Football fans were shocked to see that a former Premier League cult hero is still playing football and had hit the back of the net in a friendly against Coventry City.
Former Middlesbrough man Leroy Lita – who also was well known for his time in the Premier League with Reading-made his professional debut way back in 2002 and yet he is still giving defences the run around at the tender age of 38.
His goal came on his debut for Nuneaton Borough after moving back to the midlands club from Ilkeston.
The goal notification that surfaced on Coventry City’s Twitter feed had football aficionados wondering whether they had travelled back in time.
Cries of, ‘Is that THE Leroy Lita?’ and ‘Is it 2006?’ could be heard far and wide.
It is quite staggering that Lita is currently playing for his twenty-second team during a career that has seen him score goals at every level. He managed ten goals in the Premier League and has scored a career total (so far) of 123 goals across all competitions during an illustrious career.
Starting out at Bristol City, Lita scored 31 goals in 85 appearances, earning him a move to Reading where he averaged one in every three games. He helped Reading to promotion to the Premier League in 2006 and after 4 years at the club he joined Gareth Southgate at Middlesbrough.
At the time, he was a striker in demand. He was a predatory type, who sniffed out chances in the box and he also had a pedigree at England U-21 level. He notched 6 goals in 9 games for the young lions.
It did not really happen for him at Middlesbrough though. The manager who signed him, Gareth Southgate left and Gordon Strachan came in, and the club’s progress took a nose dive. Strachan left the club in 2010 with the club in 20th place. Though Lita still managed a reputable 20 goals for the Teesside club during his two-year spell.
Since those days at the top end of professional football, Leroy Lita has had spells at the likes of Margate, Salisbury, Chelmsford and Stratford Town.
He is now enjoying his second spell with Nuneaton Borough, and he will have surely enjoyed a smile at all of the nostalgic responses to his goal.