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New signing Lewis quick to adopt the 'Dagger' mentality
18 July 2010
By BEN WELCH (E-mail Ben)
STUART LEWIS has barely been at Dagenham & Redbridge a month and already he knows what it means to be a Dagger.
The 22-year-old has hardly had time to unpack his jockstrap since arriving from Gillingham and manager John Still has installed the 'Dagenham & Redbridge 'til I die' microchip.
"Being a Dagger is the club motto," said the midfielder.
"It's about being more than just a footballer - it's about having the right personality, work ethic, winning mentality and the desire to work together.
"As a Dagger you have to give everything all the time, whether that be in training, in the gym or in games, so that when it comes to a match day you're ready."
Lewis joined the Victoria Road club on a three-year contract, along with Histon left-back Gareth Gwillim, who signed a two-year deal.
The signings of Lewis and Gwillim were the first by Still since the Daggers claimed their historic League Two play-off victory at Wembley.
The acquisition of Lewis could prove significant as Dagenham & Redbridge try to make the step-up to League One.
The challenge awaiting Still's troops is familiar territory for the former Tottenham reserve player as he was part of the Gillingham side that won the Coca Cola League Two play-off final in 2009.
Still in his early twenties and equipped with League One know-how Lewis ticks all the boxes for Dagenham & Redbridge.
And as he comes to the end of his third week in east London the former Arsenal youth player is convinced the club have no reason to fear relegation.
"I've only been here a short while, but from what I've seen relegation is not something we even have to contemplate," said Lewis.
"Yes it's going to be tough and everyone is going to have to be at the top of their game and working hard, but I've seen enough to know this team has what it takes to cope at this level. The desire to succeed at Daggers is second to none.
"There's plenty of talent and ability in this squad. There are no concerns from a football side of things."
The former England C player has been overwhelmed by the unity of the squad and the collective thirst for success.
"I'm not exaggerating when I say the team spirit here is something else. The atmosphere at the club is fantastic. Everyone has been really welcoming. I'm really enjoying it," beamed Lewis.
"Talking from other experiences there can be cliques at a new club, but I can honestly say there is nothing like that at Dagenham - everyone is pulling in the same direction.
"Everyone is working hard for each other, which is great. The work ethic and banter amongst the lads has been first class."
As a current of excitement conducts through the squad, Lewis explains there's an insatiable hunger to get the season started and where better to for the club to kick-off their League One adventure than the Steel City to take on three time FA Cup winners Sheffield Wednesday.
The Daggers players, who played in front of an average crowd of 2,088 at Victoria Road last season, will find themselves in the belly of Hillsborough where the Owls' average home attendance was 23,179 - the sixth best in the Championship.
"It's a massive game and there's a lot of buzz around the opening day," said Lewis.
"They're one of the big clubs in the league and it's games like this that we as footballers look forward to - it's what we're in the game for, it's what we work hard for." "Football is a dodgy game to manage in and I wish him the best of luck with it."
Log on to the Barking & Dagenham Post tomorrow for midfielder Stuart Thurgood's memories from his time playing in Japan for Shimzu S-Pulse in Japan.
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