Adie Mings, the father of new Town signing Tyrone, says he always knew that his boy has what it takes to become a professional footballer. Mings junior joined the Blues on an 18-month deal from Evo-Stik Southern League side Chippenham Town yesterday.
Mings senior was a non-league stalwart as a player before going on to manage Chippenham and was their director of football until taking a scouting job at Chelsea in September, ending a six-year association with his hometown club.
He told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: "Southampton released him when he was 15 because they thought he was too small and I’ve seen a lot of people drop out of the game but he kept on believing and got his just rewards.
"I’ve always known that he has all the attributes of a modern footballer — he’s tall, mobile and got good technique.”
He says the move to Town came about very quickly: "It’s all happened in a whirlwind four or five days.
"I think that Russell Osman came down to watch [his son] Toby, saw Tye and recommended him to the chief scout [Steve McCall] and before you knew it, he was up playing in a trial on Monday.
"He’s gone from playing at Stourbridge to going to Elland Road and I’m really pleased for him.”
Chippenham's assistant manager Richard Fey says he’s surprised no one had made a move for Mings before: "I went to see him last season play for Yate against Bridgwater and thought he looked like a great prospect. For some reason, people didn’t want to take a chance on him but we decided to do it.
"He’s worked hard after training on a Tuesday and Thursday and this season, we heard that there were a few different clubs watching him - now he’s ended up at Ipswich and it’s absolutely brilliant for him.
"It shows that we’re happy to give young players a go and me and [manager Nathan Rudge] are happy that in our few months of management, we’ve had Tyrone go to Ipswich.”
Part of the deal will see Town play a pre-season friendly at Chippenham next summer.
Photo: ITFC