Danny Mills: Charlton Athletic move made my career – it took me to a whole new level

Danny Mills has talked about his move to Charlton Athletic being a “sliding door” moment in his career.

The Addicks signed the full-back, now 47, from Norwich City in 1998.

Mills won promotion with the South Londoners to the Premier League and his form in the 1998-99 campaign saw him sold to Leeds United for £4.1million.

Charlton used the proceeds raised to strengthen their squad, relegated back to England’s second tier, and made excellent additions in the shape of striker Andy Hunt and goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

Mills, speaking exclusively to OLBG, has given his thoughts on his old club’s FA Cup third round tie at Preston North End this weekend.

He said: “Preston are mid-table Championship side. They are a club that I know relatively well from my days at Leeds due to the Peter Ridsdale connection at Preston, and he’s done a really good job there.

“They are just a very steady Championship side. A play-off would be amazing for them, but they’re never really gonna be in too much doubt of relegation.

“Charlton made my career. It’s as simple as that. It took me to a new level. Winning the play-offs, playing in the Premier League for the first time, a season there, and then leaving when we got relegated.

“Without Charlton, I would never have the career that I had. It was a sliding door moment, if you like.

“Charlton are trying to consolidate. They need to get themselves out of the division that they’re in.

“Sometimes the cup competition can be a little bit of a hindrance in that. It’s interesting that all the Premier League managers complain about too many fixtures. They want to try playing in the Championship or League One or Two when it is Saturday and Tuesday all the way through the season and you don’t have the big squads like the Premier League sides have.

“I think it’ll be an interesting game, but I think we’ve seen in recent times that league is more important.

“Preston are consolidated in the Championship, a cup run might be more important to them to build finances.

“Charlton will look at this and just think, if we get through, great, it would be good to get a huge team after that, but most importantly, we need to keep our players fit and raring to go for the league. They need to get out of that division and they need to start climbing the tables.”

Asked if Charlton will make the play-offs this season in League One, Mills said: “I think it’s most important. Charlton is a fantastic football club. We got promoted to the Premier League, sold out The Valley every single week. Some amazing times through that period.

“They were a bit of a yo-yo club for a period of time.

“It’s a fantastic football club. It’s a very, very family-orientated football club. I went back there last year. It might have been New Year’s Day. Went back there and saw Steve Brown, Alan Curbishley, a few old players and a lot of the staff still work there from 23, 24, years ago.

“It’s a fantastic place. It’s a fantastic club and I’d love to see them start climbing the divisions.”

PICTURE: ALAMY