Daggers
drawn
Dagenham and
Redbridge v Darlington
Coca-Cola League Two
Saturday
October 10th 2009, 3pm
The
Daggers had a terrific season and finished strongly, in eighth place
and they've got off to a great start this time around. Rock-bottom Darlo arrive with new management team Steve Staunton and Kevin Richardson's first match in charge, and so should be interesting.
Man
to watch.
Full match previews on the D@rlo
Uncovered website.
Away fans
may be housed in the new visitors' stand behind the goal for the first
time, if it opens as scheduled. Otherwise, they are given the Barking
College Stand, which is the former family stand in the corner, next
to the main stand - unfortunately, it has supporting pillars in the
way. Prices for 2009/2010 are £17.70 in advance and £20 on the day
(concessions £11.80 in advance, £14 on the day).
Disabled fans: Tickets are bought at main office, witb
adults full price and carers free. Car parking is available on request
and booked in advance.
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Dagenham
and Redbridge FC:
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium, Victoria Road, Dagenham, Essex RM10 7XL
Tel: 0208 592 1549
History: The club was formed in 1992, with the merger of
Redbridge Forest and Dagenham football clubs. They soon set out
their intentions with a thrilling 5-4 FA Cup defeat to league neighbours
Leyton Orient. Since then they've been knocking on the door of league
football and to many fans were cruelly denied promotion in 2003,
when Boston were promoted despite financial irregularities. There
was an earlier setback when they were relegated from the Conference
for a few seasons until returning in 2000. The roots of both merged
clubs go back to the 1880s, with clubs at Ilford, Leytonstone, Walthamstow
and Dagenham. The Forest part of the club was itself the result
of a merger in 1988.
Record Attendance: 5,949 v Ipswich Town,
FA Cup 2002
Capacity: 6,000
Last season: 8th
Honours: Conference champions 2006-2007, runners-up 2001-2002,
FA Trophy runners-up 1997, Isthmian Premier champions 1999-2000
Record victory:
8-1 v Woking, Conference, 1994
Defeat: 0-9 v Hereford Utd, Conference, 2004
Nickname: The Daggers
Colours: Red, white and blue
Manager: John Still
Chairman: Dave Andrews
Players in: Will Antwi (Wycombe), Danny Green (Bishop's Stortford),
Abu Ogogo (Arsenal), Stuart Thurgood (Gillingham), Josh Scott (Hayes
& Yeading).
Players out: Jon Boardman (Woking), Sam Saunders Danny Foster
Ben Strevens (all Brentford), Magnus Okuonghae (Colchester), Kraig
Rochester (released) Glen Southam (Hereford)
Famous fans/players/connections: Mark Stein, Jason Broom
(players), Garry Hill (manager)
Click for Streetmap of ground |
From North: Leave
the M25 at junction 27 and take the M11 towards London. At the end
of the motorway, take the A406 towards Docklands (A13) and London
City airport. At the junction with the A13, turn onto it towards Dagenham/Dartford
Tunnel. At a Warners cinema complex on the left, take the A1306 towards
Dagenham. At the third set of traffic lights turn left at McDonalds/Ford
into Ballards Road (B178). At the end of the road at a roundabout
by The Bull pub, take a left into Rainham Road, over the bridge, passing
Dagenham East tube station on the left. The ground is left in Victoria
Road is a quarter of a mile on.
Parking: At the ground or street parking. 
Compass Cars 020 8592 9000
Network Cars 020 8517 7777
Gemini Cars 020 8592 9000
Darlington FC Supporters Club
Coach £31,
8am. Contact: 01325 243911. See Supporters'
Club website for more details. Payment for each coach trip
must be either paid for in full before travel, or a 50% non-refundable
deposit paid in advance. Anyone wishing to travel on the coaches
must join before the day of travel
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Trains (TIMES UPDATED
August '09):
Darlington 09.04-arr London Kings Cross 11.50 (then
tube/train as below), rtn 18.35-arr 21.09. Advance returns from
£69, off-peak returns £100.80
Birmingham New Street 09.10-arr 10.34 London Euston (then
tube/train), rtn: 18.23-19.45. Fares: From £19 advance to £42
off-peak return.
Sheffield 09.27- arr 11.34 London St Pancras (then tube/train,
see below). Rtn: London Kings St Pancras 18.55-21.00. Fare from
£60.50 off-peak return
Local overground trains
You can catch services from Fenchurch St to Barking Station,
and then change for the tube to Dagenham East. Or the Great Eastern
service from Liverpool St to Romford, and get a 103 bus from
the station to Dagenham East station by the ground (15 mins).
Tube: Weekend
travel info
The nearest Tube is Dagenham East on the District Line, about 45
minutes from central London.
There are some weekend engineering works on the underground. Full details can be found here - check the right date in the options.
The Disrict Line is closed between Barking and Upminster, so between Barking and Dagenham East, you will need to take bus replacement service B.
If you don't have an Oystercard, travelcard Zones 1-6 will be required (currently
£6.70). They don't do a Zone 1-5 travelcard for off-peak times.
By foot: It's an easy five minutes walk, turning left as
you come out of Dagenham East station and the ground is sign-posted.
Bus: The number 103 bus from Romford goes close
to the ground via Dagenham East station and Rainham Road. Click for London bus services
Travel tip: If you're planning to go to other London trips
this season, it might be worth you buying an Oyster card.
You can apply at any Tube station - a simple form to fill in, and
you buy top-ups in multiples of £10 and it gives quite big discounts
on single journeys and also works out cheaper than one day travelcards.
You can also use on buses, which are more useful for Brentford.
Another bit of plastic, but a time-saver with those long queues
at the ticket machines.
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Name up in
lights at Piccadilly Circus. Photo: Gerry Smith.
It's That London, there's
all the capital's delights and its environs to explore.
|
 Real ale
 The
Palm Tree, Haverfield Road, Mile End
About 5-10 mins walk from Mile End tube. Set in an ecology park all
on it's own after all the houses nearby were pulled down quite a few
years ago. It's a character boozer, with a lovely feel to it - helped by the old showbiz photos. Also next to a canal so pleasant if the weather is good
(for those that like drinking outside). Worth a visit as it always
has a couple of interesting beers. Has won the local CAMRA branch
Pub of the Year. It was also the setting for the More 4 "pub quiz" advert, with the likes of Jon Snow and David Starkey. DAFTS recommended Click
for Streetmap
Close to this is The Victoria at 110 Grove Road, Mile End
- no real ale . Sumptious, leather sofas etc. Nice pub other than
the lack of ale . And one of the best, if not a little expensive,
chippies in London is opposite the pub. Both John and Ted tried
them and they were very good.
Lord Denman, 270-272 Heathway (A420, Dagenham RM10 8QS
There's very little real ale choice in Dagenham, so it's the default
position of the desperate - Wetherspoon's. Take your chance that
they have many or any of the beers you want on when you call in.
This is by the shopping centre and close to Dagenham Heathway tube
station (one stop from Dagenham East). From here, it's about 15-20
minute walk to the ground - turn right out of the pub and first
right down Reede Road. Click
for Streetmap
The Black Bull/Bar Nakoda, 199
Whitechapel Rd, London, E1
Has reopened with new owners but still a good real ale pub, a short
stroll from Whitechapel tube and the market stalls. Expected to
be some sort of gastro-pub under new management. Ted will do his
research, so don't worry.
The Doric Arch, Euston Station concourse
A central London option, as the local real choice is not great.
This is the former Head Of Steam by the bus stops in front of Euston,
popular with fans of all clubs after matches. Filling and unfussy
food, usually four or five ales on and Sky TV.
Alternatively, try Bree Louise, 69 Cobourg St
NW1 2HH
Another real ale pub, 150 yards from Euston. Up to four beers on gravity and five on handpull.
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Other
local pubs
The Eastbrook, off Rainham Road in Dagenham Rd, RM10 7UP
A family pub with an old fashioned stained glass interior, which is
listed in the CAMRA inventory. Not a great beer choice but there is
Abbot's Ale and Greene King IPA, which in an otherwise real ale desert,
might suffice. Just past the stadium, on the right, walking up from
the station. Has a beer garden and Sky TV. Click for Streetmap
The Railway Best to steer clear, although it's right next to the station.
The Bull, Rainham Road South, RM10 8AQ.
On a large roundabout. It has a
beer garden and play area for children, and does food
Real ale in the area
The Britannia, 1 Church
Road, off the A123 Barking, IG11 8PR
A shortish walk from Barking tube (four stops on the District Line),
this has a good reputation for Youngs beers and has won local CAMRA
awards and is in the Good Beer Guide.
DAFTS at The Black Lion in 2009
The Black Lion, 59-61 High St, Plaistow.
(That's Plarrr-Stow and not Play-Stow) - four beers on tap
including the regular Courage Best, the ubiquitous Sharp's Doombar
and two from the Mighty Oak brewery - Maldon Gold (at 3.8% proves
to be the popular choice with most of us - light, hoppy, very sessionable)
and English Oak. Beers were fine - pleasant pub, very local
clientele with a landlord who is very into his racing - plenty of
sport on the big screens. Worth a trip to especially as it's only
five mins walk from the tube. Historic pub, with Courage and guest
beers - CAMRA and DAFTS recommended.
At
the stadium
Dagenham and Redbridge FC social club.
The clubhouse welcomes away fans on most match days for a nominal
entry fee - 50p. There are two large bars.
The ground does good value food and hot drinks. The food was
qood quality and the burgers are heartily recommended - much better
than the usual pieces of leather that get served. Hopefully they'll
keep the same suppliers. There are plenty of fast food options around
the ground, including fish and chips opposite Dagenham East Station
and on Rainham Road between the station and Victoria Road.
Other East End delights:
If Brick Lane (Aldgate East) isn't to your taste, then there are
some places near Whitechapel:
Lahore Kebab
House 2-4 Umberston St, London, E1 1PY - it looks a bit
run down all around but this Punjabi restaurant is legendary. Limited
menu but great grilled meats and their cone-shaped ice creams are
wonderful.
Tayyabs - 83 Fieldgate
Street, London, E1 1JU. Very close to the Black Bull - similar
to the Lahore but more modern. This top-rated Indian place is quite
spacious but was packed out at 6:30pm. Like the Lahore, grilled
meats and tandoori are their forte.
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