Fred Tilson
Encyclopedia
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson (19 April 1904 – 21 November 1972) was an association football player for Manchester City and England
. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire
. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup
and the League Championship (Division 1) in the 1930s. He has been described as 'a quick thinker with an elusive body-swerve'.
where he played alongside Eric Brook
. The form of both players attracted bigger teams and in 1928 they were both transferred to Manchester City for a combined fee of £6,000, the pair making their debuts on 17 March against Grimsby Town
. Brook and Tilson joined a strong forward line at the club that included two England internationals in Tommy Johnson and Frank Roberts.
who scored 14 goals. Injuries restricted his appearances in the football season of 1929–1930 and 1930–1931. He scored 13 league goals in the 1931–1932 football season and 3 FA Cup goals. City managed to reach the semi final of the FA Cup that year but were defeated by Arsenal
by 1–0. In the 1932–1933 football season Tilson was the club's leading goalscorer with 23 goals in all competitions. This included 17 league goals and 6 FA Cup goals. In the 1933 FA Cup final Manchester City were defeated three goals to nil by Everton
who were captained by England international Dixie Dean
. Tilson did not play in the final of that years competition but did play in the 1934 FA Cup final in which he scored twice in a 2–1 victory over Portsmouth
. City had been trailing by a goal to nil at half time and City goalkeeper Frank Swift
blamed himself for that had given Portsmouth the lead. Tilson in an attempt to console the young keeper 'told him not to worry because he would score a couple in the second half. He was true to his words!'. Tilson's 22 goals in the FA Cup for Manchester City is a club record.
Tilson made his debut for England
in a 2–1 defeat to Hungary
in May 1934. Tilson scored England's only goal. He won four caps for his country and scored six goals. Tilson may have won more caps for England but suffered with injuries and faced competition from George Camsell
, Tom Waring, Ted Drake
and others.His second cap was won in a 2–1 defeat to Czechoslovakia
in which he scored England's only goal.
In the 1935–1936 football season Tilson was City's top scorer with 18 goals. City finished fourth in the league that season, ten points behind champions Arsenal
. In the 1935 British Home Championship
Tilson scored twice and Brook and Stanley Matthews
both scored once for England in a 4–0 victory against Wales
at Ninian Park
. England won the Home Championship that year despite suffering a 2–0 defeat against Scotland
. In the British Home Championship of 1936, Tilson scored twice and Brook scored once in a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland
at Windsor Park
. A 1–1 draw with Scotland
meant that the latter won the championship that season.
In the 1936–1937 football season Tilson was part of the first Manchester City side to win the League Championship
. He scored 15 league goals in that season which included two hat tricks against Charlton Athletic
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
in consecutive matches in February that season. In the 1937–1938 football season Tilson was part of the City team that were relegated from the first division despite scoring more goals than any other team. This was to be Tilson's last season with Manchester City. He subsequently played for Northampton Town
and York City
.
, Tommy Johnson, Sam Cowan
, Eric Brook
, Frank Swift
, Peter Doherty
, Roy Clarke
, Bert Trautmann
, Ken Barnes
, Roy Paul
, Alan Oakes
, Neil Young
, Mike Summerbee
, Colin Bell
, Tony Book
, Francis Lee
, Joe Corrigan
, Paul Lake
and Niall Quinn
. In 1977 the Manchester City Council named eleven streets in a new estate in Moss Side
after famous City players including Tilson, Frank Swift
, Eric Brook
, Sam Cowan
, Horace Barnes
, Max Woosnam, Tommy Browell
, Jimmy McMullan
, Sam Cookson, Billy Meredith
and Tommy Johnson. He is listed as the twenty-eighth greatest ever City player on the Time website and eighteenth in Ian Penney's book The Essential History of Manchester City .
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire
Swinton, South Yorkshire
Swinton is a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England on part of the west bank of the River Don...
. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and the League Championship (Division 1) in the 1930s. He has been described as 'a quick thinker with an elusive body-swerve'.
Early life
Tilson was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire on 19 April 1904. He began his football career at Barnsley Congregationals and was able to play in both inside forward and centre forward positions. He subsequently moved to BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
where he played alongside Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
. The form of both players attracted bigger teams and in 1928 they were both transferred to Manchester City for a combined fee of £6,000, the pair making their debuts on 17 March against Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. Brook and Tilson joined a strong forward line at the club that included two England internationals in Tommy Johnson and Frank Roberts.
Manchester City
In his first season Tilson made 6 appearances and helped City earn promotion to the first division. Tilson would make 264 league appearances for the team and score 110 goals. In his second season with the team he played 22 times and scored 12 goals making him City's third highest goalscorer behind Tommy Johnson who scored a club record of 38 goals and Eric BrookEric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
who scored 14 goals. Injuries restricted his appearances in the football season of 1929–1930 and 1930–1931. He scored 13 league goals in the 1931–1932 football season and 3 FA Cup goals. City managed to reach the semi final of the FA Cup that year but were defeated by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
by 1–0. In the 1932–1933 football season Tilson was the club's leading goalscorer with 23 goals in all competitions. This included 17 league goals and 6 FA Cup goals. In the 1933 FA Cup final Manchester City were defeated three goals to nil by Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
who were captained by England international Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
. Tilson did not play in the final of that years competition but did play in the 1934 FA Cup final in which he scored twice in a 2–1 victory over Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. City had been trailing by a goal to nil at half time and City goalkeeper Frank Swift
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift...
blamed himself for that had given Portsmouth the lead. Tilson in an attempt to console the young keeper 'told him not to worry because he would score a couple in the second half. He was true to his words!'. Tilson's 22 goals in the FA Cup for Manchester City is a club record.
Tilson made his debut for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in a 2–1 defeat to Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
in May 1934. Tilson scored England's only goal. He won four caps for his country and scored six goals. Tilson may have won more caps for England but suffered with injuries and faced competition from George Camsell
George Camsell
George Henry Camsell was an English football player, most notably for Middlesbrough.Born in Framwellgate Moor, Durham City in 1902, Camsell played for Durham City before signing for Middlesbrough on 6 October 1925 for the sum of £500. His debut was against Nottingham Forest on 31 October 1925...
, Tom Waring, Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
and others.His second cap was won in a 2–1 defeat to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
in which he scored England's only goal.
In the 1935–1936 football season Tilson was City's top scorer with 18 goals. City finished fourth in the league that season, ten points behind champions Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. In the 1935 British Home Championship
1935 British Home Championship
The 1935 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1934–35 season. Scotland and England shared the trophy after a dramatic final match in which the Scots beat England to claim a share of the cup after having seemingly come adrift...
Tilson scored twice and Brook and Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
both scored once for England in a 4–0 victory against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
. England won the Home Championship that year despite suffering a 2–0 defeat against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. In the British Home Championship of 1936, Tilson scored twice and Brook scored once in a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
. A 1–1 draw with Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
meant that the latter won the championship that season.
In the 1936–1937 football season Tilson was part of the first Manchester City side to win the League Championship
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He scored 15 league goals in that season which included two hat tricks against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in consecutive matches in February that season. In the 1937–1938 football season Tilson was part of the City team that were relegated from the first division despite scoring more goals than any other team. This was to be Tilson's last season with Manchester City. He subsequently played for Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
and York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
.
Retirement
After retiring from playing football Tilson became a coach at Manchester City. He was on the club's staff for 21 years before retiring in 1968. He died in Manchester on 21 November 1972.Legacy
Tilson has been inducted into the Manchester City FC hall of fame along with Billy MeredithBilly Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
, Tommy Johnson, Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
, Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
, Frank Swift
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift...
, Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
, Roy Clarke
Roy Clarke (footballer)
Royston James Clarke was a Welsh footballer who played for Cardiff City, Manchester City, Stockport County and Wales as a winger....
, Bert Trautmann
Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann, OBE is a German former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper...
, Ken Barnes
Ken Barnes (footballer)
Kenneth Herbert Barnes was an English footballer. He played as a half back for Manchester City and Wrexham. On the books of Birmingham City as a youth, Barnes began his football career at amateur level...
, Roy Paul
Roy Paul
Roy Paul was a footballer who played as a half-back for Swansea Town and Manchester City...
, Alan Oakes
Alan Oakes
Alan Arthur Oakes is an English footballer who holds Manchester City's all-time record for appearances. Thanks to a further six year stint at Chester , Oakes played 776 Football League matches – the seventh most in history.-Permanent Fixture with Man City:Oakes signed for Manchester City on...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee is an English former footballer, who played in the successful Manchester City side of the late 1960s and early 1970s....
, Colin Bell
Colin Bell
Colin Bell MBE , is a former English football player who was born in Hesleden, County Durham, England. Nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" , and Nijinsky after the famous racehorse , Bell is widely regarded as Manchester City's greatest ever player...
, Tony Book
Tony Book
Anthony Keith Book is a retired English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division...
, Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Francis Henry Lee is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national team. Lee played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, and Derby County...
, Joe Corrigan
Joe Corrigan
Joseph Thomas Corrigan , is a former football goalkeeper who played for Manchester City and England.-Career:...
, Paul Lake
Paul Lake
Paul Andrew Lake is an English former footballer, who played for Manchester City.-Early life:Raised in the Denton area of Manchester, he attended St Thomas More School Denton. Lake was spotted by Manchester City scout Ken Barnes as a ten year old, playing against boys two or three years older...
and Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
. In 1977 the Manchester City Council named eleven streets in a new estate in Moss Side
Moss Side
Moss Side is an inner-city area and electoral ward of Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre and has a population of around 17,537...
after famous City players including Tilson, Frank Swift
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift...
, Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
, Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
, Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes
Horace Barnes was an English Football Inside Forward who played for Derby County, Manchester City, Preston North End andOldham Athletic.-Early life:...
, Max Woosnam, Tommy Browell
Tommy Browell
Thomas "Tommy" Browell was an English footballer who played as a forward for Hull City, Everton, Manchester City and Blackpool. He is the seventh-highest Manchester City goalscorer of all time with 139 goals for the club.Browell was born in Walbottle, Northumberland, in 1892...
, Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan was a Scottish football player and manager. McMullan won 16 Scotland caps as a player at half-back and was part of the famous "Wembley Wizards" side of 1928.-Early life:...
, Sam Cookson, Billy Meredith
Billy Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
and Tommy Johnson. He is listed as the twenty-eighth greatest ever City player on the Time website and eighteenth in Ian Penney's book The Essential History of Manchester City .
International goals
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition | Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1934 | Stadion Üllõi út, Hungary | 1–2 | Friendly match | 1 (1) | |
| 16 May 1934 | Stadión Letná, Zlin | 1–2 | Friendly match | 1 (2) | |
| 29 September 1934 | Ninian Park Ninian Park Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship... |
4–0 | British Home Championship 1935 British Home Championship The 1935 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1934–35 season. Scotland and England shared the trophy after a dramatic final match in which the Scots beat England to claim a share of the cup after having seemingly come adrift... |
2 (4) | |
| 19 October 1935 | Windsor Park Windsor Park Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
3–1 | British Home Championship 1936 British Home Championship The 1936 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1935–36 season. It was won by Scotland after a close contest between Scotland, Wales and England. England began the tournament the stronger team, with a 3–1 win over Ireland... |
2 (6) |
As a player
Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners: 1934FA Cup Final 1934The 1934 FA Cup Final was won by Manchester City in a 2-1 win over Portsmouth. The cup is most remembered for a young Frank Swift's heroics in goal and the predictions of City forward Fred Tilson. The match was also refereed by future FIFA president Stanley Rous, in his penultimate game as an... - Football League champions: 1936–37