Joe Appleyard and Ken Edhouse

formed the Club in 1961, with one team playing in a local park league at Under 11’s.  Having completed the League and Cup double in their first year they joined the newly formed Echo League as more teams joined and the Club grew.

Players such as Tony Adams (Arsenal & England), Steve Potts (West Ham), John Moncur (West Ham) and even the current England captain John Terry (as an U10 before moving to Senrab) started their careers at the Club as have thousands of others.

 

In 2001 the Club had five teams and when Keith Rothon took over as Secretary from the retired Steve Millar it was decided that mini soccer teams were vital to the Club's survival and the re-building began.

In 2004 the Club signed a 20 year lease with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham for a plot of land in Dagenham East called 'Manor Road Sports Ground'.  In what was one of the biggest clean-up operations, volunteers from within the club worked tirelessly to turn a derelict piece of land into an area that now hosts one 11 a-side pitch, two mini-soccer pitches and a floodlit cinder area for training.  Planning permission has been obtained to erect a clubhouse and a new artificial pitch with floodlighting and parking facilities.

Also in 2004, the Club approached Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club to extend their Youth set-up at under 16 and under 18 levels. Past managers such as Lenny Clarke, Kevin Hayward and Ricky Jackson have all been successful in the Eastern Alliance League bringing players from within Dagenham United onto a bigger and better stage.

In 2006 Alex Fowler (President) and Paul Marsh (Chairman) two of the Clubs' key personnel, retired from their posts, In recognition of the contribution to the Club, both were appointed Life Presidents in 2007.

In January 2007 the Club were awarded the Charter Standard by the Football Association and are currently working towards achieving Community Club Status.  In March we were awarded Charity Status and were successful in applications to the Football Foundation for "The Barclays Spaces for Sport Coaching Pack" and "junior Kit Scheme".

In 2008 we joined up with Essex FA to deliver their 3Lions Initiative which gives girls the opportunity to play football.  Coaches from within the Club have been delivering girl only sessions within three Dagenham Schools during curriculum time and the Club now holds a Saturday Soccer School for Girls.

Dagenham United will boast 23 teams from September 2009. This is roughly 300+ members from the ages of six to sixteen, boys and girls of all abilities.  The majority live within Barking & Dagenham, but our membership includes those from neighbouring boroughs including Newham, Redbridge Havering and Thurrock.

We now have over fifty volunteers, all who dedicate their time to ensure that the young people have a rewarding experience within the Club.  All our Managers and Coaches are FA Qualified, have attended a Child Protection Workshop, Emergency First Aid and have a valid Police CRB Check.

Our dream for 2010 is to build the ‘Clubhouse’ ready for the 2010/11 season and then seek funding for a 3G artificial turf pitch.