Forgotten Premier League striker ends five-year retirement to join seventh-tier club
Yesterday at 08:11 AM
Marvin Sordell has returned to football where he has linked up with seventh-tier outfit Kettering Town.
The 33-year-old, who played in the Premier League at Bolton and Burnley, retired in 2019 at the age of 28 following a loan spell at Northampton Town.
At the time, Sordell was still under contract at Burton Albion, but decided to walk away from the beautiful game citing mental health issues and racist abuse.
After five years away, the 2012 Team GB Olympian will grace the pitch once again having signed a deal with the Poppies.
Currently plying their trade in the Southern League Premier Division Central, Sordell will be hoping to help Kettering to a promotion push with the club sitting fourth in the table after eight games.
Announcing the news, Kettering stated: “Kettering Town Football Club are delighted to announce that former Northampton Town loanee Marvin Sordell has joined the club.
“Marvin a greatly experienced forward, played for Stuart Pearce's Great Britain Olympic side in 2012, having played for England Under 20 and 21 sides.”
Before adding: “He has been out of the game for a while but wants to be back in the game he cherishes.
“We would like to wish him every success and hope he enjoys his time at Latimer Park, welcome Marvin.”
Meanwhile boss Richard Lavery said: "I am pleased to get another player with plenty of experience coming into the club.
“Marvin has been out of action for a little while, but we believe he can add another dynamic to the squad."
Kettering are the 11th team Sordell has signed for during his career having come up through the ranks at Watford, who he scored 27 goals in 83 games for.
A Premier League switch to Bolton followed in 2012, with his displays earning him a place in Stuart Pearce’s Team GB squad at the London Games.
His time playing for Team GB saw him feature alongside Ryan Giggs, Micah Richards, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Joe Allen and Tom Cleverley.
Sordell stayed with Bolton following their relegation to the Championship, before a successful loan spell at Charlton saw newly-promoted Burnley to take a punt on the player in 2014.
However he failed to score from his 14 Premier League appearances during the 2014/15 campaign.
It was only until earlier this month that Southampton striker Ben Brereton Diaz broke his unwanted Premier League record.
Sordell never won a single match from his 17 top-flights matches.
From Sordell’s career, he has banged in 69 goals from 325 matches in all competitions.
He could now form a strike partnership with another ex-Premier League centre-forward in Nile Ranger.
