on the Valley day. Almost as if I was in the squad! Maybe at 45 I should recognise my time has come, gone and disappeared into the distance! The feeling increases as I walk past 2 policemen on white horses near the ground (so this is the FA Cup!), loads of never seen before mobile burger bars and I'm asked to show my ticket (itself a novelty) at the entrance to Victoria Road. Then the TV hoists and stands prove this is the business and we are all part of it.
The pitch near the stand looks awful -worst I've seen it for ages -how's Janners going to sprint through that without a hamstring tweaking? The atmosphere is great, even in the stand there's a lot of noise! The match starts and every 5 minutes I find myself, exactly as at Charlton, looking at the clock and thinking a) we're still level and b) we are actually as good as them.
In the stand we thought Janney's header had gone in and how close was Matthews free-kick? We couldn't understand why Rufus wasn't booked earlier for his persistent fouling of Junior. Once again our lads are playing as if their lives depended on it -terrific to watch and Charlton are beginning to stretch my understanding of their Premiership position. Do these guys really get paid 1000's a week? This really isn't a dig but I failed to see the gulf in ability throughout the whole 210 plus minutes of combat. As the second half wore on I continued to marvel at our determination and drive. Shipp's effort looked close. Garry shouts at Janney, hoarsely and imploringly 'Do it for me!' 5400 people know that he did.Extra time -surely we can't keep going, at least we've competed all the way. These are my thoughts as we enter the dreaded last 30. Slight hesitation and concentration lapse and that's it, one down. But not out -we keep going forward to the last. No luck going our way, (referee with a SE postcode) though and a disallowed goal and a blatant penalty not given -did anyone else see Kiely's manhandling of one of our players as Janney shot narrowly wide? What would have happened with penalties? Rogers scenario mark 2? Funnily enough I felt less disappointed at the end than at the Valley -strange, perhaps - we'd played well again and could be proud of our efforts.We'd competed with a Premiership side twice in a matter of weeks. So much for 18-1!
Later in the evening I began to feel more upset that we hadn't won (little did I know that Stockport awaited us after our Spurs victory!). Today (Sunday) particularly after reading the positive reports in the papers, I really do feel very proud and privileged to have been part of the events of the last 6 weeks.The team (all of them) have been excellent showing a magnificent team spirit and oodles of skill and commitment -well done, lads! And what can you say about Garry Hill? I was impressed before but now....approaching God-like status -indeed I'm sure I saw him diving into the Ganges at the Kumbh Mela celebrations today (after a chinwag with the Dalai Lama)! And the club should be praised for the tremendous way in which they have handled things over the past few weeks e.g. media, ticket arrangements -a wonderful achievement. So what next?
Positive: dosh for ground, players and general infrastructure. Also fantastic national, even international, publicity and respect.
Less than positive: can we keep those players who can clearly perform at a higher level?
I sincerely hope so those were 10 year contacts ,Garry...? Can we keep up some reasonable league form over the remaining 19 games to secure our toprung status? Again I sincerely hope (and believe) so. I'd like us to become a solid, secure Conference outfit always there in the FA Cup 'shocks' fray in the seasons to come (and challenging for the Trophy, too). As to the longer term future - fully professional and league status? I'm not so sure.. but that's a debate for another time. For now I just hope we can consolidate and build upon this fantastic foundation in non-league's topflight and look forward to many more exciting times at Victoria Road.Once again thanks to the manager and players for giving me tremendous pleasure through the cup run, rarely exceeded in my 30 plus year's of watching my team be it Leytonstone, L-Ilford, Redbridge Forest of Dag and Red, ps hope the club come up with a video of the whole thing.
Below some after thoughts
It occurs to me that, whilst I am a little bit worried about the size of our squad (especially if we had a spate of injuries as happens most seasons) with our full squad we may well have beaten Charlton. What I really mean is if Brennan had been there to put his foot on the ball, change the angle of attack, take those edge of the box free-kicks etc. etc. it may have made oceans of difference, particularly in the first game. And before Charlton fans retort 'we had all our forwards out' - it didn't seem to matter who you put out, they weren't really up to it, were they? Incidentally, will Mark Brennan be fit again this season/play again for us or are we being told some Mandelsons?
And if we had a goal poacher in the Cavell, Greaves, Kenny Gray (going back there a bit!) mould those half chances would have become goals I'm sure. Junior has been/is exceptional and on Saturday was once again exemplary. Danny Shipp has been superb in each of the last 3 FA Cup ties but has only scored 1 goal in 21 appearances this season. Paul Cobb is still struggling to find his Ryman scoring boots.
I also feel that relief is a somewhat redundant, meritless and obsolete concept when a team has such an obviously large upper hand that it should be no contest. Rather, Charlton should feel embarrassed and humiliated -just the 'feelings' we wanted to avoid. 37 in that squad, many will only play 20-30 games a season (if that), most paid the sort of money I will never earn in my professional career and they couldn't raise their game. Pampered? My Dagenham Thesaurus says: pamper = baby,coddle, cosset, indulge, pet, spoil. I think I rest my case. As for Mr Curbishley -immensely gracious throughout but I should think Sven Goran might be concerned at his lack of tactical nous over the 2 matches and apparent lack of motivational skills in getting his lads 'up for it'. I remain depressed by the state of the professional game in this country -it should be so much better.
Another Saturday, another result...
So over 210 minutes of football against a team in the top half of the Premiership, Dagenham & Redbridge lost out by the odd goal in three. That has to make everyone involved with the club very proud. Reading the papers after the replay, the coverage was not as good as after the game at the Valley, but there is a lot of admiration, and not a little disbelief, at the way the team fought every inch of the way, not once, but twice, against a team that has had some stunning results in the Premiership this season.
The stats on the game make interesting reading. The Daggers had more shots on goal and more shots on target than the Addicks. The corner count was 16 to 1. That alone would be almost enough to give it to us on points if it were a boxing match. Unfortunately the team succumbed to a sucker punch just into extra time, and despite having the ball in the net (disallowed quite rightly, unfortunately having seen the TV replays), could not pull one last rabbit out of the hat. Now it is over though, and we need to get back to the real world of East Thurrock United in the Essex Senior Cup and Nuneaton Borough in the Conference.
The season could go one of two ways from here and we need to make sure it is the right way, not dwell on what could have been, but cement a place in the top half dozen in the Conference and build a platform for pushing for promotion in the coming years. The danger is that some of our players will be lured to pastures new, and to be honest, Tim Cole, Junior and one or two others would not look out of place in any team. Garry Hill too may well find himself sought out by bigger clubs. This would be more of a loss to the club than what was in the end, just one match.
Meanwhile, the memories of two very special Saturdays in January will be stored away forever. "Did I ever tell you I was there when the Daggers came within 4 minutes of knocking a Premiership team out of the cup on their own ground?
The game at the Valley produced the greatest result the Daggers have ever achieved, apart from obviously the 2-1 Essex Cup win at Purfleet a couple of years ago! The media attention after the game was tremendous, and suddenly everyone in the country was talking about Dagenham and Redbridge!
Saturday morning arrived and I couldn't wait for the game to start, especially since the disappointment of the postponement from the previous week. I arrived at 2 O'Clock to get my spot near the half way line and could already sense the buzz of excitement around Victoria Road. Although I have said that we have played better than we did at The Valley, I didn't believe we would do so on Saturday. How wrong I was!
Standing with my father ten minutes before kick-off, we both agreed that we didn't feel that nervous. We couldn't lose. We have done fantastically well to get this far, there were no expectations, and the media had told us all week the Premiership team would put us back in our palce. Five minutes into the game however, I've never felt so nervous watching a Dagenham game.
The first thirty minutes was without doubt the best football I have ever seen a Daggers team play. We pressured, tackled and outplayed Charlton with no little skill. Janney, Shipp and McDougald particularly shone, the front two reducing 'international' players such as Fish and Rufus to practice their wrestling skills. Despite numerous opportunities we couldn't find a goal, and Charlton managed to find their way to ours only to find Tony Roberts in inspired form.
The second half was perhaps a bit tighter, but our defence was magnificent. Unfortunately this lead to the substitution of the 'hugely impressive' Mat Svensson! We still created opportunities, especially from corners, and I was celebrating Danny Shipp scoring only to realise the ball managed to find its way round the wrong side of the post.
The sucker punch of Newton's goal was the only hesitation in the defence. This is where I have my one and only complaint. I hope the abuse for Newton was aimed at the player and not me! Surely i hadn't done that much wrong to justfiy this, even if the players constant moaning did! I initially thought Cole's goal should have stood, after watching TV replays, the ref did get it right. Janney came agonisingly close when maybe he should have at least hit the target, but it just wasn't to be.
Newton said on BBC that 'premiership class and fitness told'. Class? I think not, but probably fitness did tell in the end. I would like to thank Charlton for appreciating the club's efforts. The Daggers supporters were magnificent, and this would rate higher the Orient game, in terms of excitement and atmosphere at Victoria Road. I only hope that we see some of these fans again in the future.
Well, for openers I was extremely disappointed with the TV coverage for last week-end here in BC. The normal routine is for a live broadcast at 7.00 AM from England, a 20 minute "update" after that game followed by a taped second game.
So having gone through the waiting since the first game and the postponed replay, I rose at 6.30 AM to get ready for the first game, hoping that as it was played, they would give updates on D & R's game. Maybe even catch a glimpse on TV. Lo and behold at 7.00 AM on comes a replay of Charlton vs West Ham. If you read my comments on the thread you will see my thoughts on that game. P*ssed off or what.
On to the internet. The radio cannot be picked up...b**tard....On to the unofficial web page...nothing...b**tard again...On to the official site..0-0. Having e mailed Steve with my thoughts re: the result, I expected Charlton to come out attacking. No score means they have not been able to intimidate D & R. Half time still 0-0. Must be a hell of a game. We are holding our own. As long as we're not holding anybody else's we are okay. Every 5 minutes 0-0. MUST be a hell of a game. My wife thinks I am having an internet affair I am on the line so much. HA, she doesn't know the half of it, she's Canadian, what can I say. She has no concept of this.
Second half 0-0. D & R have to score soon as legs get tired and conditioning plays such a big part. Despite what many think, the difference between pro and semi pro will tell here. Final score 0-0. What a great result, even at this stage. I'm bagged.
Extra Time. Now I become concerned. Adrenaline can take us only so far. 0-1 b**tard !!!!!!!!.....Final score 0-1. I am absolutely shattered, but deep down I knew that would be the result. Now I have to wait for the sites to tell their story. Just as I thought, perhaps the best game ever seen at Victoria Road and I am 8,000 miles away and miss it. The pictures do justice to the many supporters cheering us on. Wish I was there. I think that is almost as disappointing as the result, I wasn't there.
So, what now. My concern is the team says we've done our part for this year, rest on their laurels and begin to fade. In that manner they lose the new supporters they have gained, who will say, it was a two off and leave. Or they continue on and creep up the league which maintains the status quo, sets the tone for next season and proves they are as good as the results showed. OR and this is the biggy, many pro teams now know of our existence and poaching season begins for both players and management. This was after all an excellent example of team play, from the top down. Also, the people behind the scenes have been noticed as well. Everyone is at risk of being poached. As I have said before several times, having read the respective histories of the clubs coming together, this was a true effort from D & R however it became, supported by loyal fans, how ever and why ever they chose to support D & R. The club can build on this for the future. When I first started watching Dagenham, they were in either the Athenian or Corinthian league. Being anything close to pro league status was such a far cry from reality even to think it, er, let alone talk about it, would have had you laughed out of the ground. A game against Romford who played in the Southern League, was deemed instant defeat. Even Ford United could give us a scare. Now, as Charlton, a Premier League team have found out twice, times are changing and Reality Bites.
The team have now set the tone and an example of what can lay ahead if we do it right. Onward and upward.......
All I have to say is the two matches v Charlton I will never ever forget. Well done to the management team, backroom staff, players, supporters and everybody who has helped here at the club to stage this historic match.
Unfortunately I couldn't get a ticket to the game, so I was eagerly awaiting the replay on Sky TV on the Wednesday night. It wasn't until I'd settled down with a couple of mates and a pint that I realised the game had been called off due to the weather. "Great" I thought, as this would give us another week to get our injuries out of the way.
Come the glorious day of the 4th round, we still had some unfinished business against D&R, but the team sheet wasn't as I had hoped. None of our main forwards had recoverd, so that meant that the unexperienced Lisbie was up front. One of Charlton's favourite sons, Steve Brown, came into defence. The problems with favourite sons is that they are outgrown by younger and better sons, and so was this to prove with Steve. Hey but what the hell, we were going to win regardless, weren't we? We've got professionals!!!!
I had to be satisfied with listening to the game on the radio while simaltaneously watching Sky TV's commentary. Could both sources be making a mistake? Apparently, according to expert commentary, the game was played for the first 45 minutes in the Charlton half. Impossible. How can a premiership side take 35 minutes to even have an attempt on goal against a non league side. It sounds like the plot of a film where Sean Bean would come on at half time and score six ensuring D&R's place in the final against Manchester United!!!!!!!
However this was no weak plotted piece of fiction, this was harsh reality for Charlton fans. Our goal was peppered with shots, headers and crosses that fortunately for us weren't converted. Surely if we had any chances we would have taken them. Unfortunately for us the Roberts V Lisbie battle resulted in a decisive victory for the D&R keeper who blocked two point blank efforts from opur striker.
Ah well, the second half should be better. We had obviously tired D&R;out and we expected the verocity of D&R's tackling and offensive movement to wain. Unfortunately no one had told Mssrs Janney, Matthews and Ship that the game was supposed to be won by the Premier side. All had efforts come close, and all personified the fighting spirit that D&R; produced on the day.
Our goal, when it come, wasn't spetacular, nor was it a superbly worked goal that you might associate with a side playing against a team 92 places below them in the football league hierarchy. What it was was a relief to all Charlton fans, because no matter how many people may blame the state of the pitch, or the lack of "star" players, D&R were the better team for what must be seventy five minutes of the game. Frank McKlintock on Sky sports was full of praise for them, and it wasn't until I saw the highlights on MOTD that I realised why. As far as actual chances on goal were concerned, both TEAMS had several. Sean Newton could have scored two alone, with one effort being cleared off the line by a D&R defender. But for every chance we had D&R had another. Maybe if one of your attackers was six inches taller you may have scored three or four.
To sum up D&R are desperately unlucky not to be facing Spurs in the 4th round. You were by far the better team at the Valley, and apart from the 10 minute spell after Charlton scored, you were the better team at Victoria Rd. Being a Charlton fan I must admit to feeling robbed by D&R; That is, I feel robbed because it is not often that we play teams who we expect to quite literally stuff. Both games in that respect were dissappointing, because I believe we were the team that were comprehensively stuffed!
In conclusion I can only congratulate the players, staff and supporters of D&R.You played this tie with skill, passion and warranted aggression. If you could bottle and sell that spirit, it would put Seagrams out of business. Well done D&R, no one could accuse either team of playing pretty football, but you were certainly a more attractive proposition on both days than we were.
Cine o fi Dagenham & Redbrige? - o echipa din liga a cincea a tinut in sah invingatoarea Arsenalului Meciurile din turul 3 a Cupei Angliei nu au adus foarte mari surprize, majoritatea covirsitoare a echipelor din Premier League obtinind, mai greu sau mai usor , calificarea in faza urmatoare. Exceptiile au fost reprezentate de Charlton Athletic si Sunderland, revelatiile utimelor etape. Ambele jucind pe teren propriu nu au reusit sa obtina decit rejucarea partidelor. Culmea a fost reprezentata de Charlton, care a tremurat pina in minutul 86, in meciul cu echipa de Minor League ( un fel de Divizia E, in traducere autohtona) Dagenham&Redbridge. Atunci, Salako a adus golul egalizator ce a salvat de rusine recenta invingatoare a Arsenalului. Sunderland, tot acasa, nu a scos decit o remiza alba in fata echipei de liga a doua Crystal Palace.
Now the translation. It was not at all easy to do it, I did choose to translate word by word. I hope that you will understand something!
Who is Dagenham & Redbridge?- a team from the fitfth league put great problems to the Arsenal s winner. The games from the third round of the England s Cup did not bring great surprises, most of the teams from the Premier League obtaining, easier or more difficult, the qualification in the next round. The exceptions were Charleton Athletic and Sunderland, the revelations of the last phase. Both of them, playing at home, they succed to obtain only the replaying of the games.
The biggest surprise was represented by Charleton which trembled till the 86 minute, in the game with the team from Minor League (a sort of Divizia E for us) Dagenham & Redbridge.. Then, Salako brought the equalizing goal which saved from shame the recent winner of Arsenal.
Sunderland, at home too, did succed only a white drawn game with the team from the second league, Crystal Palace.
I must admit I don't normally leap into print but 'cause Steve said I sounded cool and sexy on the radio I will make the effort.
On the first game I always liked the draw. Not far, plenty to drink and of course THE FLAG. My idea originally was to have a bit of a Flag Day at the ground. It rapidly expanded to be a 30-foot by 15 monster. I have to say originally I thought I would struggle to pay for it but full credit to everybody. I had no difficulties collecting the money and will publish the names of all those who put up their cash. Hopefully we will see lots more of the Flag this season. Before the game we had a great journey across on the Ferry and into the Rose and Denmark. Great atmosphere, filmed by Sky and told off by the local cops. Brilliant. By the time I got to work on Monday I had four phone calls asking me what I was nicked for.
We've heard loads about the game and I haven't really anything to add. It was a brilliant day, the boys were superb and I felt incredibly proud. I spent all day Sunday talking to people all over the country who on account of my boring them to death about the Daggers always watch for our scores and were like me dead chuffed.
On Sunday I went down to the Club to discuss the replay. Prior to the game we had agreed that any replay would take place at Victoria Road. But that was an easy decision to make when to be honest I thought if we came out only beaten 3-0 it would have been a good day. On the Safety side I was confident we could do it but I always knew that if we did play at Victoria Road I would not be available on the day. Contrary to any reports we never seriously thought about moving it and we always wanted to play it at home. This was before Sky came to a decision and their choice of our game was always an added bonus not the primary motive. I suppose the main motives were to reward the fans, make it hard for Charlton and to show that as a Club we had moved to a new level.
On that, one of the earlier messages talked about Charlton having a Supporter on their Board. I will not comment on Charlton's reasons but I will say this. ALL the members of our Committee are supporters who love the Club and work hard for it. They are certainly not in it for the money and in case there is some doubt about this, there isn't any. When you speak to them as any supporter can do at any game you will realise how much this Club means to them.
The next few days were a blur. I spoke to Derek. Steve, Phil and Simmo so often that any action through the Harassment Act would have succeeded. I would still defend the way we sold the tickets. No system is fair but I felt and still feel that what we did allow genuine supporters their tickets and allowed lots of others to come and see us. I personally would welcome any supporter to the Ground. (even from Sluff-- damm another sarcastic comment!)
On the day of the call off I was as disappointed as anybody but having seen the pitch at about 8pm there was no way that it could have been played. There is no point in going on about the money. It's gone and we get on with life.
There was a bit of a lull after this as most of the work was done and we just had to wait and then try again.
On the day of the game I handed over my responsibilities to Phil and Andy and I thought that they did a great job. I turned up in fancy dress much to the surprise of quite a few people. I have read the comments from supporters home and away and I don't disagree with it. However contrary to snide comments earlier the Stewarding and Policing could not be described as amateur. The way the event was handled was excellent. Part of the Operation was to decide, if we had got a result, whether or not to hold the Tottenham game at Victoria road. We decided that as far as Safety and Policing was concerned we would have had no problems playing the game there. After making a few sarcastic comments to another correspondent on this site I sat in the Press Box and listened in amazement as almost to a man they got right behind the Daggers.
The Club had the distinction of being the first event where a Ticket Tout was arrested in Barking and Dagenham.
It was a great ride and one I really enjoyed. A lot of people worked very hard to put the game on. It would have been easy to switch the game and let other people do the work but I'm glad we didn't. Lessons have been learned. We are not complacent and next time we will be even better. I know Dave's asked for comments and I have read them all. Any good suggestions we will act on.
I hope this was interesting and from a slightly different perspective.
You know if I am honest the replay took so long to arrive that I felt quite differently about it when it finally happened. Originally I was thinking that we had a good chance, then an outside chance and then practically none. The media stirred "war of words" did us no good and suddenly the Daggers were news for perhaps the wrong reasons. The day of the match was once again very special for non football reasons. I arrived at 1-30pm and before I got near the ground there were visual clues. I parked behing a Charlton Coach next to Pondfield Park. Crossing to the ground you could see a huge Crane camera, the training area had been converted to a car park (mainly because the car park was filled with what can only be described as a "media centre" with huge vans and trucks from various TV companies)
Moving towards the turnstiles I saw loads of Police and stewards (far too many) doing sod all. Closer still I saw reps from the Recorder newspaper with those crap cards to wave (I'll be more cynical shortly) and a poxy mascot. Also there was a burger bar outside (excellent idea) the ground. Through the turnstiles, get my program (£2 - hmm) and try to get my usual spot in the Sieve (sorry North Stand).
I didn't get my spot but was close enough. Going round we laughed at the Press Box (Still don't see why it was needed and more importantly why it cost us money - we have Press seats, anyone else could pay as far as I am concerned - still if long term we get more punters as a result then fair enough)
The game approaches and the 'Let me entertain you mix' from the Dj was inspired. I have the clip on my PC mailed to me as "the greatest moment in history!"
I read the program and the comment about Essex radio not covering us previously because of boundary issues pisses me off a great deal. These lot and the Recorder and many others got on my nerves that day. There was a great deal of hangers on and not just the extra 1000's of supporters. I mean what was the mascot about?
I'd like to think that the extra exposure will benefit the club in terms of future support but we will have to wait and see I guess. I was pleased that there were extra facilities but that only underlined the need for them on normal days, where I have given up getting a burger. Also the move along the terraces request was treated (rightly) with disdain. Why the hell should I give up my spot that I arrived early for, so that some latecomer can get in? Again I won't comment much on the game except that I think in retrospect we lost when Jonah came on for Paul Terry (outstanding in both games). While Jonah did ok he is not in the same league as Paul (although he did clear off the line). Janney's miss near the end will haunt me for some time I suspect.
And so we finally lost, but we had done ourselves proud, the fans while not as good as the Valley game were still great and the team played very well and didn't deserve to lose. So we rushed home and watched the highlights on Sky and the dream started to fade. What we need is more of the glory boys to become loyal supporters and for more of the temporary facilities to become permanent ones.
Still Praise where it's due. Garry and the players gave us many many happy memories filled with pride. The chaps behind the scenes deserve a mention too, the postponement was gutting but all in all D&R came through as a shining example of what non league is all about. I also strongly believe that we have struck a major blow for more promotion for Conference teams to the Nationwide League.
Next season I will certainly be getting supporters club membership and I think we need to consider the possibility of League Football. It's not too unrealistic to consider ourselves as "outsiders" and we have not adjusted to the Confrence in terms of infrastructure yet. Work needs doing on the ground where Ryman league was fine but the increase in attendances has made the facilities look very poor and under strain.
Anyway once again a big thank you to Garry and the lads, it was magical.
Dagenham 0 Charlton 1
Of course it had to end in tears, it was our pre-destiny not to be the first non-league side to beat a premiership team but it was close - so close. After the miracle of the game at the Valley our tails were high. It was good to earn and get the grudging respect of other premiership team supporters - "your lot done well Saturday".
It was with an air of great expectancy that we queued for our replay tickets on Friday 12. In truth we didn't have to queue - as season ticket holders we were guaranteed our places but the something called on us to be there, to be part of the ritual, to be part of the total experience. Having queued patiently for about forty five minutes we had our hands on those vital replay tickets. Whilst we queued there was a buzz around the old clubhouse, people daring to believe in the improbable, people wanting to believe in the impossible. There was a reverence, hushed tones were used throughout- as daring to name the belief would break the spell.
The next day the team that took Charlton to the wire at the Valley played naively and without passion against an ordinary Weymouth side and were justly beaten one-nil. The crowd was hugely disappointing. One trip to the final that we wouldn't be making. Were this the same players who had performed so heroically the previous week? One eye on the replay perhaps - but myopic nonetheless - at least we had not picked up any injuries.
Wednesday was our D-Day, our day of destiny. The TV cameras were there to witness the giantkilling, this "small club from Essex" would literally be on the world stage. Charlton would be under the spotlight and would be found wanting. Of course, the postponement was a huge anticlimax, hardly being able to concentrate at work only to have our moment of glory snatched away at the end. The hounds had tasted blood and wanted more - would their appetite be as keen on the Saturday, Which would not be a special Dagenham day but a day of other fourth round matches. Would the adrenaline be still hot and pumping would the tide of enthusiasm be as strong? Quite apart from the financial aspects this was day was the day that Daggers lost the tie; despite the result on the Saturday. The words "small club" seem to haunt. No matter how well the team played on Saturday the feeling came over me that we had missed our moment to strike.
Friday night is bowling night (ten pin) and especially for the Charlton supporters at Lewisham I wore my Daggers shirt. I wore it with pride and now I got a deal of respect. There were no longer wild accusations of we gonna beat you five -nil or whatever. The team had won this battle at least. I felt comfortable in my shirt it had won the right to be taken seriously.
Saturday, and the day of the big match. I have to say that I wasn't really looking forward to the game as I might have expected to. Whilst at the Valley we were no-hopers out for a beano, a good day out and some memories were now actually had a serious prospect of getting through to the next round and Spurs. We got to the ground early - again without the need to do so but the siren called and our feet obeyed. Unofficial flag sellers were charging £5 for a "Dagenham Giantkillers" flag. There was a carnival atmosphere, like at the trophy finals and I was slightly cheered by this. However, I was still ambivalent about the game, about the result. The burden of expectation was crushing.
We settled into our seats, some old familiar faces greeted us but there were many strangers. Tell tale signs of creases in newly acquired scarves, West Ham and Arsenal (and of course Man Utd) caps worn with Daggers scarves. The atmosphere was not the same as the Valley. There the Daggers fans were all at one end, with one voice, and one chance and the shed acted as an amplifier. Here although three sides of the ground were full of Daggers fans the noise dissipated and the roar became merely thunder. The pitch was unfortunately a bit of a mess. Although the smart papers used the old cliché that this would be a leveller, this was too easy a thing to say. At the Valley the only team playing football had been the Daggers and we needed a good pitch to play "our beautiful game". The pitch would not help us.
There was an exquisite tension and excitement as the game kicked off. Quite unbelievably Charlton were having even less success against us than they had at the Valley and for he first fifteen minutes we created several really decent chances. For Charlton "Athletic" read "Pathetic". In this small ground their payers looked ordinary, humble and vulnerable. Again the die looked to be cast for another battling performance which way would the coin fall?. Commitment could be found in plenty- from both sides but the more inventive and skilful side were again the Daggers. This was a more open game than at the Valley but despite a couple of chances falling their way Charlton never looked convincing or convinced that they would win. Roberts made a couple of saves from Lisbie but all the real action was at the other end of the ground. Half time came and the Daggers were cheered of the pitch as if they had already won the game. They and we had regained our belief.
The second half was more of the same but with Dagenham having an even stronger stranglehold for most of the game. A fusillade of corners from Daggers, desperate blocks on goalbound efforts ( most noticeably from Rufus who was by far their best payer) and shots just inches wide. Wave upon wave of Daggers attacks rained down but these were cultured not hit and hope efforts. . There was a sense of the inenvitable, like in the first match, that Charlton would score but there was precious little evidence of this happening. Finally, with ten minutes to Charlton wrested some resemblance of themselves from the game and started to play with some of the authority that might be expected from a premiership outfit. This was aided and abetted by some quite dreadful referring decisions. When the whistle went for full time the writing was on the cards for the Daggers, leg weary but defiant, surely they couldn't hold out for another thirty minutes?
In fact deflation came softly and as quickly as one minute into extra time. A ball that was allowed to go too far; a moment's hesitation and Charlton were one up. The Daggers players visibly drained. No way back. However, ten minutes later and following a rightly disallowed goal the Daggers were again laying this demon to rest battling for everything and winning most. Cruelly the final whistle blew to give an undeserved victory to an unloved and unimaginative Charlton side. Dagenham players collapsed in disbelief. They had given so much but had got so little. They had achieved nothing but had achieved everything. Surely if the game had been played on the Wednesday everybody would have honoured the selfless sacrifice that the team gave and in everybody's heart there would have been a place for the small club from Essex.
We wandered from the ground stunned but proud. The "Giantkiller" flag sellers were now toting their wares "Giantkillers flags only £2". There were no takers. That more than anything else summed up the day.
Please more comments about Saturday or the whole experience from either Charlton or D&R supporters. email me