Dan Gosling has made a shock move down the tiers of non-league football after being released by Notts County in January.
Dan Gosling is a name that many teams in all four Football League divisions are familiar with.
The midfield player has played all over England, having started his career at Plymouth Argyle and going on to play in the Premier League for teams like Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth.
Gosling is a very reliable performer. He signed a short-term contract in November of last year and played just eight times at Notts County, where he was most recently.
Many would have anticipated that the former Argyle player would sign with a club in the upper echelons of non-league football after the Magpies announced his exit in January. However, that hasn’t been the case, and several of his teammates will be shocked by the squad Gosling will be playing for former employers.
Dan Gosling’s non-league reunion
Gosling claimed he wanted to investigate options nearer to home when he left Meadow Lane, but it’s amazing how far he’s fallen.
Gosling has committed to East Sussex team Westfield for the upcoming season. Westfield plays in the 11th tier of English football, the Mid-Sussex Premier Division.
The former Blackpool player will be able to control his playing time in accordance with his responsibilities as Watford’s under-21 assistant manager because Westfield is a semi-professional team.
Charlie Daniels, Gosling’s former colleague at Bournemouth, will also be attending the Westies with him. The full-back has represented Leyton Orient, Portsmouth, and Shrewsbury Town among other football league teams.
Why these two signed with a squad in a division far below their apparent level will be a question that many will be asking. The proprietor of the club, that is, has the answer. In 2022, Steve Cook, the centre back for Queens Park Rangers now, purchased club stock with the intention of moving them up the football league ladder.
With all eyes on an 11th-tier club, Cook’s ability to pull strings to recruit Gosling and Daniels will only help the team both on and off the pitch.
Westfield could bring the conclusion of Gosling’s career
Given his move to Westfield, it appears that Gosling’s career in professional football is coming to an end. Gosling spent most of his time in the Premier League, but in 2014–15, he was fortunate enough to be promoted from the Championship after leading the Cherries to the top of the table.
His time elsewhere hasn’t gone as planned after leaving Bournemouth in 2021; he only made 37 appearances at Watford in 2.5 years, and he didn’t spend much time at Notts County.
Given his move to Westfield, it appears that Gosling’s career in professional football is coming to an end. Gosling spent most of his time in the Premier League, but in 2014–15, he was fortunate enough to be promoted from the Championship after leading the Cherries to the top of the table.
His time elsewhere hasn’t gone as planned after leaving Bournemouth in 2021; he only made 37 appearances at Watford in 2.5 years, and he didn’t spend much time at Notts County.
