Southampton star who played in the Premier League is now a non-league player

Several Southampton players from yesteryear are still playing, despite being deep into the twilight years of their careers.

Charlie Austin, when he isn't being an outspoken pundit, is leading the line for his hometown side Hungerford Town. Ten years ago, the 37-year-old striker was a regular for the Saints in the Premier League.

He isn't the only presence who once called the Premier League home for the South Coast side who is now plying his trade in the lowly depths of non-league, with Josh Sims finding himself a new surprise club recently.

Once hailed as an "unbelievable" talent for the future by his ex-Saints boss Claude Puel, Sims' career has been full of some insane ups and some horrible downs, ever since making his top-flight debut for Southampton in 2016.

Sims' whirlwind career

Funnily enough, Sims' debut in the main team fold at Southampton saw him assist the aforementioned Austin.

Less than a minute into his senior debut for the Saints, the now 29-year-old would confidently tee up Austin for a goal against Everton, which proved to be the decisive matchwinner.

He had a knack of popping up with vital assists, despite his minimal gametime, with Sims also helping his boyhood team to the EFL Cup final in 2017, when he surged forward with pace to burn, before Shane Long finished off the devastating counter attack move to knock out Liverpool.

Unfortunately, this was very much the peak for Sims in the Southampton first team, as the eight-time England U20 international would then become plagued with persistent injury issues.

In the end, a senior career that started out with so much promise on the South Coast fizzled out, as he would be released by the Saints in 2021, after several loan moves away.

Sims had become a lost relic to time, arguably, but he has now signed for an ambitious non-league side, not too far off Eckert and Co.

He will playing in non-league next season

Totton is barely five miles away from the major city of Southampton, with the small Hampshire town boasting a National League South side on the rise.

Last season, the Stags finished slap bang in the middle of the pile in 12th position, with the likes of ex-Portsmouth defender Brandon Haunstrup on their roster.

To try and improve on this middling finish, AFC Totton have landed Sims, in a big statement signing for the level, considering the 29-year-old's prior Premier League experience.

Speaking about his desire to get "fans off their feet" with electric displays in attack when his coup signing was unveiled, the hope for Sims will be that he can enjoy his football again, after a disorienting couple of seasons, lining up for the likes of Ross County in Scotland, and Yeovil Town.

He will no doubt have wished his career had gone very differently, with the world at his feet at one stage when he was assisting breakneck winners at Anfield.

Now, he will play against teams such as Folkestone Invicta and Truro City, instead of tussling with Jurgen Klopp in his Reds infancy, with Southampton fans no doubt wishing Sims well, as a forgotten former member of their esteemed academy.

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