Tilbury: Down by the docks — Terrace Edition

Words: Steve Sharman

Images: Steve Sharman

Down by the river.

Nestled on the northern banks of the River Thames, 22 nautical miles east of central London, is the Essex town of Tilbury.

Perhaps best known for being the site of London’s major port, or for being the county of Essex’s most southerly point, the town is also home to Isthmian League North Division side Tilbury FC.

The temperature is already dropping as I drive west on the A13 towards Tilbury.

Approaching through darkening early March skies, the cranes on the docks stand tall in a blaze of artificial light across the horizon like huge metallic giraffes, grazing casually on the banks of the river.

Against this inspiring industrial backdrop, tonight’s fixture gives me an opportunity to take in a new ground - Chadfields, home of The Dockers.

©Steve Sharman/ Terrace Edition. Tilbury FC vs Heybridge Swifts.

As well as giving rise to the team’s nickname, the docks are intertwined with the history of the town and the football club.

Various classes of sea-faring vessels have been loading and unloading cargo at Tilbury since 1886, and the football club was formed three years later in 1889, by dock workers.

Today the port is a key employer in the town and sponsors the football team, maintaining a deep-rooted connection between the port, the town, its people, and the club.

In the stands.

Tilbury have been at their current home, Chadfields, since 1949. Previously a greyhound racing track, the club added a clubhouse in 1958 and floodlights eight years later.

The ground has a splendid if somewhat rickety-looking old grandstand (which replaced the original grandstand in 1970) that houses some elevated seating and a commentary box.

Despite being full of homemade halloumi, chorizo, and spring onion savoury pancakes - it is after all, pancake day - I’m almost tempted by a cheeseburger from Eat Street, the food wagon at Tilbury I’ve heard so many good things about.

I can’t resist a little nose and the hot plate really is an absolute meat feast.

Tonight The Dockers face Julian Dicks’ Heybridge Swifts. The home side come into the game seventh in the table and still harbour hopes of making the play-offs, despite losing three of their last four.

However, these defeats have come against Brentwood and Felixstowe, who are battling for the title, and Brightlingsea Regent, who currently occupy the last play-off place - a defeat that left Tilbury six points behind Brightlingsea.

Heybridge, on the other hand, face a season that is petering out into disappointment.

Going into tonight, the visitors sit 11th in the table and have little to play for, being 15 points off the play-offs, and 16 points from the bottom four.

Swifts arrive tonight unbeaten in four, although all these have been draws. Home form has been Dicks’ men’s Achilles heel - eight of Swift’s eleven league wins this season have been on the road - so tonight’s game will be no easy task for Tilbury.

On the pitch.

On a fresh, clear night under twinkling stars and bright-shining planets, Tilbury line- up in white shirts, black shorts, and white socks, whilst Heybridge take to the field in a garish all orange strip.

After a scrappy opening on a bumpy pitch, Tilbury forward Alex Hernandez somehow wriggles free from a clutch of Heybridge defenders on the edge of the box fifteen minutes in and fires into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Around the half-hour mark, Kieran Jones doubles the home side’s lead and it’s all a bit easy for Tilbury; only a brilliant stop from visiting keeper Callum Chafer keeps the score at 2-0 going into half-time.

During the break, I head into the clubhouse to warm my frozen extremities, and it’s like stepping back in time.

There are some fabulous reminders of the club’s history, including some amazing old team photos from as far back as 1908/09, trophies above the bar, and a big flag reminding anyone that Tilbury were Essex Senior League champions in 23/24.

At the bar, over beer and Bovril, Dockers fans’ half-time predictions range from losing 3-2, to winning 5-0.

Both are technically possible, although the big home win definitely seems more likely at the moment.

However, Heybridge start the second period with the bit between their teeth.

We’re barely five minutes into the half when a corner is only half cleared, and Swift’s Kojo Apenteng pulls one back with a very well controlled volley from the edge of the box.

Minutes later, the visitors receive another boost when, following two quickfire yellow cards, Tilbury forward Darren Phillips is shown a red card.

With a man advantage, Heybridge are seeing a lot more of the ball, trying to stretch the game, and it feels like an equaliser is coming.

To experience the elevated view, for the last 20 minutes I come to sit in the grandstand.

I can see the lights of the docks shimmering in the distance, and lulls in play allow the odd mechanical rumble to filter through the night air, a reminder of the never-sleeping nature of the docks.

Tilbury’s back line is working just as hard. Led by centre-back and skipper Lewis Clark, it’s all hands on deck as Heybridge continue to press for an equaliser.

Despite the numerical advantage and heavy pressure, Swifts are unable to find a way through.

A superb battling performance in the second half from Tilbury earns The Dockers all three points.

Supported by the past - looking to the future.

Victory sees Tilbury’s faint play-off dreams kept alive, whilst Swifts return home empty-handed.

Although retaining a large dose of old-skool charm, it is clear that parts of Chadfields need updating - something that the club had planned to do this summer.

The Dockers have grand plans for a new stadium, on the existing site.

Work was intended to commence as soon as the final whistle blows on the last home game of the season, with the renovations to be completed by July, in time for the start of the 25/26 season; however the project has had funding issues, leaving the development plans stalled for now.

Indifferent form towards the end of the season, aligned with strong finishes from the teams just above them meant that Tilbury finished the season just outside the play-offs.

Come what may, the club’s future is unwaveringly supported by the weight of history; generations past and present of Tilbury docks will continue to have a club they can be proud of - a club of their own.