Playing Career
Mills graduated through Port Vale's junior squad to sign professional forms under manager John Rudge in April 1990. He scored twice on his full debut on 11 May 1991, in a 3–1 win over Swindon Town at Vale Park. This was the last game of the 1990–91 season. He was selected for the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship for the England squad, playing alongside future Premier League star Andrew Cole. He scored three goals in 27 league and cup games in 1991–92, as the "Valiants" suffered relegation out of the Second Division. He scored in a 2–1 home win over Notts County on 24 September 1991, in the first leg of the First Round of the League Cup. He also scored in a 1–1 home draw with Charlton Athletic on 21 April 1992, and also found the net in a 4–2 defeat to Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium four days later.
Mills was hospitalized in March 1992 with a rare virus and was released from his contract in September 1993; still not fit to play full time. Still only 21 and with a mere 23 league appearances and four goals to his name, he never played professional football again.
Read more about this topic: Brian Mills (footballer)
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