Charlie Austin: From Non-League Grafter to Premier League Goalscorer

Charlie Austin’s rise is one of the greatest modern examples of what grassroots football can produce. Before he was a Premier League striker, Austin was a bricklayer playing local football for Kintbury Rangers and Hungerford Town. His real breakthrough came at Poole Town in the Wessex League, where he scored over 50 goals in a single season and suddenly became one of non-league’s most talked-about players.

In 2009, Swindon Town took a chance on him. Austin adapted instantly, scoring on his debut and firing Swindon to the League One play-offs. A move to Burnley followed, where he became one of the Championship’s most lethal strikers.

His dream moment came with QPR, guiding them to promotion before scoring 18 Premier League goals in the 2014–15 season — outscoring some of the league’s biggest names. Austin later played for Southampton, West Brom, and returned to QPR and Swindon, never forgetting where he came from.

Austin’s story proves that talent exists at every level and that non-league players can reach the top. His journey remains a powerful reminder that opportunities can appear when you work hard, believe in yourself, and never give up on the game of football.