After training with Southampton at an early age
A leader on and off the pitch, Tyrone Mings’ story is an inspiration for all young ballers to never give up. No matter the circumstances.
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After training with Southampton at an early age
By Angus McKeon February 24th 2023
When it comes to his journey into football, Tyrone Mings is an outlier. The well trodden path of academy graduate to pro-baller, was not the route destined for the Aston Villa and England centre-back.
After training with Southampton at an early age, he was dropped from the academy at 15. He began work as a mortgage advisor and spent the best part of his formative years, bouncing between non-league clubs, whilst simultaneously balancing full-time work. His persistence to ‘make it’ finally paid off when he was scouted by Ipswich Town in 2012. At the time he was playing for non-league side Chippenham Town F.C. After a string of injuries threatened to put a premature end to his flourishing career, he finally broke through the ranks signing for Premier League side AFC Bournemouth in 2015 before joining his current side Aston Villa four years later. That same year, he also earned his first cap for England under Gareth Southgate.
The adversity of Mings’ on-pitch story has informed his off-the pitch interests. Over the years he’s established and invested in a wide array of exploits outside of the game including, running an interior design business. But never straying too far away from his roots, he also launched the Tyrone Mings academy - offering community led, pro-coaching to 6-16 year olds.
The essence of giving back is at the heart of Tyrone’s character. Having spent time at a homeless centre as a child, he’s witnessed first hand the challenges faced to overcome barriers that are outside of his control. For him, now more than ever, the ability to ensure he supports individuals and institutions that helped shape him - on and off the pitch - is more important than ever.
VERSUS caught up with the Mitre ambassador to discuss his untraditional route into the game, the value of community and his connection with grassroots football.
