Manager- Gary Henty
Key Player- Francis Babalola
Last Seasons Finish- 14th (Ryman North)
Who are they?
Tilbury F.C are a football club based in Tilbury, Thurrock, England, established in 1895. In 1976, they won the Isthmian League Second Division. In the 1977–78 season, they reached the Third Round of the FA Cup, their best performance in the competition. They currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League.
Get up to much last season?
Tilbury had an average campaign in the 14/15 Ryman North, at one point it looked like they were in danger of going down after only managing to win six matches in 22 games from August to the end of November. The turning point in their season was a 2-2 draw away at Heybridge Swifts, in the next 13 matches Tilbury won eight of those matches with seven clean sheets thanks to ex-Aveley keeper Jack Giddens (Who has now signed for Billericay Town).
That run really did clinch their survival, but again the Dockers form slumped with the last two months of the season. In March they got two wins against Soham Town Rangers and Waltham Abbey, 3-0 and 4-0 respectively. However defeats to champion chasing Needham, relegation threatened Redbridge and play off chasing Thurrock set the tone for April.
In April the Dockers couldn't get a win. Draws against Ware and Barkingside disappointed the manager, but three defeats joined that poor form, defeated by Brentwood Town, Cheshunt and Cray Wanderers.
In the end Tilbury finished 14th and with the form they showed in the middle of the season, is it time for the Dockers to really enhance and focus on that form and manage to build on it to progress up the league.
What can they achieve this season?
Really this is the most difficult and most competitive Ryman North season that has been seen before. A betting man would see Tilbury as one of those clubs who will finish from the bottom half of the table to battling for survival. But what can't be ignored is the form the Dockers managed to achieve during the middle of last season. If they could recreate that form for a longer duration then they could really be a surprise package this season.
How has their Pre-Season gone so far this season?
For Tilbury they've had a mixed pre-season, with three wins, three defeats and one draw. Their first match of the season the Dockers travelled to Herne Bay and came out impressive winners by two goals to one. The next match saw a competitive game against Essex Senior League side Basildon United which ended 2-2. The next two matches ended in disappointing defeats to Barking FC 3-2, then Burnham Ramblers 2-0. Two wins were to follow against a strong Grays Squad as the Dockers came out 1-0 winners, and against Sevenoaks Town with a 2-0 win.
In their last match of pre-season they faced Ryman Premier League side East Thurrock United in the Robin Nash Memorial Trophy.
The game came to life on 51 when a long ball was played to Harry Honesty who ran through to slot home past Bogard. East Thurrock had few chances including Ollie Hanlon saving the Dockers with a goal-line clearance. With the Dockers pushing for an equaliser, the hosts broke crossed from the left and with Danny Smith trying to clear came off his leg and into his own net. The match ended 2-0 to East Thurrock United to complete the Dockers pre-season schedule.
Who has the ability to be the key player this season?
Striker, Francis Babalola has the ability to be the main man at Tilbury this season, he re-signed from last seasons squad and wants to kick on from where Tilbury left off for a successful 2015/16 campaign.
Players In-
Conor Mead (Witham Town)
Daniel Glozer (Concord Rangers)
Harry Cook (Witham Town)
Emiel Aiken
Francis Babalola
Jack Carlile
Jimmy Cook
Gary Henty
Matt Game
Tony Martin
Joe Nightingill
Jake Pooley
Neil Richmond
Danny Smith
Kurt Smith
Players Out-
Jack Giddens (Billericay Town)
Elliott Johnson (Waltham Abbey)