 Mills in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary Roland Mills[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1961-11-11)11 November 1961 (age 64)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Northampton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3] | ||
| Position | |||
| Youth career | |||
| –1978 | Nottingham Forest | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1982 | Nottingham Forest | 58 | (8) |
| 1982–1983 | Seattle Sounders | 34 | (5) |
| 1982–1983 | →Derby County (loan) | 18 | (2) |
| 1983–1987 | Nottingham Forest | 79 | (4) |
| 1987–1989 | Notts County | 75 | (8) |
| 1989–1994 | Leicester City | 200 | (15) |
| 1994–1996 | Notts County | 47 | (0) |
| 1996–1998 | Grantham Town | 66 | (3) |
| 1998 | Gresley Rovers | 7 | (0) |
| 1998–2000 | King's Lynn | 67 | (3) |
| 2000–2001 | Boston United | 8 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Tamworth | 41 | (2) |
| 2005 | Glapwell | ||
| 2005–2007 | Alfreton Town | 24 | (0) |
| 2007–2010 | Tamworth | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 727 | (50) | |
| International career | |||
| 1977 | England Schoolboys | 9 | (2) |
| 1978–1979 | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 1981 | England U21 | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1996–1998 | Grantham Town | ||
| 1998–2000 | King's Lynn | ||
| 2001–2002 | Tamworth | ||
| 2004 | Notts County | ||
| 2005–2007 | Alfreton Town | ||
| 2007–2010 | Tamworth | ||
| 2010–2013 | York City | ||
| 2013–2015 | Gateshead | ||
| 2015–2016 | Wrexham | ||
| 2016–2017 | York City | ||
| 2020–2022 | Corby Town | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gary Roland Mills (born 11 November 1961) is an Englishfootball manager and former professionalplayer. He played in thePremier League andFootball League forNottingham Forest,Derby County,Notts County andLeicester City and managed in the Football League with Notts County andYork City. He was recently the manager ofNorthern Premier League Division One Midlands clubCorby Town.
Mills, who played as aright-back and as amidfielder, started his career withFirst Division club Nottingham Forest. He became the club's youngest league player after making hisfirst-team debut at the age of 16 in 1978. He played in the victorious1980 European Cup Final, which made him the youngest finalist inEuropean Cup history. He joined theSeattle Sounders of theNorth American Soccer League in 1982 and played for them for one season, which culminated in a loss to theNew York Cosmos inSoccer Bowl '82. While with them Mills had aloan at Derby County, making 23 appearances for theSecond Division club. He returned to Forest in 1983, and made 168 appearances over two spells at the club. He left for their rivals, Notts County of theThird Division, in 1987. Mills then joined Leicester City in 1989, and after two unsuccessful forays into theFirst Division play-offs he helped them winpromotion to the Premier League in 1994. He soon returned to County, by this time playing in the First Division, after 232 appearances for Leicester. Here Mills earned the last honour of his playing career, winning theAnglo-Italian Cup in 1995. He retired from professional football in 1996 due to an injury, having made 159 appearances for County over two spells.
Mills started his managerial career asplayer-manager withGrantham Town in 1996. He left the club after leading them to theSouthern League Midland Division title in his second season. He then served as player-manager at Southern League Premier Division clubKing's Lynn from 1998 to 2000, which was brought to an end after he resigned. He was appointed player-manager of Southern League Premier Division clubTamworth in 2001, before leaving to join the coaching staff atCoventry City in 2002. Mills was handed his first managerial role in the Football League with Notts County in 2004, but was dismissed several months after the club was relegated toLeague Two. He managedAlfreton Town of theConference North from 2005 to 2007 when he returned to Tamworth. The club was relegated from theConference National before Mills led them to the Conference North title in 2009. He left Tamworth in 2010 to become manager of theirConference Premier rivals York City. Mills oversaw York's victories in theFA Trophy and Conference Premier play-offs in 2012, the latter resulting in promotion to League Two. He was dismissed by York in 2013 before taking over atGateshead, and after leading them to the Conference Premier play-offs in 2014 he was named the Non-League Manager of the Year. Mills took over as manager of their National League rivalsWrexham in 2015, but was dismissed the following year.
Mills was born inNorthampton, Northamptonshire[4] toRoly, also a footballer, and Jean (née Frost).[5][6][7] As a youngster Mills displayed talent in multiple sports, beingcapped for England schools in both football and rugby union, and showed promise as a sprinter, running 100 metres in 11 seconds as anEnglish Schools' Athletics Championships finalist.[5][8]
Mills played for a local village team before being spotted by aNottingham Forest scout at the age of 11.[9] Aged 14 he broke into Forest'sreserve team, which played inthe Central League.[10] Mills also played forLong Buckby's youth team, and was part of the team that won a national under-16 competition.[11] He started his senior career at Forest under themanagement ofBrian Clough, making hisfirst-team debut in a 2–1 victory at home toArsenal in theFirst Division on 9 September 1978, and in doing so became Forest's youngest league player at the age of 16 years and 203 days.[12][13][14] Mills signed a professional contract with Forest on 13 November 1978, two days after his 17th birthday, after serving his apprenticeship[15] He scored his first goal for Forest with the opening goal of a 2–1 win away toLeeds United on 15 May 1979.[16] Despite not participating in the1979 European Cup Final at theOlympiastadion, in which Forest beatMalmö FF 1–0, Mills became the youngest player to win theEuropean Cup at the age of 17 years and 201 days on the virtue of having made one appearance in the competition that season.[17][18] He finished the1978–79 season, in which Forest were First Division runners-up, with six appearances and one goal.[16]
Due to an injury toTrevor Francis he started in the 1–0 victory overHamburger SV in the1980 European Cup Final, staged at theSantiago Bernabéu Stadium, and being aged 18 meant he became the youngest player to appear in a European Cup final.[5] Mills played more frequently in 1979–80, making 20 appearances and scoring 1 goal, as Forest finished fifth in the league.[19] He played in the 2–1 home win overValencia in the first leg of the1980 European Super Cup, but was not selected for the second leg which the Spanish club won 1–0;[20] this meant Valencia became the first team to win the competition on theaway goals rule.[21] Mills missed only one league match for Forest from February 1981 to the end of 1980–81, and finished the season with 34 appearances and 7 goals, with Forest placed seventh in the First Division.[20] He appeared more sporadically in 1981–82, making 17 appearances and scoring 1 goal, not playing more than seven league matches in succession.[22]
Mills left Forest shortly before the end of 1981–82 to join theSeattle Sounders of theNorth American Soccer League in March 1982.[13] He made 31 appearances, scored 5 goals and recorded 7assists in the1982 North American Soccer League season as Seattle finished first in the Western Division.[23][24] He started for Seattle inSoccer Bowl '82 before being substituted forRoger Davies, and the match was won 1–0 by theNew York Cosmos with a 31st-minute goal scored byGiorgio Chinaglia.[25] Less than a month later he made a temporary return to England by signing for Forest's local rivalsDerby County onloan on 13 October 1982.[15] Mills made his debut three days later in a 1–1 away draw withGrimsby Town in theSecond Division, before scoring his first goal with Derby's second in a 2–0 home win overQueens Park Rangers on 3 January 1983.[26] His loan ended in April 1983, having made 23 appearances and scored 2 goals for Derby in 1982–83.[26] Early in the1983 North American Soccer League season he had his leg broken byDavid Watson and was kept out of action for a year.[8] However, this acted as a wake-up call for Mills, who said: "It made me work really hard and that's what made me go on and play until I was 47. I never stopped working on my fitness".[8]
Mills returned to England on a permanent basis by rejoining his former club Nottingham Forest in December 1983.[13] It was not until 7 April 1984 that he made his second debut for Forest, when he started the 3–1 home win overWest Bromwich Albion.[27] He played in nine matches for Forest in 1983–84, including seven outings in their last nine league fixtures, with the team finishing third in the First Division.[27] Mills' first goal in his second spell with Forest was the winning goal in a 3–2 home victory overManchester United on 8 December 1984.[28] He was in and out of the starting line-up in 1984–85, ultimately making 31 appearances and scoring 5 goals.[28] Forest ended in ninth place in the First Division this season.[28]
Mills did not establish himself in the team in 1985–86.[29] After a run of eight successive league starts spanning October to December 1985, he went on to make only three starts in the remainder of the season.[29] In total he made 18 appearances, Forest finishing eighth in the First Division.[29] He started 1986–87 only making substitute appearances, but from mid October 1986 onwards he started matches frequently.[30] He made 38 appearances, scoring 1 goal, with Forest again ranking eighth in the First Division.[30]
After calling time on his Forest career, Mills was once again on the move, this time to Forest's neighboursNotts County on 14 August 1987.[15] His debut came one day after joining, starting County's 4–4 home draw withWigan Athletic on the opening day of the1987–88 Third Division.[31] He first scored for County with their opening goal in a 2–1 away win overChester City on 3 October 1987.[31] Mills played in all of County's matches in 1987–88, making 60 appearances and scoring 5 goals, and was named the club's Player of the Year.[31][32] County reached theSouthern Area final of the Associate Members' Cup, being beaten 4–1 on aggregate byWolverhampton Wanderers.[31] With County finishing fourth in the table they qualified for theThird Division play-offs, in which they were beaten 4–2 on aggregate byWalsall in the semi-final.[31] He missed only three matches while a County player in 1988–89, making 36 appearances and scoring 4 goals.[33]
Mills signed for Second Division clubLeicester City on 2 March 1989 as part of the deal that sawPhil Turner join County for a fee of £125,000, with over two months of 1988–89 remaining.[15][34] He slotted straight into the starting line-up, making his debut two days after joining in a 1–0 victory at home to Walsall.[35] He made 13 consecutive appearances for Leicester before missing the last two matches of1988–89, his new club finishing 15th in the Second Division.[35] His first goal for Leicester was the only goal in a 1–0 win away toStoke City on 25 November 1989.[36] Other than a spell out of the team from early September to mid November 1989, Mills was a regular in the Leicester team that ranked 13th place in the Second Division in1989–90, making 30 appearances and scoring 4 goals.[36] He established himself as a popular player with the supporters,[37] and was named the club's Player of the Year.[38]
Mills made 49 appearances and scored 5 goals for Leicester in1990–91, missing only one match all season.[39] Leicester avoidedrelegation to the Third Division by only two points, finishing one place above relegated West Bromwich Albion in 22nd place.[40] Mills went one better in1991–92 by appearing in all 62 Leicester fixtures that season, scoring 7 goals, and was named the club's Player of the Year for the second time.[38][41] This season saw an improvement in fortunes for Leicester, as they reached theNorthern Area final of the Full Members' Cup, in which they were beaten 3–1 on aggregate by Nottingham Forest, and theSecond Division play-offs with a fourth-place finish the league.[41] After beatingCambridge United 6–1 on aggregate in the semi-final Leicester lost 1–0 toBlackburn Rovers atWembley Stadium in thefinal.[41]
Millscaptained the Leicester team that reached theFirst Division play-offs in1992–93 with a sixth place league finish, and they beatPortsmouth 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-final.[42][43] However, they lost in thefinal for the second successive season, being beaten 4–3 bySwindon Town at Wembley Stadium.[43] He made 53 appearances this season, missing only three of Leicester's fixtures.[43] Mills featured regularly in1993–94 before missing the last few months of the season with a foot injury, having made 25 appearances by then.[44] By finishing fourth in the table Leicester made theFirst Division play-offs for the third successive season, and Mills led the team out before thefinal despite being unable to play.[45] Leicester beat Derby County 2–1 and thus earned promotion to thePremier League.[46]
Mills returned to Notts County on 26 September 1994 after re-signing for a fee of £50,000,[15] having made one Premier League appearance for Leicester by that point in1994–95.[47] Making his debut in a 2–0 away defeat toReading in the First Division on 1 October 1994, he played regularly atright-back before moving toleft-back towards the end of1994–95 afterCraig Short returned to the team.[48][49] He picked up his last playing honour this season as part of the team that won theAnglo-Italian Cup after County beatAscoli 2–1 in thefinal at Wembley Stadium.[48] However, County were relegated to the Second Division after finishing 24th in the First Division, with Mills making 43 appearances.[48]
Mills started 1995–96 as County's first-choice right-back before losing his place toTommy Gallagher.[15] He returned to the starting line-up in November 1995,[50] before his season was ended by a serious injury in December.[15] County finished fourth in the Second Division, and after being beaten 2–0 by Bradford in theplay-off final, the club released Mills after he had made 20 appearances in 1995–96.[15][50][51] He retired from professional football in May 1996 as a result of the injury he sustained that season.[52]
Mills wascapped by England atschools level before making hisunder-18 debut in a 1–0 victory over theSoviet Union on 10 October 1978.[15][53] He won his second and last cap in a 4–0 victory overBelgium on 17 January 1979.[53] Mills' debut for theunder-21 team came in a 3–0 victory overRomania in a1982 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier on 28 April 1981.[54] He was capped again in a 0–0 with drawNorway in afriendly on 8 September 1981.[54]
Mills played primarily as a right-back or as amidfielder.[15] He was comfortable on the ball, could play the passing game and was a good tackler.[15][49]
Mills moved into management on the advice ofJohn Barnwell when being appointed theplayer-manager ofGrantham Town in July 1996.[52]Darron Gee joined him as his assistant,[55] and the two went on to frequently work together as a management team.[5] Mills' managerial and playing debut for Grantham was in a 3–0 home defeat to Grimsby Town in the quarter-final of theLincolnshire Senior Cup on 13 August 1996, and he scored his first goal for them in a 3–2 win home overEvesham United on 21 September.[56][57] He led the team to fourth place in theSouthern League Midland Division in 1996–97, missing out on second place and thus promotion by one point.[52][58] He played regularly this season, making 46 appearances and scoring 3 goals.[57]
In 1997–98, Mills' Grantham won the Southern League Midland Division title, earning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, having led the table from the start of the season.[52][59] Grantham also reached thequarter-final of the FA Trophy for only the second time in the club's history.[52] He appeared even more frequently in the first team this season, making 50 appearances.[60] However, Mills resigned a week after the season ended in May 1998 as the club's takeover by local businessman Reg Brealey would have meant dismantling the team due to budget cuts.[55][61] He joinedGresley Rovers of the Southern League Premier Division as a player in July 1998, making his debut in their 0–0 away draw withBromsgrove Rovers on 22 August.[5][62][63] He appeared regularly for Gresley, playing in their first seven matches of 1998–99.[62][63]
Mills took over as player-manager atKing's Lynn in September 1998 and wassent off on his playing debut, a 3–2 away defeat toWorcester City in the Southern League Premier Division on 26 September.[64][65][66][67] His first goal for the club came after shooting into the bottom corner from aLee Wilson back-heel in a 3–3 home draw withSalisbury City on 6 March 1999.[67][68] He made 30 appearances and scored 1 goal in 1998–99,[67] as his team finished 10th in the Southern League Premier Division.[69] King's Lynn improved on their league performance in 1999–2000, finishing in fifth place in the table.[69] Mills continued to appear frequently in the team, playing in 34 matches and scoring 1 goal.[70] He resigned as King's Lynn manager on 8 November 2000 due to major financial problems at the club,[71][72] and had made 16 appearances and scored one 1 up to that point in 2000–01.[73] He returned to playing just three days later by signing forFootball Conference clubBoston United, making his debut the same day in a 2–2 home draw withScarborough.[74][75]
Mills made eight appearances for Boston before being appointed the player-manager of Southern League Premier Division clubTamworth on 12 January 2001.[74][75][76] He was not in charge for the following day's 3–0 home defeat to Boston in theFA Trophy, withTim Steele continuing ascaretaker manager for this match.[77][78][79] His first match as manager was a 2–2 home draw withHavant & Waterlooville on 20 January 2001, in which he played and scored.[77][80] Tamworth finished the season in 12th place in the Southern League Premier Division,[81] and Mills made 16 appearances and scored 2 goals.[78] Tamworth missed out on promotion to the Football Conference on the final day of 2001–02, finishing second in the Southern League Premier Division, two points behind the title winnersKettering Town.[82][83] He played often for Tamworth this season, making 30 appearances.[84]
Mills left the club on 23 May 2002 to become first-team coach and reserve-team manager at First Division clubCoventry City, as part of the management team ofGary McAllister andEric Black.[82][85] In2002–03, Mills' reserves finished bottom of thePremier Reserve League Southern Division in 14th place.[86] He spoke toTelford United regarding the managerial vacancy at the Football Conference club in May 2003, but decided to stay at Coventry saying he was happy at the club.[87] Mills later spoke of his regret at leaving Tamworth for Coventry, saying: "It was the biggest decision I've ever made in football. I was very happy at Tamworth and we were winning most games".[88]
Mills took over as manager of Second Division Notts County on 9 January 2004 after the resignation ofBill Dearden, with the club lying 23rd in the Second Division table.[32] His first match in charge came just a day later, in whichMarc Goodfellow scored astoppage time winner forBristol City as County were beaten 2–1 at home.[89] After a run of good form from late February to early March 2004 County rose out of the relegation zone, but a run of one victory from the last 12 matches of 2003–04 saw the club relegated toLeague Two in 23rd place.[90] Despite having a healthier playing budget and a reorganisation of the squad during the summer of 2004, County made a disappointing start to 2004–05.[5] As a result, Mills was dismissed on 4 November 2004 with the club 21st in League Two,[91] and he declined the offer of a lesser position with the club.[92] He resumed his playing career during early 2005 withNorthern Counties East League Premier Division clubGlapwell, playing under Lee Wilson, who Mills had previously played with and managed.[93]
He was appointed as manager ofConference North clubAlfreton Town on 25 May 2005 on a three-year contract,[94] becoming the first full-time manager in the club's history.[95] Alfreton went into 2005–06 with a reduced playing budget and Mills was able to keep the club on an even keel.[96] His first match as Alfreton manager was a 2–1 home defeat toVauxhall Motors on 13 August 2005,[97] and having flirted with relegation the team finished the season in 17th place in the Conference North.[98] Mills was registered as a player in 2005–06, and made 21 appearances after his debut came in a 2–1 home win overRedditch United on 10 September 2005.[99]
Mills made large-scale changes to the squad over the summer of 2006,[100] although a few months into 2006–07 more budget cuts were made and this limited his ability to add to a squad lacking in depth.[101][102] When he left Alfreton they were 13th in the Conference North, and he was playing less frequently, making five appearances in 2006–07.[103]
After an undisclosed financial settlement was agreed Mills left Alfreton to return to Tamworth, who at this time were in theConference National, for a second spell as manager on 26 January 2007.[104] He joined with the team 24th in the table and following his appointment he said: "It feels fantastic to be back. It is an amazing football club that means a lot to me".[105] He was in charge for the home match againstCrawley Town the day after his appointment, the visitors winning 1–0 with a 54th-minute goal scored byMark Wright .[106] Mills was unable to keep Tamworth up, the club being relegated to the Conference North with a 22nd-place finish in the Conference National.[81] He stated his determination to get the club back up, saying: "The disappointment will go away because this is a great football club to be at. We all need to stay proud and positive and I will now prepare a squad for the start of next season."[107] Tamworth spent most of 2007–08 in midtable, eventually finishing 15th in the Conference North;[108] theTamworth Herald claimed it was "among the poorest campaigns in the club's history".[109]
Mills was given time to rebuild the squad over the summer of 2008, bringing in players likeBradley Pritchard,Alex Rodman,Chris Smith,Tom Shaw andMichael Wylde.[109] He was named the Conference North Manager of the Month for September 2008, in which Tamworth achieved three straight league wins following a draw away to in-form Alfreton.[110] He won the award again for March 2009 after Tamworth were top of the table with five wins and two draws, including a 1–0 victory away to title rivalsSouthport.[111] Mills led Tamworth to promotion back to theConference Premier after winning the Conference North title in 2008–09[112] and this was confirmed with a 1–0 victory over local rivalsHinckley United on 21 April 2009.[113] The final match of the season, a 0–0 draw away toAFC Telford United, saw Mills come out of retirement after he came on as a 90th-minute substitute for Rodman.[114] He was given a standing ovation from the travelling supporters in the process.[114] After the end of the season he was named the Conference North Manager of the Year.[115]
Tamworth started 2009–10 in good form, and by late September 2009 were occupying a play-off spot in the Conference Premier.[108] Mills' team eventually finished in 16th place in a season of consolidation;[108][116] this represented the second highest league placing in the club's history.[81] He made the last appearance of his career aged 48 after starting Tamworth's 4–3 home defeat toEbbsfleet United on 24 April 2010, before substituting himself forDes Lyttle in the 55th minute.[117] This was his third appearance of the season.[118] In the Conference Premier, Tamworth were playing against a number of clubs withFootball League pedigrees,[119] meaning they were not able to offer contracts as lucrative or long as many clubs.[120] Mills complemented the competitiveness of his team in this division, saying: "For a small club like us, it's great to be mixing with these teams. But, while we may be smaller, like last year, we will make sure that we are capable of getting results."[119] Tamworth had a strong start in 2010–11; they were again in a play-off position by late September 2010, and by the time Mills had left the club they were 12th in the Conference Premier.[108]
With a compensation package agreed Mills left Tamworth after being appointed the manager of fellow Conference Premier clubYork City on 13 October 2010.[121][122] He replacedMartin Foyle, who resigned the previous month, and at the time of his appointment York were 16th in the table.[122][123] He was not registered as a player at York, although chairmanJason McGill would refuse[citation needed] Mills a playing contract on multiple occasions.[116] After his appointment, Mills said he believed he had left Tamworth for a club with greater potential and that his aim was to return York to the Football League.[116]
Mills' first match in charge was a 1–1 draw at home toBath City on 16 October 2010, and with results improving he was named the Conference Premier Manager of the Month for November 2010 after York recorded four wins and three draws, including a 3–0 home win overRotherham United in thefirst round of the FA Cup.[123][124][125] In the third round of the competition Mills' York played Premier League teamBolton Wanderers, who won 2–0 with late goals fromKevin Davies andJohan Elmander.[126] York made a push toward the play-off places, and by mid March 2011 were sixth in the Conference Premier, just one place outside the play-offs.[123][127] York finished2010–11 in eighth place in the Conference Premier,[123]The Press claiming Mills "restored pride and belief into the club" with his "unbounded optimism and positivity".[128]
Mills made a statement of intent to win the Conference Premier title in2011–12.[129] His summer recruitment was focused on signing players who would improve the team's goalscoring record, and he succeeding in doing this when signingMatty Blair,Paddy McLaughlin andJason Walker.[130] York consistently occupied a play-off position throughout 2011–12, eventually securing one after finishing fourth in the table.[131] The team played a passing style in the first half of the season, before often grinding out results withThe Press saying they "compensated for a loss of craft with bundles of graft".[132]
After beatingMansfield Town 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[131] York were 2–0 victors overNewport County atWembley Stadium in the2012 FA Trophy Final; this was the first time the club had won a national knockout competition in its 90-year history.[133] Eight days later Mills took his York team back to Wembley Stadium for the2012 Conference Premier play-off final, and following a 2–1 victory overLuton Town with goals fromAshley Chambers and Blair, York were promoted to League Two, ending an eight-year absence from the Football League.[134] This was the first time any club had won the FA Trophy and the Conference Premier play-offs in one season.[132] This on-field achievement, combined with the approval for acommunity stadium to be built for the club, led toThe Press lauding "an unsurpassed nine days in the Minstermen's proud existence".[135]
Mills' signings for2012–13 proved to be less influential than his signings the previous summer, a number of new players being left out of the team with little playing time.[136] York were in midtable for most of the first half of the season,[137] and his signings in the winter transfer window had little impact on the team.[136] Having been 14th in the table on 1 January 2013, York went on a run of 11 matches without a win, and this left the team four points above the relegation zone in 18th place.[137] Mills was dismissed by York on 2 March 2013, an hour after the last of these matches, a 2–0 defeat at home toBradford City.[136]
Mills returned to management with Conference Premier clubGateshead, signing a one-year rolling contract on 3 September 2013 to replaceAnth Smith who resigned in August.[138] At the time Gateshead were 19th in the table, one point above the relegation zone.[139] His first match was a 2–1 home win overHereford United on 7 September 2013, and both goals were scored byJosh Walker.[140][141] This was the first time Mills had won his opening match as manager at a new club.[140] Mills was named the Conference Premier Manager of the Month for October 2013 after Gateshead won all five matches that month, conceding only one goal.[142][143] Gateshead's form continued to improve and by mid January 2014 they had moved into a play-off place;[141] Mills commented in February that "When I came in, I wanted everyone here to believe that we could win promotion – I think they're starting to now".[144]
Gateshead qualified for the Conference Premier play-offs for the first time in their history after finishing third in the table in 2013–14, which represented the club's highest league placing since beingvoted out of the Football League in 1960.[145] With a 4–2 aggregate win over Grimsby Town in the semi-final, Gateshead played at Wembley Stadium for the first time in theplay-off final; despite entering the match on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run they were beaten 2–1 by Cambridge United.[141][146] Mills said after the match that "I told the lads that they'll be better for it. My job next year is to emulate or better this season".[147] He was named the Non-League Manager of the Year for 2013–14 at the National Game Awards, ahead ofJohn Still, who led Luton to the Conference Premier title.[148]
Mills was appointed manager of Gateshead'sNational League rivalsWrexham on 28 April 2015 on a one-year rolling contract.[149] On 13 October 2016, Mills was dismissed by Wrexham,[150] after a run of four defeats from six matches left them 15th in the table.[151]
On 16 October 2016, Mills was reappointed as manager of York City,[152] with the team 19th in the National League.[153] He succeededJackie McNamara, who remained at the club as chief executive.[152] Mills was unable to keep York City in the National League and they were Relegated to the National League North on 29 April 2017 after a 2–2 draw withForest Green Rovers.[154] However, on 21 May 2017, Mills' York beatMacclesfield Town 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the2017 FA Trophy Final.[155] Mills was dismissed by York on 30 September 2017, on the same day as a defeat toSouth Shields in the FA Cup third qualifying round.[156] A club statement read that "the current league position is unacceptable", with York seventh in the National League North and 11 points away from the only automatic promotion place.[157]
Mills was appointed manager of Southern League Division One Central clubCorby Town on 8 August 2020.[158] The "Steelmen" parted company with Mills immediately after their 2-0 defeat to Belper Town on the final day of the Northern Premier League Midlands season, having finished 15th.[159]
Mills' management style was influenced by a number of managers he played under, including John Barnwell, Brian Clough,Alan Hinton,Howard Kendall,Brian Little,David Pleat,Russell Slade andNeil Warnock.[160][161] He learned simplicity from Clough, saying: "He never did complicate anything. Football is a simple game and Cloughie was no coach, he didn't confuse us with sessions straight out of the manual".[160] Like Clough, Mills has been praised for his man management skills and Daren Fulford, his reserve-team manager at Tamworth, said: "If he felt you had made a mistake, he would give you a rollicking but if he was pleased with you he would always give kind words".[160][162] Fulford also commented on Mills' thoroughness, saying he wanted information on each players' performances after the reserves played.[162]
Mills sets his teams out to play a passing game, and affirmed this when stating: "My philosophy is to play football with the ball on the deck, to play attacking football, to be disciplined with and without the ball".[161] He prefers to employ a4–3–3 formation, explaining it allows his teams to play entertaining football and makes them hard to beat, and it brought him success when at Tamworth and York.[116][163][164] He has stuck with this formation despite charges from some of being tactically stubborn, saying: "I'm not going to change the way my teams play, the systems. I've not even had a thought about that".[136][165]
Mills is married to Sue.[166] He released an autobiography,Young Millsy, in September 2021.[167]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 1978–79[16] | First Division | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 1979–80[19] | First Division | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 1980–81[20] | First Division | 27 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 34 | 7 | ||
| 1981–82[22] | First Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||
| Total | 58 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 10 | ||
| Seattle Sounders | 1982[23] | North American Soccer League | 31 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 5 | ||||
| 1983[23] | North American Soccer League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 34 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 5 | ||||||
| Derby County (loan) | 1982–83[26] | Second Division | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 2 | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 1983–84[27] | First Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 1984–85[28] | First Division | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | — | 31 | 4 | ||
| 1985–86[29] | First Division | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| 1986–87[30] | First Division | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 1 | |||
| Total | 79 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 96 | 5 | |||
| Notts County | 1987–88[31] | Third Division | 46 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 9[d] | 0 | 60 | 5 | |
| 1988–89[33] | Third Division | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 36 | 4 | ||
| Total | 75 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 10 | 0 | 96 | 9 | |||
| Leicester City | 1988–89[35] | Second Division | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 1989–90[36] | Second Division | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 4 | ||
| 1990–91[39] | Second Division | 45 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[f] | 0 | 49 | 5 | ||
| 1991–92[41] | Second Division | 46 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 9[g] | 0 | 61 | 7 | ||
| 1992–93[43] | First Division | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[h] | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
| 1993–94[44] | First Division | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95[47] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 200 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 1 | — | 15 | 0 | 232 | 16 | |||
| Notts County | 1994–95[48] | First Division | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[i] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 1995–96[50] | Second Division | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[j] | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Total | 47 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 63 | 0 | |||
| Grantham Town | 1996–97[57] | Southern League Midland Division | 32 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 10[k] | 0 | 46 | 3 | ||
| 1997–98[60] | Southern League Midland Division | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14[l] | 0 | 50 | 0 | |||
| Total | 66 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | 96 | 3 | ||||
| Gresley Rovers | 1998–99[62] | Southern League Premier Division | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| King's Lynn | 1998–99[67] | Southern League Premier Division | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 1[m] | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| 1999–2000[70] | Southern League Premier Division | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4[n] | 0 | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2000–01[73] | Southern League Premier Division | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |||
| Total | 67 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 80 | 3 | ||||
| Boston United | 2000–01[75] | Football Conference | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Tamworth | 2000–01[78] | Southern League Premier Division | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |||
| 2001–02[84] | Southern League Premier Division | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |||
| Total | 41 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2 | ||||
| Alfreton Town | 2005–06[99] | Conference North | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[m] | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07[103] | Conference North | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[m] | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||||
| Tamworth | 2006–07[168] | Conference National | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2008–09[169] | Conference North | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10[118] | Conference Premier | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11[170] | Conference Premier | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 727 | 50 | 44 | 0 | 44 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 63 | 0 | 888 | 55 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Grantham Town | July 1996 | May 1998 | 111 | 65 | 17 | 29 | 058.6 | [52][61] |
| King's Lynn | September 1998 | 8 November 2000 | 106 | 45 | 30 | 31 | 042.5 | [66][67][70][71][73] |
| Tamworth | 12 January 2001 | 23 May 2002 | 71 | 40 | 20 | 11 | 056.3 | [74][78][84][85] |
| Notts County | 9 January 2004 | 4 November 2004 | 40 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 025.0 | [32][171] |
| Alfreton Town | 25 May 2005 | 26 January 2007 | 76 | 21 | 27 | 28 | 027.6 | [94][98][104] |
| Tamworth | 26 January 2007 | 13 October 2010 | 189 | 75 | 50 | 64 | 039.7 | [104][108][122] |
| York City | 13 October 2010 | 2 March 2013 | 136 | 58 | 45 | 33 | 042.6 | [171] |
| Gateshead | 3 September 2013 | 28 April 2015 | 103 | 46 | 32 | 25 | 044.7 | [149][171] |
| Wrexham | 28 April 2015 | 13 October 2016 | 64 | 26 | 13 | 25 | 040.6 | [171] |
| York City | 16 October 2016 | 30 September 2017 | 53 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 037.7 | [171][172] |
| Corby Town | 8 August 2020 | 23 April 2022 | 53 | 21 | 8 | 24 | 039.6 | [158][173] |
| Total | 1,002 | 427 | 270 | 305 | 042.6 | |||
Nottingham Forest
Notts County
Individual
Grantham Town
Tamworth
York City
Individual
