Football: Mings is repaying the faith at Yate (From Gazette Series)

Interview with Yate Town defender Tyrone Mings

9:27am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Sport By Rob Iles

Yate Town defender Tyrone Mings says the players are now repaying the faith shown in them by manager Rob Cousins.

Assistant manager Michael Meaker has revealed that Blue Square Premier clubs have been showing an interest in some members of the squad and Mings certainly would have caught the eye of any potential suitors in Yate’s thrilling 3-2 win over Thatcham Town in Southern League Division One South and West last Saturday.

The 18-year-old, who joined the club last summer, scored the first senior goal of his career with a superb 25-yard strike and set up Dave Stone’s winner three minutes from time as Yate came back from 2-1 down with ten men after Tom Warren was sent off.

Mings had a difficult introduction to semi-professional football as Yate had to wait 13 games for their first league win, but he has remained a regular fixture in the side throughout the season, with only fellow full back Warren making more appearances.

Ten wins in the last 15 games have lifted them to 12th in the table and Mings hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a late play-off charge.

He said: “We’re not too far away from the play-offs and we’re certainly higher than people expected us to be, but Meaks (Meaker) and Trigger (Cousins) have been superb to be fair. They’ve shown faith in the players and now we’re repaying them.

“If you take your eye off the next game it will be a hiccup, so we’re taking each game as it comes and we’ll see what happens.

“It’s been a mixed season. We’ve experienced the lows and now we’re going through a lot of highs, but it’s been a good team to come into and I couldn’t have asked for better.”

Mings’ first goal for Yate was one to cherish and he was delighted to play a big part in the victory.

“I didn’t hit it very hard, I just concentrated on hitting the target. Some of them fly over and some of them go in.

“When you win like that it’s a bonus. Sometimes when you go down to ten men the other team takes it for granted with the extra man. We worked hard and the lads were tremendous.”

Mings is following in the footsteps of his dad Adie, who carved out a successful non-league career as a striker and had a spell on loan at Yate in 2000, and many believe he has what it takes go even further.

“He’s somewhat of a legend apparently,” said Mings of his dad.

“I’m looking to play as high as I can and whether that’s the next level or higher than that we’ll see what happens.”

Mings will miss this Saturday’s game at home to Stourport Swifts (3pm) through suspension, along with Mark Badman, who completes a three-match ban.

Meanwhile, Russ Church has had his contract cancelled as he’s struggling to commit regularly due to family commitments, but he will remain registered with the club. Defender John McAlinden is still working in Germany, but made a surprise appearance on the bench against Thatcham.

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