Simon Mills (footballer)

Simon Ashley Mills (born 16 August 1964) is an English former footballer who played as a defender; he was described by Jeff Kent as "skilful and adaptable".[1] He made 288 league appearances in a ten-year career in the Football League.

Simon Mills
Personal information
Full name Simon Ashley Mills[1]
Date of birth (1964-08-16) 16 August 1964[1]
Place of birth Sheffield, England[1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Right-back; midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1985 Sheffield Wednesday 5 (0)
1985–1987 York City 99 (4)
1987–1994 Port Vale 184 (8)
Boston United
Matlock Town
Total 288+ (12+)
National team
1983 England Youth 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his career with local club Sheffield Wednesday in 1982, before moving on to York City three years later. Voted Clubman of the Year in 1986, he was sold on to Port Vale for £35,000 in December 1987. He helped the "Valiants" to win promotion out of the Third Division via the play-offs in 1989, before injuries forced him to leave the professional game in May 1994. He later attempted comebacks with Boston United and Matlock Town.

Playing career

Born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, Mills started his career with Sheffield Wednesday in 1982. He failed to earn a first team spot at Hillsborough, particularly following the "Owls" ascent to the First Division in 1983–84 under Howard Wilkinson's stewardship. He moved on to York City in June 1985. Denis Smith's "Minstermen" finished 7th in the Third Division in 1985–86, and Mills was voted Clubman of the Year. However a decline at Bootham Crescent saw the club slip to 20th in 1986–87, and Smith was replaced by Bobby Saxton. Mills was snapped up by John Rudge's Port Vale for £35,000 in December 1987.[1] York went on to finish in the relegation places in 1987–88.

Unable to fit him into the side due to the form of Ray Walker and others, Rudge converted Mills from a midfielder to a right-back.[3] He made 19 Third Division appearances in 1987–88, scoring five goals.[1] He played 55 games in 1988–89, playing in partnership first with fellow centre-backs Phil Sproson and Bob Hazell (who both struggled with injuries) and later Gary West and Dean Glover (who were signed mid-season), alongside full-backs Alan Webb and Darren Hughes, in front of goalkeeper Mark Grew.[1] This proved to be the most successful defence in the division, conceding just 48 goals in 46 league games.[1] However a third-place finish meant that they had to overcome Bristol Rovers 2–1 over two legs in the play-off final, with Robbie Earle hitting both goals.[1] Mills missed just one Second Division game in 1989–90, forming a formidable defensive partnership with Glover.[1] He played 45 games in 1990–91, as Vale retained their second tier status.[1] He played 40 games in the 1991–92 relegation season, scoring twice, and helped the club to win the TNT Tournament in the summer.[1] However, in autumn 1992 he developed knee trouble and underwent a series of unsuccessful operations, limiting him to just three league appearances in 1992–93. He was given a free transfer in May 1994.[1] After retiring as a professional, he later attempted a comeback with Northern Premier League Premier Division sides Boston United and Matlock Town.[1]

Style of play

Mills was a hard working player who played at both right-back and midfield.[4] He was an excellent set-piece taker and part of Port Vale's "MBE" corner-kick routine: Mills to Darren Beckford to Robbie Earle.[5][4] In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" as a right-back by members of the OneValeFan supporter website.[6]

Post-retirement

Mills became a drayman at a Sheffield brewery after leaving football.[7]

Statistics

Source:[8]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield Wednesday 1982–83 Second Division 10100020
1983–84 Second Division 20000020
1984–85 First Division 20000020
Total 50100060
York City 1985–86 Third Division 3616040461
1986–87 Third Division 4513161543
1987–88 Third Division 1824141264
Total 9941321421268
Port Vale 1987–88 Third Division 1950000195
1988–89 Third Division 4303090550
1989–90 Second Division 4513060541
1990–91 Second Division 4101030450
1991–92 Second Division 3321060402
1992–93 Second Division 30101050
Total 1848902502188
Career total 2881223239235016

Honours
Port Vale
Individual

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 200. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "Simon Mills". www.adrianbullock.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. Earle, Robbie (20 September 2012). "Micky Adams must take credit for building an attacking squad". The Sentinel. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  4. "Cult Hero 05: Simon Mills". onevalefan.co.uk. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  5. Baggaley, Michael (5 October 2013). "Chris Lines in good company when it comes to taking free-kicks". The Sentinel. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  6. Fielding, Rob (26 May 2019). "This is the OVF viewers all-time Port Vale XI". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. "Vale heroes completed mission thanks to MBE". The Sentinel. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  8. Simon Mills at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  9. Kent, Jeff (1989). Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988-1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-3-9.
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