Billy Sharp interview by my son

[South East Rover]

VETERAN marksman Billy Sharp might be “99 per cent sure” he is playing his final season in football but – typically -he still has targets he wants to hit before hanging up the boots.

Sharp, 40, is determined that his distinguished career does not end on a low, with helping Doncaster stave off the threat of League One relegation his first priority.

Individually, meanwhile, he is tantalisingly close to racking up 300 senior goals – a tally he was just five short of heading into yesterday’s visit to struggling neighbours Rotherham.

And this season’s Vertu Trophy top scorer – on six goals – is also relishing the opportunity to taste victory at Wembley for a first-ever time with Rovers hosting Stockport in the competition’s semi-finals a week on Tuesday.

A run of four wins from seven league contests had seen Grant McCann’s men climb out and move two points clear of the relegation zone ahead of this weekend.

Sharp’s goal against Bradford secured League Two promotion for eventual champions Rovers in the penultimate game of last season and he is in no mood for that memory to be tarnished with a career-ending relegation.

“I’m 99 per cent sure this season will be my last in football, so I don’t want to end it on a negative,” the six-time promotion winner told The FLP. “I had a good think about that at the end of last season when we were promoted.

“But I decided to carry on and I think I could go on for another season, but I’ve always wanted to be in control of when that day comes. Our results have picked up since the turn of the year and the dressing room is together, which is a big thing.

“We’ve also got some big games coming up against teams around us, so it’s in our own hands.”

Despite revealing to The FLP that there’s only a one per cent chance he will continue playing beyond this summer, Sharp confesses it would be a tough call should he finish agonisingly short of his three-figured landmark.

Going into this weekend with 10 goals in all competitions this term, he confessed: “If I finished on 298 or 299, I’d hate that. It would bug me a little bit and I’d need to weigh up long-term scenarios and have a little think but, hopefully, I won’tfind myself in that situation.

“I’ve still got enough games left to do it and want to get back into the team in the league. Tuesday’s game (a 1-0 win against Huddersfield) was the first time I’ve not been brought on as a sub since I came back to the club so, hopefully, that doesn’thappen too many more times and I feel I've shown I can still score goals, even though I’d have liked a few more in the league.”

A Wembley win in April’s Vertu Trophy final would also be another one to cross off the career bucket list with Doncaster bidding to reach the country’s national stadium for only a second time in their 147-year history.

Sharp’s only other appearance on the hallowed turf came as a second-half sub for Sheffield United during a 2023 FA Cup semi-final that the Blades were already trailing 3-0 in against Manchester City and he admitted: “That was a bit of an anti-climax for me, which sounds a bit selfish, but coming on for my boyhood club, when we were 3-0 down, was not what I was dreaming about when I went to bed the night before and I was frustrated that I hadn’t started the game, because I felt like I should have done.

“So, it would be nice to go there, win and maybe even score. That’s every footballer’s dream, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves because, even though we’ve got home advantage, it will be a difficult game against Stockport.”
David Flett.

[drfchound]

A great insight into Billy’s mindset and his drive for success.
For many reasons I hope he gets his wishes.

[Ian Nimmo]

Well there has been a few on here been very critical of Billy, but surely ther can’t be any rovers fan who would not want him to achieve the magical 300

[Blue Green Algae]

I'd be amazed if he got there this season.

[drfchound]

I'd be amazed if he got there this season.

Five goals in a possible 16 matches isn’t a massive target, even if some of the appearances were as a sub.
Especially if we continue the upturn in form.
It would be some achievement.

[NickDRFC]

I'd be amazed if he got there this season.

Five goals in a possible 16 matches isn’t a massive target, even if some of the appearances were as a sub.
Especially if we continue the upturn in form.
It would be some achievement.

It’s possible but he’d need to bring his Vertu form to the league to do so. 17 appearances and counting in the league without a goal. Admittedly it’s only about 600 minutes of action but that’s another issue, he’s unlikely to start many if any more games.

[ncRover]

I think he’d need an unlikely Scunthorpe promotion for something EFL based to suit him.
Or maybe Harrogate when they probably stay up again.

[drfchound]

I'd be amazed if he got there this season.

Five goals in a possible 16 matches isn’t a massive target, even if some of the appearances were as a sub.
Especially if we continue the upturn in form.
It would be some achievement.

It’s possible but he’d need to bring his Vertu form to the league to do so. 17 appearances and counting in the league without a goal. Admittedly it’s only about 600 minutes of action but that’s another issue, he’s unlikely to start many if any more games.

Agree on all points but it is Billy Sharp we are talking about.
Let’s hope he can get the job done.
If he were to get a couple in one game it would suddenly look quite close.

[Rupee92ONLY]

No chance he can start games again for us this season but he could get there with 15/20 minutes a game.

I’m surprised to hear him say he’s 99% sure it’s his last season… Sounds like everyone knows himself better than he does because i’d say if he doesn’t reach the 300 the chance of it being his last season is closer to 0% 

York, Scunthorpe, Chesterfield, Harrogate and Halifax. Any of them being in L2 next season would offer him a year to get him to the 300.

[Ian Nimmo]

I would assume he will start the game against Stockport, he has been leading the team in the vertu trophy games, so don’t expect Grant will change.
Come on Billy, add another ball to you collection!

[IDM]

No chance he can start games again for us this season but he could get there with 15/20 minutes a game.

I’m surprised to hear him say he’s 99% sure it’s his last season… Sounds like everyone knows himself better than he does because i’d say if he doesn’t reach the 300 the chance of it being his last season is closer to 0% 

York, Scunthorpe, Chesterfield, Harrogate and Halifax. Any of them being in L2 next season would offer him a year to get him to the 300.

He definitely can start games.

Whether he can finish them is another issue.

[Blue Green Algae]

I'd be amazed if he got there this season.

Five goals in a possible 16 matches isn’t a massive target, even if some of the appearances were as a sub.
Especially if we continue the upturn in form.
It would be some achievement.

I hope he gets it, but I'm not expecting it. The Vertu Trophy game(s) are his biggest opportunity as he hasn't looked very likely in the league for some time (through a combination of the way he's been used and his poor finishing).

[ncRover]

No chance he can start games again for us this season but he could get there with 15/20 minutes a game.

I’m surprised to hear him say he’s 99% sure it’s his last season… Sounds like everyone knows himself better than he does because i’d say if he doesn’t reach the 300 the chance of it being his last season is closer to 0% 

York, Scunthorpe, Chesterfield, Harrogate and Halifax. Any of them being in L2 next season would offer him a year to get him to the 300.

More chance of you waking up with Sydney Sweeney next to you than Billy playing for Chesterfield