Steve Thompson MD

“I have the best job in the world”, says Daggers MD

Sara Odeen-Isbister, Reporter Wednesday, November 16, 2011
2:30 PM

Steve Thompson, the managing director of the Daggers, speaks about his job.

I wasn’t actually a big football fan before I joined the club in 1981. Some friends of mine were very good at the sport and one of them used to run a Sunday morning side which trained in Victoria Road – that’s how I got involved in the club. I’m a huge football fan now.

My role as managing director involves managing the day-to-day running of the club and its 164 full and part-time staff. I oversee a number of areas including marketing, the commercial side of the club and the clubhouse. I also liaise with the other directors, the club’s partners and our suppliers.

It can be a stressful job, especially when the team is not doing well. When the team is performing well it’s easy.

I want them to be as good as they can be as it means a huge amount for the community.

One of the highlights of my career here so far was when we were promoted to the Football League in 2007. It was very exciting, but daunting as well. Some of the supporters didn’t think we would survive in the league but we have.

As a club we do a lot more than run a football team, we also work hard to support people in the community. Our initiatives include young people’s coaching and apprenticeship schemes. We also offer the clubhouse as a base for local groups. If you are in the position to help like we are, I think it’s important you do.

To be able to support residents means a lot to me, especially as I grew up nearby and went to two Dagenham schools: St Joseph’s and Bishop Ward (now All Saints).

I’m hoping to stay at the club for a while yet. I think I have the best job in the world. No doubt they’ll have to carry me out one day.”