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Daggers aim for the top flight


Talking football with Alan Curbishley

As a Charlton supporter, I have reason to remember Dagenham & Redxbridge.  When we were in the Premier League, they held us to a 1-1 draw at The Valley and we managed to just beat them 1-0 when we played them away.  Alan Curbishley, Charlton manager at the time, told me, 'They gave us a torrid time.'

I got the impression at the time that they were a second choice team for quite a few West Ham supporters.  Certainly they are located in area which has a strong basis of West Ham support.  Now the club admit they have a rather old demographic.

In 2010 the club played in League One under John Silk.  Now they are in the National League South, but are aiming for the Premier League.  

American CEO John Grabowski arrived at Dagenham in January 2025.   He had previously overseen an attempt to buy Dunfermline, prior to leading the investment group takeover of Dagenham this February. The objective is to make Dagenham a global club like Wrexham, but it is admitted that takes time.

The club has been given a huge boost by the arrival of KSI, real name Olajide Olantunji.   No You Tuber in the UK has amassed more subscribers than KSI, currently 45 million across his channels.   He was raised in Watford by Nigerian parents, was privately educated and is an Arsenal fan.

He says he is going to take the club to the Moon.   Shirt sales have been boosted and more than 300,000 are watching KSI watching his new football team.

Some of us remember the chaos than ensued when Glenn Tamplin bought nearby Billericay Town. Hopefully, the Daggers are on firmer footing and will stick to Earth gravity.

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