Sheffield United icon Billy Sharp given opportunity to step out of retirement with surprise FA Cup offer
Non-league side AFC Rushden & Diamonds have reached out to Billy Sharp to see if he will play for them in the first round of the FA Cup next month.
Former Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp has revealed that he has been offered the opportunity to come out of retirement by AFC Rushden & Diamonds ahead of their upcoming FA Cup first-round clash with Burton Albion.
After progressing through United’s youth ranks, Sharp joined the original Rushden & Diamonds in January 2005 and scored nine goals in 16 appearances during a prolific loan spell at the then-League Two club.
Diamonds were relegated from the Football League the following year before folding completely in 2011. The club was reborn later that same year as AFC Rushden & Diamonds, formed by Rushden & Diamonds supporters as a phoenix club.
Currently playing in England’s eighth tier, Diamonds reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since their rebirth last weekend after beating Morecambe 2-1 in the fourth qualifying round. Their reward is a trip to League One side Burton Albion next month.
Ahead of what promises to be a historic occasion for the club, Sharp, who announced his retirement earlier this month, has revealed that he has received an offer from the club to briefly come out of retirement and play. Although he has suggested that the chances of him being involved are slim, he has not completely ruled out the possibility.
“Yes, Rushden have asked me to play for them in the FA Cup first round,” Sharp told The Football League Paper. “I’ve still not totally ruled it out.
“They were the first club I ever scored a goal for. To go back after all those years, and to score my 300th goal for them in the FA Cup - it would be such a great story, wouldn’t it?
“I still remember when United spoke to me about going on loan there. With all due respect, I didn’t know who Rushden & Diamonds were. I didn’t even know where it was in the country.
“I actually travelled down from Sheffield with a guy called Adrian Littlejohn, who I’d watched as a fan at Sheffield United. He was coming towards the end of his career and I was actually signed as his replacement at Rushden.
“But we he was absolutely amazing with me and there were so many of his little words of wisdom that I’ve kept with me over the years. He was actually one of the first people who said to me, ‘Enjoy it, embrace, play as long as you can because it’s gone in a flash’. Now I’m saying the same thing.
“Lots of things have changed since then. I wore a massive shirt, I had a terrible haircut. It was League Two, fast and furious, constant balls into the box. A lot less tactical.
“As the years have gone on, football has become a very tactical game. Everyone is trying to cancel each other out instead of just playing rock ‘n’ roll football and having a tear up.
“But I still love football. I still want to be involved. So let’s see. Right now, I can’t see it happening, but never say never.”