So after years of waiting and months of anticipation it all started at Stockport in August, and will end this Saturday against Mansfield at Victoria Road.
Here the Upminster Daggers look back at the first half of an eventful season. !
AUGUST
After all the hype and build up, the Daggers started their first ever season in the Football League back on the 11th August. In weather more likely to be seen in Sydney than Stockport nearly 400 Daggers fans, including 10 Upminster Daggers, made the long trip North. Despite a battling performance, a late County goal (late goals were to become a feature!!) gave the home side a 1-0 victory.
The following Tuesday the Daggers made their bow in the Carling Cup, with a home tie against Luton Town. The visitors included several ex Premiership stars in their side, including ex West Ham and Liverpool man Don Hutchinson. Despite another brave performance the Daggers exited the competition 2-1.
The following Saturday saw the Daggers first home league game, against old friends from the Conference, Wycombe Wanderers. Despite several of the Upminster Daggers missing through cricket commitments, the Daggers took a two goal lead through Sam Sloma and Chris Moore. However, Danny Foster gave away a late penalty which was converted and the visitors escaped with a point.
None of the Upminster Daggers made the trip North to Chester the next week, which they may regard as a good thing as the Daggers were thumped 4-0.
SEPTEMBER
Only two of the Upminster Daggers were present on the first day of the month as the League new boys finally grabbed their first win of the season. A late goal from Paul Benson was enough to see off Lincoln City.
The first Tuesday of the month saw the Daggers visit local rivals Southend United in the Tinpot Paint Trophy. Backed by a massive following the Daggers twice came from behind to take the game into penalties. Tony Roberts was the hero in the shoot out, and Shane Huke slotted home the winning kick to put the Daggers through to the next round.
On the last day of the cricket season the Daggers entertained local rivals Barnet in a game kicking off early for TV coverage. Ben Strevens scored the Daggers goal as they claimed a 1-1 draw, the game being more memorable for the Barnet goal going in the net and out again!!!
With the cricket season now finished, a large contingent of Upminster Daggers made the train journey North to Notts County. The entertainment in Hooters before and after the game was probably better than the match itself, the visitors losing a dull affair to a later County goal.
Bury were the next visitors to Victoria Road and they left with a point despite Dave Rainford's goal for the home side.
Only 3 of the Upminster Daggers made the trip to Mansfield, but they were rewarded with the Daggers first ever away win in the Football League thanks to Shane Huke's header.
OCTOBER
A much larger Daggers and Upminster Daggers contingent beat the problems with the trains to make their way to London rivals Brentford for the first game of October. They were pleased they made the effort as the goals from Ben Strevens, Chris Moore and Dave Rainford helped the Daggers to a memorable 3-2 victory.
Confidence was now high and the Daggers were positioned nicely in mid table. However, high flying Darlington soon bought them down to earth with a comfortable 3-0 win at Victoria Road on the first Saturday of the month.
The Tinpot Paint Trophy provided another local derby, this time at old cup rivals Leyton Orient. The shambolic home Club had not envisaged such a large away following and only opened 1 turnstile, meaning several of the Upminster Daggers paid for their late exit from the pub by missing the first 10 minutes. They were all their for the second half goal from Ben Strevens though, which put them through to the next round.
A rare Sunday fixture saw former Conference friends Accrington Stanley come to Essex. The Daggers played like they were longing for their Sunday roast and slipped to another defeat.
On the same day as England were appearing in the Rugby World Cup Final, several Upminster Daggers still travelled North by train (and then got a cab halfway home in order to watch the final!!) to Chesterfield. Despite being outplayed for large periods, an heroic performance from Tony Roberts and a goal from Paul Benson gained the Daggers a valuable away point.
However, next week their poor home form struck again as they were easily beaten 2-0 by an impressive looking Rotherham United side.
The last game of the month saw a surprisingly large contingent of Upminster Daggers make the midweek journey to Halstead Town to enjoy some excellent bacon rolls in the Essex Senior Cup. The Daggers overcame the sending off of keeper Ed Thompson to advance thanks to a 3-1 victory.
NOVEMBER
None of the Upminster Daggers travelled to Rochdale for the first game of the month, and the Daggers poor form continued with a 1-0 defeat to the Lancashire side.
Winkle nearly killed most of the large Upminster Daggers contingent with some comedy driving on the way back from a 3-1 reverse at Peterborough United, before the Daggers avoided making the FA Cup headlines for the wrong reasons with a 3-0 win at Conference South Hampton and Richmond in the first round. However, the Upminster Daggers who travelled missed two of the goals as they had left early for an evening event!!
The following Tuesday it was more cup action, this time in the Tinpot Trophy at Gillingham. Some bad luck, bad finishing and appalling refereeing was all involved in a 4-0 defeat to the League One side, and some of the Daggers following did themselves no favours with some pretty poor behaviour in the second half.
Bradford City came to Victoria Road struggling for form, but it did not show as they had to much power for the Daggers and won out 4-1 winners.
The Daggers cruised past Brentwood in the Essex Senior Cup with a 3-0 win, and then the Upminster Daggers held their mid-season weekend away for the trip to Macclesfield. Unfortunately despite a great weekend the Daggers conceded another late goal to throw away two points, the game ending in a 1-1 draw. The Upminster Daggers also missed the Daggers goal thanks to some atrocious directing of the minibus (you know who you are!?!?).
DECEMBER
It was FA Cup action for the Daggers on the first day of the month, as Kidderminster Harriers came to town. The game was finely poised at 1-1 as it neared it's conclusion, but goals from Ben Strevens and Paul Benson helped the Essex side advance to the 3rd round, and another trip to Southend United.
High flying MK Franchise came to Victoria Road for a Tuesday night game and went away with all 3 points despite a good performance from the Daggers.
However, a few days later the Daggers picked up their first league win for nearly 3 months with a thumping 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Wrexham. An own goal gave the Daggers a half time lead before second half strikes from Ben Strevens and Jamie Taylor sealed the points.
However, it was back to normal the following Saturday with a 4-0 reverse at Shrewsbury Town. The Upminster Daggers had a miserable time including a 40 minute walk back to the station after the game, which nearly led them to miss their train!!
The last fixture before Christmas saw one of the oldest Club's in the world grace the Victoria Road pitch as Notts County were the visitors. The game ended 1-1 after a pretty uninspiring affair. The evening was more entertaining as the Upminster Daggers and the HLP held their first joint Christmas Bash!!
Boxing Day was even less fun than Christmas Day. With points now really needed the Daggers endured a miserable afternoon at nearby Barnet. On a ground where we have a pretty poor record, this was one of the worst performances of the season, with Barnet ending up 3-1 winners. We left early to get back to the turkey sarnies, so depressing was the football.
The year did finish on a high however, with a much needed win at Bury. On a cold and wet day the Daggers put in one of their most complete performances of the season to run out 2-0 winners thanks to two goals from Ben Strevens.
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