A Villan Story - Tyrone Mings

Tyrone Mings was born in Bath, Somerset and has had a remarkable rise through English football to get to where he is today, playing for Aston Villa. Growing up with his three sisters, his family didn't have it easy. In fact from a young age, Mings spent time in a homeless shelter due to the lack of money his family had.

But his escape was football. At just four years-old, he joined his local team FC Chippenham, playing for the U6s as that was the youngest team they had.

This is the story of Tyrone Mings and his journey to becoming a Premier League player, a captain and an England international.

Academy, Rejection And A Return to School

Mings joined Southampton academy in 2001 when he was eight, starting as a central midfielder. At the time he was one of the tallest in his age group, but Mings has spoken out about how at the age of 13 and 14, people around him started to develop into young adults whilst he was left behind. He spent eight years on the coast before being released in 2009. This was due to being too small (5ft 8in) and the fact that Southampton's academy budget was drastically reduced as they dropped into League One. His dreams of becoming a Premier League footballer quickly vanished.

Upon leaving, Mings had trials at Cardiff City, Swindon Town, Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers, but didn't get accepted into any of them. He then decided to sign a football scholarship at Millfield School in Somerset. It was here where he transitioned into a defender, trying to build his physique in the gym and playing on the left side of a back three.

Once his scholarship had finished after a couple of years, he was 6ft 2in and had A Levels in Physical Education and Psychology and a BTEC in Sport. He then headed to non-League football.

Non-League Days And Balancing Jobs

Yate Town was his first club, based in Gloucestershire, who he joined in 2011. He was still not big enough to play centre-back, so he played as a left-back. After only a short period of time at the club, Mings then moved to Chippenham Town in the summer of 2012. A low wage meant he had to find a job alongside football, with his first being a barman in the local pub, The White Hart. He then went into mortgage advising for London & Country's Bath Office and this was the path he was going to take if he didn't make it to the top.

2011 —> 2019
Mortgage advisor —> England
What a decade
(P.S excuse the selfie) 😂😓 pic.twitter.com/6JIfcDFLDi

— Tyrone Mings (@TyroneMings) December 31, 2019

However, Mings' career was about to change, as after only ten appearances for Chippenham Town, he played in a trial match against Nike Academy with

Ipswich Town in attendance. Mick McCarthy then decided to pay £10,000 to sign him and he joined them in the Championship.

From The Tractor Boys To The Cherries

It was early 2013 when he arrived to Portman Road, signing an 18-month contract. Mings had to wait until the final game of the 2012/13 season against Burnley to make his debut. The following campaign, he was an understudy to Aaron Cresswell and it was only until the following year, when Cresswell was sold to West Ham, did Mings become a regular starter.

After a three-year contract extension in 2014, he played 42 games in the Championship, picking up one goal and four assists. He was an integral player for Ipswich in that season, helping them reach the play-offs, which they lost in the Semi-Final to Norwich. In total he made 63 appearances during his time at The Tractor Boys.

At the end of the season, Eddie Howe's Bournemouth came calling and Mings' dreams of becoming a Premier League footballer became reality. A reported £8 million was agreed, a club record at the time, and a four-year-deal was signed. All the build-up to make his debut in the league, was soon shot with a devastating blow. After only six minutes coming on as a substitute, Mings tore his ACL and he was then side-lined for the rest of the season. His world around him shattered and at just 22-years-old he struggled mentally with recovery.

It was fifteen months after his injury that he made a return to football, against Leicester in December 2016. More injuries continued to follow him as he battled to stay fit. Nathan Aké was signed from Chelsea, which knocked Mings down the pecking order, ultimately leaving him as back up. He only made 23 appearances in the four years he was at the Cherries before a loan move to Aston Villa revitalised his career.

Transformation At Villa

It was January 2018 when he joined Villa on loan for the rest of the season, as they aimed for promotion back to the Premier League. It didn't take long for him to make an impact and cement his place at centre-back, as he scored in his second game for Villa. It was an enthralling comeback against Sheffield United, scoring three goals in the last fifteen minutes to draw 3-3. Confidence was growing and Mings quickly became a commanding presence at the back, playing a crucial role in securing them a play-off win to return to the top flight of English football.

Dean Smith was determined to keep Mings at the club after his successful loan spell and so agreed a £20+ million deal to sign him permanently. His starting spot remained and he formed a new partnership with fellow countryman Ezri Konsa. The performances he put in during the early stages of the season, earned him a call-up to the England squad. Villa managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the 2019/20 season, which was impacted by the COVID pandemic with the loss of supporters at stadiums. During those matches Villa played, there was only one voice you could hear every time and that was his.

The following campaign, Jack Grealish left in a £100 million deal with Manchester City, leaving Mings to be appointed captain. It was a reward for the impact he had at the club since his arrival, and his overall leadership and personality.

For the next three seasons, he was a mainstay in the Villa starting XI, as well as the England squad. Although he was stripped of the captaincy by Steven Gerrard in 2022, power, leadership and vocal presence is what many would still associate with him and it never disappeared. However, on the first day of the 2023/24 season, against Newcastle, Mings suffered another ACL injury that kept him out for 445 days. Knowing what the journey to full recovery will be like, having experienced it eight years before, he was adamant to change his mindset, utilising the help of a therapist.

❤️📈 Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings documents his ACL recovery journey! 💪 pic.twitter.com/7qBWnfHxHJ

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) November 21, 2023

Once he returned, the club was in a very different position. They had now qualified for the Champions League and Pau Torres took over his starting spot. The club had evolved and their meteoric rise was through Unai Emery's incredible leadership. Despite being unable to play, Emery ensured that Mings was still made to feel part of the squad and would check in on him to see how his progress was going. His influence in the dressing room was never lost and he is still regarded as one of the leaders under Emery.

Mings has had to fight back for his place in the starting XI, which he did at the back end of last season and now for the start of this campaign. Villa look a lot more defensively strong with Mings in the side and their record with him playing compared to when he isn't speaks for itself. From the Championship to the Champions League, only himself and John McGinn have been along for the full journey at Villa. It's a testament to his character and performances as to why he is only one of two to have remained at the club for so long. Now, with 193 appearances to his name and after signing a new contract earlier this year, he hopefully still has many years at the club. There is no doubt that he will be remembered as a great once he hangs up his boots.