Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll endured a nightmare debut in non-league football for Dagenham and Redbridge as his team went down 5-1 against League Two side Crawley Town in a pre-season friendly. The 36-year-old, who once broke the British transfer record when moving to Anfield from Newcastle, is making a fresh start in the sixth tier of English football after leaving Bordeaux.
Carroll endured nightmare debut for non-league clubHas returned to English football after brief stint in FranceDagenham and Redbridge lost 5-1 to Crawley TownFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Carroll came on as a substitute around the hour mark when his team was 2-1 down, and then saw a Crawley Town player, listed as 'Trialist B', score a brace to help inflict a humiliating defeat on non-league Dagenham.
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Carroll, who previously enjoyed spells at Newcastle, Liverpool, and West Ham United in the Premier League, has returned to England after a brief stint with French fourth-division club Bordeaux. Despite interest from clubs across Europe, the veteran forward chose an unexpected path and will now hope to make a meaningful impact on and off the pitch at Dagenham.
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The ex-England international has also become an investor in the non-league side as he starts planning for life after football.
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Dagenham and Redbridge will be next seen in pre-season action on July 22 as they take on another League Two outfit, Colchester, with Carroll likely to be in contention for his first start.