Mick Tanner had played in the Football League for Bristol City when he came to Exeter City for a trial in 1990. Soon afterwards he signed for Bath City.

He had been on schoolboy forms with Bristol City before venturing into adult football with Hallen. Given another chance at Ashton Gate by Robins' manager Terry Cooper, Mick was back in the professional game at the age of twenty-two in 1986. Scoring on his debut he looked set for success with one of his hometown clubs but his poor disciplinary record helped scupper his chances and he was released in 1990 after just nineteen league appearances.

With Terry Cooper now at St James' Park it was no great surprise when Mick turned up for training and he was soon scoring City's only goal in the Tony Kellow Testimonial against Leicester on August  1990.

However there was no offer of a contract and he moved on to Bath City followed by spells with Cheltenham Town and Weymouth.