POIGNANT moments are what make lower league football special and there was one such moment at Victoria Road on Saturday.

Lee Goodwin tasted league football for seven minutes in what turned out to be his 244th - and last-ever - appearance as a player for the Daggers.

It was a bitter-sweet moment for Goodwin; the 29-year-old has been on the sidelines for some two years and is the club's longest serving player and only surviving link to the Garry Hill era.

The fans cheered his every touch when he took the field as an 88th minute substitute against Mansfield Town because most would have thought he may not wear the Daggers shirt again. Many though, would have realised it would be his last for the east Londoners.

The Stepney-born defender added he was so keen to play against the Stags that he laid out every one of his shirts from the last ten years in the kit room to convince manager John Still to give him a final run out.

Goodwin (pictured) said: "I knew I was going to be emotional. I have always given 110 per cent for the fans and the club and off the pitch I do a lot of things externally for them.

"It's a very difficult situation.

"The fans are singing your name and you can feel yourself wrenching up.

"It's not until you finish you realise how much it means to you.

"I said to the boys treasure every second that you're involved with this football club or any football club because it can be over tomorrow."

Two years ago Goodwin seriously injured his lateral cartilage in his knee that not only threatened his footballing future but also his ability to walk properly.

He attended the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Middlesex, for regular therapy and that was where his third and most major operation was conducted by a renowned surgeon.

His first operation about a year ago saw cells taken out of his knee and grown in a culture for six months before having them put back in the knee two months later.

The defender said: "It's been two years of hell to be honest.

"Eight operations and almost a never ending ladder for me to get back but I'm pleased to have made an appearance in the Football League and it's been an honour to serve the club for ten years.

"I've made the decision to knock it on the head but it is a positive thing because it enables me to get involved in the coaching maybe three or four years earlier than I anticipated and I'm hoping I can go and be as successful in that than I have been at Dagenham."

Goodwin has been running the club's reserve side to gain coaching experience but has already had offers from several non-league clubs to be their assistant manager.

"I'm going to have a chat with John next week. I would like to stay involved with the club in some coaching capacity if I can," he said.

"Dagenham is a great club to learn from. John is a very clever and talented manager and if I can just have a year of picking his brains and finish my coaching badges that will give me a good stead to kick on in the game."