Jason Lillis Explained

Jason Lillis
Fullname:Jason Warren Lillis
Birth Date:1 October 1969
Birth Place:Chatham, Kent, England
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Gillingham
Years1:1987–1989
Clubs1:Gillingham
Caps1:29
Goals1:3
Years2:1989
Clubs2:FF Jaro
Caps2:6
Goals2:3
Years3:1989
Clubs3:Queens Park Rangers
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:1989–1992
Clubs4:Maidstone United
Caps4:75
Goals4:18
Years5:1991
Clubs5:Carlisle United (loan)
Caps5:4
Goals5:1
Years6:1992–1993
Clubs6:Sittingbourne
Caps6:28
Goals6:21
Years7:1993–1994
Clubs7:Walsall
Caps7:25
Goals7:6
Years8:1994–1995
Clubs8:Cambridge United
Caps8:19
Goals8:4
Years9:1995
Clubs9:Dover Athletic (loan)
Years10:1995
Clubs10:Sittingbourne
Caps10:7
Goals10:3
Years11:1995
Years12:1995–1996
Clubs12:Chatham Town
Years13:1996–1997
Clubs13:Ashford Town
Caps13:3
Goals13:0
Years14:1997
Years15:1998–1999
Clubs15:Palmerston
Manageryears1:1998–1999
Managerclubs1:Maidstone United
Managerclubs2:Herne Bay
Managerclubs3:Lordswood

Jason Warren Lillis (born 1 October 1969)[1] is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He made a total of 151 appearances scoring 22 goals in the Football League playing for Gillingham, Maidstone United, Carlisle United, Walsall and Cambridge United.[2]

Career

Lillis progressed from the Gillingham junior ranks and made his league debut aged 18 in a Third Division match on 29 August 1987 against Southend United. His first goal for the club, scored on 14 November 1987, was Gillingham's first in a 2–1 FA Cup victory over Fulham.[3] After making a total of 29 league appearances scoring three goals Lillis was released by Gillingham in the spring of 1989 and, via a spell with FF Jaro in Sweden and a short period with Queens Park Rangers (where he played a few reserve team games)[4] his next matches in the Football League were for newcomers Maidstone United in the Fourth Division. He signed for the club, managed by his former Gillingham manager Keith Peacock, in the summer of 1989[4] and spent three seasons with the club appearing in 75 league games scoring 18 goals, which included a hat-trick on 10 March 1990 against Colchester United. During his time with Maidstone United in February 1991 Lillis had a short loan spell with Carlisle United, playing in four league matches scoring one goal.

On leaving Maidstone United, in June 1992 Lillis joined Sittingbourne.[5] The club were newly promoted to the Southern League and they won the 1992–93 Southern Division when he was with the club. In October 1993 Lillis returned to the Football League when he was signed by Third Division club Walsall.[6] He played in 24 league matches scoring six goals for the club in the 1993–94 season but after a single substitute appearance at the start of the next season he left the club and was signed on a non-contract basis by Second Division club Cambridge United.[7] After scoring four league goals in 19 appearances for Cambridge, Lillis moved to non-league football: in March 1994 he was loaned to Dover Athletic[8] and, although briefly recalled by Cambridge United,[9] in April 1994 Lillis signed for former club Sittingbourne.[10] Thereafter he played with Ashford Town[11] of the Southern League, Kent League clubs Chatham Town[12] and twice with Lordswood,[13] [14] before, in 1998 turning out for Palmerston of the Medway Sunday league.[15]

In 1998 Lillis was manager at the new Maidstone United in the Kent County League[16] and was then assistant manager of Whitstable Town.[17] Lillis also had spells as manager of Lordswood,[18] and as a coach at Folkestone Invicta and in 2018 Lillis was Head of Academy Education at Gillingham. [19] [20]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Triggs, Roger . The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club . Tempus Publishing Ltd . 2001. 0-7524-2243-X. ptbc.
  2. Web site: Jason Lillis . Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database . 19 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Jason Lillis . Gillingham FC Scrapbook . 19 December 2023 .
  4. News: 9 June 1989 . Attractive friendlies lined up for Preistfield . Chatham News . Chatham . 60.
  5. News: 29 July 1992 . Lillis an instant success . East Kent Gazette . Sittingbourne . 43.
  6. News: 16 October 1993 . Bescot lifeline for Lillis . Birmingham Daily Post . Birmingham . 15.
  7. News: 30 September 1994 . Lillis move . Sandwell Evening Mail . Birmingham . 95.
  8. News: Butt . Randall . 28 February 1995 . United players on loan . Cambridge Daily News . Cambridge . 28.
  9. News: 10 March 1995 . New boy in as Johnson shakes it up . Cambridge Daily News . Cambridge . 48.
  10. News: 5 April 1995 . Lillis out for vital match . East Kent Gazette . Sittingbourne . 47.
  11. News: 21 December 1996 . Lillis signs for Nuts and Bolts . Heartland Evening News . Nuneaton . 22.
  12. News: 19 September 1995 . Lillis puts in appearance but even he can't stave off surprise . Medway Standard . Chatham . 38.
  13. News: 12 September 1995 . Problem at home leaves Lords playing friendly . Medway Standard . Chatham . 42.
  14. News: 6 February 1997 . It's that man again! . Folkestone Herald . Folkestone . 78.
  15. News: 29 April 1998 . Miller has mixed fortune but Ship sail close to top . East Kent Gazette . Sittingbourne . 57.
  16. News: 24 March 1998 . (foot of column 4) . Medway Standard . Chatham . 35.
  17. Web site: Assistant Manager Jason Lillis Speaks After Redhill Win . Whitstable Town F.C. . 6 February 2014 . 11 December 2018 .
  18. Web site: Jason Lillis returns to manage Lordswood and brings familar [sic] faces back with him . Kentish Football . 19 March 2014 . 11 December 2018 .
  19. Web site: Ex-Gills striker Lillis joins touchline team . David . Watters . isthmian.co.uk . 11 December 2018 .
  20. Web site: Gills get helping hand . Luke . Cawdell . Kent Online . 23 October 2017 . 11 December 2018 .