Town's next game is on Saturday 22nd August when they entertain Tilbury FC in a Ryman League Division One (North) match. Graham Chester's team hasn't had the best of starts to the season loosing at home to Potters Bar Town by a single second half goal and on Tuesday going down 3-2 away at VCD Athletic.
Tilbury finished 11th last season but Chester showed what a good cup manager he is (he was in charge of Eton Manor in 2008 when they won the Essex Senior League Trophy, the club's first for more than 70 years) when The Docker's won the Isthmian League Cup by beating Folkestone Invicta, Whitstable Town, Ramsgate, Staines Town, Billericay Town and Harrow Borough 2-0 in the final. This was Tilbury's first senior trophy since 1975 when they won the Essex Senior Cup.
Apart from two seasons (04/05 in the Southern League Division One (East) and 05/06 in the Essex Senior League) the club have been members of the Isthmian League since 1973 and apart from a brief spell in the top division in the 1970's they have spent most of their time in lower division obscurity. From 92/93 the club finished 17th, 17th, 14th, 11th, 16th and 20th in Division Two being relegated to the third division for 98/99. Its fare to say their success in winning the League Cup last year was well deserved and well received by their supporters.
The club's most famous season has to be 1977/78 when they reached the FA Cup 3rd round proper. Starting in the preliminary round they beat Kingstonian, Bracknell Town, Witney Town, Feltham, Tonbridge, Kettering Town (after two replays) and Nuneaton Borough to play Stoke City who at the time were in Division 2 after being relegated the season before. The match played at the Victoria Ground in front of over 16,000 (over 2,500 travelled from Essex) was lost 3-0. City's side that day included Howard Kendall, Garth Crooks, Dennis Smith, Viv Busby and Alec Lindsay.
In the following 78/79 season the club's cup glory was brought back down to earth with a bump with a 1st qualifying round exit to Leyton Wingate (away) 1-0. Their best performance since is to reach the 3rd QR in 1997 where they were thrashed 6-1 by Slough Town. SInce 2005 the club haven't got past the Preliminary round. The Docker's travel to fellow Ryman Leaguer's Thamesmead Town in the FA Cup on 29/08/2009 where they will hope to put a stop to their recent poor cup form.
Tilbury's squad currently includes ex ETFC stopper and favourite Andy Hall who was last season's player of the year. Also featured is Ex Brentwood, Ilford, Waltham Forest and Eton Manor player Rickie Hayles, Glen Golby who was at Champions Aveley last season, Joe Keith who made over 200+ appearances for Colchester United and also played in the league for Leyton Orient and Brentford.
The club's most well known current player is Lee Hodges who started his career at his local club West Ham in 1995 making 3 appearances. He was an England Schoolboy International described as a player in the role of Eyal Berkovic during his time at The Boleyn Ground. He spent time on loan at Exeter City, Leyton Orient, Plymouth, Ipswich and Southend finally transfering to Scunthorpe United in 1999 for a fee of £130,000. A fans favourite at Glandford Park he made over 100 appearances for the Iron and scored 20+ times. His most famous goal coming in the 2001 FA Cup tie versus Doncaster Rovers which was featured on Match of the Day to the praise of Alan Hansen. He then transferred to Rochdale and spent time at Bristol Rovers. Since 2005 he has spent time at Thurrock, Billericay Town and AFC Hornchurch. He still has lots of skill and is a very dangerous player as this goal he scored against Hornchurch for Billericay Town a few years back shows.
YOU TUBE LINK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDxG-NrXb8g
After last night's 1-0 disapointment Town will be hoping for a good performance and 3 points.
Town won last season's game v the Dockers 1-0 on 11th April 2009 in front of 216 people thanks to Ellis Remy's goal.
SOURCE -
http://fchd.info/
http://www.tilburyfc.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment