HAVING made the transition from men’s football management to the women’s game, Steve Tilson insists he is thoroughly enjoying his time in charge of C&K Basildon Ladies.

Tilson was contacted by south Essex’s leading women’s club after seeing that the former Southend United boss was looking to get back into coaching in the local area.

Despite it being an unexpected approach, Tilson took the opportunity with both hands and has now been involved with C&K Basildon for six years.

And Tilson, who was named the Women’s Premier League’s Manager of the Month for November, has been impressed with the growing popularity of the women’s game.

Tilson, 51, said: “Without a doubt, the popularity of women’s football is on the up.

“We’re progressing nicely and we’ve got a lot more girls involved this year.

“We might even have another couple of sides next year because of the increase in numbers – I don’t know.

“Women’s football is certainly on the up and so are we as a club.

“I’ve been involved for six years now in different capacities.

“The girls, as we’ve gradually gone through the leagues, have certainly improved.

“I really enjoy it here and, up to now, we’ve had a fantastic season.

“But we want to kick-on and finish as high in the league as we can.

“It’s different to managing in men’s football and you’ve got to speak to the girls in a different way sometimes.

“They also have a different mentality, but it is very positive.”

C&K Basildon have enjoyed a record-breaking season in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division and have already secured more points than in any other campaign.

Due to the club’s progression, chairman Peter King has confirmed that C&K Basildon will apply to join WSL2 – the second tier of women’s football.

And Tilson would be delighted to lead his side into the division.

Tilson added: “If I could lead us into WSL2 it would be right up there with my best achievements in management.

“It’s very difficult when you’re not linked to a professional club, so we’ve done ever so well to attract players of the calibre we have.

“We have got a development side but, obviously, to get to where we want to be we are probably four players short for the first team.”

Echo:

Ambitious - C&K Basildon chairman Peter King

Chairman believes WSL2 application is ‘natural progression’ for the club

C&K Basildon chairman Peter King has admitted that he would see a move into WSL2 as a ‘natural progression’ for the club.

King confirmed that the club is looking to apply for a place in WSL2 – the second tier in women’s football – last month.

And the chairman insists that the club’s impressive first half to the campaign was a major reason for the decision to aim for a place in WSL2.

King said: “It’s something we’ve had an idea about for a while because it would be a natural progression for us.

“We would either have to win a place through a play-off between the north and south or apply.

“I think that the first half of the season, where we got to 28 points – which is more than last season and the first season – showed me that it was something to go for now that we’ve got the option to apply.

“With the expansion of WSL and WSL2, I think there are five slots available, so I see no reason why we shouldn’t apply.

“If it’s not successful, then we can renew the interest season-by-season.

“We will learn a lot and I think that it shows we have got ambition to go on and progress.”

A place in WSL2 could see C&K Basildon go head-to-head with the likes of Doncaster Belles, Aston Villa, Millwall Lionesses and Tottenham Hotspur.

But unlike those clubs, C&K Basildon are not linked to a professional club, and King understands that is a barrier his club will have to find a way of overcoming.

The chairman added: “The only problem we have is that we’re not affiliated to a league club. 

“We’re having to do this all ourselves and we will have to look at a lot of things over the next three months, such as financing.

“We have got funding in place at the moment, but we probably need a little bit more.”

King’s ambition does not stop at just wanting to win a place in the second tier of women’s football.

While C&K Basildon currently play their home fixtures at Canvey Island’s Frost Hire Stadium, King confirmed that the club is looking to move out of the Isthmian North side’s base and into their own stadium.

However, King is aware that such a move could take up to three years to come to fruition.

King admitted: “We know we have got the backing of Canvey Island Football Club and there is still the possibility of the redevelopment of our old home. 

“Hopefully we will end up with a stadium, but these things take time and we could be waiting for up to three years for that to happen.

“We have got the structure, the management, the coaches and we’re attracting good players. 

“We know that we can get good players to come to our club.

“And when we find good players, the important thing is that we keep them and that’s got to be good for the future.”

Echo:

Promising - Jamie-Lee Bamford

‘Development sides play big part for ladies’

C&K Basildon boss Steve Tilson believes the importance of the club’s development squad and youth sides should not be underestimated.

The club has grown significantly over the last 12 months despite not being affiliated to a professional side.

And Tilson believes that chairman Peter King deserves credit for C&K Basildon’s expansion.

The former Southend United manager said: “We’ve gone from having just the first team to now boasting the development squad and five or six younger sides as well.

“That progression from the younger sides into the development side and then into the first team is important.

“Where we’re not a professional club, we need to try and progress girls through.

“All four of the girls that came into the first team from the development squad for the game against Charlton got involved and were fantastic.

“I think Peter King deserves a lot of credit for how far the club has come.”

Goalkeeper Jamie-Lee Bamford was just one of those who impressed having stepped up from the development squad to the first team’s starting line-up for the League Cup defeat to Charlton.

Bamford made her debut between the sticks in the absence of regular shot-stopper Nikita Runnacles and made a number of fine saves.

And Tilson was full of praise for the quartet that stepped up to the plate against Charlton.

Tilson added: “We had four girls step up from the development squad for the match against Charlton due to injuries and suspensions.

“We stayed in the game until extra-time and that’s a credit to the first team girls and the development girls that stepped in.”