Unlike strikers who keep their personal targets secret, Billy Sharp is open about having a triple century in his sights and playing as a 40-year-old. Of his 283 career goals, the one that kept him going season-on-season was the spectacular, dipping volley at Blackpool just days after his son, Luey, had passed away.
Sharp was in his first spell at Doncaster Rovers in 2011 when his life changed. Luey was born with gastroschisis, when a child’s abdomen is not developed fully in the womb. “We got told it was a 97 per cent survival rate so we didn’t even think about the three per cent worst-case scenario,” said Sharp.
Just a few days later came that goal at Bloomfield Road, dedicated to Luey as the emotion poured out. Eyes closed, Sharp lifted up his kit and the shirt underneath read: “That’s for you son.” Now back at Doncaster, chasing League Two promotion and an FA Cup upset against Crystal Palace on Monday night, his son’s passing has been one of the driving forces in keeping him playing into his 40th year.
“I don’t score goals like that. But there was something in the air that night that told me to hit the ball, hit it clean,” said Sharp. “It flew in for him. I’ve got that memory which helped me along the way all these years later when I’m still playing now.
“I was selfish when we lost Luey because all I wanted to do was play football. It was a safe space and a moment when you could get away from it. I will always say I am forever thankful for football getting me through that time. It’s a big release for a lot of players and you are surrounded by a lot of support that helped me get through it.”
It was around that time in Sharp’s career that he made changes to his life that helped his longevity. Small alterations to his lifestyle off the pitch that all added up and saw him move back to his beloved Sheffield United and twice help them return to the Premier League.
“I had to make a few life changes to play at the level I was at,” said Sharp. “I didn’t realise until I was training at Southampton, my new club, and I was miles off everyone else at the club. It was a wake-up call and those changes are why I am still playing now.
“People knew I was going through a tough time off the pitch, which didn’t help and got to me in a professional way as well.”
Diet, preparation for training each day and recovery after matches were the key changes and Sharp’s career has been defined by endurance and goals. His football love has been Sheffield United but there was also a short spell at LA Galaxy after being released at Bramall Lane.
“I had the heartbreak of leaving Sheffield United and that hurt me. The best thing was the America move at that stage. I really enjoyed it and it made me realise I still wanted to play football. At the time I didn’t want to play for anyone else but Sheffield United and at the time if I wanted to carry on, I had to do that,” he said.
“Nobody knew who I was in California. That is one of the reasons why it was really enjoyable for me and my family. I was wearing caps backwards and had shorts and flip-flops on every day. I didn’t have a care in the world and it was nice to be invisible. It was a good time to be over there and then nice to be back in Sheffield, which is why Doncaster suited me at this stage of my career.
‘People are telling me to keep going’
“I always said I had unfinished business at Doncaster as I really enjoyed my time here before but we didn’t achieve anything, so to have the opportunity to achieve something is great at my age.”
Los Angeles was where David Beckham stopped off as he prolonged his career, although the role model for players approaching 40 is a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. Another less likely for Sharp, who turned 39 last week, is ex-team-mate Phil Jagielka.
“Phil will tell you that I helped him get to 40. ‘Why don’t you carry on until you’re 40?,’ I’d say. He ended up scoring and assisting as a 41-year-old against Sheffield United. People like him are now saying to me ‘keep going’. There is still always something to strive for,” he said.
“The lads are having banter as the darts player Stephen Bunting is the same age as me, saying I don’t look a day older. And that’s no disrespect to Stephen Bunting, obviously. Then you have the likes of Ronaldo, who looks 23 or 24 still, and what he is doing is incredible.
“He makes sacrifices to be the best in the world. He has ability but he also has dedication and commitment to the game. I don’t see him slowing down any time soon. People like him want you to keep playing because he’s an incredible example to people of his age.”
Sharp also has the distinction of being the player with the most EFL goals this century, while other short-term aims include a cup run after reaching the semi-finals with Sheffield United during Manchester City’s Treble season.
“Harry Kane has scored more. Fortunately for him he’s not had to play in the EFL much apart from a little spell at Leicester. But I’m proud of that as well and until someone beats it, they can’t take it away from me,” said Sharp.
The other tournaments that matter to Sharp are those named in honour of Luey. “We wanted people to remember our son’s name and also help other people and other families,” he said. “It’s incredibly hard and there are so many cancers that we still haven’t got cures for and gastroschisis is another one that unfortunately with a lot of money and research they still don’t know how every baby that has it survives.”
