Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings will face PSG in the European Super Cup after helping Unai Emery's team win the Europa League. His path to European glory follows a rise from non-league football, mortgage advising, and childhood hardship.
As a child, Mings spent about a year living with his mother and three sisters in a shelter for homeless people. Without a car, his mother walked with him to his football matches, even carrying him back home when he was too tired to walk. Mings said years later that football served as his escape route from reality.
Academy release and long working hours
Southampton brought Mings into its academy, but released him at around 15 years old because he had not yet developed physically. He then underwent unsuccessful trials with Bristol Rovers, Swindon, Cardiff, and Portsmouth.
Mings turned to semi-professional football while working non-league jobs. He washed dishes, served pints, and eventually worked as a mortgage advisor. During this period, he combined his job with training sessions and matches, working up to 80 or 90 hours a week.
The Ipswich Town trial and professional breakthrough
In 2012, Mings nearly gave up football because he lacked a car to reach matches. He passed his driving test just before the season began, bought an old Citroën Saxo, and joined Chippenham Town. Former Ipswich player Russell Osman noticed Mings and arranged a trial for him at Ipswich.
Mings called in sick at his mortgage advising job to attend the trial. At 19 years old, he arrived at an Ipswich hotel reception carrying a Chippenham Town bag. He met two fellow trialists, one from Paris and one from Manchester City, who wore designer clothes and drove Mercedes cars. Mings was earning 45 pounds a week in semi-professional football alongside his office job.
During a trial match against the Nike Academy, Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy substituted Mings around the 60th minute. McCarthy told Mings that he was taking him off not because he played poorly, but because he wanted to sign him. McCarthy asked if Mings could quit his mortgage job, and Mings agreed. The following day, Mings entered his office in casual clothes to announce his move to Ipswich.
Premier League injury and England national team selection
His progress encountered another obstacle after signing for Bournemouth in 2015. Mings suffered a severe knee injury just six minutes after coming onto the pitch in one of his first Premier League matches.
Mings recovered from the injury and relaunched his career with Aston Villa. His performances at Villa earned him a call-up to the England national team. After winning the Europa League with Unai Emery's squad, he is preparing to face PSG in the European Super Cup.
Giving back to fans and the homeless community
Throughout his rise, Mings maintained a strong connection to his background. He gave match tickets to a supporter who could not afford them and bought new shirts for fans after changing his squad number.
Mings also spent a Christmas Day serving food to homeless people. Years before putting on the England shirt, he had experienced living in a shelter himself.
