Key Personnel
John Leonard Still needs no introduction to Bees fans as he was manager at Underhill from June 1997 to February 2002. John’s playing career ended at the age of 26 due a knee injury but he has been a successful coach and gaffer for over 35 years with notably Peterborough, Maidstone United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet and Luton Town. He re joined the Daggers in January.  He masterminded two Football League Play-Offs while with Barnet plus Luton Town’s Maidstone United’s and Dagenham & Redbridge’s promotions to the Football League.

Brief Directions by Road
I once found a nice and straightforward way to get to the ground courtesy of the now sadly relocated Al’s Tours. Get onto the A12 from either the A406 North Circular Road or the M11 signposted towards Chelmsford. Continue on the A12 until you reach the Moby Dick junction and turn right onto the A1112 signposted Dagenham. Stay on this road even when it insects with the A124 keep looking for the A112 (Rainham Road) signs. You will eventually see the floodlights on the right hand side. Turn into Victoria Road and the ground is at the end of the road.

Car Parking
There is a large car park for around 140 cars at the ground but this gets full about an hour before kick off and now possibly by invitation only. Ample free parking is available in the surrounding streets.

Directions by Train
Normally supporters could take the District (green) Underground line to Dagenham East. However the District Line is part suspended between Tower Hill and Upminster (more information here). Rail replacement buses will be operating. Victoria Road is about 400 yards from the station and on your left; the ground is a further 100 yards down Victoria Road.

Eating and Drinking Locally
We will be made welcome in the Dagenham & Redbridge Social Club. The downstairs bar is where most of the away supporters tend to head and there is a charge of £1.00 at the door. For pubs the Pipe Major is a Marstons outlet close to the station while the Eastbrook is a short walk down the Rainham Road.

Ground Description
The main stand or the Carling Stand which replaced the splendid old wooden grandstand runs for 3/4 of the pitch and was completed in the closed season 2001. It is a fairly low front loading structure, which has room for about 800. Its awkward neighbour which occupies the remaining 1/4 of this side is called the Family Stand. To the left is The Traditional Builders Stand which was completed in 2009. It houses the away fans and has room for 1,200. The structure dominates the ground  and the views from it are excellent. The remainder of the ground is terrace with the open Bury or Clock End behind the goal and the Popular Side covered terrace opposite the main stand.

Admission Prices

Adults £21, Concessions £15.

Previous Meetings and Memories
I go back a long time for visit to Victoria Road. Our last visit was in December 2012 when in was a cold turkey of day after a 0-1 defeat.

I recall ‘Mad’ Stevie Ragan the fearless Barnet frontman in the early 1980’s creating a divot the size of Essex after a sliding tackle and then throwing it at a section of Daggers fans who dared to taunt him – brave boys indeed. The Dagenham tannoy announcer informing the crowd that Cyril Regis and Glen Hoddle were in the starting line-up for Barnet and not their younger brothers David and Carl.

At Underhill in 2004 the 5-0 demolition of the Daggers featured the Nicky Bailey “Bees Goal of the Season” screamer live on Sky TV.

Celebrity Watch
1960’s ‘Puppet On A String’ barefoot babe Sandy Shaw was born in Dagenham. Football’s famous is well represented with two ex England managers originating from Dagenham – Terry Venables and the late great Sir Alf Ramsey.

Interesting Info
The most famous marching Band in the civilised world are also locals, The Dagenham Girl Pipers who were the only un-amplified act at the Knebworth Open Air Rock Festival in 1978!

Henry Ford’s company bought acres and acres of land in Dagenham in the early 1920’s and in 1925 started to build the massive car plant still in existence. The metal to build the roofing covering the side terracing at the Victoria ground was donated by Ford in 1967 and it was estimated that there was enough metal to produce 23 Ford Capris.