Dag & Red

The modern “Daggers” have a rather complicated history, involving mergers of some of the most famous names in the amateur game. The oldest of these was Ilford (formed 1881) but the better known was Leytonstone, formed in 1886, they were three times winners of the FA Amateur Cup and nine times champions of the Isthmian League. In 1979 these two clubs merged to form Leytonstone/Ilford. Then in 1988, they absorbed the struggling Walthamstow Avenue to become Redbridge Forest, who were promoted to the Football Alliance in 1991.

Dagenham were formed in 1949 and also competed in the amateur Isthmian League until 1981 when they were promoted to the Football Alliance. In 1988 they were relegated back to the Isthmian League.

In 1992, the two clubs merged to form Dagenham & Redbridge and continued to compete in the Alliance until 1996 when they were relegated and for the next four seasons they competed once more in the Isthmian League. The red and blue colours were chosen to represent those of the two merged teams. The club play at Victoria Road, previous home of Dagenham.

(For an excellent concise history of the various clubs that became Dagenham & Redbridge consultDiggerdagger.com.)

Returning to what was now the Football Conference in 2000, they were narrowly beaten to the the title by Boston United in 2002. The Lincolnshire club was subsequently found to have made improper payments to their players and were docked points for the following season in the Football League. Despite attempts by Dagenham & Redbridge to have themselves declared Conference champions, Boston kept their title and promotion.

The club's crest, worn since its formation, includes the central shield surmounted by a helm taken from the Dagenham coat of arms.

The Daggers qualified for the play-offs in 2003 but then struggled until 2006-07, when they overhauled Oxford United to clinch the title in April 2007 and promotion to the Football League.