University honours England star’s inspiring achievement
West-raised football star Tyrone Mings has capped an eventful 2021 with an honorary doctorate from his local university.
Mings, who grew up in Bath, starred in England’s stirring run to the final of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament this summer.
The Aston Villa captain was a leadership figure within Gareth Southgate’s young squad and was widely praised for his criticism of Home Secretary Priti Patel over her alleged hypocrisy on the racist abuse aimed at England players.
He was back in his home city on Wednesday to receive an honorary doctorate.
Professor Sue Rigby, Vice-chancellor of Bath Spa University, said: “I am thrilled to be able to confer the award of Honorary Doctor of Education to Tyrone Mings. His determination, motivation and success is an inspiration to our students, the local community and any young person who strives to be the best they can be. He had a difficult route to the top of his profession, not least being released from a Premier League academy at the age of 16. He did not, however, let this set him back or dissuade him from achieving his goal.
“Tyrone Mings is an example of never giving up, continuing to work hard and doing things your own way when no other way is presented to you.
“He is an outstanding and inspiring individual and I heartily welcome him to the Bath Spa University community.”
Mings, who earlier this month scored his first international goal, said: “I’m honoured to receive this Honorary Doctorate of Education from Bath Spa University and I’m immensely proud to have my closest family and friends with me here today to see me receive it.
“They have all played a massive part on my journey to the top of the national game, through the highs and lows. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“I’ve always strived to do my best in whatever situation I find myself in, whether that’s as a mortgage broker, helping my business grow or more naturally on the pitch for Aston Villa and England. I hope that I can inspire others to realise their goals in life.”
Mings, son of West Country football management stalwart Adie Mings, played non-league football for Yate Town and Chippenham Town before a move to Ipswich. He had been at Southampton’s academy before being let go and later attended Millfield School in Street.
In July he hit the headlines for criticising the Home Secretary after teammates, notably Bukayo Sako and Marcus Rashford, were the target of racist abuse. He said of Ms Patel: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘gesture politics’ and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against happens.”