Still good times for Dagenham

Monday, 21/03/2011

by Ricky Butler, Shoot's Dagenham blogger
 
We have enjoyed some great times following the Daggers over the years but not much can top the feeling we got from beating Charlton on Saturday.

The last time they visited us was in an FA Cup replay in 2001 when we were still a non-league club and they were in the Premiership, so to be meeting them again on an equal footing shows how the fortunes of our respective clubs have changed in the subsequent years.

As it turned out it was a good time to be playing them. Just as we have began to look like a fully fledged League One club, on the pitch at least, they have began a slide down the table which could yet see us pass each other before the season is over.

Our new found confidence was evident from the start as great goals from in-form Jon Nurse and Danny Green either side of the break were enough to give us another three points, despite a late Charlton reply.

It was just a shame that ex-Dagger Paul Benson was not in their squad due to suspension but I am sure he would have been proud of the performance of his old team-mates.

After a trip to Leyton Orient on Tuesday evening, our fourth meeting with them this season, we then face another former Premier League club in crisis in the form of Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Like Charlton they have sacked their manager but are finding out the hard way that is not always the answer as they slide towards the relegation zone. It seems incredible that a club of their size could be in League Two next season but it just makes what we have achieved all the more remarkable.

Many of us, myself included, felt that just reaching League One was the pinnacle for us and that John Still could not take the club any further, but it appears we were wrong. Only two defeats in our last ten matches has not only seen us move out of the bottom four but has given everyone at the club the belief that we can avoid the drop and enjoy a second, amazing season at this level.

But it seems Still himself has set his sights even higher. In an interview with the Evening Standard last week he said he would quiet like Harry Redknapp's job at Spurs, although we all hope that will not be a few years yet!

But it has got me thinking... what will happen to our club when Stilly does decide to either move on or call it a day? When he took over for the second time in 2004 none of us could have predicted where he would take us but with each passing season it is a year closer to the day we will have to cope without him.

They say no one man is bigger then the club but I think we need to make an exception for Still. The man IS Dagenham and Redbridge.

So while Manchester United fans ponder their future without Sir Alex we have to face up to the fact that Stilly will not be here forever.

There are not many managers out there who could have achieved what he has done on the financial restrains we have, except possibly Redknapp, and I fear for the future of the club once he has gone. I mean where will we find another like him?

But that is for another day. In the meantime we should all enjoy what we are experiencing and continue to show our appreciation for Still, his team and the wonderful memories they are giving us. Another at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night will go down very nicely indeed...

Come on you Daggers!

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