Ex-Premier League star joins seventh-tier side AFC Totton as the former Southampton and QPR goalscorer signs for 11th club

A former Premier League star is continuing his career after signing for seventh-tier side AFC Totton at the age of 35-years-old.

The former Southampton, QPR and Burnley striker has been dropping down the ranks of the EFL in recent seasons and beamed as he was unveiled at the National League side on Wednesday.

Joining Totton represents a new frontier for the veteran who made 451 appearances across all four professional leagues in English football and scoring 178 goals in the process.

The ex-Premier League goalscorer has spent the last two seasons playing at League Two side Swindon Town amid the backdrop of feuds between the club owners and fanbase.

Charlie Austin made 48 appearances in English football’s fourth tier last season and scored 14 goals as the Robins fought off relegation, and has now opted against retiring after his contract expired.

Charlie Austin made the switch to the seventh-tier side as he completes an 11th career move

Instead, Austin has decided to add another club to his glittering CV by choosing to join last season’s Southern League Premier Division South runners-up.

Austin previously rose through the ranks of non-league football with early career spells at Kintbury Rangers, Hungerford, Thatcham Town and Poole, before eventually moving into the EFL ranks.

Revealing how his latest move came to fruition, Austin said: ‘James Beattie got in touch with me in May and asked me the situation, and I said I still wanted to play in the Football League – but let’s stay in touch. 

Austin made a name for himself starring at the likes of QPR in the Premier League

The 35-year-old also previously spent an unsuccessful spell playing for Brisbane Roar in Australia

‘And that was it for the first four or five weeks. We stayed in contact and he invited me to come and train with the club. I wasn’t too sure at first but then, while I was on holiday with the kids, the penny sort of dropped and I rang him and said look, let’s do the deal.

‘I know I can bring a lot of experience, having played in all four divisions of the professional league, as well as at this sort of level at the beginning of my career. 

‘If my game can fit in with the team and can help the team to get over that final hurdle, then that’s what it’s all about – the goal is for us to get promoted.

‘Non-league in general over the last 15 years has got better. There are so many more players who have been involved in the professional game but then don’t get contracts and come back through into non-league, and the only beneficial point of that is that non-league gets a lot better and a lot stronger.’