John Christopher Mullins (born 6 November 1985) is an English former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who primarily played as a

centre-back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...

. Mullins started his career with

Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete ...

, but it was during two separate

loan In finance, a loan is the tender of money by one party to another with an agreement to pay it back. The recipient, or borrower, incurs a debt and is usually required to pay interest for the use of the money. The document evidencing the deb ...

spells with

Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Harriers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. The team competes in the National League North, the sixth level of the English football league system. Formed in ...

that he first came to prominence, prompting

Mansfield Town Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the third level of the English football league system. The club was formed in 1897 as Mans ...

to sign him on his release from the Reading in 2006. He was with Mansfield for two seasons before moving to

Stockport County Stockport County Football Club is a professional association football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Formed in 1883 as Heaton ...

. In 2010, he joined

Rotherham United Rotherham United Football Club, nicknamed The Millers, is a professional association football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The team plays in EFL League One, the third tier of English football, after suffering relegation fr ...

, and following his loan at

Oxford United Oxford United Football Club () is a professional association football, football club based in Oxford, England. The club compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football. Founded as Headingto ...

he was made Rotherham's

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

as they finished runners-up in League Two. In July 2013, he joined Oxford United permanently, staying for three seasons before his transfer to

Luton Town Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...

Club career

Reading

Born in

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

, Greater London, Mullins signed his first professional contract with

on 16 December 2004 until the end of 2005–06, having progressed through the club's

youth system In sporting terminology, a youth system (or youth academy) is a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show en ...

. He later became captain of the

reserve team In sports, a reserve team is a team composed of players who are under contract to a club but who do not regularly play in matches for the club's primary team. Reserve teams usually include players who are part of the larger first-team squad but ...

and made seven appearances. Mullins was released by Reading upon the expiry of his contract.

Kidderminster Harriers (loan)

Mullins joined League Two club

for the remainder of 2004–05 on 17 December 2004, making his debut one day later in a 2–0 defeat away to

Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. Founded in 1887, ...

. He scored his first goal for the club on 29 January 2005 in a 3–1 win away to

Cambridge United Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...

. Mullins also scored the only goal of the reverse fixture against Cheltenham Town on 5 March. His season was ended by a hamstring injury in a 1–1 draw with Yeovil Town on 16 April, having made 21 appearances for the club. Mullins re-signed for Kidderminster Harriers, newly relegated to the

Conference National The National League, officially known as Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in England. The National League is the first division of the National League (English football), National Le ...

on 25 October 2005 on an initial one-month loan. His loan was later extended until late January, and once more until the end of 2005–06 on 10 January 2006. He made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals, and was named Player of the Season by the club's supporters.

Mansfield Town

Mullins signed a two-year contract with League Two club

on 31 May 2006. He immediately established himself in the first-team and made 48 appearances in 2006–07, scoring two goals. In 2007–08, Mullins was described by manager Billy Dearden as the most improved player in League Two, and won Mansfield's Player of the Season award. Mansfield were relegated to the

Conference Premier The National League, officially known as Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in England. The National League is the first division of the National Leagues and step 1 of the National Le ...

at the end of the season, prompting Mullins to turn down the offer of a new contract, as he wanted to stay in the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...

Stockport County

Mullins signed a two-year contract with League One club

on 16 June 2008, with Stockport paying Mansfield compensation. He made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw away to

Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. They compete in , the third tier of English football league system, English football. Huddersfield Town we ...

on the opening day of 2008–09. Mullins scored his first goals for the club in a 4–2 win away to Yeovil Town on 13 December. He captained the team when club captain Michael Raynes was sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Mullins went on to make 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals. In 2009–10, Mullins took over as club captain, following the departure of Michael Raynes to

Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system. The club was formed in ...

. During the season, Mullins made 41 appearances in all competitions, scoring once.

Rotherham United

Mullins signed for League Two club

on a free transfer on 6 July 2010, following the expiration of his Stockport contract. He made his debut for the club on 31 August in a 1–0 win at home to Lincoln City in the

Football League Trophy The English Football League Trophy, officially known as the Vertu Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English football knockout competition open to all clubs in EFL League One and EFL League Two and U-21 teams from the Premier Le ...

. Mullins made 39 appearances in all competitions in

2010–11 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

, scoring once in a 4–2 win away to

Burton Albion Burton Albion Football Club is a professional association football club in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system. The club moved its home g ...

on 26 February 2011. He followed up with a further 37 appearances in all competitions in 2011–12, scoring twice. Mullins was made captain of the club in

2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

, after Ian Sharps joined Burton Albion on loan. He was part of the squad that was promoted to League One as League Two runners-up after a 2–0 win at home to

Aldershot Town Aldershot Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system. The club was founded in the spr ...

on 27 April 2013, in which Mullins scored the opening goal.

Oxford United

On 5 October 2012, Mullins joined League Two club

on a three-month emergency loan. He made his debut a day later in a 0–0 draw at home to Gillingham. Mullins was recalled by parent club Rotherham on 21 November, after they exercised the 24-hour recall option as part of his loan deal, having made eight appearances, scoring twice. On 22 July 2013, Mullins signed for Oxford permanently on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He scored an 82nd-minute winner in a 2–1 win at home to Bury on 10 August, and went on to score a 96th-minute equaliser at home to

Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers Football Club () is a professional association football club based in the town of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system. Founded in 188 ...

two weeks later, followed by a 57th-minute equaliser away to Cheltenham Town on 14 September. After his original loan spell, Mullins had already become a fans' favourite, but nine games into 2013–14, he had been given the nickname "Magnet Man" by the players and fans, a nod towards his ability in the opposition box. He was a member of the squad that achieved promotion to League One at the end of 2015–16, having also captained the club at

Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium, currently branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE Limited, EE for sponsorship reasons, is an association football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Sta ...

in the 2016 Football League Trophy final against

Barnsley Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. It is the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. The town's population was 71,422 in 2021, while the wider boroug ...

. On 23 May 2016, Oxford announced Mullins would be released upon the expiry of his contract, having made 149 appearances for the club, scoring nine times.

Luton Town

Mullins signed a two-year contract with League Two club

on 31 May 2016. He debuted on the opening day of 2016–17 in a 3–0 win away to

Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. The team currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. The club has played ...

. He was released by Luton at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Cheltenham Town

Following his release by Luton, Mullins signed for League Two club Cheltenham Town on a two-year contract. He left Cheltenham by mutual consent at the end of the 2018–19 season with a year remaining on his contract, having made the decision to retire from professional football.

Personal life

In the summer of 2008, Mullins graduated from

Staffordshire University The University of Staffordshire is a public research university in Staffordshire, England. It has its main campus in Stoke-on-Trent and four other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield, Shrewsbury, and London. History In 1901, industrialist Alfred ...

with a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting. His sister, Geena Mullins, is a glamour model who has appeared in magazines including lads' magazine ''

Zoo Weekly ''Zoo'' was a British softcore lad magazine published weekly by Bauer Media Group with periods of an Australian and South African editions. It was launched on 29 January 2004, and for a time was the UK's only men's weekly after the similar an ...

''.

Career statistics

Honours

Rotherham United *

Football League Two The English Football League Two, simply known as League Two and for sponsorship purposes as Sky Bet League Two, is a professional association football league in England. EFL League Two is the fourth division of the English Football League (EFL ...

runner-up:

Oxford United *

runner-up: 2015–16 *Football League Two runner-up: 2015–16 Luton Town *

EFL League Two The English Football League Two, simply known as League Two and for sponsorship purposes as Sky Betting & Gaming, Sky Bet League Two, is a professional association football league in England. EFL League Two is the fourth division of the English ...

runner-up: 2017–18 Individual *

Player of the Season: 2005–06 *

Player of the Season: 2007–08

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mullins, John 1985 births Living people Footballers from the London Borough of Camden People from Hampstead English men's footballers Men's association football defenders Reading F.C. players Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players Mansfield Town F.C. players Stockport County F.C. players Rotherham United F.C. players Oxford United F.C. players Luton Town F.C. players Cheltenham Town F.C. players English Football League players National League (English football) players Alumni of Staffordshire University 21st-century English sportsmen