James Tilley
Tilley with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015
Personal information
Full name James Alexander David Tilley[1]
Date of birth (1998-06-13) 13 June 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Billingshurst, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward, Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 AFC Wimbledon
Number 7
Youth career
2011–2015 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2020 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (0)
2019 → Cork City (loan) 19 (0)
2019–2020 → Yeovil Town (loan) 19 (0)
2020–2021 Grimsby Town 24 (2)
2021–2023 Crawley Town 83 (11)
2021 → Dorking Wanderers (loan) 2 (0)
2023– AFC Wimbledon 25 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:00, 28 January 2024 (UTC)

James Alexander David Tilley (born 13 June 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon.

Coming through the youth academy at Brighton & Hove Albion, he made several cup appearances before joining Cork City and Yeovil Town on loan. He joined Grimsby Town permanently in 2020 before joining Crawley Town a year later. He has also made several appearances on loan with Dorking Wanderers.

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

Tilley made his debut professional appearance for Brighton on 2 May 2015, coming on as a substitute in the 95th minute for Jake Forster-Caskey, in Brighton's last game of the 2014–15 season in which they drew 0–0 away to Middlesbrough.[3] Tilley's second appearance for Brighton came in a 2–4 League Cup victory over Oxford United in the 2016–17 season, with Tilley coming on as a substitute for Elvis Manu in the 87th minute.[4] Tilley scored his first goal for Brighton in an EFL Cup tie against Barnet on 22 August 2017, where Brighton won 1–0 at Falmer Stadium.[5]

Loan to Cork City

On 18 January 2019, it was confirmed that Tilley had joined League of Ireland club Cork City on a six-month loan.[6] Tilley made his Cork City debut in the President's Cup on 9 February 2019 - Cork City lost 2–1 to Dundalk.[7] On 15 February Tilley made his league debut for Cork City in a 1–0 away defeat against St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland.[8] Tilley scored his first goal for Cork on 1 April in a League Cup match against local side Cobh Ramblers. Opening the scoring in a 4–1 home victory to Cork.[9] Tilley's loan spell ended with Cork sitting only just above the relegation zone.

Loan to Yeovil Town

On 2 September 2019, Tilley signed for National League side Yeovil Town on loan until the end of the season.[10] He made his debut for The Glovers a day later, coming on as a substitute in the 1–0 home win over Sutton.[11]

Grimsby Town

On 15 January 2020, Tilley's loan with Yeovil Town was cut short to sign permanently by Ian Holloway for League Two side Grimsby Town on an initial 18-month contract.[12] Following a managerial change at Grimsby that saw the appointment of Paul Hurst, Tilley was substituted at half time in his Hurst's first game in charge against Cambridge United and the following week he was left out of the squad that travelled to Port Vale, with Hurst saying Tilley's absence had not been down to injury.[13] On 14 January 2021, after a year with the club Tilley left Grimsby after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[14]

Crawley Town

On 15 January 2021, Tilley joined fellow League Two side Crawley Town on a two-and-a-half-year deal with the option for a further year.[15] 15 days later he made his debut as a half time substitute away at Cambridge United in an eventual 3–1 loss.[16] He scored his first goal for The Red Devils on 20 February on his third appearance scoring a 90+3rd minute winner in a 1–0 home victory over Colchester United.[17]

On 31 August 2021, Tilley joined National League South club Dorking Wanderers on a 28-day loan.[18]

He was sent off after picking up a second yellow for a late challenge on Stephen McLaughlin in Crawley's 2–0 away loss at Mansfield Town on 23 April 2022.[19] He scored three times throughout the season including one on the last game of the season on 7 May, scoring Crawley's first equaliser taking it to 2–2 in the eventual 3–3 draw at already relegated Oldham Athletic.[20]

AFC Wimbledon

On 22 June 2023, Tilley signed for AFC Wimbledon on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[21]

Personal life

Tilley is part of a footballing family; his father is chairman of Sussex County League club Billingshurst and his eldest brother Nick has also played at County League level.[22] Tilley is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur.[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2014–15[24] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2015–16[25] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2016–17[26] Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
2017–18[27] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 1 — 1 1
2018–19[28] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2019–20[29] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 4 1
Brighton & Hove Albion U23 2016–17[26] — — — 4[a] 0 4 0
2017–18[27] — — — 3[a] 1 3 1
2018–19[28] — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
Total — — — 10 1 10 1
Cork City (loan) 2019[30][31] LOI Premier Division 19 0 0 0 2 1 4[b] 2 25 3
Yeovil Town (loan) 2019–20[29] National League 19 0 2 0 — 2[c] 0 23 0
Grimsby Town 2019–20[29] League Two 10 0 — 0 0 0 0 10 0
2020–21[32] League Two 14 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 15 2
Total 24 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 25 2
Crawley Town 2020–21[32] League Two 18 3 0 0 — — 18 3
2021–22[33] League Two 30 3 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 33 3
2022–23[34] League Two 35 5 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 38 5
Total 83 11 0 0 1 0 5 0 89 11
Dorking Wanderers (loan) 2021–22[30] National League South 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0
AFC Wimbledon 2023–24[35] League Two 25 7 2 2 2 1 5[a] 2 34 12
Career total 173 20 4 2 9 3 26 5 212 30
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ One appearance in President of Ireland's Cup, three appearances and two goals in Munster Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Cork City

References

  1. ^ "2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. ^ "James Tilley". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Middlesbrough 0–0 Brighton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Oxford United 2–4 Brighton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Brighton 1–0 Barnet". BBC. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  6. ^ Naylor, Andy (18 January 2019). "James Tilley becomes latest Albion under-23s player sent out on loan". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  7. ^ Horgan, Andrew (9 February 2019). "Dundalk defeat Cork City to lift President's Cup". RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  8. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic 1-0 Cork City - Match report & Highlights". 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Cork City 4–1 Cobh Ramblers". 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Seagulls attacker flies in". Yeovil Town F.C. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Yeovil Town 1-0 Sutton United - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Tilley Signs For The Mariners". grimsby-townfc.co.uk. Grimsby Town F.C. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. ^ Findlater, James (14 January 2021). "James Tilley leaves Grimsby Town by mutual consent after Paul Hurst conversation". Grimsby Live. Reach plc. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Tilley Departs By Mutual Consent". Grimsby Town F.C. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  15. ^ Findlater, James (15 January 2021). "James Tilley joins League Two club after leaving Grimsby Town". GrimsbyLive. Reach plc. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Cambridge United 3-1 Crawley Town - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Crawley Town 1-0 Colchester United - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  18. ^ Seckington, Kaylee (31 August 2021). "Done deal! Wanderers add Reds man on loan". SurreyLive.
  19. ^ "Mansfield Town 2-0 Crawley Town - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Oldham Athletic v Crawley Town - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  21. ^ https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2023/june/flying-winger-makes-it-five/
  22. ^ "Tilley's tipped to have a bright future by Albion boss Hughton". West Sussex County Times. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Episode 3- The Tilley Of Two Managers". Official AFC Wimbledon Podcast. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Games played by James Tilley in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  25. ^ "Games played by James Tilley in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by James Tilley in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by James Tilley in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by James Tilley in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  29. ^ a b c "Games played by James Tilley in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  30. ^ a b "J. Tilley: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  31. ^ "James Tilley". Cork City F.C. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by James Tilley in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Games played by James Tilley in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Games played by James Tilley in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Games played by James Tilley in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Cork City clinch third Munster Senior Cup in a row". Evening Echo. The Irish Times. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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