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Nearly 37-years on and many ex-England legends are turning out at Roots Hall to, along with thousands of Southend United supporters, show their respect for a truly fantastic servant of our little Club. Tilson, a Southend fan all his life, used to stand on the terraces at Roots Hall and cheer on his team, and he became lucky enough to serve his beloved Club both as a player and now a coach.
It was as a wide-eyed 22-year old that Tilson's dream move came true. Having initially spent a short spell on trial with the Shrimpers, the Witham Town striker was signed by manager David Webb on 2nd February 1989. 'Tilly' as he has always been affectionally known by the Southend fans made his League debut as a late substitute in the 4-0 defeat at Mansfield Town in the old Third Division on 11th February. His full debut came two weeks later at Gillingham and a full home debut against Bury on February 28th; both those matches finished 1-1.
With the form, in particular, of David Crown, who netted 25 goals Tilson never really had a chance as a striker at Roots Hall, but Webb converted the left-footed player into more of an attacking midfielder and Tilly was often found playing as a left winger or an attack-minded central midfield man. Tilson made ten full and six substitute appearances in his first season and managed his first two goals at professional level, in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in in the 1-1 against Brentford.
Unfortunately, despite amassing 54 points, Southend found themselves relegated come the end of the campaign. Indeed a team has never accumulated so many points and gone down.
We all know however that Tilson played such a key role in the incredible Southend rise which saw the team, still led by David Webb, leap out of the Fourth Division at the first attempt and then win promotion from Division Three for the first time in United 85-year history. And of course on New Years Day 1992 Webb's side even topped the old Second Division for a few hours after thrashing Newcastle United 4-0 at Roots Hall. For those of you young enough maybe not to know, the Second Division became the current First Division upon formation of the Premier League in the summer of 1992, the Premier membership coming from the old Division One.
Tilson made eleven full and five substitute appearances during the 1989-90 promotion campaign, which saw United, spurred on yet again by Crown with another 19 goals, claim the third automatic promotion spot on the last day of the season at Peterborough United. It was the following season however that Tilson really made a name for himself.
Tilly started 37 consecutive Third Division matches in what was undoubtedly United's most glorious campaign before injury cut short his season at the end of March, Tilson did however return to action in time for the promotion party that greeted the last match against Brentford. Unfortunately Southend lost the Brentford game, 1-0, and at the same time allowed Cambridge United to leap above United and claim the championship after the Shrimpers had topped the table since mid-October. Runners-up spot however was more than enough to satisfy the supporters who, for the first time, could witness their team in the higher echeloens of the Football League.
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Incredibly Southend won 14 of their first 18 fixtures in this campaign and Tilson chipped in with eight league goals as well as a hat-trick in the 10-1 thrashing of Aldershot in the Leyland Daf Cup. Steve netted his first brace for United in the 4-1 home win over Swansea City but surely his most memorable goal came in the 2-0 Roots Hall victory over Grimsby Town on 15th December. Infront of a bumper 8,126 crowd, Grimsby were just one place below the Shrimpers in second slot and Tilson's stunning volley just four minutes into the game really set his side onto a fantastic victory which was sealed with a strike from David Martin which indeed came from a Tilson free kick. In fact virtually every one of Martin's eleven league goals that season came from a Tilson set piece.
Tilson played a part in every game the following season, United's first in Division Two, starting 44 times and making two further substitute appearances. Webb's team yet again got off to a fantastic start to the campaign and, as previously mentioned, Southend even topped the table in January. Tilson scored some crucial goals in that Second Division season including strikes in the 3-2 home win over Swindon Town and the 2-1 pre-Christmas victory over Swindon Town. Webb however resigned from his position as manager on 18th February before a 3-2 defeat at Grimsby Town and it was a shame that his depleted players only won three more of their remaining fixtures and eventually finished in twelfth position, but that still stands as United's highest ever League finish despite various sources stating otherwise. Tilly managed to find the net seven times.
Tilson made 26 starts and five substitute outings during a First Division campaign in 1992-93 which nearly saw United drop back down a level. Indeed had it not been for the heroics of one Stan Collymore and a bit of mircacle working by manager Barry Fry following the sacking of Colin Murphy in early April, then United, despite Tilly's three goals, may well have been doomed
Few people however will forget Tilson's double strike which earned the Shrimpers a 3-3 draw with Millwall live on television in mid-March and Steve also played in Unirted's marvellous 1-0 league win over West Ham United at Roots Hall on 7th April.
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Chances for Steve were also at at minimum under the leadship of Taylor, and he made just four full league appearances in 1994-95 before Taylor was fired in February. Ironically new caretaker boss Steve Thompson immediately re-instated Tilly and he played every one of the remaining thirteen matches, and found the net in the 4-2 Roots Hall win over Stoke City and the 2-1 win against Charlton Athletic, also at home.
Amazingly Thompson walked out on United at the end of the campaign just days after accepting the job on a full time basis, instead opting to take up the role of assistant manager at Notts County. Ex- Liverpool and Republic of Ireland legend Ronnie Whelan, who had signed for United in September 1994, claiming the player of the year award, was appointed the new manager.
Tilly made 23 full and five substitute league appearances during 1995-96, scoring in the 2-1 home wins over Sheffield United and Portsmouth and also finding the net in the superb 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley in early March. The following season, a disastrous campaign which brought just eight victories and ultimately relegation to the Second Division, was acvtually a steady campaign for Tilson who was one of few United player to impress before a hernia injury, picked up at Port Vale in January 1997 brought an end to his season, and until now, his Southend career. Tilson even filled in at left back during that season and he scored a marvellous volleyed goal in the 1-0 home win over Grimsby Town in October. Indeed Tilson even played in goal for United twice during his career, at Roots Hall against Middlesbrough in March 1992 and at Notts County in March 1993, both times it was as a result of goalkeeper Paul Sansome being harshly sent-off.
One of the last things Whelan did before being sacked in the summer of 1997 was to controversly release Tilson. It was a decision that displeased many supporters and upon the appointment of new boss Alvin Martin, many fans appealed for Tilson's return, but the pleas fell on deaf ears and Tilson was offered a job, as well as the prospect of regular first team football by Geoff King at Ryman Second Division side Canvey Island.
Tilson immediately became captain of Canvey and, playing once again as a striker, scored over 35 goals in his first season at that level, leading the Gulls to automatic promotion. Promotion was again achieved the following season as the minnows from Park Lane earned their spot in the Premier Division of the Ryman League.
Canvey never won promotion from the Premier Division under the captaincy of Tilson, but they had some superb cup successes, and of course a fantastic 2-0 replay win over Port Vale following a 4-4 draw at Park Lane brought an FA Cup Second Round clash with the Shrimpers in December 2000. In the end it was a comfortable victory for Southend despite the slim 2-1 scoreline, but Tilson thoroughly enjoyed his return to Roots Hall.
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That same season Canvey beat Forest Green Rovers 1-0 in the final of the FA Trophy at Villa Park, and last season the Islanders beat both Wigan Athletic and Northampton Town before eventually losing to Burnley in Round Three.
At the same time Tilson had returned to United as controller of the Shrimpers Centre of Excellence, and last season as manager of the Reserve team.
Following a knee injury towards the tail end of last season Tilson left Canvey and took up a full time job with United as assistant manager and indeed Tilly has feaured in the first team this season making three full and three substitute appearances.
I remember as a kid of about eight or nine I used to have the number nine printed on the back of all my football shirts, number nine was Tilly's number.
Have a great night Steve, all of Southend is supporting you.
STEVE TILSON - SOUTHEND UNITED CAREER:
Signed from Witham Town, February 1989
1988-89 - League; 10 full appearances (6 substitute apps) / 2 goals - Cup; 0 (0) / 0 - Division Three (old), Final position 21st (relegated)
1989-90 - League; 11 (5) / 0 - Cup; 3 (0) / 1 - Division Four (old), 3rd (promoted)
1990-91 - League; 38 (0) / 8 - Cup; 10 (0) / 3 - Division Three (old), 2nd (promoted)
1991-92 - League; 44 (2) / 7 - Cup; 4 (1) / 0 - Division Two (old), 12th
1992-93 - League; 26 (5) / 3 - Cup; 1 (0) / 0 - Division One, 18th
Loaned to Brentford, September 1993, returning October 1993
1993-94 - League; 3 (7) / 0 - Cup; 0 (0) / 0 - Division One, 15th
1994-95 - League; 17 (9) / 2 - Cup; 2 (0) / 0 - Division One, 13th
1995-96 - League; 23 (5) / 3 - Cup; 4 (0) / 1 - Division One, 14th
1996-97 - League; 27 (1) / 1 - Cup; 3 (0) / 0 - Division One, 24th (relegated)
Released, June 1997, signing for Canvey Island, July 1997, re-joining Southend United full-timem June 2002
2002-03 - League; 2 (1) / 0 - Cup; 1 (2) / 0 - Division Three, currently 14th
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com