Diamonds' FA Cup story too hard to turn down - Sharp

Billy Sharp scored his first career goal at the now defunct Rushden & Diamonds in 2005, and is in line to turn out for its phoenix club in the FA Cup on Saturday [Getty Images] Billy Sharp said his decision to come out of retirement to play for AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the FA Cup was inspired by "a story that's too hard to turn down". The 40-year-old striker announced his retirement last month but has reversed that decision following the suspension of Diamonds forward James Clifton for Saturday's tie at League One Burton Albion. The Northern Premier League side was formed in 2011 following the demise of Rushden & Diamonds - where Sharp played on loan in 2005 - and will feature in the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time. Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Sharp said the invitation to play for the club "made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up". "I thought, you know what, I've got nothing to lose. Rushden's got nothing to lose," the former Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers forward said. "We're going to be the underdogs and we've got everything to gain and it's a great day out for the fans." Championship's all-time 'bagsman' Sharp plots next steps If Sharp features in the tie at the Pirelli Stadium it will be the 814th professional appearance, and provide him with the opportunity to score his 300th career goal - a fact the striker said was also a "big pull" in his decision to play again. "I'm not going to shy away from it," he added. "I'm hoping for that one chance, and if I can put it away and it can be a part of a cup upset, then I'd be absolutely delighted. "They [Rushden & Diamonds] gave me the platform to have the career that I've had today and I just felt the story's too good to turn down. "The story might not end in the way I want it to, but I scored my first ever career goal for Rushden and Diamonds... if I could get the 300th for the club where I got my first, that just seemed like the book would be closed and it'd be an amazing end to a career I'm already proud of." What happened to the original Rushden & Diamonds? Rushden & Diamonds's first home game as a Football League club was against Lincoln City in August 2001 [Getty Images] Rushden & Diamonds were formed in 1992 following the merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds. It was the brainchild of Max Griggs, the owner of Northamptonshire-based Dr. Martens, with the aim of getting the single, larger club into the Football League. The club reached the Conference, now known as the National League, in 1996 and realised Griggs' dream of EFL football in 2001 under the management of Brian Talbot. In 2003, Diamonds were promoted as champions to Division Two, now known as League One, but Griggs' retirement as chairman signalled the beginning of their ultimate demise. By 2006 they had been relegated back to non-league and mounting financial pressures saw them kicked out the Conference in 2011 and ultimately folding. Rivals Kettering Town moved into the club's Nene Park stadium for a brief and ill-fated period between 2011 and 2012, before the ground was demolished in 2017. Follow your club with BBC Sport Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone