Christopher Dagnall (born 15 April 1986) is an English footballer who plays for side Wythenshawe Town, where he holds the role of player-coach.
He began his career at Tranmere Rovers, where he debuted age 17 in 2003. In January 2006 he was loaned to Rochdale, where he moved permanently in the summer. He scored 60 goals across all competitions for the Dale, leaving for Scunthorpe United in 2010 after helping them achieve promotion to League One. In January 2012, he signed for Barnsley, where he struggled and was loaned to Bradford City and Coventry City. He spent 18 months scoring more frequently at Leyton Orient, before moving in 2015 to Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League, leaving after one season to join Hibernian. Two years at Crewe Alexandra then followed, before he linked up with Bury in the summer of 2018. In January 2019, he rejoined his first club Tranmere Rovers.
Career Tranmere Rovers Dagnall was born in Liverpool and played for Tranmere Rovers from the age of 13 as a trainee. On 13 September 2003, at the age of 17, he was included in a matchday squad for the first time by manager Ray Mathias, coming on as a late substitute for Ryan Taylor in a goalless Second Division match against Peterborough United at Prenton Park, and had a 20-yard shot saved by their goalkeeper Mark Tyler. He went on to make 10 league appearances and one League Cup appearance, and scored his first career goal by equalising in a 3–1 away defeat to Luton Town on 6 October. Tranmere narrowly missed out on the play-offs, finishing in eighth place.
He started the next season on 10 August 2004 by scoring his first Prenton Park goal in a 2–1 home win against Hartlepool United, where he was shown a second yellow card and was sent off for jumping into the crowd. He began to score more frequently finishing the season with six goals, with Tranmere winning every game in which he scored. Tranmere finished the season in third place, however they lost to Hartlepool in the play-offs.
He made several appearances at the start of the following season including his FA Cup debut which was a 2–1 loss away to future club Bradford City. On 13 January 2006 he went on loan to Rochdale of League Two, originally on a temporary basis. Rochdale A.F.C 13 January 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He spent the rest of the season at Spotland and scored three goals in 21 appearances, including a last-minute equaliser for a 1–1 draw at Rushden & Diamonds on 15 April.
Rochdale In July 2006, Rochdale made the move permanent for an initial fee of £25,000, with manager Steve Parkin seeing Dagnall as a replacement for top scorer Grant Holt, who had signed for Nottingham Forest for £300,000."Rochdale bring in striker Dagnall". BBC Sport. 26 March 2012. He made his second debut for Rochdale in a 1–0 loss at home to Walsall, coming on as a late substitute. Rochdale A.F.C 5 August 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He scored regularly for Rochdale including braces against Boston United, Wrexham and Peterborough. Rochdale A.F.C. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He scored his first hat-trick in a 5–0 win at Spotland against Macclesfield Town on 21 April 2007. Rochdale A.F.C 21 April 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He ended the season with 17 league goals, finishing joint fourth top scorer in the league. ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
In the following season he received an injury after playing just eight games, which led to a lengthy lay-off. He did not play from September 2007 until March 2008, where he marked his return with a hat-trick in a 4–1 win against Rotherham United in his first game back."Rochdale 4–1 Rotherham" 24 March 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2012. In May, he scored in three consecutive games which included a draw at home to Shrewsbury, and in both play-off semi-final legs against Darlington, losing the first game and winning the second a week later. The tie went to penalties which Rochdale won 5–4."Rochdale 2–1 Darlington" Rochdale A.F.C. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2012. However Rochdale lost 3–2 in the final at Wembley to Stockport County."Stockport 3–2 Rochdale" Rochdale A.F.C. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He finished the season with nine league goals, despite only playing 17 games.
His first goal of the 2008–09 season came in a 3–1 home win against Barnet."Rochdale 3–1 Barnet" BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2012. On 21 October 2008 he scored his third career hat-trick in a 6–1 home win against Chester."Rochdale 6–1 Chester" BBC Sport. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2012. On 3 March 2009 Dagnall received the second red card of his career, coming in a 2–1 away defeat to Barnet."Barnet 2–1 Rochdale" BBC Sport. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He finished the season with 10 goals, helping Rochdale to another play-off semi-final, where they were beaten by Gillingham."Gillingham 2–1 Rochdale" Rochdale A.F.C. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
Dagnall scored six goals in the first 10 league games at the start of the 2009–10 season, including a brace against Torquay United on 12 September 2009."Rochdale 2–1 Torquay" 12 September 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2012. On 27 March 2010 he scored another hat-trick, this time in a 4–1 win against Grimsby Town."Rochdale 4–1 Grimsby" 27 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012. On 17 April 2010 Rochdale beat Northampton Town 1–0 at home to secure their first promotion for 41 years. He finished the season with 20 goals, his highest ever total."League Two Scorers 2009–2010" Yahoo!EuroSport. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
Scunthorpe United On 2 June 2010, Dagnall joined Championship side Scunthorpe United on a free transfer, signing an initial three-year deal."Scunthorpe United sign Rochdale striker Chris Dagnall" BBC Sport. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He made his debut on 7 August in a 2–1 win against Reading at the Madjeski Stadium."Reading 1–2 Scunthorpe" BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012. His first Scunthorpe goals came in the League Cup second round as he scored two goals in a 4–2 win against Sheffield Wednesday on 24 August."Scunthorpe 4–2 Sheffield Wednesday" BBC Sport. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012. His first league goals came two weeks later as he again scored twice, this time in a 4–0 away win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane."Sheffield United 0–4 Scunthorpe" BBC Sport. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2012. His three other goals in his first season with Scunthorpe came in wins against Preston, Burnley and Nottingham Forest. Scunthorpe were relegated at the end of the season, finishing bottom of the Championship.
He stayed with Scunthorpe as they started the season in League One, and scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 League Cup away win against Accrington Stanley on 9 August 2011."Accrington 0–2 Scunthorpe" BBC Sport. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He followed this up with a goal against Oldham Athletic a week later."Scunthorpe 1–2 Oldham" BBC Sport. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2012. In the next round of the League Cup, he scored against Premier League side Newcastle United, as his team lost 2–1 after extra time at Glanford Park."Scunthorpe 1–2 Newcastle" BBC Sport. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2012. In October, he scored in back-to-back games in the space of four days, in a 2–2 draw against Huddersfield and a 4–2 win against former club Tranmere."Scunthorpe 2–2 Huddersfield" BBC Sport. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2012."Scunthorpe 4–2 Tranmere" BBC Sport. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2012. His final game was a 2–1 away win against Hartlepool on 2 January 2012."Hartlepool 1–2 Scunthorpe" BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
Barnsley On 6 January 2012, Dagnall signed for Championship club Barnsley for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He had formerly played under their manager Keith Hill and his assistant David Flitcroft at Rochdale, with Hill saying: "He's definitely value for money and the type of player that fits in perfectly to what we're trying to achieve at this club""Barnsley sign Chris Dagnall and Danny Drinkwater". BBC Sport. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He made his debut on eight days later in a 2–1 away win against Leicester City."Leicester 1–2 Barnsley" BBC Sport. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012. He made nine appearances before going out on loan to League Two side Bradford City on 16 March."Phil Parkinson happy with Dagnall deal" BBC Sport. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
On 16 March, Dagnall joined Bradford City on loan until the end of the season."Dagnall arrives at City" Bradford City. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012. He made his debut the following day against Aldershot Town."Aldershot 1–0 Bradford" BBC Sport. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012. Bradford manager Phil Parkinson said: "I'm really pleased to get him on board. He's a good signing for us." On 24 March he made his 300th career appearance in a 2–2 draw against Gillingham at Valley Parade."Bradford 2–2 Gillingham" BBC Sport. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012. On 27 March he scored his first goal for Bradford in a home game against Crawley Town, he was also named man of the match."Bradford 1–2 Crawley" BBC Sport. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
He scored his first goals for Barnsley when he netted twice in a League Cup tie against former side Rochdale on 12 August 2012. On 12 January 2013, he scored his first league goals for Barnsley, both of them in a 2–0 win against Leeds United."Barnsley 2–0 Leeds" BBC Sport. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
On 28 November 2013, Dagnall signed for Coventry City on an emergency loan until 5 January 2014. He made his Sky Blues debut two days later away to Milton Keynes Dons, equalising as they came from behind to win 3–1. He was released from his contract at Barnsley, alongside defender Scott Wiseman, on 10 January 2014."Transfer news: Barnsley release Scott Wiseman and Chris Dagnall" Sky Sports. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2013
Leyton Orient Six days after his release, Dagnall signed for Leyton Orient on an 18-month contract. On his debut for the Londoners at Crewe Alexandra on 18 January, he came on as a substitute for Robbie Simpson at half-time and scored twice in Orient's 2–1 win, which took them to the top of League One. His six goals helped them to the play-offs, where on 13 May, again as a substitute, he scored in a semi-final win over Peterborough (2–1, 3–2 aggregate). 12 days later, in the final at Wembley Stadium, he came on in the 76th minute in place of Kevin Lisbie, and had his attempt saved by Adam Collin as the O's lost the penalty shootout.
On 2 September 2014, Dagnall scored twice in a 3–2 win over Peterborough in the first round of the Football League Trophy. He was sent off on 29 November in a 3–1 loss at former team Bradford, receiving a straight red card for a foul on Billy Knott. With 11 goals, he was the team's top scorer that season, which ended in relegation to League Two.
Kerala Blasters Rejecting an offer to extend his contract, Dagnall left Orient to join Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters on 10 June 2015, saying "I've enjoyed my 18 months with the club and the fans were very welcoming, but this will be a new challenge for me." He replaced Iain Hume, who had signed a new contract with Atlético de Kolkata.
He made his debut on 6 October, as his new team began the season with a 3–1 win over NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, being replaced by compatriot Sanchez Watt at half time. A week later, he scored his first goal, an 83rd-minute consolation in a 2–1 loss at Atlético de Kolkata. On 15 November, he scored twice in a 4–1 win at NorthEast United, his first coming after 29 seconds making it the quickest in the league's history; he set up the previous record holder, 48 seconds by Mohammed Rafi against FC Pune City.
Hibernian