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Gary Mills (footballer born 1981)
Encyclopedia
Gary Leonard Mills is an English
footballer who plays for Nuneaton Town.
, Mills began his career with Rushden & Diamonds
as a trainee in 1999. His debut for the club, at the age of 18, came on 28 August 1999 in a 4–0 victory over Sutton United
. He went on to make 16 league appearances during the 1999–00 season, being named in the starting line-up 8 times.
The following season
, Mills was part of the Rushden squad that secured promotion to The Football League
after winning the Conference National
, playing in 21 league games.
Although expected to battle against relegation, the Rushden team of 2001–02
exceeded expectations by reaching the Division Three play-off final, though they lost to Cheltenham Town
. During this time, Mills was still used as a fringe player, only playing 9 games.
The Diamonds continued to impress in the league, finishing first in Division Three and winning promotion the next season. Mills established himself as one of the club's first choice midfielders, playing in 30 league games. Likewise, in the next campaign, Mills played a further 30 games, though the club had far less success as they were immediately relegated back to Division Three. He did, however, score his first goal for the club that season in a 2–1 victory over Tranmere Rovers
.
On 11 September 2004, Mills suffered a dislocated ankle in a league match against Oxford United
, leading him to miss the rest of the 2004–05
campaign.
After the success Mills had enjoyed in the early part of his career, he was then part of the Rushden team relegated to the Conference in the 2005–06
season. He left Nene Park
on 20 April 2006, his contract cancelled by mutual consent having not played since early February. Rushden's relegation from The Football League was confirmed nine days later.
side Crawley Town
on 10 August 2006, though he also had an unsuccessful trial with League One
side Yeovil Town
in July. After six months and 21 appearances, he left the club.
, and left the club in May 2007.
side Tamworth
, managed by Mills' namesake Gary Mills, though of no relation.
On 24 October 2007, Mills was sacked by Tamworth following an argument with manager Gary Mills. The manager accused Mills of having "no bottle, no balls, and no discipline", regarding the player's lack of effort and reaction to being dropped from the first team. The player Mills, meanwhile, retorted that Tamworth was "the worst club [I have] ever been at."
club Kettering Town
, signing for the club just three day later. He played 27 games, scoring twice, as the club stormed to promotion to the Conference National with 97 points. His contract was not renewed at the end of the season.
manager, Graham Westley
, whilst he was at Rushden & Diamonds. A regular fixture in the team, Mills played 37 games, including at Wembley Stadium
in Stevenage's victory in the FA Trophy over York City
.
on a two-year deal.
on a one month loan deal. Mills played just two times for Forest Green before returning to Mansfield.
for his third spell at the club.
on a one year deal in May 2011. However Mills quit the club in September 2011 when the travelling distances from his Northampton
base became too much.
Kettering Town
Stevenage Borough
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Nuneaton Town.
Rushden & Diamonds
Born in Isle of SheppeyIsle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
, Mills began his career with Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
as a trainee in 1999. His debut for the club, at the age of 18, came on 28 August 1999 in a 4–0 victory over Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
. He went on to make 16 league appearances during the 1999–00 season, being named in the starting line-up 8 times.
The following season
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
, Mills was part of the Rushden squad that secured promotion to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
after winning the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, playing in 21 league games.
Although expected to battle against relegation, the Rushden team of 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
exceeded expectations by reaching the Division Three play-off final, though they lost to Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
. During this time, Mills was still used as a fringe player, only playing 9 games.
The Diamonds continued to impress in the league, finishing first in Division Three and winning promotion the next season. Mills established himself as one of the club's first choice midfielders, playing in 30 league games. Likewise, in the next campaign, Mills played a further 30 games, though the club had far less success as they were immediately relegated back to Division Three. He did, however, score his first goal for the club that season in a 2–1 victory over Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
On 11 September 2004, Mills suffered a dislocated ankle in a league match against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, leading him to miss the rest of the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
campaign.
After the success Mills had enjoyed in the early part of his career, he was then part of the Rushden team relegated to the Conference in the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season. He left Nene Park
Nene Park
Nene Park is a football stadium situated by Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England, along the bank of the River Nene, and holds 6,441, with 4,641 seated and 1,800 standing. The car park can hold 800 vehicles. From 1992 until 2011 it was the home ground of Rushden & Diamonds football club...
on 20 April 2006, his contract cancelled by mutual consent having not played since early February. Rushden's relegation from The Football League was confirmed nine days later.
Crawley Town
Mills joined fellow Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
on 10 August 2006, though he also had an unsuccessful trial with League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
in July. After six months and 21 appearances, he left the club.
Return to Rushden
Mills re-joined Rushden & Diamonds on 9 January 2007 on a short-term contract. Despite numerous managerial changes at the club, Mills became a regular in the first team squad, making 17 appearances for the remainder of the season as Rushden finished in mid-table. He was not offered a contract extension by Rushden manager Garry HillGarry Hill
Garry Hill is an English football manager, who resigned as manager of Rushden & Diamonds in February 2009. He is currently the manager of Conference South club Woking.-Career:...
, and left the club in May 2007.
Tamworth
On 25 May 2007 Mills signed for Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
, managed by Mills' namesake Gary Mills, though of no relation.
On 24 October 2007, Mills was sacked by Tamworth following an argument with manager Gary Mills. The manager accused Mills of having "no bottle, no balls, and no discipline", regarding the player's lack of effort and reaction to being dropped from the first team. The player Mills, meanwhile, retorted that Tamworth was "the worst club [I have] ever been at."
Kettering Town
Following his acrimonious departure from Tamworth, Mills went into talks with fellow Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
club Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, signing for the club just three day later. He played 27 games, scoring twice, as the club stormed to promotion to the Conference National with 97 points. His contract was not renewed at the end of the season.
Stevenage Borough
Mills signed for Stevenage Borough on 13 May 2008, having been previously managed by the current Stevenage BoroughStevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
manager, Graham Westley
Graham Westley
Graham Neil Westley is an English former footballer and is currently manager of League One side Stevenage, where he has been in charge since 2008, his second spell at the club....
, whilst he was at Rushden & Diamonds. A regular fixture in the team, Mills played 37 games, including at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in Stevenage's victory in the FA Trophy over York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
.
Mansfield Town
On 26 May 2009, Mills rejected a contract offer from Stevenage Borough to sign for Mansfield TownMansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on a two-year deal.
Forest Green Rovers
In October 2010 Mills signed for fellow Conference side Forest Green RoversForest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
on a one month loan deal. Mills played just two times for Forest Green before returning to Mansfield.
Third spell at Rushden
In January 2011, after being released from Mansfield Town, Mills was snapped up by Rushden manager Justin EdinburghJustin Edinburgh
Justin Charles Edinburgh is an English professional football manager and former player. He is currently manager of . Nicknamed 'Musselburgh', he has previously played for, or managed, six other clubs.-Playing career:...
for his third spell at the club.
Bath City
Mills joined Bath CityBath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
on a one year deal in May 2011. However Mills quit the club in September 2011 when the travelling distances from his Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
base became too much.
Nuneaton Town
After leaving Bath, Mills instantly signed for Conference North outfit, Nuneaton Town. In October 2011, Mills picked up a knee injury which ruled him out of action for three months.Honours
Rushden & Diamonds- Conference NationalConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
winner: 2000–01 - Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
winner: 2002–03
Kettering Town
- Conference NorthConference NorthThe Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
winner: 2007–08
Stevenage Borough
- FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
winner: 2008–092008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...