Mick Tanner was born in Bristol in 1964, joining Bristol City as a schoolboy but he was released and joined non league Hallen,
"When I joined Hallen, it was such a lovely club, the facilities were great and I started getting back on my feet and enjoying football - I couldn't wait for Saturdays." Mick Tanner From Bristol Live 2020. 

His form at Hallen caught the eye of Terry Copper, the then Bristol City manager who resigned him in 1986.

He scored on his debut for the Robins, "but cemented his reputation as a bad boy early on in his career at the club when he was sent off against Brentford."
Bristol Live 2020.

He was on signed as a trialist by Terry Cooper, at Exeter at the start of the 1990 season, he played and scored in the Tony Kellow Testimonial, against Leicester on August 6th 1990,
"the Exeter consolation was netted by Mickey Tanner, finishing neatly following a cross from Scott Hiley."

He scored again on the 11th August 1990 in a friendly against Dorchester. But did not get a contract and was released.