Perfect start, KSI, Carroll and a rebuilt promotion push
Saturday 22 August | 3pm | Victoria Road
Three games. Three wins. Top of the table.
United’s second away assignment of the season takes Jimmy Ball’s unbeaten Gulls to a Dagenham & Redbridge side who could hardly have started the new campaign better.
THE 60-SECOND GUIDE
The Daggers are one of the division’s big stories.
Taken over by the Happy Fan Group earlier this year, global YouTube star KSI subsequently became a shareholder and strategic partner, while former England striker Andy Carroll is now simultaneously player, assistant manager and shareholder.
But beneath the headlines there is a serious football operation emerging.
Lee Allinson was recruited from Hemel Hempstead Town in May and has substantially rebuilt the squad ahead of what Dagenham hope will be a promotion challenge.
THE STORY YOU NEED TO KNOW
KSI’s arrival has given Dagenham something almost unheard of at Step 2: a potential global audience.
His stated ambition is enormous — ultimately taking the Daggers all the way to the Premier League — but the immediate objective is rather more straightforward: getting out of National League South.
And they have started accordingly.
THE SERIOUS BIT
Dagenham have taken maximum points from their opening three matches:
Dorking Wanderers 0–1 Dagenham
Kayden Harrack scored after three minutes before the Daggers protected their lead despite Andy Carroll’s second-half dismissal.
Dagenham 2–1 Farnham Town
Charles Clayden opened the scoring before Archie Tamplin grabbed an 88th-minute winner.
Walton & Hersham 0–2 Dagenham
Noah Coppin came off the bench to score twice in the final six minutes on Tuesday night.
That’s nine points, five goals scored and just one conceded.
IN THE DUGOUT
Lee Allinson built his reputation at Hendon and Hemel Hempstead, taking the latter into the National League South play-offs despite operating part-time.
His stated aim at Dagenham is to build a side that is hard to beat and exciting to watch.
So far, so good.
SUMMER REBUILD
Allinson wasted little time reshaping his squad, with Dagenham making a significant number of additions during the summer.
Among the headline arrivals are experienced goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, midfielder Harry Beautyman, striker Davide Rodari and Noah Coppin, who scored 19 times for Salisbury last season.
It is effectively a new-look Dagenham side — and one assembled with promotion very much in mind.
THREE TO WATCH
Noah Coppin
One of Dagenham’s statement summer signings — and already showing why. Coppin scored 19 times for Salisbury last season and has a proven record at this level. He comes into Saturday’s game having stepped off the bench to score both goals in Tuesday night’s 2–0 victory at Walton & Hersham.
Charles Clayden
A quick and versatile left-sided attacker with a habit of delivering in important games. Clayden scored Boreham Wood’s winning goal in the 2025 National League South play-off final and opened his Dagenham account against Farnham last Friday.
Harry Beautyman
The Daggers’ new club captain brings considerable National League experience — and an unusual goalscoring record for a midfielder. Beautyman scored 14 times for Woking last season and has produced double-figure goal returns in successive campaigns at the level above.
ONE MAN WHO WON’T FEATURE
One player United will not have to contend with is Andy Carroll.
The former England striker is serving a suspension following his straight red card for an off-the-ball incident in Dagenham’s opening-day victory at Dorking.
Carroll was able to feature against Farnham before the suspension took effect, but subsequently missed Tuesday night’s victory at Walton & Hersham and will also sit out Saturday’s meeting with the Gulls.
WHEN WE LAST CAME HERE
21 March 2026: Dagenham & Redbridge 1–0 Torquay United.
That afternoon came in very different circumstances.
It was Jimmy Ball’s first match as United manager, with Torquay still firmly in the grip of an extraordinary injury crisis. Ball travelled to Victoria Road with only 10 fit senior outfield players available to him, leaving precious little room for manoeuvre from the bench.
Despite those limitations, the Gulls stayed in the contest and pushed hard late on before George Marsh’s opportunistic 74th-minute finish ultimately separated the sides.
The earlier meeting at Plainmoor had finished goalless.
Six months on, Ball returns to Dagenham with a very different-looking Torquay side — and a rather healthier set of options at his disposal.
AWAY-DAY FACT FILE
Ground: Chigwell Construction Stadium, Victoria Road
Postcode: RM10 7XL
Capacity: 6,078
Nearest Tube: Dagenham East – approximately 400 metres from the ground
Turnstiles: Open from 1.30pm
Tickets: Adults from £17 terrace / £20 seated in advance, with prices increasing on matchday
THE VERDICT
One of the first genuine heavyweight tests of the new campaign.
Dagenham bring a perfect record, significant investment and a substantially refreshed squad.
United arrive unbeaten themselves after taking five points from their opening three matches.
Unbeaten Gulls. Table-topping Daggers. Victoria Road. Saturday should tell us a little more about both.
