At 40, Billy Sharp is preparing to pull on a shirt he first wore nearly two decades ago, returning to AFC Rushden & Diamonds just as the club reaches a new stage in the FA Cup. The former Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers striker came out of retirement to help his former side ahead of its first-round proper tie against Burton Albion.
For Rushden, the match is a landmark: it will be the first time the club has played in the FA Cup’s first round proper. The team travels to Burton, known as the Brewers, on Saturday for a 15:00 GMT kick-off. Sharp’s return gives the occasion an added connection to the club’s past, as well as a possible boost while midfielder James Clifton is suspended.
Sharp announced his retirement last month, after his contract with Doncaster Rovers ended this summer. But he has now agreed to play for Rushden again. He first joined the club on loan from Sheffield United in 2005, scoring nine goals in 16 appearances. His return comes as the Northern Premier League side prepares for one of the biggest games in its recent history.
A career that began with that loan spell went on to include 290 more senior goals. Sharp played in 45 matches for Doncaster across all competitions last season and scored 14 times. If he features against Burton, the match will be his 814th professional appearance—a remarkable total for a player who had only just stepped away from the game.
The match also offers a glimpse of how a player’s ties to a club can last well beyond an initial spell. Sharp’s first time at Rushden was brief, but his nine goals in 16 games gave him a direct link to the team he has now returned to support. This time, the stakes include a place in the first round proper and the chance for Rushden to test itself against Burton in the FA Cup.
Whether Sharp takes the field or not, his return has given the build-up a compelling story: a retired striker, back at a former club, on the eve of a landmark cup match. For Rushden, Saturday’s trip is a chance to make history of its own. For Sharp, it could add one more appearance to a career already stretching to 813 professional games.