The Longside Reference

Name: Charlie Austin

D.O.B: 5th July 1989

Place of Birth:Hungerford

Position: Striker

Previous Clubs: Thatcham Town, Kintbury Rangers, Hungerford Town, Poole Town, Swindon Town, Burnley

Signed by Eddie Howe.

Burnley Fee:(rumoured to be in the region of £1.2 mllion)

Claret Debut:1st February 2011, Doncaster Rovers (A). L 1-0

Squad Number 2011/12: 23

Claret stat:Burnley beat off stiff competition to sign Charlie Austin, teams such as Ipswich Town and Southampton were also believed to be interested in the front man.

Austin started life at Reading, but was released without making a first team bow, he dropped into non-league after his release, playing and scoring for fun with Thatcham Town, Kintbury Rangers, Hungerford Town and finally Poole town where he netted a goal a game.

Eddie Howe knew all about Charlie, after having the striker on trial at Bournemouth, but the Dean Court clubs transfer embargo ment he was unable to get his man.

Swindon Town were the lucky team that did manage to sign the forward, and he paid them back in goals, 37 in 65 for the 'Robins' before Burnley fought off opposition to sign Austin three days before the transfer deadline.

On signing for  Burnley, Charlie will wear the Number 23 shirt, and became Eddie Howes first signing as the Clarets manager, but shortly after his debut, Charlie Austin dislocated his shoulder and ruled himself out for the rest of the 2010/11 campaign. The following season however, he started life on the bench behind Paterson and Jay Rodriguez, but with Pato picking up yet another injury, Austin replaced the hampered front-man, and duly scored against Watford, he followed that up with a stunning 20 yard effort in the League cup against Burton and a third of the campaign in the one-all draw with Cardiff, Austin is quickly becoming a crowd favorite at Burnley.