Gary Leonard Mills (born 20 May 1981) is an English former
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
who played as a
midfielder
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...
. He is currently caretaker manager of
Burton Albion
Burton Albion Football Club is a professional association football club in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. The team compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The club moved its home groun ...
.
He was assistant manager at
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
until 31 March 2015. He was appointed the new manager at
Rugby Town in May 2015 but left after a poor start to the season. He was player/coach at
King's Lynn Town after his appointment in May 2016 before later being offered an opportunity to take over the hotseat at Corby Town as player/manager in October 2016.
Career
Rushden & Diamonds
Born in
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England, neighbouring the Thames Estuary, centred from central London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale. ''Sheppey'' is derived ...
, Mills began his career with
Coventry City
Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
before joining
Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Nicknamed "The Diamonds", the club played at Nene Park. The club's main rivals were county neighbours Kettering Town.
The cl ...
in their
youth system
In sporting terminology, a youth system (or youth academy) is a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team in the future if ...
on 21 July 1997.
His debut for the club, at the age of 17, came on 22 December 1998 in a
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup (formerly known as the Setanta Shield for sponsorship reasons, and before that the Bob Lord Trophy) was a football competition open to clubs playing in the Football Conference.
History
The competition was formed for ...
game away to
Farnborough Town
Farnborough Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Founded in 1967 as Farnborough Town, they are currently members of the , the sixth tier of English football and play at Cherrywood Road.
H ...
.
He went on to make 16 league appearances during the
1999–2000 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
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...
after winning the
Football Conference
The National League (named Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons) is an association football league in England consisting of three divisions, the National League, National League North, and National League South. It was called the ...
, playing in 2 league games.
Although expected to battle against relegation, the Rushden team of
2001–02 exceeded expectations by reaching the
Third Division play-off final, though they lost to
Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. From the 2021–22 season, the club compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league syst ...
. During this time, Mills was still used as a fringe player, only playing 2 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 Football Club is a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team compete in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they adop ...
.
On 11 September 2004, Mills suffered a dislocated ankle in a league match against
Oxford United
Oxford United Football Club is a professional football club in the city of Oxford, England. The team plays in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The chairman is Grant Ferguson, the manager is Karl Robinson and th ...
, 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
Nene Park was a sports stadium situated at Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England, along the bank of the River Nene, which could accommodate 6,441 spectators, with 4,641 seated and 1,800 standing. It formerly hosted football matches but at ...
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 National
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-profes ...
side
Crawley Town
Crawley Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Crawley, West Sussex, England. The club was founded as Crawley Football Club in 1896, changed its name to Crawley Town Football Club in 1958. The team co ...
on 10 August 2006, though he also had an unsuccessful trial with
League One
The English Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Sky Bet League One for sponsorship purposes, and known as the Football League One from 2004 until 2016) is the second-highest division of the English Football Leag ...
side
Yeovil Town Yeovil Town may refer to:
* Yeovil Town F.C., an English football team based in Yeovil, Somerset
* Yeovil Town L.F.C.
Bridgwater United Women's Football Club are an English women's association football club based in Bridgwater, Somerset who wer ...
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 7 appearances for the remainder of the season as Rushden finished in mid-table.
He was not offered a contract extension by Rushden manager
Garry Hill
Garry Hill is an English football manager who was last the manager of National League club Ebbsfleet United. He previously managed Woking, Heybridge Swifts, St Albans City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Hornchurch, Weymouth and Rushden & Diamonds. ...
, and left the club in May 2007.
Tamworth
On 25 May 2007 Mills signed for
Conference North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Sy ...
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
haveever been at."
Kettering Town
Following his acrimonious departure from Tamworth, Mills went into talks with fellow
Conference North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Sy ...
club
Kettering Town
Kettering Town Football Club is a football club based in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, England. They are currently members of and play at Latimer Park in Burton Latimer. Kettering were the first club to wear sponsorship on their shirts in ...
, signing for the club just three days 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
Stevenage Football Club (known as Stevenage Borough Football Club until 2010) is a professional association football club based in the town of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, League Two, the fourth tier o ...
on 13 May 2008, having been previously managed by manager
Graham Westley
Graham Neil Westley (born 4 March 1968) is an English former professional footballer and manager who was most recently manager of League Two club Stevenage.
Westley's playing career, spent mostly as a striker in non-League football, was curta ...
whilst he was at Rushden & Diamonds.
[ ] A regular fixture in the team, Mills played 37 games, including at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
in Stevenage's 2–0 victory in the
2009 FA Trophy Final
The 2009 FA Trophy Final was the 39th final of The Football Association's cup competition for levels 5–8 of the English football league system. It was contested by Stevenage F.C., Stevenage Borough, who won the competition in 2007, and York Cit ...
over
York City
York City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. As of the 2022–23 season, the team compete in the National League, at the fifth tier of the English football league sys ...
.
Mansfield Town
On 26 May 2009, Mills rejected a contract offer from Stevenage Borough to sign for
Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed 'The Stags', they ...
on a two-year deal.
Forest Green Rovers
In October 2010, Mills signed for fellow Conference side
Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers Football Club are a professional football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England. The team compete in , the third tier of the English football league system, and have played their home games at The New Lawn since ...
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 Edinburgh
Justin Charles Edinburgh (18 December 1969 – 8 June 2019) was an English professional football manager and player who played as a left back.
He notably played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 213 league appearance ...
for his third spell at the club.
Bath City
Mills joined
Bath City
Bath City Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset FA and currently competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. The club have ...
on a one-year deal in May 2011. However Mills quit the club in September 2011 when the travelling distances from his
Northampton
Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; ...
base became too much.
Nuneaton Town
After leaving Bath, Mills instantly signed for Conference North outfit,
Nuneaton Town
Nuneaton Borough Football Club is an English football club that is based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The men's 1st team competes in the , the seventh tier of English football.
In 1889, Nuneaton St. Nicholas FC was the first team in Nuneaton to ...
. In October 2011, Mills picked up a knee injury which ruled him out of action for three months. On 13 May 2012, Mills was a part of the Nuneaton side that was victorious in the
Conference North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Sy ...
play off final that earned promotion to the
Conference National
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-profes ...
.
Lincoln City and Boston United
On Monday 21 May 2012 it was reported that Gary had signed a one-year contract with Lincoln and was named captain City.
8On Monday 4 March 2013 it was reported that the Lincoln City captain left the club by mutual consent. In May 2013, Mills joined
Boston United
Boston United Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The club participates in the National League North, at the sixth tier of the English football league system. The club is known ...
. He then signed on loan for
King's Lynn Town in January 2014 on a deal that lasted until the end of the season.
Coaching and Management career
Mills was assistant manager to Kevin Wilkin at
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
until March 2015 when he and Wilkin both left the club. However, Mills was then given his first taste of management after being appointed as Dave Stringer's replacement at Step 8 side
Rugby Town on 13 May 2015, with former
Bedford Town manager
Craig Adams joining as his assistant. He left the club after a poor start to the 2015/16 season.
In May 2016, Mills returned to his former club,
King's Lynn Town as player-coach.
On 19 October 2016, Mills was appointed as the manager of
Corby Town
Corby Town Football Club is a football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Steel Park.
History
The club was established in 1948, taking over from Stewarts & Lloyds as the main team ...
with fellow former Rushden & Diamonds academy product
David Bell joining him as his assistant. After leaving the team on 21st in the table, and didn't manage to get a single win in the last five games, he got fired on 9 April 2017.
In December 2022, Mills was appointed lead professional development coach at
Coventry City
Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
, joining the club from
Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons Football Club (), usually abbreviated to MK Dons, is a professional association football club based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the third tier of the English football league system. The ...
where he had held a similar position.
In September 2023, Mills was appointed first-team coach at League One club
Burton Albion
Burton Albion Football Club is a professional association football club in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. The team compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The club moved its home groun ...
. Following the sacking of
Dino Maamria
Noureddine "Dino" Maamria (born 18 February 1974) is a Tunisian football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is the manager of League One club Burton Albion.
Maamria started his playing career with AS Marsa of Tunisia. He left ...
in December 2023, Mills was appointed caretaker manager.
[ ]
Honours
Rushden & Diamonds
*
Football Conference
The National League (named Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons) is an association football league in England consisting of three divisions, the National League, National League North, and National League South. It was called the ...
:
2000–01
*
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 and again from 1958 until 1992. When the FA Premier League was formed, the division become the fourth tier level. In 2004, following the f ...
:
2002–03
Kettering Town
*
Conference North
The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, immediately below the National League division. Along with the National League South, it is at the second level of the National League Sy ...
:
2007–08
Stevenage Borough
*
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a men's football knockout cup competition run by and named after the English Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams. The compet ...
:
2008–09
Nuneaton
*
Conference North Winner:
2011–12
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mills, Gary
1981 births
Living people
People from the Isle of Sheppey
English men's footballers
Men's association football midfielders
Coventry City F.C. players
Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players
Crawley Town F.C. players
Tamworth F.C. players
Kettering Town F.C. players
Stevenage F.C. players
Mansfield Town F.C. players
Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Bath City F.C. players
Nuneaton Borough F.C. players
Lincoln City F.C. players
Boston United F.C. players
King's Lynn Town F.C. players
Corby Town F.C. players
English Football League players
National League (English football) players
Southern Football League players
English football managers
Rugby Town F.C. managers
Corby Town F.C. managers
Burton Albion F.C. managers
Northern Premier League managers
Association football coaches
Wrexham A.F.C. non-playing staff
Milton Keynes Dons F.C. non-playing staff
Coventry City F.C. non-playing staff
Burton Albion F.C. non-playing staff