Jake Leberl Returns to Victoria Road with Dover vs Dagenham

Key Points

• Dover Athletic manager and former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Jake Leberl is preparing for an emotionally significant return to his old club’s ground, Victoria Road, in a National League South fixture tonight.
• The match sees Dover Athletic and Dagenham & Redbridge both seeking to “kick-start a good run” after inconsistent or poor recent form.
• Dagenham & Redbridge, managed by Lee Bradbury, are playing at Step 2 in the National League South this season, having been as high as League One in 2011, underlining the scale of their decline in the last decade.
• The Daggers’ hierarchy and Bradbury targeted promotion this season, assembling a competitive squad with the clear objective of returning to the National League’s top tier at the first attempt.
• In a major summer statement of intent, Dagenham & Redbridge signed former England and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, signalling their ambition and financial commitment at Step 2 level.
• Despite that ambitious recruitment and promotion talk, Dagenham & Redbridge go into tonight’s game 15th in National League South, having suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions.
• Dover Athletic, under Leberl, currently sit 14th, one point ahead of Bradbury’s Daggers, adding extra importance to the fixture in terms of momentum and league position.
• Leberl has expressed disappointment at how far Dagenham & Redbridge have fallen since their League One days, stressing that it is “sad to see” his former club struggling lower down the pyramid.
• The Dover boss has also made clear that sentiment will be set aside once the match begins, insisting that his focus is on securing a positive result for Dover Athletic and building a sustained upward run.
• The occasion is expected to carry added emotion for Leberl, who has strong memories of Victoria Road as a player and retains respect for the Dagenham & Redbridge support.
• Both sides recognise the fixture as an opportunity to reset their seasons, with a win potentially lifting either club towards the top half and easing pressure after recent results.

Dagenham (Kent Online Sport) January 20, 2026 – Dover Athletic manager and former Dagenham & Redbridge player Jake Leberl has admitted his disappointment at the Daggers’ struggles in recent years as he prepares to return to Victoria Road for tonight’s National League South meeting between the sides, a game he hopes will spark a sustained upturn in form for his current club.

Why is Jake Leberl’s return to Victoria Road significant?

Leberl’s return to Victoria Road carries particular resonance because he enjoyed an important spell at Dagenham & Redbridge as a player, experiencing some of the club’s stronger years in the upper reaches of the non-league game and in the Football League. As reported by local sports writers covering the build-up, Leberl has spoken about his affection for the club and the memories he associates with the ground, even as he now arrives in the away dugout as Dover manager.

That sense of nostalgia is tempered by his professional duty. In pre-match comments carried by regional football coverage, Leberl has been clear that once the whistle blows his loyalty lies entirely with Dover Athletic, stressing that sentiment “goes out of the window” on match day and that his sole priority is to guide Dover to three points and a platform for a better run in the league.​

How badly have Dagenham & Redbridge declined in recent years?

Dagenham & Redbridge’s current place in National League South, the sixth tier of English football, contrasts starkly with their position as a League One club as recently as 2011, when they were competing three divisions higher in the pyramid. Coverage by non-league specialists has repeatedly highlighted this fall, referencing their time in the third tier and subsequent relegations as a cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can change for smaller Football League clubs.

As reported by journalists tracking their long-term trajectory, the Daggers have endured a period marked by financial constraints, managerial changes and inconsistent results, eventually slipping out of the National League’s top division and into Step 2, where they are now attempting to rebuild and reassert themselves as promotion contenders rather than relegation candidates.​

What are Dagenham & Redbridge’s ambitions and how does Andy Carroll’s signing fit in?

In pre-season interviews and coverage, Dagenham & Redbridge’s hierarchy and manager Lee Bradbury were open about targeting an immediate return to the higher level, outlining promotion as the clear goal for this campaign. Reporters covering their summer business described their transfer activity as that of a club determined to compete at the top of the division rather than merely stabilise, with Bradbury speaking about creating a squad with the experience and quality to handle promotion pressure.

Within that context, the signing of former England and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll was widely presented as a “statement of intent” by multiple outlets, underlining both the scale of the club’s ambition and the willingness to make a bold move in the market. Pre-season pieces stressed that Carroll’s arrival at Victoria Road, a ground far removed from the Premier League arenas where he once played, symbolised Dagenham’s desire to make a powerful impact at Step 2 and to attract attention beyond the usual non-league circles.​

How do the teams’ current league positions and form shape this fixture?

Ahead of tonight’s match, the league table places Dover Athletic marginally above Dagenham & Redbridge, with Dover in 14th and the Daggers in 15th, separated by a single point after the recent run of fixtures. Match previews have emphasised that, despite the small gap, those positions feel uncomfortable for a Dagenham side that began the season talking about promotion rather than mid-table consolidation.

As set out in recent non-league round-ups, Dagenham come into the game on the back of three consecutive defeats in all competitions, a sequence that has halted their momentum and increased scrutiny on their ability to translate ambition into results. Dover’s form has been more mixed than disastrous, but Leberl and his players are still looking for greater consistency, and the manager has framed this trip as an opportunity to “kick-start a good run” for his side against a club that, on paper, were expected to be pushing at the other end of the table.​

Why is Jake Leberl disappointed by Dagenham & Redbridge’s recent struggles?

Leberl’s disappointment stems from his personal connection to Dagenham & Redbridge and his awareness of what the club once represented within the lower leagues. In interviews captured by local sports media, he has referenced the pride associated with the Daggers’ time in League One and their reputation as a fiercely competitive side that punched above its weight in the Football League.

Reflecting on their current standing, Leberl has reportedly described it as “sad” to see Dagenham operating at Step 2 and struggling for results, particularly given the efforts of players, staff and supporters during his own spell there. At the same time, he has underlined that football moves quickly and that clubs must adapt and rebuild, noting that his sympathy for the Daggers’ situation cannot soften Dover’s approach to what he views as an important game for his own team’s season.​

What has been said about Andy Carroll’s impact and the expectations around him?

Football writers covering non-league and EFL circles have treated Andy Carroll’s move to Dagenham & Redbridge as one of the most eye-catching transfers at this level in recent memory, drawing on his high-profile career with clubs such as Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham United. Comment pieces have suggested that his signing brought an immediate boost in visibility and expectation, with supporters and pundits anticipating that his physical presence and experience could tilt tight games in Dagenham’s favour.

At the same time, analysis pieces have cautioned that relying too heavily on a single marquee name carries risks, particularly with a player whose career has been affected by injuries. Those reports have emphasised that, while Carroll’s arrival is a symbol of ambition and a potential game-changer at National League South level, Dagenham’s promotion hopes ultimately depend on collective performance, squad depth and defensive solidity rather than just one headline signing.​

How is Lee Bradbury approaching the current pressure on Dagenham & Redbridge?

Coverage of Lee Bradbury’s tenure has highlighted the balancing act he faces between acknowledging the club’s recent poor run and projecting calm to the fanbase and dressing room. In recent interviews reported by local and non-league media, Bradbury has spoken about the need to “stick to the process”, expressing confidence that performances will yield better results if the team maintains its work ethic and tactical discipline.

There has also been mention of the expectations set before the season, with Bradbury reiterating that the target remains to push up the table and compete in the higher reaches rather than settle for mid-table anonymity. Reports suggest he views tonight’s fixture against Dover Athletic as an early chance in 2026 to reset the narrative, halt the losing streak and show that Dagenham can still match their pre-season billing as promotion contenders despite their current position.​

What does this match mean for Dover Athletic’s season?

For Dover Athletic, the trip to Victoria Road represents more than just a nostalgic return for their manager; it is a practical opportunity to gain ground in a congested mid-table and to move closer to the pack eyeing the play-off places. Regional reports have noted that Dover’s campaign has been characterised by flashes of promise without the sustained run required to climb decisively into the top half.

Leberl has framed the meeting with Dagenham as a potential turning point, with the emotional backdrop of his former club adding an edge but not determining the stakes. He has stressed, in comments reproduced by local outlets, that Dover must be “ruthless” in exploiting Dagenham’s poor form, while also recognising that a response from the home side is likely given the frustration around their recent sequence of defeats and the expectations of the Victoria Road crowd.​

How are supporters and the wider non-league community viewing the fixture?

Among supporters and commentators within the non-league community, tonight’s game has been flagged as a fascinating clash between a traditional Football League name seeking to rediscover its identity and a Dover side that has experienced its own ups and downs in recent years. Fan discussion and preview pieces have pointed out the narrative layers: a former player returning as an opposing manager, a big-name striker in Andy Carroll trying to spark a misfiring attack, and two clubs whose current league positions do not fully reflect their pre-season aspirations.

There is also an appreciation that the National League South remains highly competitive, with narrow margins between mid-table and play-off contention. As several analysis pieces have observed, a single result – whether a resounding home win for Dagenham & Redbridge or a confident away success for Dover Athletic – could significantly shift the mood at either club, influencing recruitment decisions, tactical tweaks and crowd atmosphere as the campaign moves into its decisive months.