Jamaican moves onto Barnet but discusses his time ‘three years’ at Brisbane Road
Kevin Lisbie admitted Sunday’s charity match for Prostate Cancer UK was a great opportunity for him to say goodbye to the Leyton Orient faithful after signing for League Two rivals Barnet.
The Jamaica international was one of 12 players not offered a new contract by the Brisbane Road club at the end of the 2014/15 season and has quickly sorted out his future.
Lisbie will return to E10 next season aiming to beat O’s, but he relished being able to represent Orient one last time.
The 36-year-old scored for a Legends XI made up mainly of the successful 2005/06 promotion squad and helped them achieve a 4-3 win against a Men United XI managed by Harry Redknapp.
“It was a great occasion and Errol McKellar is a good man,” said Lisbie. “I have known him almost all of my life and he deserves an occasion like this.
“He has not only beaten prostate cancer, he has absolutely smashed it because the 2,900 that attended are all aware of it now.
“It was a chance for me to say goodbye to everyone as well because I didn’t really get an opportunity to say goodbye because of ‘reasons’ but it is good.
“It has been a good occasion for me because I have been at Leyton Orient for four years.
“But when people ask me I say I was there for three years. I’m not going to count last year because I only started five games.”
Lisbie enjoyed his first three years with the club and found the net 18 times during the 2013/14 campaign where O’s nearly achieved promotion to the Championship.
The Jamaican admitted although he will be looking to beat Orient when he returns to Brisbane Road next season, he won’t enjoy trying to scoring against them.
“I have had three good years at the club. Obviously last year was disappointing because of what happened,” added Lisbie.
“But I have had three good years at Leyton Orient and probably the best years of my career.
“I want to score in every game, but it won’t be the peak of my career scoring against Orient next season if I do and I won’t enjoy it.”
He went on to explain how after meeting Barnet manager Martin Allen he had no reservations about joining the Conference Premier champions.
Lisbie, however, will still want O’s to do well next year.
“I have signed for Barnet now and my job will be to win games and score goals for them, but I still want Orient to do well just not for the games against us,” he added.
“At 36 you are thinking you are going to have to wait for players to turn clubs down before they decide to take a 36-year-old on.
“Barnet’s manager Martin Allen showed great faith in me when I spoke to him and I had no other option but to go there because it is a club I want to be at - because of the way the manager spoke to me.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here