Billy Sharp has only once considered retirement during a phenomenal playing career spanning 21 years, 283 goals and 10 different clubs – and which shows no sign of ending any time soon.
Three years ago the striker was attacked by a Nottingham Forest fan at the end of Sheffield United’s play-off defeat at the City Ground.
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Sharp says about being headbutted and requiring stitches to his lip.
It was later said in court that Sharp had been on the receiving end of a “senseless act of violence”.
But it was not that moment that almost led the prolific goalscorer to retire.
Instead it was a year later – in 2023 at the age of 37 – that he seriously considered packing it all in.
He had just been released by Sheffield United – the club he grew up supporting as a boy – after scoring 129 goals in 377 appearances across three spells with his hometown club.
“I’d had three promotions with them,” adds Sharp, who has scored in the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two.
“That was the only kit I wanted to wear. I just wanted to play for Sheffield United. When I was released I asked myself ‘is it time to retire?’.”
Sharp flew to the United States to get over that major disappointment and after a short spell with LA Galaxy – which included a hat-trick against Minnesota United – he had fallen back in love with the game he has graced for so long.
“Going to LA Galaxy made me realise I still love scoring goals, I still love playing football. That’s why I’m still playing now,” he tells BBC Sport.
“The heartache of not playing for Sheffield United gave me an opportunity to experience another league and another team, who I really enjoyed playing for.”
Now in his fourth spell at Doncaster Rovers, Sharp wants to cause an FA Cup upset when the League Two club host Premier League Crystal Palace in the fourth round on Monday (19:45 GMT) – which you can watch on BBC iPlayer – five days after celebrating his 39th birthday.
“I’ve no plans to retire,” adds the veteran of more than 600 league games.
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