Forgotten Premier League striker ends five-year retirement to join seventh-tier club


Marvin Sordell has returned to football and joined seventh division side Kettering Town.

The 33-year-old, who played for Bolton and Burnley in the Premier League, ended his career in 2019 at the age of 28 after a loan spell at Northampton Town.

Former Bolton striker Sordell has come out of retirement to join Kettering Town

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Former Bolton striker Sordell has come out of retirement to join Kettering Town.

Sordell was still under contract with Burton Albion at the time, but decided to turn his back on the beautiful game of football, citing mental health problems and racist abuse as reasons.

After a five-year absence, the Great Britain 2012 Olympian will return to the pitch after signing a contract with the Poppies.

Sordell, currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division Central, will be hoping to help Kettering gain promotion as the club sit fourth in the table after eight games.

Announcing the news, Kettering said: “Kettering Town Football Club is delighted to announce that former Northampton Town loanee Marvin Sordell has joined the club.

“Marvin is a very experienced striker who played for Stuart Pearce’s Great Britain Olympic team in 2012 and has previously played for the England U20 and U21 teams.”

Before adding: “He has been out of the game for a while but wants to get back into the game that is so close to his heart.

“We wish him every success and hope he enjoys his time at Latimer Park. Welcome, Marvin.”

Meanwhile, head coach Richard Lavery said: “I am delighted to bring another player with a lot of experience to the club.

“Marvin has been out of action for a while, but we believe he can add even more dynamism to the team.”

Kettering are the eleventh team Sordell has signed for during his career, following his promotion from Watford, for whom he scored 27 goals in 83 games.

Sordell played in the Premier League for both Burnley and Bolton

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Sordell played in the Premier League for both Burnley and Bolton.

In 2012, he moved to Bolton in the Premier League, where his performances earned him a place in Stuart Pearce’s British team squad for the London Games.

During his time for Team GB he played alongside Ryan Giggs, Micah Richards, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Joe Allen and Tom Cleverley.

Sordell remained at Bolton following the club’s relegation to the Championship before being signed by newly promoted club Burnley in 2014 following a successful loan spell at Charlton.

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However, he failed to score a goal in his 14 Premier League appearances in the 2014/15 season.

Just earlier this month, Southampton striker Ben Brereton Diaz broke his unwanted Premier League record.

Sordell has not won a single one of his 17 games in the top division.

Sordell has scored 69 goals in 325 career appearances in all competitions.

He could now form a strike partnership with another former Premier League centre-forward, Nile Ranger.