After scoring for Middlesbrough, Reading and Swansea City, moving to Greece and Thailand before returning to England, Leroy Lita is still among the goals over 23 years since his professional debut.
The 40-year-old scored goals for fun during his professional career but he’s now a regular in non-league. Currently at Leicester-based Barwell FC, the striker is at his ninth non-league team and is loving every minute of it.
Last weekend, he rolled back the years to put Barwell 4-2 up against Leiston in the Southern League Central. Beating the offside trap after Barwell won the ball high up the pitch, the veteran was too fast for two defenders and he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
"I still feel fine, I enjoy playing and I'm still healthy and fit," he told LeicestershireLive. "I don't have to train everyday, which is different to the professional world but I'm still playing every week. That's enough for me.
“I really enjoy playing football and it fits with everything I do. I’ve met some great people along the way. It’s different but I enjoy it.”
19 years ago, Lita was one of the most-exciting talents in England. After scoring 30 goals in 52 appearances, Lita was called up to the England Under 21s squad, joining the likes of David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone, David Nugent and Scott Carson.
Leroy Lita
Lita played nine games for England Under 21s, scoring six times (Image: Getty Images)
The national team step-up was followed by a club-record move to Reading worth £1million. Lita was part of the history-making team that were promoted to the Premier League, scoring 15 goals in 32 games.
A broken leg looked like it could delay his debut in the top flight, but Lita recovered and got off to the dream start. After replacing Dave Kitson at half-time, the striker capitalised on poor Middlesbrough defending to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
“It meant nothing to me [the price tag], I was just focused on football and getting to the top. I concentrated on getting a better player," he explained. "The transfer fee, that’s for whoever wants to talk about it.”
“It was a great experience. On a personal note, I had an injury but I had to get my head together and get back on the pitch.
“We had a great season and getting promoted to the Premier League is no easy task for anyone. I made sure I got myself ready and it was really enjoyable."
His first season in the top-flight led to him being named in Stuart Pearce's squad for the European Championships in the Netherlands. Goals against Italy and Serbia in the group stage saw the Young Lions progressed before he was denied a winner in the semi-finals against the host courtesy of an 89th-minute equaliser.
“I had got into the Under 21s when I was at Bristol so I had some experience with that," Lita explained when looking back to his time in the national team set-up. "To be called up for the tournament was just amazing. It was a great experience, being away with the lads for a few weeks, it gave me a glimpse of what the senior team went through.
"We were unfortunate that it didn’t go the way we wanted.” England famously lost 13-12 on penalties but Lita had come off before the shoot-out.
Lita was the only Englishman named in the tournament’s Dream Team XI with his goals. He was joined by the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Branislav Ivanovic and Royston Drenthe.
After scoring goals for fun at Middlesbrough, Swansea, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City, Lita relocated to Greece with AO Chania, where he netted three goals in 15.
Leroy Lita
Leroy Lita scored 10 goals in the Premier League for Reading and Swansea City (Image: Getty Images)
A return to England followed with Yeovil Town in League Two before, again, moving away to Thai side Sisaket. That's where Lita's second career started, prompting him to take interest in non-league.
“My agent at the time told me there were a few options," he said. "I have been to Greece a few times, the weather is good there so I thought it would be something I’d want to experience. I went over there and it was nothing like I thought it would be but I’m glad I went there.
“Thailand was a really good place to play football. It’s a different country, with really nice people and I really enjoyed it. It’s totally different.”
His non-league journey started in 2018 when he returned to Margate, the club he played for prior to his move to Chelsea as a kid. "I started at Margate before I got picked up by Chelsea so I always said I would go back and play for them," he said.
"When I was there, they were in the Conference, it’s a bit different now. I went down for a few games, I didn’t really enjoy it though and moved on.”
Spells at Salisbury, Chelmsford City, Nuneaton Borough, Stratford Town, Hednesford Town, Ilkeston Town and Coalville Town have followed in the last seven years. He now plies his trade at Barwell, who are competing to stay in the division.
Jimmy Ginnelly's side have seven games left to play, starting on Non-League Day against St Ives Town. The Leicester-based side are currently three points clear of the bottom four but do boast a significantly better goal difference.
The aim will be to keep the club in the division and rebuild in the summer. Looking further ahead, Lita's ambitions are to remain in football and teach the next generation.
“I’ve been coaching for the last six years and going into management is something I’m looking to do in the future," the 40-year-old states. "When the right opportunity comes along, I’ll have a look and go from there. Until that happens, I’ll carry on with my coaching.
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