Online Reporter
ANDY CARROLL was cheered with every touch on his Dagenham & Redbridge debut – but could not stop a Trialist B-inspired Crawley from running riot.
Former England striker Carroll, once the most expensive British player in history, came on just after the hour with his new club 2-1 down.
The few hundred Daggers fans who turned up gave a ‘wahey’ every time the 36-year-old touched the ball.
But League Two Crawley made their superior collective quality pay against their sixth-tier opponents, with three goals – including a late double from a player known only as Trialist B – making it 5-1.
Ex-Newcastle and Liverpool striker Carroll had one half-chance with a header, but was always stretching and could not divert it on target.
Carroll could only watch on himself from the bench for the first hour as Harry McKirdy and Harry Forster put Scott Lindsey’s EFL side 2-0 up.A cock-up from the Crawley keeper allowed Joe Haigh to tap into an empty net from 35 yards to make it 2-1 shortly after the break.
Carroll was then introduced and immediately put himself about, winning a header with his first touch and powerfully seeing off a defender to win a corner.
But his time struggled to conjure up any service for the big man and started to tire.
Crawley stepped it up as Reece Brown’s volley made it 3-1.
The former £35million man shocked the world of football on Saturday by not only moving to Dagenham but also investing in the East London club too.
The Daggers confirmed a shock takeover by a Qatari investment group.
And it saw Carroll jump on board as he returned to England from France after a spell with fourth-tier Bordeaux.
Carroll said: “I’m really excited to get started with Dagenham.
“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.
“I really enjoyed my time in Bordeaux but it’s time for me to get settled with my family. I’m hoping my kids will bring their friends to see me play.
“I didn’t want to finish playing football and I’m really excited to get involved in the leadership side and be a player.
“I’ve got experience in seeing how clubs are run, of all levels. I think I can add value.
“My first job is to go in as a player, I want to get them promoted. I was offered clubs with a lot more money, but I realised Dagenham was a project that I really wanted to get into.
“I want to help as many players and staff from my experience and background as possible.
“I was getting offers from clubs in France, Italy and Spain, but I wanted to come home.
“I could sign for a top club, but me and the managers might not see eye to eye, so I just want to be somewhere I’m going to be happy.” —Sun
