Brian Mills (born 26 December 1971) is an English former footballer. A forward who scored four goals in 23 games for Port Vale in the Football League, his brief professional career was ended by illness in 1993.
Mills joined Port Vale's junior squad at the age of 14 after being spotted while playing for Stafford & District schools and Staffordshire county schools.[3] After foru years of coaching from Mike Pejic, he went on to sign professional forms under manager John Rudge in April 1990.[1] He scored twice on his full debut on 11 May 1991, in a 3–1 win over Swindon Town at Vale Park.[1] This was the last game of the 1990–91 season.[1] He was selected for the England squad at the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal, and started in the game against Uruguay before he was taken off for Premier League star Andrew Cole.[1][3] He scored three goals in 27 league and cup games in 1991–92, as the "Valiants" suffered relegation out of the Second Division.[1] He scored in a 2–1 home win over Notts County on 24 September 1991, in the first leg of the First Round of the League Cup.[1] He also scored in a 1–1 home draw with Charlton Athletic on 21 April 1992, and also found the net in a 4–2 defeat to Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium four days later.[1]
Mills was hospitalized in March 1992 with a rare virus and was released from his contract in September 1993; still not fit to play full-time.[1] Still only 21 and with a mere 23 league appearances and four goals to his name, he never played professional football again due to the damage to his spinal cord caused by the virus.[1][3]
Post-retirement
After leaving the professional game, he graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Physics and Sports Science and became a schoolteacher.[3] He also became a keen powerlifter, winning West Midlands bench press titles in the 69 kg class and becoming the British Masters 1 unequipped bench press champion.[3]
^Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans football yearbook, 1990-91. [Place of publication not identified] : Queen anne Press. ISBN978-0-356-17911-7. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
^ abcde"Brian Mills: the OVF interview". onevalefan.co.uk. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
^Brian Mills at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
January 21, 2023
brian, mills, footballer, brian, mills, born, december, 1971, english, former, footballer, forward, scored, four, goals, games, port, vale, football, league, brief, professional, career, ended, illness, 1993, brian, millspersonal, informationfull, namebrian, m. Brian Mills born 26 December 1971 is an English former footballer A forward who scored four goals in 23 games for Port Vale in the Football League his brief professional career was ended by illness in 1993 Brian MillsPersonal informationFull nameBrian Mills 1 Date of birth 1971 12 26 26 December 1971 age 51 1 Place of birthStone Staffordshire England 1 Height5 ft 9 in 1 75 m 2 Position s ForwardYouth career1986 1990Port ValeSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1990 1993Port Vale23 4 Total23 4 International career1991England U191 0 Club domestic league appearances and goals Contents 1 Career 2 Post retirement 3 Career statistics 4 ReferencesCareer EditMills joined Port Vale s junior squad at the age of 14 after being spotted while playing for Stafford amp District schools and Staffordshire county schools 3 After foru years of coaching from Mike Pejic he went on to sign professional forms under manager John Rudge in April 1990 1 He scored twice on his full debut on 11 May 1991 in a 3 1 win over Swindon Town at Vale Park 1 This was the last game of the 1990 91 season 1 He was selected for the England squad at the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal and started in the game against Uruguay before he was taken off for Premier League star Andrew Cole 1 3 He scored three goals in 27 league and cup games in 1991 92 as the Valiants suffered relegation out of the Second Division 1 He scored in a 2 1 home win over Notts County on 24 September 1991 in the first leg of the First Round of the League Cup 1 He also scored in a 1 1 home draw with Charlton Athletic on 21 April 1992 and also found the net in a 4 2 defeat to Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium four days later 1 Mills was hospitalized in March 1992 with a rare virus and was released from his contract in September 1993 still not fit to play full time 1 Still only 21 and with a mere 23 league appearances and four goals to his name he never played professional football again due to the damage to his spinal cord caused by the virus 1 3 Post retirement EditAfter leaving the professional game he graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Physics and Sports Science and became a schoolteacher 3 He also became a keen powerlifter winning West Midlands bench press titles in the 69 kg class and becoming the British Masters 1 unequipped bench press champion 3 Career statistics EditSource 4 Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other TotalApps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsPort Vale 1990 91 Second Division 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 21991 92 Second Division 21 2 1 0 3 1 2 0 27 31992 93 Second Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Total 23 4 1 0 3 1 2 0 29 5References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Kent Jeff 1996 Port Vale Personalities Witan Books p 199 ISBN 0 9529152 0 0 Rollin Jack ed 1990 Rothmans football yearbook 1990 91 Place of publication not identified Queen anne Press ISBN 978 0 356 17911 7 Retrieved 27 November 2022 a b c d e Brian Mills the OVF interview onevalefan co uk 9 September 2012 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Brian Mills at the English National Football Archive subscription required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brian Mills footballer amp oldid 1125028127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
