Latest news with #DagenhamAndRedbridge
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Andy Carroll had ‘6 or 7 bigger clubs' chasing him for ‘more money' as he reveals why he chose Dagenham and Redbridge
ANDY CARROLL has revealed he could have been playing at a higher level before signing for Dagenham and Redbridge. The former Premier League striker joined the sixth-tier side on a three-year contract after leaving Bordeaux. 2 2 Carroll, 36, has already made his first appearance for the club in a pre-season friendly against League Two outfit Crawley Town. The match was not a dream return to England as Dagenham were thrashed 5-1. However, he has admitted that he had offers from at least half a dozen clubs that play at a higher level. The striker has also insisted that his decision was made after speaking to the Daggers' owners and manager. He told The Athletic: "From the first meeting with the manager (Lee Bradbury), I just knew it was the right club. "I had probably six or seven clubs on the phone at higher levels, driving distance from home, and more money, but for me, it was the whole package of the club. "I could speak to the owners, and they'd tell me what the future was going to look like. "I could also speak to the manager, and he could tell me what it would be like. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "I just felt like I wanted to be part of it." His move to Dagenham sees him land just 10 miles away from his old stomping ground, the London Stadium. Footballer Andy Carroll signing for Dagenham and Redbridge FC Carroll spent seven years at West Ham after joining the club from Liverpool - where he was once a £35million signing from Newcastle. During his prime, he earned nine caps for England and scored two goals, including a header at Euro 2012 against Sweden. Now, Carroll has taken on a player-owner role at Dagenham, which has recently been taken over by a Qatari-led investment group. Andy Carroll's career path Andy Carroll's meteoric rise might not have lived up to expectations, but it has been a career full of twists and turns 2006 - Begins to break through with the senior team as a teenager at Newcastle 2011 - Joins Liverpool for a club record fee of £35million 201 2 - Leaves Liverpool for West Ham loan before joining permanently for just £15million 2019 - Returns to Newcastle after a long but inconsistent spell in East London 2021 - Joins Reading following the expiry of his Newcastle contract 2022 - Leaves Reading for a short spell with West Brom, but quickly returns to the Royals 2023 - Moves abroad for the first time in his career with second division French side Amiens SC 2024 - Makes headlines by joining fourth-tier French side Bordeaux following their relegation over financial issues, plays for less than minimum wage 2025 - Departs Bordeaux amicably and returns to English football with Dagenham and Redbridge
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Andy Carroll opens up on shock Dagenham and Redbridge move and why he turned down 'more money' from 'six or seven clubs at higher levels'
Andy Carroll has revealed the reasons behind his stunning decision to drop down to the sixth tier of English football - admitting he turned down lucrative offers from up to seven clubs at higher levels to join Dagenham and Redbridge. Last week, the former England and Premier League striker signed a three-year deal with the National League South side, also acquiring a minority ownership stake in the club. He had previously played for Bordeaux in the French fourth tier, where he became a fan favourite in his single campaign. The 36-year-old dropped down the divisions and took a huge pay cut, even revealing that he was losing money by playing for them. Now, Carroll has opened up on his decision to choose passion over money again by joining Dagenham. 'From the first meeting with the manager, I just knew it was the right club,' Carroll told The Athletic. 'I had probably six or seven clubs on the phone at higher levels, driving distance from home, and more money, but for me, it was the whole package of the club. 'I could speak to the owners, and they'd tell me what the future was going to look like. I could also speak to the manager, and he could tell me what it would be like. I just felt like I wanted to be part of it.' Regarding his aims with the east London club, the former Liverpool star added: 'I think the main thing that I would like to see is the academy set back up. 'If you've got 60,000 kids in the area under 16, you've got an opportunity. With West Ham around the corner, The Academy of Football, look at the players they've produced over the years. To get that up and running is key for the club - it's a necessity, really. 'You look at the club and you think it's got potential. It's 30 minutes into London on the train. It's a fantastic area. I could go to a League One (third division) or a Championship (second) team, and be mid-table and play bits and pieces, not really enjoying it, and float around. 'Or I could come here, start from the bottom, and have a project where I can work on the pitch and off the pitch to hopefully bring something fantastic to the club in the area.' Carroll started his career at Newcastle before earning a £35million switch to Liverpool in 2011. He played for England nine times, scoring at the 2012 Euros. Carroll also had spells at West Ham, West Brom, Reading and returned to Newcastle before moving to Amiens in September 2023. He stayed in France for the 2024-25 season, and scored 11 goals in 23 matches last season for Bordeaux, who finished fourth in the National 2, France's fourth division.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andy Carroll endures 5-1 humiliation on Dagenham and Redbridge debut as ex-Liverpool & Newcastle striker is put in the shade by 'Trialist B'
Carroll endured nightmare debut for non-league club Has returned to English football after brief stint in France Dagenham and Redbridge lost 5-1 to Crawley Town WHAT HAPPENED? Carroll came on as a substitute around the hour mark when his team was 2-1 down, and then saw a Crawley Town player, listed as 'Trialist B', score a brace to help inflict a humiliating defeat on non-league Dagenham. THE BIGGER PICTURE THE BIGGER PICTURE Carroll, who previously enjoyed spells at Newcastle, Liverpool, and West Ham United in the Premier League, has returned to England after a brief stint with French fourth-division club Bordeaux. Despite interest from clubs across Europe, the veteran forward chose an unexpected path and will now hope to make a meaningful impact on and off the pitch at Dagenham. Advertisement DID YOU KNOW? The ex-England international has also become an investor in the non-league side as he starts planning for life after football. WHAT NEXT? WHAT NEXT? Dagenham and Redbridge will be next seen in pre-season action on July 22 as they take on another League Two outfit, Colchester, with Carroll likely to be in contention for his first start.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Andy Carroll suffers nightmare return to English football as he debuts for non-league club in 5-1 loss - where Trialist B scored a brace!
Andy Carroll endured a debut to forget for Dagenham and Redbridge as the non-league club suffered a defeat to League Two outfit Crawley Town in a preseason friendly. Carroll, 36, came off the bench an hour into the game with his new team down 2-1, only for a player listed as 'Trialist B' to run riot with a double in the closing stages as Crawley ended up with a 5-1 victory. The former Liverpool and Newcastle striker was greeted warmly by the Dagenham fans but he could not stop Crawley from showing their superiority. Carroll, who at one point commanded a record transfer fee for a British player when he joined Liverpool from Newcastle for £35 million back in 2011, moved to the East London club earlier this summer. He has also become an investor in the non-league outfit. 'I'm really excited to get started with Dagenham,' said Carroll when he signed. Andy Carroll has signed for 6th division team Dagenham and Redbridge. The 36 year old signs a 3 year contract.✍️ — PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) July 12, 2025 Andy Carroll has gone from English record signing to Ligue 2 and then England's sixth tier 'My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea - they'll be in for a shock. 'It's a fantastic location and close to my kids, they will be able to come and see me play.' A return to English football comes after Carroll spent two years in the French Ligue 2, first with Amiens and then Bordeaux. He started his career at Newcastle, making 143 appearances for the club in separate stints either side of his record move to Liverpool. Carroll also played for West Ham for seven years - again in separate spells - as well as Preston, West Brom and Reading. He has nine England caps and a pair of international goals to his name. Dagenham's competitive season gets underway on August 9th when they host Ebbsfleet United in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Andy Carroll reveals what persuaded him to join Dagenham and Redbridge in rarely-seen player-owner role
ANDY CARROLL says being able to use his on-pitch 'experience' in the boardroom was why he invested in Dagenham and Redbridge. He has also credited his time with West Ham for making him want to join the non-league Essex club. 3 3 3 Thousands of fans will have had to double take when they saw the former Liverpool and West Ham striker was announced by the National League South side on Sunday. The Daggers, who currently play in the sixth tier, sent social media into meltdown after being taken over by a Qatari-led investment group. Carroll has also invested in the club. Now, he's explained just why he was so keen to be a part of the unique takeover. He told the Daggers social media channel: 'What inspired me to be a part owner of the club was the first conversation with Lee [Bradbury] the manager. 'He said they've got a magic team behind the scenes. The 'all-star team', that's what he said.' Carroll continued: 'I step off the pitch and go into the boardroom, I can give my experience of what I've lived and what is expected of a great club.' The 36-year-old also jokingly admitted his kids thought he was signing for Chelsea. Carroll left French fourth-tier club Bordeaux at the end of last month after signing for them last summer before coming to Essex. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK The Gateshead-born striker has previously played for English clubs Newcastle, Liverpool, West Ham, Reading, West Brom and Preston, spending 16 seasons in the Premier League in total. But it was his time in east London, he says, that helped persuade him to join the Daggers. Will 'hothead' Kudus fit in at Tottenham after controversial West Ham exit? | Transfers Exposed He said: 'I know the passion that the people have around here for football. 'The size of Dagenham, with 220,000 people around here, to have a team like this and to support a big club like this in the smaller leagues, it's massive. 'I was fortunate to have seven years at West Ham, so I know the people and I know how much it means to them. 'To be part of this club now I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be here.'
