Ex-Premier League striker, 38, named in UEFA Dream Team bags hat-trick in non-league

On Feb 20, 2023

Premier League cult hero – and former UEFA Dream Team member – Leroy Lita is still netting hat-tricks at 38-years-old.

Lita – who last played in the English top flight more than a decade ago for Swansea City – now turns out in the seventh tier of the English pyramid. And as Lita led the line for Ilkeston Town, fans were shocked he was still playing football.

The former Reading man netted a hat-trick at Ilkeston beat Needham Market 3-1 away from home on Saturday afternoon. The three goals were Lita’s first for Ilkeston, and he has made five appearances for the Derbyshire side.

One fan joked: “Leroy Lita there’s a blast from the past!”

Lita only linked up with Ilkeston last month, and chairman David Hilton said: “Leroy is well experienced and we feel he offers another great option for us. Considering he’s played in a side struggling all season with goalscoring opportunities limited, he is still high in the scoring charts.

“I’m excited to see his return for us knowing we have such great creativity.”

What do you think of Leroy Lita netting a hat-trick in 2023? Let us know in the comments section

Leroy Lita was named in the UEFA Dream Team thanks to his England U21 performances
(Image: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Lita was once named in UEFA’s Dream Team for the U21 Euros back in 2007.

The Englishman was named alongside future stars such as Juventus and Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini, Manchester City’s Premier League winner Aleksandar Kolarov, and Liverpool flop turned Fiorentina youth manager Alberto Aquilani.