Middlesbrough Mills was born in
Whitby, and brought up in
Thornaby-on-Tees and while at school represented his country with England Schoolboys. After school, he attracted interest from several clubs, including
Hull City,
Stoke City,
Manchester United and
Burnley, but decided on a move to local team Middlesbrough, after missing close to a year due to injury, and signed for the club in July 1968 His first team debut came as a substitute towards the end of the 1968–69 season and he scored at
Swindown Town in 1969–70 on his full debut. He became a regular two seasons later. As part of Boro's 1973–74
Second Division championship side, he scored the goal that earned the side promotion in the 1–0 victory over
Luton Town. Mills came to the attention of the
England Under 23 selectors, His best season in terms of goals was in the 1976–77 season, in which he scored 18 times in 41 games, making him top scorer that season. He retained that title the next season. to take him to
West Bromwich Albion, breaking the English transfer record and making Mills Britain's first half million pound footballer. Mills has since worked closely with Steve Walsh at
Leicester City and
Hull City, as a chief scout Mills has worked alongside Walsh to bring young emerging talent to
Leicester City and
Hull City with many ex-
Manchester United youth players now found at both clubs. == References ==