Stephen John Mills (9 December 1953 – 1 August 1988)[1] was an English professional footballer with Southampton who had his career cut short by a serious car accident, before dying from leukaemia aged 34.
He came to The Dell on a week's trial as a 15-year-old schoolboy and was promptly snapped up by manager Ted Bates, joining the Saints as a trainee in February 1969, signing as a professional in July 1971.
[citation needed] After a gruelling stint at an Army rehabilitation centre, he flew to the USA where he played football for Miami Toros to regain match fitness.
[citation needed] On 23 October 2021 his memory was honoured with the Forever Saint award, presented to his family at St Mary's Stadium where Southampton were playing Burnley.
The charity fund he established before he died raised more than £100,000 towards creating a stem cell laboratory, which was opened at Southampton's Royal South Hants Hospital a year later.