▁footballer ▁who ▁played ▁as ▁a ▁def ender ; ▁he ▁was ▁described ▁by ▁Jeff ▁Kent ▁as ▁" sk il ful ▁and ▁adapt able ". ▁He ▁made ▁ 2 8 8 ▁league ▁appearances ▁in ▁a ▁ten - year ▁career ▁in ▁the ▁Football ▁League . ▁ ▁He ▁began ▁his ▁career ▁with ▁local ▁club ▁She ff ield ▁Wed nes day ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁before ▁moving ▁on ▁to ▁York ▁City ▁three ▁years ▁later . ▁V oted ▁Club man ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁he ▁was ▁sold ▁on ▁to ▁Port ▁V ale ▁for ▁£ 3 5 , 0 0 0 ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 8 7 . ▁He ▁helped ▁the ▁" Val i ants " ▁to ▁win ▁promotion ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁Third ▁Division ▁via ▁the ▁play - offs ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁before ▁inj uries ▁forced ▁him ▁to ▁leave ▁the ▁professional ▁game ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁He ▁later ▁attempted ▁com eb acks ▁with ▁Boston ▁United ▁and ▁Mat lock ▁Town . ▁ ▁Play ing ▁career ▁Born ▁in ▁She ff ield , ▁South ▁York shire , ▁M ills ▁started ▁his ▁career ▁with ▁She ff ield ▁Wed nes day ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁He ▁failed ▁to ▁ear n ▁a ▁first ▁team ▁spot ▁at ▁Hills borough , ▁particularly ▁following ▁the ▁" O w ls " ▁as cent ▁to ▁the ▁First ▁Division ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 – 8 4 ▁under ▁Howard ▁Wil kin son ' s ▁ste ward ship . ▁He ▁moved