Andy Carroll (foto: Official TW/IG/FB account)
Former Premier League striker Andy Carroll rolled back the years with a stunning first-half hat-trick for Dagenham & Redbridge, marking his best performance since returning to England.
Andy Carroll may no longer be lighting up the Premier League, but the former Newcastle and Liverpool striker showed he hasn’t lost his scoring touch. The 36-year-old netted a brilliant first-half hat-trick for Dagenham & Redbridge in their 4-1 win over AFC Totton in the National League South.
Carroll opened the scoring after just six minutes before doubling his tally in the 18th minute. He completed his hat-trick just after the half-hour mark with a composed finish after cushioning the ball past the defender and slotting beyond the goalkeeper.
It was a throwback to the towering forward’s best years alongside Luis Suárez at Liverpool, with Carroll now enjoying football again after a turbulent few seasons abroad. The veteran, who has been capped nine times for England, already has six goals this season and posted after the game: “Thanks for the support today, buzzing with my hat-trick and the three points. What a win. Let’s keep it going.”
After short spells with Newcastle, West Ham, Reading, and most recently Amiens in France, Carroll’s move to non-league Dagenham seems to have rekindled his passion for the game. He has also recently gone public with a new relationship with celebrity hair stylist Lou Teasdale, known for her work with One Direction.
Off the pitch, Carroll made headlines earlier this month after being fined for filming an anti-immigration protest while driving in Epping last summer. He pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and was ordered to pay £1,052 in fines and costs.
Meanwhile, Carroll and his ex-partner Billi Mucklow have listed their £8 million Essex mansion for sale. The six-bedroom home, once owned by Sir Rod Stewart, boasts 25 acres, a football pitch, and a private lake. The couple had reportedly agreed an £8.5m sale earlier this year but have since reduced the price through luxury estate agents Savills.
While Carroll’s off-field life remains complex, his hat-trick showed flashes of the power and precision that once made him one of England’s most feared strikers. For now, he looks happy — and lethal again — in Dagenham’s red shirt.