Sometimes going to football can be a bit like going back to school. You’re told where to sit by the number on your pre-bought match ticket, the atmosphere can be a bit like a boring lesson (if the game isn’t great), and then you encounter head-master like stewards who tell you what you can and can’t do, especially if it involves a vuvuzela. There’s even a uniform, in the (various) shapes of replica kit that can be bought and worn by people attending the game.

So, in the spirit of going back to school I thought I would share with you what I did on my bank holiday weekend, which involved four games if you’ll allow me the extension on to Tuesday night.

Game 1-Saturday 28th August, Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Tranmere Rovers 2
With the previous home game against Exeter City having been postponed, this now by default became the home debut in League One. The rumours leading up to the game had been concerning our top scorer for the last few seasons, Paul Benson, and a possible move across the river to Charlton. Theories abounded on the unofficial forum; if he plays, he stays, but if he doesn’t then he is on the way out seemed to sum it all up quite nicely. As it turned out, he started, and put the same amount of work as he always does. However, two days after this game, he did eventually sign for Charlton.

In the lead up to the game, there had been a call for someone to take over the role of dressing in the mascot costume for the day. The club had been one of the last in the football league to have this, as it had always been resisted by the supporters. For a start, we had no idea what our mascot should be; a large knife to represent the daggers? In the end, it was a safe decision to have a dog, and call it “Digger”. This meant that someone obviously had to walk round the pitch, before the game and at half time to entertain the fans, and also to hand out or throw the sweets that had been provided by the supporters club. This was done by one man (even appearing at the play off final in May), but today was one step too far. A plea went out for someone to take over for the day; this was duly answered and Digger the Dog was able to make an appearance, although somewhat more spritely than normal. Perhaps the new dog food was finally paying dividends.

Whatever they were feeding the mascot, it wasn’t helping the team in the first half, as we struggled to break down a flimsy looking Tranmere defence. This changed though a few minutes into the second half, as we finally broke our League One goal-scoring duck with a goal from our French midfielder, Romain Vincelot. A second followed soon after from Mark Arber, and the chants of derision were being targeted at the visitors.
Perhaps it’s the fact that I used to go to West Ham that makes me think that this is only going to come back and bite us on the behind. The born pessimist in me was unfortunately proved right, as first the away side got one back, and then scored a cracking free kick two minutes from the end to earn a point. This reminded many of us of our first home game in the League, three years ago, when we lost a lead to Wycombe in the last minute.

Still, it was a point, and it moved us off the bottom. Now we could look forward to Charlton on Tuesday.

Game 2- Sunday 29th August; FA Cup Preliminary Round, Romford 3 Beaconsfield SYCOB 1
With Dan having been at a wedding on Saturday, he had scoured the fixtures for a Sunday game, and came up with this one, just a few miles away in Aveley. The stadium may be the home of Aveley FC, but for the past couple of years, they have shared with Romford, who having reformed in 1992, have played at several different stadiums since.

As you would expect from a British bank holiday weekend, the weather was very hit and miss. For the first half, we sat on the terrace, watching as Romford took an early two goal lead, and never looking in danger of losing it. Just as the whistle went for the break, the heavens started to open, and after a quick visit to the tea bar, we retreated to the main (or only) stand in the ground to watch the second half.

I have been to just over 1100 games now, and have not yet seen a goalkeeper score. There has been the occasional own goal, but nothing going into the right net. Mid-way through the second half came the closest moment so far. The Beaconsfield goalie had a tendancy to stand way off his line when the Romford goalkeeper had the ball. So, with the rain still pouring down, and the grass getting wetter, the ball was launched downfield. Too far in front of the forwards, it was flying aimlessly through to the Beaconsfield keeper, when he realised he had misjudged the flight of the ball. As it bounced over his head, he turned and scampered back to his own goal, and probably wouldn’t have made it in time if it had been on target. Instead it went a few inches wide, and my chance of seeing a goalkeeper score disappeared for another game. After that, he stayed on his line. Funny that.

Game 3 – Monday 30th August – Ryman Premier League, AFC Hornchurch 2 Wealdstone 1
I live in a town which is about equal distance between Dagenham and Hornchurch. If things had turned out different, I might have been a Hornchurch fan. As it was, I went to Dagenham first, and that was that. I still like to take in the occasional game at Hornchurch, but I know where my loyalties lie.

On the August bank holiday weekend, there is the Havering Town Show which takes over about a third of the local park. This year the star attractions were Stacey Soloman, one half of Chas and Dave, and Gerry and the Pacemakers. The chance to see that lot perform was tempting, but in the end a visit to a game won the day.

One consequence of our promotion in 2007 was that we lost the Bank Holiday game that we played while we were outside the football league. This has lead to some fun days out (beating Canvey away in 2005 in the blazing sunshine was quite good), and some abject days, like losing at Crawley in a year earlier. As the football league clubs don’t play, I tend to look around and see what else is going on. And this year, Hornchurch were the lucky recipients of my £9.

As you’re reading this, you will probably already have read about Stuart’s trip to Hornchurch earlier in August, so I won’t bore you with the details again. It was suffice to say that the first half of this one wasn’t the best, and only woke up when Wealdstone took the lead. Hornchurch fought back quite well, equalised from a penalty, which was either harsh, or definite, depending on a) where you were standing in the ground, and b) which team you supported. Just a couple of minutes after getting level, a neat finish from Leon Hunter put them in front and proved to be the winner.

Game 4 – Tuesday 31st August – JPT 1st round, Charlton Athletic 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
One of the things that almost all daggers fans looked forward to when we got promoted was the trip to Charlton, and the chance to visit past glories. Well, glory, as we had only visited once, and that was way back in 2001. But that was the FA Cup, and it was one of those rare occasions when the nation sits up and takes notice of a small team and their heroic exploits against a big club; the daggers (from the conference) held Premier League Charlton to a 1-1 draw, with the home team needing a late deflected equaliser from John Salako to save themselves.

Although the league visit in a month’s time is still being looked forward to, it did take a little bit of the gloss off it, when we were drawn together in the Football League Trophy. This competition is generally played in stadiums that are half empty at best, and it doesn’t seem to be taken that seriously by the teams competing either. So much so that a few years ago, a rule was introduced, saying that a certain amount of the players picked for a starting eleven had to have played the previous league game.

Cup competitions can be seen as a distraction; you only need to look at some Premier League selections for both the League and FA Cup competitions to see that. For me, they have always been a good thing, as a win in a knock out competition can help league form. When the club reached the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2003, it was in the middle of an eleven game winning run that moved us from mid-table to a play off position.

Of course, a home draw would have been better, but aside from the Essex Senior Cup, that doesn’t seem to happen. In what must be getting close to some kind of record, this was our ninth consecutive away draw in a cup competition. For the record, the last home game we were given in a cup game was in this competition, two years ago, when we beat Barnet. If anyone knows of a longer run, please let me know.

As I mentioned previously, there was now an added edge to the game, with our main striker, Paul Benson, having joined Charlton just the day before. Lots of pre-match chatter was about whether or not he would start (which he did), and what the reaction of the away support would be. Many had him down to score (which he didn’t), although he did get close on a few occasions. The chant of “what a waste of money” bought a smile from the player himself, and lots of happy laughter from the away fans.

The game itself though showed up just how tough it is going to be this season. A bit on the lightweight side up front, we coped well defensively, and in Chris Lewington, seem to have a back-up goalkeeper who is better than those we have had in the past. But the flaws are there for everyone to see. Goals could be a problem this year, and selling your best striker is not going to help. The manager though, has always got a plan and hopefully this will be no different. Otherwise this diary could get quite morbid. In (John) Still we trust!