OM Footballers sign for top premier, conference and international clubs

A series of former Millfield football players have signed for top clubs in the UK as they prepare for the upcoming football season.

Former Millfield defender Tyrone Mings (2009-2011) signed permanently for Premier League club Aston Villa FC in July after he impressed on loan from Bournemouth, in a deal worth up to £26.5m. Mings was hugely influential in helping manager Dean Smith’s side to achieve promotion to the Premier League.

Twenty-three year old Old Millfieldian Jonathan Gallagher (2012-2013) has joined Aberdeen FC in the Scottish Premiership division on loan until January after playing with reigning MLS (Major League Soccer) Champions Atlanta United. Gallagher played four years of US college soccer at the notable University of Notre Dame in Indiana between 2014 and 2017, before being selected for Atlanta FC in January 2018.

Former Millfield XI first team captain Tom Whelan (2009-2013) has also signed a one-year contract with Yeovil Town Football Club in Somerset, with a club option for a second year.

The school has also had several female footballers selected for international teams. Former Millfield pupil Ellen Jones was selected for the Welsh International U17 squad in 2017, and current Year 10 pupil Lauren Pickup has been selected for the U15 England ladies’ squad.

A number of former Millfield pupils have gone on to play professional football in the UK and internationally: Current professional players include Lawrie Wilson (Ebbsfleet United), Ben Nugent (Stevenage); Harrison Dunk (Cambridge), Reuben Reid (Cheltenham Town) and Alan (JJ) Robertson (Stellenbosch FC, South Africa.)

Millfield Football is one of the most successful independent school football clubs, with 180 boys playing in 12 teams.  It also has a growing girls' football programme, which is led by a full-time coach who is specifically dedicated to girls' football. The programme includes individual and team training sessions, athletic development, performance analysis, psychological support, fixtures in cup competitions and friendlies against academies.

The school’s facilities include 11 full sized pitches and three training areas, and a team of 19 coaches, including former South African international Terry Akhurst, two UEFA A and three UEFA B licenced coaches.