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George Christou’s first interview as Tilbury manager

- Mason Hutchinson

George Christou and Jack Toghli were announced as first-team managers this week, and I sat down with our new gaffer to ask for his thoughts ahead of his new role.

How did you feel when you got approached for the job?

“It came as a bit of a shock to see the job available, to be honest. I remember when I was younger, I would come down to watch Tilbury, and I’d probably say Tilbury is where my love for non-league started.

“But I’m really excited for what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to get started.”

You’re joining the club as joint-manager with Jack Toghli; you two have been coaching together for a while now. Tell us about your relationship and how important you think that understanding is when working together.

“I’ve known Jack since I was 4 or 5, went to primary and secondary school with him. We’ve been managing together for over 10 years now, and we’ve built a really strong understanding. 

“He’s got so many strengths that I don’t have, and I’ve got strengths that he doesn’t have, and I think we complement each other very well. 

“We’ve also done the hard yards to get to where we are, coaching youth football, reserves, we’ve been assistant managers, and we’ve managed at lower levels and the same level as Tilbury, and it’s so important to have a strong character next to you.”

What are your initial thoughts coming into the club?

“I see a team that nearly reached the play-offs last season, and the core of that squad is still here. Marc and Liam brought in more younger talent this season, which is exciting. I see a lot of players who excite me. 

“Maybe the group hasn’t quite gelled yet, but we’ve already had many 7-day approaches for players, which shows how talented the group is.”

What are the short-term goals for this season?

“It sounds cliché, but we’re going to take every game as it comes, starting with Hadley on the 25th October. Then following that, we’ve got nine matches in November, that’s a lot of time on the pitch and not a lot of time on the training ground. So it’s going to be important to focus on each game at a time.”

Without giving too much away, are you looking to bring some new players in?

“Yes, we will be. The group needs reinforcing, especially with the number of games coming up next month. 

“It’s going to be really tough and will take a lot out of everyone, so we will need some reinforcement. When you look at it, that’s a quarter of your season in one month, so it’s going to be really important that we hit the ground running.”

Finally, do you have a message for the fans?

“I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the fans. I’ll be in the bar, so please come and introduce yourselves to me. 

“I’ve seen Chadfields rocking, and when it is, the fans really get behind the team and make great noise. We’re going to need all the help we can get from the stands to push the team through games.”

Tilbury Football Club announces that Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace have left the club through mutual consent following last night’s game against Waltham Abbey. 

The club would like to thank Marc, Liam and their management team for their hard work whilst at the football club and for the unforgettable memories they have brought to Chadfields, and we wish them the best of luck moving forward.

Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace will take charge of Saturday’s fixture against Wroxham, with this being their final game at the club.

Joint Statement with Apex Platinum investments

It is with deep regret the Directors and Shareholders of Apex Platinum investments Limited (APIL) have made the difficult decision to cease work on the construction of the new Tilbury Football Club (TFC) Stadium.

Despite our unwavering commitment to this project, unforeseen economic challenges including rising construction costs, supply chain disruptions and broader financial pressures, have made it impossible for us to continue. After careful consideration and having taken legal advice, the Directors mindful of their director duties have reluctantly decided that continuing under these circumstances is no longer feasible. The financial burden has resulted in substantial losses for APIL and after thorough assessment, we have concluded that the most responsible course of action is to step away from the project to ensure financial stability and compliance with our obligations. 

However our dedication to Tilbury Football Club and the local community remains steadfast. As a gesture of goodwill , we have gifted all the work completed to date, including materials, planning work and all other contributions made on behalf of TFC. This will allow a new partner to take over and complete the project with a significant portion of the cost already covered by APIL. We sincerely hope that this will provide the Directors of Tilbury Football Club the head start needed to complete the project.

We remain incredibly proud of the progress that has been made, and we take comfort knowing our contributions will serve as a foundation for the stadiums eventual completion. It was always our vision to create a facility that would benefit the club and wider community, and while we regret that we cannot see it through to the end, We know that Tilbury Football Club will complete this mission.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Directors of Tilbury Football Club who despite their understandable disappointment, have shown great understanding and support throughout this difficult decision. Their unwavering commitment to the club, its supporters and wider community has been truly admirable. We want to assure everyone that we will continue to assist in the transition to a new developer, ensuring a smooth handover and providing support where possible.

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the fans, local residence, contractors, employees and all those that have been part of this journey. Your dedication, passion and hard work have been invaluable and we are grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside you in pursuit of this shared goal. 

While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we remain optimistic that with continued support and determination the new stadium will soon become a reality serving as a lasting legacy for TFC and its community. 

The Directors of Tilbury football club would like to give assurances to everyone involved with the Football Club, that it is our full intention to complete the project we initially started roughly 6 years ago. Although this is a very hard situation we find ourself in we can look positively on the fact we have been gifted a portion of the project and see this more as a bump in the road on our way to completion of this project. We hope to be in a position in the coming weeks to advise of a more positive message as we embark on our quest to source a new developer for our current Chadfields site enabling us accessibility to funds that would allow completion of the project. 

As always we really appreciate your support and understanding.