There are various reasons why your local football club should maintain a youth set up, can we find some local lads to represent the football club ? Can we help offer activities for the youth locally and therefore give an Interest to local youngsters and keep them “off the streets” ? Can we help & develop young football players to climb the professional ladder and give them an opportunity to play at a higher level ?

Season 2009-10 was a successful season on the field with our five youth teams winning no less than three league titles. Following well publicised off the field difficulties this youth set up more or less collapsed leaving the club in disarray at every level.
The 2009-10 management team supported the youth set up in principal although were never practical in their support, rarely if ever watching the young players throughout the season.
In the pre season between 2009-10 & 2010-11 the youth were left in a state of limbo not knowing what was going to happen, therefore decisions were made, some say hasty, which resulted in two of the championship winning sides defecting to other clubs and the under 18’s disbanding.

Paul Vaughan was appointed first team manager and promised to help re Ignite Interest in Tilbury youth with a plan for the next three to five years, He Immediately set about organising and attending trials during the summer of 2010 as we attempted to establish a youth section once again from virtually scratch. In a very short time we established an Under 18’s, under 16’s, under 15’s and under 14’s all at Eastern Junior Alliance level and of course the one constant in all this were our very loyal under 14’s Chelmsford youth league team. Paul attends at least one youth game every week as well as offering help at the training nights. I doubt there is a more committed senior club first team manager to the youth within his club.

The new under 18’s managed by Mick Jacobs have so far held their own in the Eastern Junior Alliance and currently top the Essex division whilst reaching the Essex County cup Quarter Final. A number of the players are capable of attaining first team recognition over the next two seasons and we will watch their progress with great Interest.

The Under 16’s have done wonderfully well in their first season together, having been placed in the tough London division of the Eastern junior Alliance they have applied themselves extremely well and currently sit mid table. Some of these players will step up next season to the under 18’s to further progress their football careers.

Tilbury’s under 15’s have been Incredible and deserve great credit. Manager Wez Hull and assistant Jack Edwards have got together an outstanding group of players whose attitude and commitment is unquestionable. This group were put together very late and in an age group which throughout the South of England is very strong, If teamwork, attitude and commitment won championships then this group would be world club champions. I don’t think I can say more ?

Dockers new under 14’s are guided by the management of Terry Hornsby who is also the first team assistant manager. These lads have made a huge step up in terms of the level they now compete at and have acquitted themselves for the most part extremely well. Having lost a couple of good players at the beginning of this season this was always going to be a tough learning curve for the squad. Terry has been generally pleased with their progress and willingness to learn.

Tilbury Chelmsford league under 14’s managed by Lewis Smith and Mark Carter. This side are in their second season under the Tilbury banner having shown great loyalty to the club when many round us decided to defect to other clubs. Chelmsford league champions in 2009-10 they were promoted to division three and are again pushing hard for a second successive promotion. This squad are the heartbeat of our youth system with many of the players attending the Gateway Academy and living locally. We hope they are as proud to wear the Tilbury shirt as we are of them for representing our football club and local community.

Finally spare a thought for the much maligned chairman. Mr Nash is heavily criticised from many quarters however you can only speak as you find and in the youth dealings with Mr Nash the youth section have had nothing but co operation and assistance.
In 2009-10 the youth sides were left without pitches to play on to the standards required by the Eastern Junior Alliance, Mr Nash allowed the under 14’s, 15’s and 18’s to use the club facilities throughout the season free of charge.
2010-11 season has seen the youth set up left penniless and with debts from unpaid accounts however Mr Nash has come to the rescue and is helping pay off these debts.

Looking forward we have a dedicated team of people working behind the scenes with plans to Increase the number of teams and players representing Tilbury FC. We encourage players to progress and if this means they eventually leave Tilbury FC to go on and play at a higher level we will all be very proud and hope they remember Tilbury FC were a part of their football education.

Since last season we have had several players represent Essex County and many players have been taken on trial at professional clubs, players have signed for Charlton Athletic, Colchester United, Southend United and Norwich City in the last few months alone. We wish them all well for the future and hope to have many more coming through our ranks in the coming seasons.