Not really an interview, and not a current player either. This didn't really fit into a particular section, so I put it here. What it is though, is the thoughts of ex-Dagger John Stimson, the left-back cum striker who ended up out of 'retirement' and in the Daggers' team that got to the FA Trophy Final and Wembley in 1997. DaggerNet thanks John for his contribution.

I can't actually remember my first appearance at Dagenham, but I can remember my first goal for the club. It was against Chesham at Victoria Road. I think it was a 3-1 victory. That was back in the days when Chesham were a good side, Ted was manager and the 'great' Joey Dunwell was his assistant. Pat Staunton was skipper and we had a very young and slim Dean Parratt in the sqaud. I also remember that it was the year that I first started to get regular long term injuries. That year I had the first of my 3 cartiledge operations.

Then came the bombshell that Dagenham were to amalgmate with Redbridge Forest due to financial problems. Most the players and supporters were devastated and I remember all the protests at games. Being a true Dagger I was against the amalgamation and the thought that there would be no more Dagenham F.C. in it's own right. I also played in the final Dagenham game at home but cannot remember the result or who we played but still have the number 11 shirt I wore that day. Obviously from these notes you can tell that I've never kept a scrapbook but I do have a fare number of programmes from my time at Dagenham as well as Dagenham & Redbridge.

When the amalgamation came John Still was manager and Ted took the reserves. Most of the Dagenham players left due to the quality players that Redbridge had most of them didn't fancy playing for the reserves for but I stayed along with Dean Parratt obviously hoping that I'd get a 1st team place but me and John Still never really hit it off. He once accused me of being a waster because I was always the last player to leave the bar and would never get a serious place unless I packed up drinking! But he also told me that he had never seen any body hit a ball as hard as me after seeing me score a 30 yarder for the reserves.

That reserve team had a few quality players old & young including Miquel De Sousa, Ian Richardson, Tol Mas and the old man and comedian Keith Hayzledean. Although we were playing reserve team football it was still the best footballing side I've played with in senior football. It was also the time that someone decided I was no longer a left back/midfielder but a centre forward. Although I enjoyed scoring goals I still preferred to play left back but as long as I get a shirt I'll play anywhere.

Playing for the stiffs was where I first tore my hamsting and have since torn them on a regular basis as most of the regular fans would know. Apparently it has something to do with my back being out.I probably spent as much of my time at Dagenham on John Stannards physio bench as I did on the pitch!

I left the club for a few years when they were in the conference and spent the time playing for my brothers side. Then out of the blue Ted gave me a ring and said that he would be back in charge the following season and would I like to come back. I couldn't wait and to my surprise a few of the old faces were there too. After a pre-season tour in Ireland the opening game of the season was a 3-1 victory at home against Harrow Borough.Then came title favourites Yeovil away. I think we spent the whole game on the edge of our 18 yard box chasing shadows but came away with a 0-0 draw and still to this day I don't know how!

We were not the greatest of fooballing sides but we all battled for one and other and all gave 100% and by Christmas of that year we were into the 1st round proper of the F.A.Cup and F.A.Trophy.

I remember travelling down to Ashford on a very cold day, taking the lead twice, Glynn Creaser an myself the scorers, and coming away with a 2-2 draw. I thought we deserved to win but looking at the video later on a draw was a fair result.Then the bus broke down on the way home on the motorway in freezing fog! I got injured in the replay and was taken off so never had the chance to take a penalty but I would have put myelf up for one.

Then there was the Trophy run. not one of us ever dreamed we get as far as the quarter finals but with a little bit of luck and some gritty performances we somehow found ourselves at Morecombe in a force 10 gale fighting to stay in the competition. Enter Mr Gothard. What a day that man had. I think if we'd had stayed all night the Morecombe players would have not beaten him. So it was back to Victoria Road and this time it was Courtney Naylors turn to be the hero scoring the winner and sending the fans home happy. We were beginning to think our name aws on the trophy when we were drawn agaist Gloucester, missing both Stevenage and Woking.

After a drab 0-0 affair at home we travelled to Gloucester on a gloriously sunny saturday a week later. I was sub along with Lee Double and David Jaques and losing a goal so early I thougt we'd collapse but we managed to hold out until half time. After one of Ted's calming half time chats we totally dominated the second half but couldn't score. Tony Rogers hit the woodwork twice with headers but that was as close as we got until 3 minutes from time. I launched a long throw into the box for Creaser to head on but he missed it, it bounced straight into the path of Steve Conner who then volleyed an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net. Their crowd silenced we started extra time in the ascendecy and after about 6 minutes I released the lightning quick David Pratt to score and put us 2-1 up. But then all our dreams faded with what seemed like seconds to go they scrambled an equalizer forcing a replay at Slough.

I was in the team to start at Slough but didn't do too well early on after taking a knock. Then a blunder by Gothy led to them scoring which actually bucked us up and from that moment on there was only going to be one winner. We equalized later in the first half through myself. a lot of people say that I should have scored the first attemp but I only just managed to get my toe to it and was gutted to see it hit the post but delighted when it came back towards me enough for me me to volley into the back of the net.

1-1 at half time but we were definately on top and looking forward to the second half. It was a little bit scrappy to start with. But fifteen minutes into the half a lofted clearance by Craig Davidson towards Tony Rogers had me looking for a knock down but Rogo got beaten in the air by the defender but the ball fell just right for me to hit. Although I was about 35 yards out I caught the ball so sweetly I knew the keeper was in trouble as soon as I hit it. To everybody associated with Dagenham's delight the ball flew straight into the net. I just turned, ran and jumped on Steve Conner who threw me on the floor where the rest of the players jumped all over me. The rest of the game was a blur but the euphoria at the final whistle will live with me forever.

Then came the final at Wembley. Walking out of that tunnel was brilliant, meeting Pele fantastic but standing in front of 30,000 fans singing the national anthem is indescribable.

Then the game itself was, for our part mostly a battle. Although we did create a few chances once Tony Rogers had been sent off we really had no chance and could only really hope for a draw, but that didn't happen so we had to walk up those steps as losers. I did shed a few tears at the end but when I look back it was the greatest day in football that I had.

STIMMO