Next door to the One Stop convenience store in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where Tyrone Mings was rejected for a shop assistant role as a teenager, there is an office. Its walls are filled with pictures and newspaper cuttings of the Aston Villa defender, who has linked up with the England squad for the first time in his career this week.

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Doug Webb, the grandfather of Mings’ best friend Oliver and the former chairman of Chippenham Town, owns the fish and chip shop nearby and has created the display in his office (below) to mark the achievements of the man he describes as a “local hero”.

His wife, Sandie, is the leader of the town council. She chuckles when reminded about the day One Stop said “no” because Mings was an inexperienced 16-year-old unable to prove his worth. “They missed a trick, didn’t they, because look at him now,” she adds.

It’s the day after Gareth Southgate announced the England squad for the forthcoming Euro 2022 qualifiers and Chippenham — Mings’ home town — is buzzing.

This was where his mother, Dawn, used to carry the “football-mad kid” to training on her shoulders because she couldn’t afford a car. The homeless shelter where he lived with his mother and sisters for a short period when times were tough has now been knocked down but memories still remain. Mings has described it as “horrendous”.

Neighbours speak about his mother raising him well, with one saying: “She didn’t have a lot of money but she would always make sure he got to football.”

At Sheldon School, a mixed secondary in Chippenham, a picture of Mings is on their “Wall of Fame”. He is next to singer Gabrielle Aplin, who had a No 1 hit with a cover of The Power of Love which also featured on a John Lewis advert, and Bath rugby union player Tom Dunn. All three were in the same year group.

And then there’s Doug, currently the happiest man in town.  The businessman has followed Mings’ career since he was rejected by Southampton as a teenager for being too small.

He watched the defender shine for Chippenham Town after his father, Adie, managed the club. He saw him earn a £10,000 move to Ipswich Town, suffer the pain of three-and-a-half injury-hit years at Bournemouth and then showcase his skills at Aston Villa.

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But England? Well, even he didn’t expect that.

“The boy from a modest background has done good and what a wonderful story it is,” said Mr Webb. “He’s a late bloomer having only left the non-League scene seven years ago. But, honestly, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer man. He’s worked so hard to get to where he is today.”

Mings, 26, is remembered in his area as a “friendly and polite” boy. He used to pull pints in the White Hart, a favourite of former England rugby union coach Brian Ashton. 

Mings has spoken publicly about his early-life struggles, and he tries to give something back from his position of power. The England call-up will not go to his head. Here is a well-mannered man who still spends some of his days off with old school friends when he’s not with his own family.

At his unveiling as an Aston Villa player, he made the effort to personally greet every member of the assembled press, an early indication that the claret and blues had a respectful leader in their ranks. Other acts of kindness, like feeding the homeless and buying tickets for supporters, are well-documented.

Ernie Clayton, 88, pops into Mr Webb’s office with pictures of Mings in his rucksack. He’s also laminated a recent newspaper cutting to add to the wall but space is at a premium — especially with the hope of a debut against either Bulgaria or Kosovo. Mings will be competing with Joe Gomez, Michael Keane and Harry Maguire for a starting spot in the qualifiers. His Aston Villa boss, Dean Smith, believes he’s ready and has challenged him not to just accept getting into the squad.

Smith said: “His journey has been tough but he’s got there through determination and hard work. He’s fulfilled an awful lot of potential.

“It can’t be the end to be selected for England, though. He has to go and play now and show everyone how good he is.”

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Mrs Webb remembers when Mings’ talent was first spotted. After being rejected by Southampton at 16, he received a grant from Chippenham Borough Lands charity that enabled him to study at Millfield, the £24,500-a-year independent school in Somerset. The likes of England all-rounder Sir Ian Botham, Wales rugby union legend Sir Gareth Edwards and Olympic swimming champion Duncan Goodhew are among the school’s sporting alumni.  

“In some ways, he’s always been a star,” Mrs Webb told The Athletic. “He was given a grant in recognition of his ability because he needed some extra money to study there. His mother brought him up through tough times but did a wonderful job because he’s the most lovely man now.

“But the irony of Southampton rejecting him because he was too small! When I watch him now, it’s quite amazing because he acts like such an experienced player.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | Congratulations to former #Bluebirds defender @OfficialTM_3 who has today been called up to the @England squad for their #EURO2020 qualifiers.#OnceABluebird #BlueArmy

— Chippenham Town FC (@ChipTownFC) August 29, 2019

“His football brain is always working. He organises everyone around him because he knows where the danger is.”

That was evident on Saturday in Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Barking his orders from the off, Mings orchestrated another impressive defensive display from Villa on a day on which they were cruelly robbed of a worthy draw following referee Kevin Friend’s error of judgement.

The stopper was the first to comfort his team-mate, Trezeguet, following his sending-off. Just minutes earlier, Mings had blasted the Egyptian for not supporting the left side of defence during a spell of intense pressure but it was constructive criticism for the benefit of the team.

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Mings is a winner and years of hard work have gone into his rise. To think, at one stage of his life, he almost gave up on football to work as a mortgage adviser.

“It’s one hell of a journey, isn’t it?” said Smith. “But to be playing in the Premier League and now get the call-up is fully deserved.”

Mings’ attention to detail is what sets him apart from the rest. He has a personal chef who cooks his meals when he’s away from Villa’s training ground Bodymoor Heath and he will also spend extra hours with assistant manager John Terry, trying to improve his game. He looks at video clips of his performances to determine areas that need strengthening.

‘The relationship Tyrone has with JT is really tight,” Smith said. “It’s the little details that he’s able to give to help make a difference. He will have given him some advice about England, too, being an ex-captain of his country.”

Mings is leading the way in the Premier League with 19 headed clearances already, highlighting one of the reasons Southgate has selected him. He’s also made more blocks (eight) than any of his fellow England defenders and those who play with him know all about his qualities on the ball and calmness in possession.

Soon, he’ll be in a new home in the Birmingham area, too, having previously lived in accommodation left by one of Villa’s former players.

Here’s hoping he makes the same impact in the West Midlands as he did in his hometown of Chippenham.

(Photo: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)