In the big time: three Bath-born football players to play in the Premier League

Despite Bath being widely renowned for its successful rugby team, the city has also produced some fine talent on the footballing stage. Here is a look at three Bath-born football players who have played in the Premier League.

Tyrone Mings

Undoubtedly the most well-known entry on this list, Tyrone is still playing his football in England’s top tier with Aston Villa. Starting his career at Chippenham Town, Mings moved to Ipswich in 2012 before signing for newly promoted Bournemouth in 2015.

A brief spell with Villa in the Championship saw them promoted to the Premier League, where Tyrone has remained ever since. In total, the Bath-born centre-back made 122 Prem appearances before the 2022-23 season, where he has featured heavily once again.

Given his experience at the club and international level, Mings would have been disappointed not to have been selected to play for England in the World Cup in Qatar. England are currently 8/1 to win the tournament when users bet on World Cup, and many sites provide FIFA World Cup tips, covering everything from injuries to squad selections. Tyrone will be hoping a place opens up for him in Southgate’s squad, giving him a chance to represent his country at another major tournament.

Great performance by everyone & +3 points at Villa park pic.twitter.com/9MjTqlg1Qe

— Tyrone Mings (@TyroneMings) November 6, 2022

Scott Sinclair While Mings featured at Euro 2020, he wasn't selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 2012 like Scott Sinclair. Scott appeared four times in that tournament and even got on the scoresheet once, adding to his eight goals scored over six years. With club football, Sinclair is the biggest nomad on this list, having played for 15 clubs in total.

Despite being on Chelsea’s books for over five years, the winger made just five Premier League appearances for the Blues during this time. His most successful spell in England’s top tier came with Swansea City in 2011-12, in which he recorded eight goals and five assists having featured in every game of that league season. Like Tyrone, Scott also played for Aston Villa, between 2015 and 2016, before concluding his Premier League career on 119 appearances. The 33-year-old moved back to the South West in 2022 with a return to his boyhood club Bristol Rovers.

DONE DEAL: Bristol Rovers have signed Scott Sinclair on a short-term deal.

: @Official_BRFC #UTG #BristolRovers #Swans #CFC #PNEFC #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/iQiQQDpjCh

— Football League World (@FootballLeagueW) October 18, 2022

Ashley Barnes

Starting his football with Paulton Rovers before joining Plymouth Argyle, Barnes didn’t get his first taste of Premier League football until 2014. The striker joined from Brighton in January for an undisclosed fee, having recorded 42 goals in 141 appearances for the Seagulls. Since his move to the Lancashire side, Ashley would make the most top-flight appearances out of anyone on this list.

From 2014 to 2022, aside from a year in the Championship in 2015-16, Barnes made an impressive 200 Premier League appearances for Sean Dyche’s side, who was later succeeded by interim coach Mike Jackson. Now managed by former Belgium international Vincent Kompany, Burnley has made a blistering start to life in the Championship in 2022-23. They will be eyeing an instant return to the Premier League, which would be Barnes’ eighth season in the top flight.

That feeling when you score in a derby #BURR OV pic.twitter.com/vMFJMyIPFY

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) November 13, 2022

Bath’s ability to produce such footballing talents, both at a national and international stage, highlights the importance of sport to the city. It's the bedrock of the community and an undeniable source of pride when Bath-born players go on to achieve such greatness.