Dagenham & Redbridge have today signed Colchester United left back Matt Lockwood on a month's loan from the Coca Cola League One side.

With Scott Griffiths moving to Peterborough last week John Still has been looking to bring a player in as cover and finally got his man this morning. John said, "I'm delighted to have such an experienced player as Matt joining us on loan",

"Matt knows the game very well and has played at the level in the past. He already knows and is friends with a number of our squad already. Matt is an ideal short term replacement for Scott Griffiths whilst we continue to find a permanent signing."

Matt began his career at Queens Park Rangers as a trainee in 1995 but made his first professional impact at Bristol Rovers where he made 58 appearances. In the 1998 close season he moved on a free transfer to Leyton Orient where he became an integral part of the first team, being named as the 47th best player outside of the FA Premier League in a study by FourFourTwo magazine in 1996. The study named Lockwood as the best player at left back and the fourth best player in the League Two. He was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year for 2006/07.

In July 2007 Lockwood left Orient for fellow League One club Nottingham Forest and helped them gain automatic promotion to the Championship as they finished second in League One.

He moved back to Essex in June 2008 and signed for Colchester United. Matt's most recent start for Colchester United was last Saturdays game at home to Walsall. He also had a loan spell in February 2009 at Barnet where he made 12 appearances.

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