The National League South – the Enterprise version in place of Vanarama this season – returns this Saturday and the Fleet make the short trip to a side they faced in our penultimate National League trip in April as Dagenham & Redbridge are the hosts for the campaign opener at Victoria Road.
Head to head
A number of battles between these two sides have seen season-defining moments over the past few years. Most notably was during the 2023/24 campaign when Billy Clifford’s equaliser secured a valuable point for the Fleet to go on and secure safety a few weeks later. The Daggers secured a late win of their own with a penalty at the end of our last meeting, but it wasn’t enough to save them from joining us in the South. The Fleet’s best win there in recent years was a 3-1 victory in 2018 when Chris Bush and Danny Kedwell (2) scored.
Summer recruitment
The Daggers certainly claimed the highest profile signing this summer in Andy Carroll. The former Premier League striker made the move to the Chigwell Construction Stadium in July and was also announced as a club investor.
Shot stopper Sam Howes joined the Daggers from Leyton Orient. Recent loan spells with fellow National League/South clubs has seen the 27-year-old play for the likes of Wealdstone, Maidenhead and Horsham and rack up nearly 100 appearances across the two divisions.
Another high-profile new signing is forward Ashley Hemmings who joins following a five-year spell with Kidderminster Harriers made up of 221 appearances and 81 goals. Hemmings is at the Daggers for a second time with his first spell coming in the two seasons from 2014/15 when he racked up 91 games in all competitions.
Pre-season round up
Dagenham’s pre-season journey began with a trip to Aveley where the Isthmian side came out on top 3-0. A second away trip to Sittingbourne) saw the Daggers pick up their first win, while a home friendly against League Two Crawley ended in defeat. Dagenham’s trip to Walton & Hersham secured their second win followed up with another defeat at home to Colchester. The friendlies were rounded off at Havant & Waterlooville (2-2) and a home defeat to Boreham Wood.
Club connections
Jake Hessenthaler makes an immediate return to the club he departed to switch to the Kuflink Stadium. The Fleet’s new midfielder made 82 appearances for the Daggers while former Fleet midfielder Christian N’Guessan lines up for the hosts with 43 appearances for them as he heads into a second season over the river.
Ticket information
Tickets can be purchased in advance here with Fleet fans located in SD Samuels Stand. Prices will rise on matchday so supporters are encouraged to purchase in advance.
