Player move may shock Plymouth Argyle, Notts County & Watford supporters: View | OneFootball

Dan Gosling has made a shock move down the tiers of non-league football after being released by Notts County in January.

Highlights

Dan Gosling is a name synonymous with a number of clubs across the four divisions of the Football League.

From starting his career at Plymouth Argyle to his days in the Premier League with the likes of Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth, the midfielder has been all around England.

A very consistent performer, Gosling was most recently at Notts County, where he featured just eight times after signing a short-term deal in November last year.

After the Magpies announced the departure of the former Argyle man in January, many would have expected him to turn out for a club in the upper echelons of non-league. But, that has not been the case and the team Gosling will be playing for will shock several of his former employers.

Dan Gosling's non-league reunion

When Gosling left Meadow Lane, he stated that he wanted to explore opportunities closer to home, but the level he has dropped to is quite incredible.

East-Sussex side Westfield play in the Mid-Sussex Premier Division, which is the 11th tier of English football and Gosling has committed to them for the upcoming season.

As Westfield are a semi-professional outfit, it will allow the former Blackpool man to balance his playing time in alignment with his role at Watford, where he is the under-21s assistant manager.

Alongside Gosling, his former Bournemouth teammate Charlie Daniels will be joining him at the Westies. The full-back has played for a number of football league clubs, including Shrewsbury Town, Portsmouth and Leyton Orient.

Many will be asking why this duo have signed for a team in a division way below their apparent level. Well, the answer comes from the club's owner. Current Queens Park Rangers centre-back Steve Cook bought shares in the club back in 2022, with a vision of taking them up the football pyramid.

Speaking about his investment in 2022, Cook said: "The idea fitted with my current ambitions and looking to help progress local football. I am looking forward to adding to this great club and helping to take it to the next level."

Cook's ability to pull the strings to sign Gosling and Daniels will only benefit the club on and off the pitch, with the public eye now firmly on a club in the 11th tier.

Westfield could bring the conclusion of Gosling's career

Gosling's move to Westfield suggests we have seen the end of him in the professional football. Whilst much of his time was spent in the Premier League, Gosling was lucky enough to secure promotion from the Championship in 2014-15, where he helped the Cherries finish top of the league.

Since departing Bournemouth in 2021, his time elsewhere hasn't gone to plan as he would have hoped, with just 37 appearances at Watford in two and a half years and his minimal period at Notts County.

Westfield will therefore provide him with an opportunity to finish his career on a high and Steve Cook would undoubtedly be grateful to see his former teammate help his local side.

With his experience and talent, it will almost certainly be a successful period for Gosling and all his former clubs will wish him well on his new football venture, even if there's an element of surprise to see a 34-year-old, with an impressive CV, take such a step down.