The Isthmian League Years: Part 2 (1976 – 1980)
The Isthmian League Years. Part 2: 1976 – 1980:
1976/77 saw Tilbury achieve their highest Isthmian League placing to date, as they finished in 5th position in the Premier Division, behind 4th placed Hendon only on Goal Difference. All at the Club are convinced that it was only the poor start to the campaign that cost them the Title that season. One memorable event for Tilbury that season was competing in the Barrassi Cup. For a few years, this was an Annual competition between the Isthmian Division One winners and the Italian Amateur Champions, and Tilbury were pleased to accept the invitation to compete. The opposition came from U.S. Soresina, a town about the same size as Tilbury, near Cremona in the North of Italy. Both games ended in a 1-1 draw, but unfortunately Soresina took the trophy in a Penalty Shoot Out after extra time. Despite this, it was a great experience for all concerned, the hospitality shown us in Italy being superb.
At the end of this season, Terry Matthews and some players left the Club, joining Walthamstow Avenue, and another great long time servant of Tilbury replaced him, in the shape of Tommy Harris, who had been a Player for the Club in the 1950's and a very successful Manager in the 1960's. In the League, the break up of the team had a detrimental effect, as Tilbury slumped to 18th place. However, in the Cups it was a very different story. Tilbury again won the Mithras Cup, beating Hertford Town over two legs in the Final, and were Runners Up to Billericay Town in the Essex Floodlight Cup. It was in the F.A. Cup, though, that Tilbury enjoyed the proudest moment in it's History. Starting in the Preliminary Round, they fought their way through no fewer than 10 ties to superbly reach the 3rd Round, still the only Thurrock Club to achieve this momentous feat. There, away to a Stoke City side that included the likes of Garth Crooks, Howard Kendall, Denis Smith and Viv Busby, they were not disgraced by the 0-4 defeat.
This was not only to be the high point for Tilbury, but also the start of a long, gradual, decline for the Club. For several years they had really been living beyond their means, and the massive debts now came back to haunt them. In 1978/79, they did climb up to 14th in the Premier Division, and also reach the Essex Senior Cup Final, losing to Harlow Town, at Southend United's Roots Hall, but the storm clouds were already beginning to hang over the Club. The storm broke the following season, and the Club really was surviving on a day-to-day basis. It is not surprising, therefore, that relegation followed, as Tilbury finished bottom of the Premier Division. It was by no means certain that the Club would start the next campaign, but fortunately several new faces came forward to form a new Committee, and their hard work eventually turned things around again. Not without many sleepless nights.
Club Honours In This Period:
Winners: Mithras Cup:
Runners Up: Essex Floodlight Cup:
Other: F.A. Cup. 3rd Round:
