It is, indeed, a strange situation with Blackpool centre back Curtis Tilt, as he has been at the centre of much speculation over the last couple of months and has been linked with countless clubs in this time. But why has all of this scrutiny come about and who exactly is Curtis Tilt, the man who Gary Bowyer claimed was worth over £1,000,000.
In the begining
Born in Walsall, Tilt wouldn't begin to play football full time until 2015 when he was already 24 years of age, having earnt his living as a JCB digger and bulldozer driver. Despite playing in his youth in lower-league football, he would completely put football to one side for 4 years as his job took over, but he would soon return to the footballing scene for Gornal Athletic in the fifth tier of Non-League football. In 2015 his big break came and he was able to play football full time as he transferred from Halesowen to Hednesford on a free transfer. He is currently 27 and Tilt could have never dreamt that he, in just over 3 years time, would see bids in excess of £600,000 turned down for his services as he would start his footballing journey so late. In his first season at Hednesford the centre back would play 7 times and score 2 goals earning him a move to Telford United in September of the same year. Now in the National League North Tilt had already propelled himself 4 divisions up the football pyramid and was showing no sign of concluding this rapid rise anytime soon.
In that very same season at Telford he would play 32 times and helped them to stay in the division. Despite Telford as a collective whole having fallen below par that season, Tilt excelled and earned himself a move even further up the League's to Wrexham and the National League. He now had just one season until his move to Blackpool and even at this point he would still see League One as an unassailable target, never mind the Championship. His 38 appearances for Wrexham in the vast majority of that season helped Wrexham to a 13th place finish and his performance was to such a standard that he attracted interest from promotion candidates Forest Green. He was loaned to Forest Green for the last few matches of the 2016/17 season and helped them to sustain a playoff position and, despite not playing in the playoffs, achieving promotion to League Football for Forest Green. But Tilt was still a National League Wrexham player with his contract running out, so where was his career to go from here?
The move to the Seaside
On the 1st of July 2017 Curtis Tilt became Blackpool manager, Gary Bowyer's, first summer signing after being promoted from League 2 via the playoffs. Not only was Tilt now a professional football player but also a League One player and one that Gary Bowyer had complete faith in. It was thought however that Tilt would simply become a squad player that would be used for cup matches and it is likely that originally that was Gary Bowyer's intention for him.
But through a magnificent pre-season and Bowyer opting to play 5 at the back on the opening day, Tilt suddenly found himself in the starting 11 on the opening day of the new season. Tilt, the man who had virtually given up on his footballing dreams in his late teens, was playing in front of 20,000 at the Northern Commercials Stadium in Bradford. It didn't matter that Blackpool lost that day, it didn't even matter that he played expertly, all that mattered was that he had made it, he had fulfilled his footballing dream and he was living it.
The Season that ensued
After his opening day performance, Tilt never looked back and went from strength from strength over the course of the season. After the opening day, Blackpool went on to have a little bit of form, at one point rising as high as 4th in the League, but eventually the season would balance out and Blackpool would finish in 12th position. Tilt was a thorn in the Blackpool defence and built up quite a partnership with Clark Robertson who would later earn a move to Championship Rotherham. Tilt would play 45 times that season and would help Blackpool on their way to conceding just, on average, 0.5 goals per game. Blackpool could have done a lot better that season if their goal scoring form was better as they only scored 0.67 goals per game on average which shows how good that defensive partnership was. In addition to this, Tilt scooped the local paper's (the Blackpool Gazette) player of the season, showing his worth at Bloomfield Road.
The Interest
The question over Curtis Tilt's future was arisen as soon as the summer transfer window opened with many of his fellow Blackpool teammates having jumped ship. Possibly the most pivotal of all those departures was that of his defensive counterpart and partner Clark Robertson who, as I have already said, moved to Rotherham. Clubs, realising his unquestionable talent, moved in under the idea that he would be affected by this departure.
Originally there were reportedly 5 clubs interested; Portsmouth, QPR, Reading, Rangers and indeed Ipswich but this was eventually narrowed down to two front runners: Ipswich and Rangers. Let's begin with the case of Rangers...
Are Rangers interested?
Originally it may have seemed as if Rangers were the leading the seemingly endless and pointless race for Curtis Tilt but no offer for him was ever put on the table. It was later revealed that despite Gerrard thinking highly of Tilt, he was a long way down the list of choices and he was much more interested in Milwall's Jake Cooper. Reportedly Gerrard sent scouts down to watch Tilt in pre-season, so he must have certainly been in the running but it was eventually understood that he was almost a last resort. Rangers were therefore moved behind fellow chasers in the metaphorical race Ipswich, who then became the front-runners in this scenario.
The Offers
Here we had it, a team that was actually genuinely interested in getting Tilt's signature. Ipswich Town had been revitalised by Paul Hurst and an overhaul of players had taken place with a new squad going into the new season. The first bid was believed to be in the region of £550,000 and this was quickly rejected by Blackpool and Ipswich had originally been discouraged by this, but when Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer resigned they returned in an attempt to give Tilt a way out. This second bid was thought to be in the region of £650,000 and Tilt would indeed show signs of frailty for the first time. He would begin to be left out of games and eventually would hand in a transfer request that was first reported about on the 31st of July.
Tilt was beginning to follow his dream again in his monumental rise but, Blackpool would once again turn down this offer despite Tilt's clear discomfort at the club. Tilt would be left out of countless matches, but nevertheless Ipswich seemed frustrated and had basically given up their hopes in signing Tilt. Permenant transfer deadline day approached and past and Ipswich had failed to get him on a perminant basis.
But the prospect of a loan signing beckoned and Tilt would continue to be left out of Blackpool matches as Ipswich once more loomed. However again, time began to tick on.
Hurst said to the East Anglian Daily Times that, “I would have liked to (sign Tilt) but I have to say that’s looking very unlikely,”
Indeed he was correct to say this as Tilt would subsequently stay put at Bloomfield Road. Tilt remained but that hectic summer could well have an effect on his attitude and indeed confidence. Who knows whether it is for better or for worse, we will simply have to just stick with him and see.
Why is Tilt so Highly rated?
What you have to remember with Tilt is that he took a huge step up even from Wrexham to Blackpool (National League); since starting in the first match of the season he hasn't looked back. He won the gazette's player of the season award and had a tremendous season at the seaside. He is confident on the ball and can pick a pass of any distance. So not only is he defensively resilient he also shows real quality when he is on the ball and going forward. Also having already made the step up three divisions and been put straight in the team, there is no reason why he can not go the next level up to the Championship or even further. He has been a fantastic player for Blackpool and one that would be sorely missed, but he is staying put and that could defiantly prove to be a catalyst in Blackpool's season.
UTP