Rob Edmans hopes his trading days are behind him

From the hustle and bustle of the City to professional football, Rob Edmans is living every London commuter’s daydream – but the centre forward has had to be patient to get there.

Edmans used to combine playing for Chelmsford City with a 40-hour-plus week at a currency brokerage near Bank station, until Daggers boss John Still offered him the chance to turn professional in the summer.

The 25-year-old arrived at Victoria Road with a broken leg suffered at the back end of last season and subsequent ankle problems have restricted him to four substitute appearances in Daggers colours – the most recent in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Northampton Town.

But having waited so long for his big break, Edmans is determined to remain patient as he seeks to prove himself in the Football League.

“Last year I was working in London as a salesman and I worked 8am-6pm every day, so to come and play football every day is a dream come true,” he said.

“It was long hours working in financial markets. It was good, I enjoyed it. But I was getting the 5.30am train to London every morning and it’s a graft.

“I’m very fortunate to do what I do and I still have the perspective that I’m very fortunate to be here and I don’t take it for granted.

“Football has been difficult at times, but I’d like to think I’ve stayed motivated through it all and hopefully I can just keep going until the end of the season.

“When I decided to turn pro I knew I had to give it my best, because if it doesn’t work out I’ll be back there.

“Last Christmas at Chelmsford I decided I was going to get my head down and get fit. I was 24 and thought I’ve just got to give football everything and see what happens.

“Luckily I had a good run at the end of last year and was picked up by Dagenham.”

Daggers place in League Two could remain under threat all season, with the relegation picture changing week on week.

But having waited so long to get his first taste of professional football, Edmans is determined not to let that slip away and backs his team-mates to score the goals required to keep his and the supporters’ dreams alive.

“This club means a lot to a lot of people,” he said.

“If you’ve worked a few hours in the day then come to watch us on a Tuesday night, or if you’ve worked all week and come to spend your Saturday watching us I don’t take that for granted and the other players don’t either.

“We’ve got lots of great forwards at the club. Sam Williams is a very good player out at the moment and Josh (Scott) is serving a suspension, but whoever plays up front has got the ability to score goals.

“I can be a nuisance in the air, I’m a big guy, but I’m pretty quick as well.

“I can get the ball down. I’m something different to the other forwards and hopefully between us we can start scoring some goals to keep us up.”

Josh Scott completes his three-match suspension on Saturday, so Edmans could be in contention for his first start against Macclesfield.

And the target-man is fit and raring to go, should he get the nod.

“I’d love to start and play 90 minutes, but whatever John Still says I trust,” he added.

“I’ve been out a long time. It took a while for my touch and the basics to come back. Finally I think that’s there, now it’s just about getting minutes under my belt.”