Tillotson made his debut for Blackpool in the opening game of the 1907–08 season, a 1–1 draw at Stockport County on 2 September.
[1] Fiske remained first-choice for almost the entirety of the 1908–09 campaign; only a return by Tillotson in the penultimate League game – a single-goal defeat at Gainsborough Trinity on 17 April – spoiled his run.
He made his debut on 13 November 1909 as Burnley beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–2 at Turf Moor thanks to a hat-trick from Walter Abbott.
Tillotson kept his place in goal for the following match away at Gainsborough Trinity, but was subsequently dropped as the side suffered a 0–2 defeat.
Tillotson went on to play five more matches for Burnley that year, and kept successive clean sheets in the goalless draws with Leeds City and Barnsley.