The touching story of Christian Burgess' friendship with tragic Portsmouth fan Beth Tiller

Beth Tiller cherished her friendship with favourite Pompey player Christian Burgess.
Christian Burgess befriended Beth Tiller during her battle with cancerChristian Burgess befriended Beth Tiller during her battle with cancer
Christian Burgess befriended Beth Tiller during her battle with cancer

They last met at the 16-year-old’s Denmead home. She died two days later.

The Cowplain School pupil had battled bravely against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with Burgess the final non-family member to visit before her April 2018 passing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On Wednesday evening, the central defender returned to the Tiller family’s house in St Jacques Way, bearing the gift of the shirt worn in his 210th – and last – Blues outing.

It’s not just the Tiller family left emotional at his departure, but also the city in which he became a pivotal community presence.

‘Beth wasn’t responding to most visitors a few days before she passed away – then Christian came round,’ said dad, Dave.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘I went in and said “Beth, Christian’s coming in to see you”. Although she didn’t pay much attention to me.

Dave, Claire and Charlotte Tiller have become firm friends with Christian Burgess, who has supported them through tragic timesDave, Claire and Charlotte Tiller have become firm friends with Christian Burgess, who has supported them through tragic times
Dave, Claire and Charlotte Tiller have become firm friends with Christian Burgess, who has supported them through tragic times

‘When he turned up a few hours later, she raised her hand and waved to him. It was lovely. That will always remain with me.

‘Christian’s always there at the end of the phone for a chat, we have become friends. He has been massively important to our family since Beth died.

‘We actually became friends with him through Beth. When she was diagnosed with cancer in November 2016, she initially spent a bit of time at QA Hospital before moving to Southampton General.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘It so happened that Pompey had their Christmas visit around that time and she noticed the tall one with long hair, as most of the girls do.

Beth Tiller (middle left) and her sister Charlotte at Southampton General Hospital in July 2017 during the visits of Pompey players Kyle Bennett and Christian Burgess, and women's cricketer Anya ShrubsholeBeth Tiller (middle left) and her sister Charlotte at Southampton General Hospital in July 2017 during the visits of Pompey players Kyle Bennett and Christian Burgess, and women's cricketer Anya Shrubshole
Beth Tiller (middle left) and her sister Charlotte at Southampton General Hospital in July 2017 during the visits of Pompey players Kyle Bennett and Christian Burgess, and women's cricketer Anya Shrubshole

‘As we were trying to raise money to take her to New York, a place she always wanted to visit, I contacted Christian on Twitter to ask if it would be possible to have a signed shirt.

‘Within a week, I received his shirt autographed by the entire team. We auctioned it and somebody I know through cricket, Tim May, put in a £250 bid – but on the understanding Beth kept the shirt.

‘At the bottom of our garden is a summer house, which we had built when Beth was too poorly to go out. It allowed her to have friends round too.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘That shirt hangs in there as a tribute, taking pride of place in the middle of loads of football and cricket tops.

Dave and Claire Tiller have attended Hampshire cricket matches at the Ageas Bowl with Christian Burgess and his girlfriend MeabhDave and Claire Tiller have attended Hampshire cricket matches at the Ageas Bowl with Christian Burgess and his girlfriend Meabh
Dave and Claire Tiller have attended Hampshire cricket matches at the Ageas Bowl with Christian Burgess and his girlfriend Meabh

‘And this week Christian gave us another to join it.’

Following intense chemotherapy, Beth was once told her cancer had gone – only to fall ill again weeks later.

The subsequent scan revealed the cancer had returned more aggressively and, despite a bone marrow transplant, the family were informed her condition was terminal.

Yet Beth’s humour remained, a state of mind cheered by the constant presence of Burgess.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In July 2017, the defender paid a visit to Southampton General Hospital accompanied by team-mate Kyle Bennett – and coinciding with the presence of Pompey fan and women’s cricketer Anya Shrubsole, along with the World Cup she helped win in 2017.

Dave Tiller added: ‘I actually spoke to Anya before Monday’s game against Oxford, she’s a massive Pompey fan and obviously following the match, getting as nervous as we were.

‘It’s funny. You go through these things and it’s the worst time of your life, but you make friends like Anya, Christian and Kyle.

‘They spent three hours with Beth that day at Southampton General, mainly playing her favourite game Rummikub, which is a bit mathematical. Christian was having a bit of a laugh because Kyle was struggling with it!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘As they left, Kyle asked if it was okay to keep in touch with Beth. On one occasion, we were invited to the training ground, and had lunch with the pair of them.

‘We later discovered they’d organised a whip-round among all the lads, apparently everyone was told to chip in whether they liked it or not!

‘I don’t know how much was raised. Put it this way, it paid for four of us to stay in the five-star The Stafford London and then watch The Lion King in the West End, which was Beth’s favourite show.

‘This was two weeks before Christmas – and Pompey’s players paid for all of it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘At the time Beth couldn’t go overseas because of the treatment she was receiving. Thankfully she was well enough to experience that trip. What a wonderful gesture from them.

‘When Football for Cancer got in touch in 2019 asking whether they could form a team in memory of Beth, Christian got right behind it. He recorded messages for the players and attended the final at Portchester.

‘He’s been around our house a few times and my other daughter, Charlotte, worships him. She’s not interested in football, she’s had a season ticket in the Fratton end because he was playing. Now he’s gone she wants to stop attending!

‘He looks out for her and makes sure she’s okay, which means a lot because she’s 13 now and has been through a lot. Along with his girlfriend, Meabh, he has taken Charlotte out to the cinema at Gunwharf and for meals. He has become a family friend.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Burgess attended Beth Tiller’s funeral at The Oaks Havant Crematorium, along with Bennett and Shrubsole. The trio also spent time at the wake.

He has remained in touch and, in October last year, joined the family at Barnard’s Restaurant in Denmead to mark what would have been Beth’s 18th Birthday.

Dave, a former fast bowler for Portsmouth Cricket Club, also bonded with Burgess over their mutual appreciation for the game of cricket.

The pair have attended Hampshire games together, while met up at Lord’s when England captured the 2019 World Cup in such dramatic circumstances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And, as a Fratton end season-ticket holder, Dave watched the central defender establish himself as a tremendously popular performer during five years on the south coast which have now reached an end.

He said: ‘I’m gutted Christian has left.

‘There are reasons behind it, which he has told me about, but it’s up to him whether he wants to go into that.

‘It’s such a shame he couldn’t play for another couple of years. There’s no bias there, I think he’s probably playing his best football since being at the club and was deservedly voted as player of the season.

‘Ahead of the play-off semi-final, me and Charlotte played him at crazy golf in Southsea. He smashed us to bits! He claims he doesn’t play golf that often, but he can definitely play.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Christian’s does not fulfil the criteria of a professional footballer. You hear of footballers not having time for anyone, but he’s completely the opposite.

‘We’ve been out a few times, people often come up and he’ll strike up a conversation. Since I’ve known him, he has never not had time for somebody. Even while playing crazy golf, someone asked why he was leaving Pompey.

‘For the semi-final first leg at Fratton Park, we had a cardboard cut-out made of Beth, using a picture of her when little wearing a Pompey kit.

‘I couldn't see it in the ground anywhere, we rewound the TV, looked out for pictures, but couldn’t spot it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Some 30 minutes after the game, I received a phone call from Christian. He had been walking up and down the North stand and Fratton end trying to find Beth’s picture, without any luck.

‘He wanted to have his photograph taken with it to send to us. So the next aim was having the cut-out at Wembley if we got there, with Christian hunting it out after the final whistle. It didn’t happen unfortunately.

‘We lost on Monday, but I’ve told him he has to be proud of what he achieved at Pompey – and ending it as skipper.

‘Players come and go without leaving any legacy at all. Christian has created a huge one, not just for the football club, but for the community.

‘We’ll remain in touch – we’re friends.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.