1997
Memories By Thomas (aged 12)
The best memories about Dagenham and Redbridge in 1997 that I can
remember was probably when David Pratt scored to put us ahead in
extra-time when we drew with Gloucester City in the semi-final second leg
at Gloucester, but they scored the equaliser with only a few minutes
to go to take it to the replay, where I saw John Stimson's screamer
from twenty-five yards go in the back of the net that took us to Wembley
and having a great day out that day.
When I was mascot versus Chesham United in October and missing the first
goal because I was in the changing room changing, David Pratt
getting his hat-trick versus Heybridge Swifts in November was also great,
and going 2-1 up versus Peterborough United in the second round of
the F.A. Cup.
The worst memories of the year would include seeing the Daggers narrowly
lose 1-0 to Woking after extra-time after we were placed as underdogs in
the F.A. Umbro Trophy Final although this was a great day out.
Seeing Paul Gothard play the worst I've seen and Steve Conner getting sent
off when we lost 4-0 to Purfleet away in the last game of the year.
The Daggers losing disappointingly to Sutton United 2-0 which was a top of
the table clash. And the week before, losing to Oxford City 2-0 away
because about a month earlier we had beaten them 7-0 at home
1997 started, for me, with what was
probably the most important league fixture of the season against Yeovil
Town at home, it was a real 6 pointer, I remember that we played
well and Paul Gothard,who was having a great season, saved 2 penalties but
we finally lost the match 1-0, this in reality put an end to any chance of
winning the league. That is a strange thing to say in January! but
along came our FA Trophy run. After we played a few games to we were
handed a semi-final draw against Gloucester, ideally the second leg would
have been at home, but the draw wasn't in our favour.
The conditions in the first leg were atrocious with high blustery winds,
and although we should have won the game with a last minute header from
Tony Rogers, he managed to miss from 2 feet. It did set up the
second leg, as we started on level terms the following Saturday. And what
a day out it was, the sun shone brightly, the trip down was great and as a
football supporter for the previous 20 years (watching W**t H** win the FA
Cup and the 2nd Division Championship) I can say that I have never felt so
many emotions in watching 2 Hours of football. The game had
everything, being just a couple of minutes away from being knocked out,
then going into extra time and going into the lead and again being a
couple of minutes away from Wembley, only for Gloucester to equalise.
Still we won the replay which sent us to Wembley.
This was just a good day out, I'd watched
the team all season, in the cold and rain, and nothing was going to spoil
my day, not even the result. I made hats and more hats, took my
whole family to the game and they all enjoyed it. See picture above.
Cobb being signed was news I heard during the close season, and what good
news that was.
All my family came to watch Thomas my son at the Chesham match as he was
mascot, and this too was a great day out. And finally for this year
I watched the team have a near perfect performance beating Heybridge 6-2,
and an FA Cup 2nd round match against Peterboro' which will stay in my
mind for many a year. Just for the atmosphere created.
Pity about the rest of December.......Here's to 1998