Billy Sharp makes surprise retirement U-turn to play one final game in FA Cup for former club

The 40-year-old retired striker returns for one FA Cup match to help eighth-tier AFC Rushden & Diamonds face Burton Albion in the first round proper.

Billy Sharp has come out of retirement to play one final game for AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the FA Cup first round proper against Burton Albion. The 40-year-old striker, who quit football on October 11, will make a surprise return to help the eighth-tier Northern Premier League side, who have reached the first round for the first time in their history after winning five qualifying rounds.

Sharp scored 299 goals across a 22-year career spanning from League Two to the Premier League, including three spells at Sheffield United and stints at Scunthorpe, Doncaster, Southampton and Nottingham Forest. He holds the Championship record with 130 goals in the second tier. The club announced his signing on Sunday, with Sharp coming in to help cover for suspended midfielder James Clifton.

Sharp told talkSPORT his retirement decision was not difficult, explaining he had time to think it through and felt the moment was right. He cited the arrival of a new family member and wanting time away from football after a career that has given him "so many memories to take away from it."