The 31-year-old central defender re-joined his boyhood club in November 2018, after leaving as a teenager 13 years ago.
“I started out at Dagenham & Redbridge and then got pulled into the first team before being loaned out to Thurrock. Dagenham let me go at the end of my contract, so I signed with Thurrock where I stayed for four seasons, eventually becoming captain and racking up 177 appearances, which is still up there with the leading amount.
Credit: Kenny Clark
“I then went onto play for Chelmsford City, where we had a great FA Cup run and play-off runs. I then spent five seasons at Ebbsfleet where I was also captain before coming back home,” he said.
The Daggers captain may call the East London club home, but says that his time at Ebbsfleet United has been his favourite during his playing career so far.
“When I signed there, a lot of investment had come in and the club had aspirations of being in the Football League. Peter Varney was at the club, who was the old Charlton chairman when they were in the Premier League, which meant that it was a very professional setup.
“We were in the National League South and being treated like League One players, it was the best I’ve ever felt as a player. We had pre-season trips abroad, a really good bonus scheme, it made you feel like a professional and a part of something bigger than just non-league.
Having played with and under current Daggers boss, Daryl McMahon at the Fleet, it’s no surprise that Clark lists ‘the gaffer’ as his favourite manager to have worked under.
“Daryl came in as a young hungry manager after having been one of our team-mates at Ebbsfleet before he went over to the dark side. He knew how to get the best out of us, and his coaching techniques and his philosophy are top class in my opinion. All of that combined to make us perform to our very best.
“The Gaffer is trying to instil a winning mentality, he is young and hungry and wants us to achieve things and ultimately gain promotion. I’m excited for next season, having played with him and been managed by him at Ebbsfleet, I know what he demands of his players and what he expects.
“We can really kick on next season, get our heads down and not hit the speed bump like we did this year,” he added.
The Essex native has one year left on his contract at the east London club, and hopes that he can see out the rest of his career where it all began.
“I still feel fit and healthy and my goal has always been to play until I am 35/36 years old, and I’d love to continue playing for Dagenham and being the skipper. As long as I keep doing my job and playing at a good standard then I can hopefully secure another contract.
“I see Dagenham as my final club. Being there as a kid, I’ve gone full circle with a 13-year gap in the middle where I’ve been around at other clubs. To be named skipper was a huge honour for me and I’d love to see out my last couple of years in the game at Dagenham, that would be perfect.”
Unaccredited Images courtesy of Dagenham & Redbridge
