Daggers in Focus, Mark Arber

In the second interview of this Daggers Scale feature, I got the chance to pose a series of questions submitted by supporters to former Dagenham & Redbridge captain Mark Arber. All the names of people who submitted questions have been removed, apart from one who Mark had a special message to.  A massive thanks goes to Mark for taking part, and without further ado, here's what he had to say.

1) Of the current crop of players, who do you think has the potential to play at a higher level? 

MA: I think most of the current squad have the “potential” but fulfilling that is the hardest thing for any player to do.

2) What would you class your greatest achievement as whilst at the Daggers and why?

MA: Winning the club player of the year award in our promotion season as captain, and knowing that I did it in a side which reached the highest level of football that the club has ever been too.

3) Did you enjoy playing in the Daggers style of play or would you rather have played in a more pass and move orientated approach? 

MA: I enjoyed the “winning” and being successful side of it, and having played against that style of play believe me it is very difficult to combat. But yes, I think we had the players to play a more passing game when I was at the club.

4) John is known for bringing through young players, but do you think there were any youngsters during your time at the club who you think could have made it, but were let go too early?

MA: Not really. I think the manager always encouraged the younger players to better themselves and gave them enough chances to express themselves on the pitch.

Mark signs for Dartford
www.dartfordfconline.com

5) You’re currently at Dartford and at the time of writing the Darts are 4^th in the league following an impressive victory over Mansfield, how are you enjoying it at Princes Park and how are you combining it with your coaching role at Arsenal? 

MA: To be honest I was a little sceptical about continuing to play but when I decided to carry on playing on a part-time basis I had a number of offers and it made me realise I still have plenty to offer. This obviously allows me to continue to coach at Arsenal as much as I possibly can. I currently work with the Under 13’s within the Academy.

6) What coaching qualifications do you currently have and where do you see yourself in three years time with both your qualifications and role within a club?

MA: I am a Level 3 qualified coach with full FA Youth Modules. I am due to take my A Licence in the summer of 2013. I am going to play for as long as the body allows, so touch wood in 3 years I will still be playing somewhere.

7) Was your release a bit of a shock, or were you aware of it in advance? 

MA: It was probably the biggest shock of my footballing career. Due to the circumstances, I found it very difficult to swallow.

8) Can you tell us a story from the dressing room/training ground that no one will have heard before?

MA: Not many people know this but in all the time I was there we always had pictures of players on the walls of the dressing room who had got us to where we are now. 

9) You were captain for at least one of our 6-0 wins, what sort of game is that to be a part of? How did you feel as captain to win 6-0 in the Play off Semi Finals? (Auntie Merge from the forum)

Arbs celebrates the 2nd leg win vs Morecambe
www.metro.co.uk

MA: Pretty easy from a defensive point of view. I think the performance against Morecambe that day was the best Daggers one I have ever seen or played in. I recently watched the game again and honestly believe on that day we would have beat anyone (PS Hope your headaches are getting better xxx)

10) Who was your favourite centre back partner and favourite player to have played alongside whilst at the Daggers in general? 

MA: Anwar Uddin. I replaced him as Captain and he took it like a “Man” and a true professional. Tony Roberts as well, I only saw him on a Friday but he could still produce the goods on a Saturday.

11) Can you give us any names to look out for in the Arsenal Youth Set up that you coach that you believe will make it as professionals? 

MA: Have you got a crystal ball? Chuba Akpom is an Under 16 England international who I coached when he was a youngster. Reports are that he is doing very well.

Chuba Akpom
www.u.goal.com

12) If you had a choice to play for either England or South Africa, who would you choose and why? 

MA: Realistically South Africa. I was in 3 World Cup squads while playing for Peterborough, and had issues with my passport that ultimately stopped me from playing for them. That was a major disappointment.

13) How do you compare the Conference and League Two in terms of standard, is there much of a gulf in class? 

MA: I think it varies. The Conference top 6 would easily cope in League 2 now, although the Stevenage team I played in would have won this year’s league by 20 points in my honest opinion.

14) How is your relationship with John Still now, and are you still in contact with any of the players you played with whilst here? 

MA: I owe him a lot. I worked under him for a large part of my career. I haven’t spoken to him since the day I left the club though. Yes, of course - I still speak to a number of players through the different era of each team.

15) Do you think Abu was the best choice to replace you as captain if so why, and what words of advice did you offer him? 

MA: Yes, I think he has the respect of all the players. I spoke to him on the phone, and simply told him to carry on in the traditions of the club and make sure the “team spirit” we had created continued under him.

16) From a personal point of view, what is your favourite Daggers performance and what was your favourite game to be a part of? 

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk
Arbs celebrates the Play Off Final victory with Jon Nurse.

MA: The Wembley win will never leave me. To Captain a winning team there is the stuff dreams are made of. On Opposite side of the coin our 3-2 win at Darlington in our inaugural Football League campaign to guarantee survival was immense in it’s own right.

17) And finally, can you sum up what it means to be a Dagger in 3 words.

MA: A great honour. 

Once again, a massive thanks to Mark for taking part and answering the questions. You can follow him on Twitter where his username is, @1Arbs.

Next up for the Blog is AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, whilst you can also see me writing in the LBBD Newspaper, "The News", next Monday. As for this feature, I'll be attempting to get an interview with another former Daggers star over the course of the next few weeks!

Daggers In Focus, Chris Moore

As part of a new feature I'm rolling out, I'll be interviewing various people connected with the club from both the past, and the present. The first man up is someone who a lot of us know very well from his two stints at Victoria Road, it's none other than Chrissy Moore!

1) I think I’m right in saying you’re currently playing for Uxbridge in the Evo Stik League Southern – Division One Central; how are they doing and how are you finding it?

CM : It's a fantastic club with some fantastic people, from the board down to the tea lady, they all work so hard and are all still there from when I was originally at the club, similar to the Daggers really. Furthermore its where it all started for me back in 97, making my senior debut. Its been going really well, I signed at the start of the season, but only played a handful of games because I twisted my knee playing squash in August, due to that and a few personal issues, I have only just started playing again in the last couple of weeks. We are doing well currently, just outside the play-off positions and hoping to push on at the tail end of the season. The fact the manager is Tony Choules who was manager of Northwood at the time the Daggers signed me is also a great help.

 

2) Do you keep in touch with any of your old team mates?

CM: Yes, I keep in touch with Anwar Uddin regulary on the phone. I also keep in contact with Sam Saunders, Danny Foster, Glen Southam, Tony Roberts, Mark Janney, Ben Strevens, Sam Sloma, Ed Thompson, CMS, Dave Rainford, Shane Blackett & the Piper Brothers.

 

3) During your time in football, who had the biggest influence on you?

CM: I can't say that anyone person has had a direct influence really. All of my former managers I suppose (barring a couple), have been at the other end of the phone for advice when I've needed them

4) A question that has been asked a lot is, If you could go back and do it all again, would you have chosen to stay with the Daggers at the end of your first spell with us, moreover what persuaded you to move to Brentford?

CM: The situation was in the summer when i had a year left on my contract. There was talk of interest from Hull City & Cardiff City etc, and it made me think, ''I want a crack at the league.'' I sat down with John Still and I was always open and told him this. We spoke about a new contract a couple of times, but I was really set on the idea of playing in the league. John understood I was 25/26 and wasn't going get many more oppotunities, so I played the last year of my contract out. This wasn't ideal as I would have liked the club to get something for me as they had been good to me.

I remember Kettering in the January before the season was up, offering a token amount and extortionate wages for a few months to help them get promotion to the conference, but money has never been my motivator, so I said no. I kept in touch with John over the summer to keep him updated, during this time I met a few other clubs; Torquay, Bristol Rovers, Gillingham, Southend United for example. Then Leroy Rosenior phoned and told me he wanted me at Brentford, he then told me his Chief scout had a chat with John, moreover he asked if I could I go to meet him at the ground. They had just missed out on promotion to the Championship at the time and are a fantastic club, so it was a good move for me. However if the Daggers were in the league at the time, I would never have left.

5) Do you regret the way your career has gone since your 2nd stint with us?

CM: Erm Probably. I kind of went into a sulk if you like, leaving the club at the end of the season not playing as regulary as I would have liked. I'd also become a father during my 2nd spell, and understandbly wanted to just spend some time with my family. Then Jeff King phoned and spoke of his plans with Chelmsford City. It seemed perfect as it was part time, furthermore it allowed me to spend precious time with my daughter, as well as being able to play football. In Hindsight, I should have stayed full-time for as long as possible.

6) Looking back now, do you regret not becoming a consistent League Two player?

CM: My 2nd spell at the Daggers was littered with injuries and illness, so I never felt i did myself justice. But yes I do.

7) Who was your favourite strike partner in your time here, any particular reason why?

CM: All for different things. CMS, as he did all my running and we seemed to work so well together. Benno as you knew he was going to score in every game. I also enjoyed playing with Strevs, although we could never play together (apparently) (This was said in a somewhat sarcastic tone by Chrissy.)

8) Chris got sent this by someone on Twitter this afternoon and felt obliged to give an answer. What happened in your time at Brentford?

CM: I had quite a rough time at Brentford. I went from scoring in my first two games with the team playing well, to hitting a wall after 6 or 7 matches; during this period we couldn't buy a win. Rosenior eventually got the sack and the new manager (Scott Fitzgerald), told me if I kept playing as like I did in Roseniors last game, then I would be in his side, but sitting in the stands! I was then told by the club that they had received offers from two Conference sides (Grays & Exeter), for my services. I said that I wanted to stay and fight for my place, only to be sent to train with the youth team for refusing to leave!! I made a couple appearances after that due to injuries, however it my confidence massively. As soon as John Still phoned and asked me to come back, I was back at Victoria Road the next day.



Gary Hill & Terry Harris
Taken from http://www.fansfocus.net/



9)You played under John Still & Gary Hill, where there any major similarities or difference between the two as managers?  

CM: John is very hands on and along with Terry Harris, would be at every training session. However Gary wasnt always at training, but was fantastic in the dressing room. I owe him a lot for taking a gamble on me.

10) You’ve played 139 matches in your two stints combined, but what was your favourite match & favourite memory?

CM: Aldershot at home when we clinched the Conference championship sticks out as a memory. As for favourite match, Stevenage away when I scored on my full debut, plus Shrewsbury at home which ended 5-1, when I scored 2 goals.

11) Can you tell us a story from the dressing room that no one will have heard before?

CM: I once filled Shane Blackett's bag with live crickets, locusts and all sorts of other bugs from the pet shop once as a practical joke. There was also the time when I put a huge African snail in Sam Saunders car, along with some Spinach to munch on. I can honestly say I've never seen two grown men so scared in all my life.

12) What do you think of the current squad and can you pick out anyone in particular that you think will go far?

CM: To be honest, apart from Arbs, Gainy, Nursey, Hogan and Tomlin who I played with at Brentford; I dont know too much as I haven't been able to get to any games. I've played against Josh Scott a few times and hes a good player, hopefully he can stay injury free and fire the Daggers to safety.

13) What's the favourite goal you've ever scored in a Daggers shirt, describe it as best you can.

CM: My debut goal against Stevenage springs to mind. Shippy took a shot, the keeper palmed it out and I volleyed it in with......MY RIGHT FOOT!!! But my all time favourite has to be my 2nd at home to Shrewsbury. I got the ball near the half way line, went round two or three players before smashing the ball into the corner from the edge of the box.

14)Who was the best character you came across in the Daggers dressing room and why?

CM: No individual, just that whole squad during that championship winning season. I doubt that character and spirit has ever been matched anywhere, they were special times.

15) Do you have any coaching badges, or do you plan to go into coaching at any point?

CM: I'm in the process of getting them sorted, at some point in the near future I'd love to coach at an acaedmy or something like that.

16) Finally, during your time in football, who had the biggest influence and who inspired you to become a footballer?

CM: Both my parents really. They have brought up six of us, including triplets. However, they were always there to support me during the early years of my career, and regulary came to my games.



To Quote John Still...



Thanks for taking part and are there any last words you’d like to leave the Daggers supporters on?

CM: Probably good to end this with one of Stillys favourite sayings, ''NEVER TOO HIGH NEVER TOO LOW.'' Win together, lose together.  I had the best years of my life so far at the Daggers, due to the fantastic support you gave me and the boys during my time there. It's something I will never forget, not to mention that I have made some friends for life; for that I thank you... oh and KEEP THE FAITH, THE DAGGERS ARE STAYING UP!!

I would like to thank Chris a lot for agreeing to take part to the interview, you can follow the hitman on Twitter with, @Mooro23.

You can also follow myself on Twitter, for that you'll need, @NickDRFCMurphy.

Next up where this Blog is concerned, is my match report from AFC Wimbledon at the weekend. Until then, have a good week.