Who Are Ya?

Last updated : 18 July 2007 By Gary Moss

The Daggers are an unknown force in League Two this season as they look forward to their first taste of the Football League.


Last seasons Blue Square National Conference champions arrive on the scene with glowing reviews as they look to emulate past new boys and beat the drop back down.


What makes the Daggers story even more like a fairy tale is their humble approach. The tiny Essex club expected to be punching above their weight fighting for a top six finish last year but instead stormed to the title with a staggering 95 points.


Victoria Road...Set to taste League Two football
They lost only seven games and from the word go looked a cut above the rest of the chasing pack.


It is important that the Daggers are not blind in their optimism though, ahead of this campaign, after romping to glory last year.


Their main priority will be beating the drop and they ought to take a leaf out of Accrington Stanley's book as they battled hammer and tong to preserve their fourth tier status last term.


A successful season this year could be the best thing to happen to Dagenham in the football clubs history.


It has already been estimated that the step up is likely to bring in an extra 25-30% turnover. A sum of money that could change the fortune of this lowly football club.


Things will be a lot different at Victoria Road as they prepare for the life in amongst the big boys. Gates will increase and every game will be a stern and different test.


To adapt to life in the Football League, the club has become a corportaed organisation as opposed to their past status as a mere members club. Things have got serious!


They have also appointed Steve Thompson as managing director as they get ready for new heights. They will need to be efficiently run.


But with change comes higher expectations. A lot of this expectation will hinge on their star man Paul Benson.


The red hot forward was plucked from the Essex Intermediate League to sign for the Daggers at the start of last season after scoring 96 goals in two seasons at semi-pro level. He made the step up with ease scoring 30 to finish as the Conference top scorer last season.


And into League Two now, the demands will be even greater.


His goals could make or break their survival chances but it seems a responsibility he is willing to take on, having recently agreed a new deal.


Anything more than scarping survival will be near on impossible as a side made up of just two full-time players and non-league talent.


Their top summer signings include John Nurse from Stevenage, Magnus Okuonghae from Crawley and Ross Smith from Ebbsfleet United.


Also signed up is Barnet's Richard Graham and Peterborough's Shane Huke

Still...Experienced boss but tough job
who both failed to cut the mustard in their previous posts.

But, if ever there was chance to prove- now is it.


Experienced boss John Still is their biggest name and he will have a tough job getting the best from his lower league squad.


He turned a mid-table Conference side into run away winners last year and he has it all to do again as they embark upon life in the Football League.


They have good players, don't get me wrong but they are all unproven at this level. But, Craig Mackail-Smith proved he had what it took after moving to Posh in January.


The gulf will be huge but there spirit and enthusiasm could carry them through.


They must be hard to beat and, most of all solid at home. They have showed they can play football but adapting to their new found status will be their first and biggest task to overcome.