Fred Tilson

Lore & Background

Tilson was born in Swinton, West Riding of Yorkshire. He began his career at Barnsley Congregationals, playing as both inside forward and centre forward, before moving to Barnsley where he scored 21 goals in 61 appearances. In 1928 he and his friend Eric Brook were transferred to Manchester City for a combined fee of £6,000. They made their debuts on 17 March against Grimsby Town.

In his first season Tilson made 6 appearances and helped City earn promotion to the First Division. He scored 12 goals in his second season, making him City's third highest goalscorer behind Tommy Johnson (38 goals) and Eric Brook (14 goals). Injuries limited his appearances in 1929–30 and 1930–31. He scored 13 league goals and 3 FA Cup goals in 1931–32, as City reached the FA Cup semi-final but lost 1–0 to Arsenal.

In 1932–33 he was the club's leading goalscorer with 23 goals in all competitions (17 league, 6 FA Cup). City lost the 1933 FA Cup final 3–0 to Everton, but Tilson did not play in that final. He played in the 1934 FA Cup final, scoring twice in a 2–1 victory over Portsmouth after being 1–0 down at half-time. He made 264 league appearances for City and scored 110 goals.

He died in Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester on 21 November 1972, and was cremated three days later. He had been chief scout at Maine Road until Malcolm Allison was appointed manager.

Reader's Guide

Tilson is tied alongside Billie Gillespie as Manchester City's ninth highest goalscorer of all time. He won the 1928 Second Division title, the 1934 FA Cup, and the 1937 First Division title with City. He was inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame. In 1977, Manchester City Council named eleven streets in a new estate in Moss Side after famous City players, including Tilson. He is listed as the 28th greatest ever City player on the Time website and 18th in Ian Penney's book The Essential History of Manchester City.