Joe Tillen
Encyclopedia
Joseph Edward "Joe" Tillen (born 15 December 1986 in Reading
) is an English professional footballer who played in the Football League
for MK Dons
. A winger, he joined Icelandic club Fram
in 2008.
Tillen began his career with Chelsea
, and played for their academy and reserve teams before joining League Two
club MK Dons
on a free transfer at the end of the 2005–06 season. Manager Martin Allen
described him as "an attacking left sided player with good pace". He made his debut in the League Cup
, and came on as an 84th-minute substitute in the 2–1 league defeat at home to Chester City
on 23 September 2006. Tillen then spent a month on loan to Thurrock
of the Conference South
, before his contract with MK Dons was terminated in January 2007. He took time out of football before signing for Southern League
club Thatcham Town
, managed by his father, in December 2007.
On 14 May 2008, Tillen joined Icelandic club Fram
, where his older brother Sam
was already playing. He made his debut as a substitute in the Landsbankadeild
in match against IA Akranes on 20 May. He scored his first two goals for the club in the 3–0 victory over Fylkir
on 22 July, and scored the winner against Valur
at the Laugardalsvöllur
. Tillen finished his first season with the club by helping them secure qualification for the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League after a win away at then top-of-the-table Keflavik
.
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
) is an English professional footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. A winger, he joined Icelandic club Fram
Knattspyrnufélagið Fram
Knattspyrnufélagið Fram is an Icelandic sports club, best known for its football team. In European competitions it is known as Fram Reykjavík. It was founded on 1 May 1908 in Reykjavík. Based at Safamýri, located in the Laugardalur district of Reykjavík City Center. They are currently playing in...
in 2008.
Tillen began his career with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, and played for their academy and reserve teams before joining League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
on a free transfer at the end of the 2005–06 season. Manager Martin Allen
Martin Allen
Martin James Allen is a former football player and current manager of Notts County. He played more than 100 games for each Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United before finishing his playing career with Portsmouth and Southend United. Five years later, he took his first job in management, at...
described him as "an attacking left sided player with good pace". He made his debut in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, and came on as an 84th-minute substitute in the 2–1 league defeat at home to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
on 23 September 2006. Tillen then spent a month on loan to Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
of the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
, before his contract with MK Dons was terminated in January 2007. He took time out of football before signing for Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
club Thatcham Town
Thatcham Town F.C.
Thatcham Town Football Club are an English football club based in Thatcham, Berkshire. They are currently members of Division One South and West of the Southern League and play at Waterside Park.-History:...
, managed by his father, in December 2007.
On 14 May 2008, Tillen joined Icelandic club Fram
Knattspyrnufélagið Fram
Knattspyrnufélagið Fram is an Icelandic sports club, best known for its football team. In European competitions it is known as Fram Reykjavík. It was founded on 1 May 1908 in Reykjavík. Based at Safamýri, located in the Laugardalur district of Reykjavík City Center. They are currently playing in...
, where his older brother Sam
Sam Tillen
Samuel Lee "Sam" Tillen is an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Brentford. He joined Icelandic club Fram in 2008....
was already playing. He made his debut as a substitute in the Landsbankadeild
Landsbankadeild
The Úrvalsdeild karla is the top tier of the Icelandic football pyramid. Because of the harsh winters in Iceland, it is generally played in the spring and summer . It is run by the Football Association of Iceland and is currently comprised by 12 clubs. UEFA currently ranks the league 37th in...
in match against IA Akranes on 20 May. He scored his first two goals for the club in the 3–0 victory over Fylkir
Fylkir
Fylkir FC is an athletic club in Árbær, in the eastern part of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.Former players include Helgi Valur Daníelsson, who now plays for AIK, and Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, formerly of Arsenal and currently plays for Zulte Waregem in Belgium. Ragnar Sigurðsson who plays with...
on 22 July, and scored the winner against Valur
Valur
Knattspyrnufélagið Valur is an Icelandic athletic club based in Reykjavík, Iceland. One of Iceland's most prolific clubs it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2011. The club is situated close to the city centre, in the traditional east side of town, at the old farmgrounds of Hlíðarendi...
at the Laugardalsvöllur
Laugardalsvöllur
Laugardalsvöllur is the national stadium of Iceland. It is located in Reykjavík, and seats 9,800 individuals, another 5,627 people can be seated on concrete benches, but due to FIFA restrictions they are rarely used.-Overview:...
. Tillen finished his first season with the club by helping them secure qualification for the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League after a win away at then top-of-the-table Keflavik
Keflavík Football Club
Keflavík Football Club is an Icelandic football team, commonly known as Keflavík. It is a subdivision of Keflavík ÍF , based in the town of Reykjanesbær in Iceland. They play at Nettó-völlur in Keflavík.-Competition history:Keflavík have played in the Icelandic football league since 1956...
.