ANDY CARROLL made his long-awaited debut for Dagenham and Redbridge – but it did not go to plan.
The former Premier League striker joined the non-league side back in July after leaving French outfit Bordeaux.
Carroll, 36, had not made a competitive appearance for the club due to a hamstring injury.
But he was finally fit enough to get some time on the pitch in the National League South clash against Worthing.
The South Coast side were welcomed to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for the eighth game of the league campaign.
Carroll started the game on the bench and watched on as his side fell 2-1 down before half-time.
The striker was sent on to try and find an equaliser in the 63rd minute in place of Donovan Wilson.
However, instead of inspiring a comeback, the Rebels extended their lead seven minutes later.
Carroll’s team-mate Joe Haigh got them back in the game as he scored directly from a corner in the 78th minute.
But it was Worthing who dominated the closing stages with two goals before full-time to seal a comprehensive 5-2 win.
Manager Lee Bradbury insisted that Carroll will be important for his side moving forward.
He said: “Andy is going to be a big player for us with his experience and the way he leads the line.
“He is a handful, he has done it at top level as a top pro, and he will only make us better and stronger.”
The English six-tier is a far cry from Carroll’s old stomping grounds during his prime.
The target man starred for the likes of West Ham, Liverpool and Newcastle United while in the Prem.
His move to Dagenham sees him land just 10 miles away from his old stomping ground, the London Stadium.
Andy Carroll’s career path
Carroll’s meteoric rise might not have lived up to expectations, but it has been a career full of twists and turns
2006 – Begins to break through with the senior team as a teenager at Newcastle
2011 – Joins Liverpool for a club record fee of £35million
2012 – Leaves Liverpool for West Ham loan before joining permanently for just £15million
2019 – Returns to Newcastle after a long but inconsistent spell in East London
2021 – Joins Reading following the expiry of his Newcastle contract
2022 – Leaves Reading for a short spell with West Brom, but quickly returns to the Royals
2023 – Moves abroad for the first time in his career with second division French side Amiens SC
2024 – Makes headlines by joining fourth-tier French side Bordeaux following their relegation over financial issues, plays for less than minimum wage
2025 – Departs Bordeaux amicably and returns to English football with Dagenham and Redbridge.
His move to Dagenham sees him land just 10 miles away from his old stomping ground, the London Stadium.
The former Hammer spent seven years in East London in which he played at both Upton Park and the 2012 Olympics venue.
Carroll won nine England caps, scoring twice, including a header against Sweden at Euro 2012.
He had already been on the pitch for the Daggers in pre-season as they were beaten 5-1 by Crawley Town.
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