From representing his country, lifting trophies at Wembley and playing in the Champions League, Tyrone Mings has achieved more than most in his career. The defender, who has been at Aston Villa since 2019, was also part of the England side who reached the European Championship final against Italy in 2021.
Despite a bit of bad luck with injuries, Mings will have plenty to look back on when he decides to hang up his boots. However, his journey to become a professional footballer was anything but straightforward, as Mings and his family had previously been left without a home.
“I’ve been in a lot of unfavourable situations growing up, so I know what it’s like to need help,” Mings told The Telegraph in 2019. “If you are in any position of influence, then it’s almost your duty to try to help. If people don’t have the ability or opportunity to help themselves, then sometimes it’s got to come from someone who can.”
Reflecting on the time when Mings, as a primary school student, was left without a home, he added: “I lived in a homeless shelter. That’s what I mean when I say I’ve been in situations where people need help. I don’t remember my exact age, but I remember there were two bunk beds and five of us in there: me, my three sisters and my mum. We shared the beds and my mum slept on a sofa.
“I don’t look back with any negativity. I look back and I smile because it allows me to relate to people and I haven’t had it as bad as some of the people that I’ve met, people who sleep on the street. Any experience I have been through, I would like to use it positively.”
Mings has helped out with several homelessness charities throughout his career and in 2023, the Villa ace threw his support behind a project started by the Prince of Wales. The initiative aims to draw attention to the different types of homelessness like sofa surfing or living on the streets.
England international was left homeless with 'nowhere to go' during ‘horrendous’ ordeal
From representing his country, lifting trophies at Wembley and playing in the Champions League, Tyrone Mings has achieved more than most in his career. The defender, who has been at Aston Villa since 2019, was also part of the England side who reached the European Championship final against Italy in 2021.
Despite a bit of bad luck with injuries, Mings will have plenty to look back on when he decides to hang up his boots. However, his journey to become a professional footballer was anything but straightforward, as Mings and his family had previously been left without a home.
“I’ve been in a lot of unfavourable situations growing up, so I know what it’s like to need help,” Mings told The Telegraph in 2019. “If you are in any position of influence, then it’s almost your duty to try to help. If people don’t have the ability or opportunity to help themselves, then sometimes it’s got to come from someone who can.”
Reflecting on the time when Mings, as a primary school student, was left without a home, he added: “I lived in a homeless shelter. That’s what I mean when I say I’ve been in situations where people need help. I don’t remember my exact age, but I remember there were two bunk beds and five of us in there: me, my three sisters and my mum. We shared the beds and my mum slept on a sofa.
“My mum had come out of not a great relationship and we had nowhere else to go. We lived with the guy in Chippenham and there was no other alternative. One day we just had to up and leave, and that was the only place we could go.”
On the impact it had on him, the England international continued: “I remember it vividly, it was horrendous – communal washing area, communal showers, it was awful. The people who were in there weren’t always the nicest, We were in there for a long time, six months to a year, and when you are in primary school that wasn’t a nice experience.
“I don’t look back with any negativity. I look back and I smile because it allows me to relate to people and I haven’t had it as bad as some of the people that I’ve met, people who sleep on the street. Any experience I have been through, I would like to use it positively.”
Mings has helped out with several homelessness charities throughout his career and in 2023, the Villa ace threw his support behind a project started by the Prince of Wales. The initiative aims to draw attention to the different types of homelessness like sofa surfing or living on the streets.