Steve Tilson

Steve Tilson is closely associated with Southend United having been voted the club's greatest ever player and managed the Essex team for seven years. Tilson was the 5th longest serving manager in English football before parting with Southend in July 2010. Having been appointed initially as caretaker manager, he saved Southend from relegation in his first season at the helm and led the same squad to promotion from League Two. The LMA members recognised his achievement by voting him League Two Manager of the Season in June 2005. Steve Tilson took the reins from Caretaker Manager Dave Webb after previously enjoying nine years as a player at Roots Hall, in two spells, and had risen up the ranks from Youth Team to Assistant Manager and then to Manager. Following his appointment, Steve's initial challenge was to lead the Shrimpers away from the danger of relegation at the foot of League Two. This achieved the following season, 2004-2005, United clinched a tense promotion play-off final victory over Lincoln City. Tilson has also successfully completed the League Managers Association's Certificate in Applied Management course, run in conjunction with Warwick University, in June 2005. In 2005/06, his impressive run continued. Southend embarked on the season with a record breaking eight-game run of wins. This culminated in promotion to the Championship, the second highest tier of English football, going up as champions. The title was the club's first in 25 years, part of an amazing three-year journey from the depths of the Football League to just one level below the Premier League. On 6 May 2006 manager Steve Tilson was named as LMA Manager of the Season for League One. One of Tilson's most memorable victories was in the fourth round of the League Cup against trophy holders Manchester United on 7 November 2006 where the shrimpers beat United 1-0 at Roots Hall. United fielded a side with 10 internationals including Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. With this meeting being the only ever between the two sides, it left Southend as the only team in English football to have a 100% record against the Red Devils. Tilson subsequently managed Lincoln City, Canvey Island and women's team C & K Basildon.