MATCH PREVIEW: Chippenham Town vs Dagenham & Redbridge | National League South | Saturday 25th October

The Daggers visit means a first meeting.

For the first time in history, Dagenham & Redbridge will visit The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium in the first ever meeting between the two sides.

The opposition

As their name suggests, Dagenham & Redbridge were born in 1992 following a merger between Dagenham and Redbridge Forest. Both previous clubs had been playing in the Conference and Isthmian League before the merge, therefore the new club were placed into the Conference. Following a slight yo-yo in and out of that division, in 2006/7 they would win the then Nationwide Conference, besting the likes of Oxford Untied and Morcombe by 14 points.

Following that historic promotion, under the stewardship of John Still, would do the same again and following playoff wins against Morcombe & Rotherham find themselves promoted to League One. That 2010/11 season would be the crest of their League wave, being in the same division as the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday. Unfortunately they would be relegated in 21st place, with a 5-0 defeat for the Daggers against Peterborough on the final day confirming the news.

The east-Londoners would only last four more seasons in the FL with relegation in 2015-16, and they have not returned. Following this, nearly a decade in the National League would follow with just one playoff appearance, a semi-final defeat to the eventually promoted Forest Green Rovers the year after the Daggers’ relegation into Non-League.

24/25 meant relegation for Dagenham & Redbridge, as Wealdstone would survive and condemn them to their lowest position in the 21st century. Their start to 25/26 has been less than ideal for a full-time team, as after 13 matches they sit on 11 points and in 21st position. Perhaps their lowest point came in their defeat to Step 3 side Spalding in the FA Cup 3QR this season, marking just the third time in club history of an FA Cup exit so early.

Dangermen

Andy Carroll

It is hard to discuss Dagenham & Redbridge in 2025 without discussing Andy Carroll. Signed in the summer following his departure from the French fourth tier and was also announced as a minority shareholder soon after. Born in Gateshead, Carroll played in Newcastle’s academy and made 134 appearances in seven years at the club (across two spells), before a £35 million move to Liverpool. 58 appearances for the Reds then lead to a move to West Ham in which he made 142 appearances. He also has played for Reading, West Brom before making the switch to France with Amiens and Bordeaux. Carroll has earned nine caps for Engalnd, including playing and scoring at Euro 2012

Ashley Hemmings

A centre-forward / winger, Hemmings had a career in the FL spanning nine years, including two at Dagenham & Redbridge in the mid 2010’s. Hemmings graduated from Wolves’ academy, but made just two appearances for the side with three loans out west, to Torquay, Cheltenham and Plymouth. He left the Football League in 2017, and has played in the National Leageu and National League North since, with over 250 matches for Kidderminster Harriers before signing back with Dagenham & Redbridge this summer. Hemmings is the Daggers’ league top-scorer this season, with five goals.

Supporter info

This game is non-segregated, and tickets can be purchased via our INTIX page, as well as both cash and card on the day.