You’ve been awestruck by Lionel Messi, you’ve marvelled at Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar’s magic feet have dazzled your television screens. However, in amongst the gargantuan names that flood the footballing world, there is one man hidden within England’s second-tier that defines what it means to be a true professional.

Billy Sharp.

The Boyhood Hero

Born and bred in Sheffield, Sharp cut his teeth in Rotherham’s youth academy before moving over to Sheffield United. During the 2004-05 season, Sharp made his first-team debut for United and the rest, as they say, is history.

In all competitions, Billy Sharp has played 546 games, scoring 236 goals in that time. For ‘The Blades’ alone, Sharp has played 230 games, scoring 98 goals. There’s a very good chance, by the time this blog has been published, that Sharp will have hit a century of goals for his boyhood club.

This level of goal scoring prowess is comparable to the likes of Alan Shearer for Newcastle, Gary Lineker for Leicester and, in more recent times, Harry Kane for Tottenham. All of these talented goal poachers notched up incredible tallies for the clubs they support, winning their sides points on a weekly basis. For Sharp, that’s always been the case.

His first stint with Sheffield United was brief, having only made two senior appearances for ‘The Blades’ before moving to Scunthorpe in 2005. After notching 53 goals in 82 appearances for ‘The Iron’, Sharp moved back to Sheffield in 2007 for £2 million pounds, having helped guide Scunthorpe into the Championship.

His second stint with Sheffield United was far from perfect, with the hitman only managing 8 goals in 51 appearances for his boyhood club. Maybe it just wasn’t to be?

Sharp departed Bramall Lane once again in 2009, moving to Doncaster on an initial loan. However, in 2010, the move was made permanent, after the Sheffield striker lit up the Keepmoat with invaluable goals for Rovers.

Sharp went on to have spells with Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Doncaster (again) and Leeds United, before finally finding himself back at Sheffield United, hoping that the third time would really be the charm.

And how…

In 2017, Billy Sharp captained his boyhood club back to the Championship, following 2 successful, goal-filled seasons in League One for the Yorkshire club.

Sharp scored 13 goals in 34 appearances in Sheffield United’s first season back in England’s second tier, before finding himself part of an under-dog squad gunning for Premiership status.

As of the 5th February 2019, Sheffield United sit third in the Championship, only three points away from table-toppers Norwich and Leeds. The Yorkshire side have won 16 out of 30 games played this season, with captain Sharp contributing 19 goals in 28 league games for the club. His partnership with former Ipswich Town striker David McGoldrick has been a real highlight for the club, as they prepare for an end-of-season promotion battle that’s sure to head to the wire.

I’m certain Billy Sharp himself would be the first to admit his two previous spells at Sheffield United didn’t go as he had wished, but his third has proved incredibly fruitful, scoring for fun and aiding his boyhood club to at least one promotion.

On January 1st 2019, Billy Sharp became the leading goal-scorer in England in the 21st century, surpassing Rickie Lambert, by scoring his 220th goal.

With three promotions, hundreds of goals and 2 player of the year awards in League One, Billy Sharp is bound to go down as one of the finest strikers to ever grace the Football League.

But it wasn’t always easy…

“A Goal From Heaven”

There are many things that no one should ever have to suffer through, losing a child is one of those things.

In October 2011, Billy Sharp’s son, Luey Jacob, sadly lost his life when he was only 2 days old. After this tragic event, Billy Sharp and his partner set up The Luey Jacob Sharp foundation, a charity aimed at researching gastroschisis and helping families affected by the condition.

As some of you will know, I have been a season ticket holder at Ipswich Town for 10 years. In that time, I have been emotionally touched on a few separate occasions. The opening of the Bobby Robson Stand was certainly an emotion-filled day, but no day was more poignant than when Doncaster Rovers travelled to Portman Road. Just five days after the tragedy, fresh from an emotional goal scored mid-week against Middlesbrough, Billy Sharp took to the pitch, determined not to be defeated.

Stepping out onto the field was testament enough to such a courageous man, but scoring yet again, after suffering so much pain, was a moment that meant more than just 90 minutes of football. All four stands inside Portman Road rose to their feet to applaud Billy Sharp, the man who had been through the unthinkable, but got back up and carried on.

This moment was followed by the Ipswich fans chanting Luey’s name, a tip of the hat to a brave father and footballer who brought life into perspective for many Ipswich fans on that day.

I maintain the fact that he is the most admirable footballer to never wear the shirt of the club I love.

A legacy

Not many footballers can go to any club in England and score goals, but Billy Sharp did just that.

From Reading to Sheffield, Doncaster to Scunthorpe, Billy Sharp became a fan-favourite wherever he went. And on this, his 33rd birthday, I still see fans of those clubs sharing memories of the man himself via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

At his core, Sharp is a family man. A father to two sons and a husband to a loving partner. He is a man that goes about his business quietly, but always leaves a mark when he steps onto any football pitch up and down the country.

My hope is, and this doesn’t just come from my desire to see Norwich remain in the Championship, that Billy Sharp can captain his boyhood club to the Premier League and continue to take their passionate fanbase on a journey they’ll never forget.

A father, a fighter, a poacher, a captain, a legend.