Lee Trundle

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Lee Trundle
Trundle playing for Bristol City in 2008
Personal information
Full name Lee Trundle
Date of birth (1976-10-10) 10 October 1976 (age 47)
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Llanelli Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995 Burscough 10 (5)
1995–1997 Chorley 66 (21)
1997–1998 Stalybridge Celtic 37 (10)
1998–2000 Southport 38 (8)
1999 → Bamber Bridge (loan) 10 (11)
2000–2001 Rhyl 18 (15)
2001–2003 Wrexham 94 (27)
2003–2007 Swansea City 146 (78)
2007–2010 Bristol City 53 (7)
2009 → Leeds United (loan) 10 (1)
2009–2010 → Swansea City (loan) 20 (5)
2010–2012 Neath 59 (26)
2012–2013 Preston North End 1 (0)
2013 Chester 3 (0)
2013 Marine 3 (1)
2016– Llanelli Town 23 (45)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:19, 24 August 2017 (UTC)

Lee Christopher Trundle (born 10 October 1976) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Welsh Division One club Llanelli Town. He also works as the club ambassador and youth team coach for Premier League side Swansea City.

Trundle's career began in the English non-league system, where he played for Burscough, Chorley, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport and Bamber Bridge, before signing for Welsh Premier League side Rhyl. He managed to net 15 goals in 18 matches for Rhyl, and his performances earned him a move to Football League side Wrexham in 2001. Trundle made a name for himself in professional football during a four-year spell for Swansea City, where he scored 78 goals in 146 appearances between 2003 and 2007. In July 2007, he left Swansea and signed with Bristol City, though he only scored 8 times in 3 seasons and was loaned out to both Leeds United and back to Swansea.

In 2010, following his release from Bristol City, Trundle returned to the top tier of Welsh football and signed for Neath. He spent two years with the club, scoring 26 goals in 59 matches, but found himself a free agent once more when Neath were liquidated in 2012. In a surprise move, Trundle rejoined the Football League in the summer of 2012 at the age of 35, signing for League One side Preston North End. However, a lengthy injury saw him lose out on a first team position, and he left Preston in February 2013 through a mutual termination of his contract. Stints with non-league clubs Chester[1] and Marine followed before Trundle retired from football at the age of 36. However, in August 2016, he came out of retirement to sign for Welsh Division Two club Llanelli Town, scoring 50 goals in 28 appearances during his first season.

Early life

Born in Liverpool, Merseyside, Trundle attended St Edmund of Canterbury Catholic High School in Huyton.

Playing career

Early career

Trundle was a late entrant into professional and league football, playing for non-league teams Burscough, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport, Bamber Bridge and Chorley before joining Welsh Premier League club Rhyl in 2000.

Wrexham

Within six months, he had been snapped up by Brian Flynn to play for Wrexham where he played 78 matches (plus a further 24 as substitute) in all competitions and scored 30 goals in a little over two years. A goalscoring account which was started by a bicycle kick to start a second half comeback from 2–0 which culminated in a 3–2 victory for Wrexham against Walsall on 24 February 2001.

Swansea City

In the summer of 2003, Trundle received a free transfer and moved south to link up with Flynn who had now become manager of Swansea City.[2] He instantly became a North Bank favourite with his goalscoring exploits and extraordinary tricks, scoring on his debut at the Vetch against Bury, and netting his first hat-trick for the club in the following match at Cheltenham, becoming the last of the three Swansea players who scored hat-tricks in three consecutive league matches, the only time this has happened for the club. Trundle scored 78 goals in 146 appearances for Swansea, making it by far the most prolific period of his career.

In his time at Swansea, Trundle became a minor celebrity in the match, with his extrovert displays of skill (or "showboating") bringing him to national attention via the Soccer AM television show on Sky Sports. Tim Lovejoy revealed in his autobiography that Trundle himself regularly contacted the show with footage of himself in action.

In October 2005, he was the subject of a £750,000 transfer bid by Sheffield Wednesday which Swansea rejected. Days later, he signed an image rights contract with his club which offered a portion of revenues from merchandise featuring his image.[3] He was believed to be the first player outside the Premier League to do so.

Bristol City

Despite the best efforts of Swansea City, Trundle agreed to sign for Bristol City on 27 July 2007, although the deal was not officially completed until 30 July due to an administrative error.[4] He was given permission by Swansea and the Welsh FA to play in Bristol City's pre-season friendly against Yeovil Town before he officially completed the deal, scoring and providing an assist in a 2–2 draw at Ashton Gate. It is believed Bristol City made four offers for the striker. Their final offer of £1,000,000 was accepted after Trundle handed in a transfer request. Trundle scored his first goals, a brace, for Bristol City against Scunthorpe on 25 August 2007.

Leeds United

Trundle joined Leeds United on a one-month loan on 9 January 2009 and was allocated the number 35 shirt. Former Swansea teammate Andy Robinson played a big part in recommending Leeds to Trundle.[5] He made his debut for Leeds as a second-half substitute in the 2–0 loss to Carlisle United at Elland Road. He scored his only goal for the club on his first starting appearance, in a 2–0 win at Brighton on 17 January.[6] Leeds extended Trundle's stay at Elland Road for a further month, but his loan expired on 10 March 2009 and he returned to Bristol City[7]

Return to Swansea

On 27 August 2009, Trundle joined his former club Swansea City on loan until 1 January 2010 and this was later extended till the end of the season. Trundle played 20 league games and scored 5 goals in just two starts. Since Trundle rejoined Swansea he failed to play a full 90 minutes. Trundle made no secret that he wanted to earn a permanent deal and wanted to end his career at Swansea City. He was not offered a playing contract by the club but was offered a coaching role. Trundle subsequently refused the role.[8]

Neath

In July 2010, Trundle returned to the Welsh Premier League with Neath,[9] making his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2010–11 season in a 2–1 defeat to Bangor City.[10]

Neath were wound up at the end of the 2011–12 season due to ongoing financial problems, leaving Trundle without a club.

Preston North End

On 20 July 2012, Trundle signed a one-year deal with Preston North End.[11] Trundle had impressed on trial at Deepdale after being invited to join up with the club for pre-season training. The 35-year-old featured for North End in their pre-season friendlies against Southport and Chorley and scored a superb solo goal in the draw against Chorley. However, shortly after signing for the Lilywhites, it was announced he had suffered a knee injury which manager Graham Westley believed would keep Trundle out for around 4 months. On 1 December, he appeared on the bench for a Second Round FA Cup tie at home against Gillingham, and he came off the bench in injury time during the 2–0 win for the Lilywhites.

He left Preston on 8 February through a mutual termination of his contract.

Chester

It was announced on 18 February 2013 that the 36-year-old signed for Conference North side Chester until the end of the 2012–2013 season.

Marine

On 28 March 2013, Northern Premier League side Marine confirmed that they had completed the signing of Trundle for an undisclosed fee. On 30 March 2013 he scored on his debut on against Nantwich Town. Trundle left Marine and retired from competitive football at the end of the season.

Llanelli Town

On 21 August 2016, Trundle came out of retirement to sign for Welsh Football League Division Two club Llanelli Town.[12] On 27 August 2016, he scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 3–2 win against Aberdare Town.[13] This was the first of nine hat-tricks across the season in all competitions for the veteran striker, as Llanelli went on to lift both the Division Two title and the Welsh Football League Challenge Cup.[14]

Coaching career

On 25 June 2013 it was confirmed that Lee is to return to Swansea City, he takes on the role as the first official Club Ambassador and a coach for the 9–19-year olds.[15]

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
1995–96 Burscough North West Counties Football League First Division 10 5 – – – – 10 5
1995–96 Chorley Northern Premier League Premier Division 31 8 – – – – 31 8
1996–97 35 13 – – – – 35 13
1997–98 Stalybridge Celtic Conference National 28 10 – – – – 28 10
1998–99 Northern Premier League Premier Division 24 15 – – – – 24 15
1998–99 Southport Conference National 29 6 – – – – 29 6
1999–00 9 2 – – – – 9 2
1999–00 Bamber Bridge (loan) Northern Premier League Premier Division 10 11 - – – – 10 11
Wales League Welsh Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
2000–01 Rhyl League of Wales 18 15 – – – – 18 15
England League[a] FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[b] Total
2000–01 Wrexham Football League Second Division 14 8 – – – – 14 8
2001–02 36 8 – – – 2 2 38 10
2002–03 Football League Third Division/Football League Two 44 11 1 0 2 0 – 3 1 50 12
2003–04 Swansea City 31 17 5 5 1 0 – 1 0 38 22
2004–05 42 22 5 1 1 0 – 1 0 49 23
2005–06 Football League One 39 20 1 0 – – 6 1 46 21
2006–07 34 19 3 1 1 0 – 2 0 40 20
2007–08 Bristol City Football League Championship 38 6 1 0 2 0 – – 41 6
2008–09 19 2 – 2 0 – – 21 2
2008–09 Leeds United (loan) Football League One 10 1 – – – – 10 1
2009–10 Swansea City (loan) Football League Championship 20 5 1 0 – – – 21 5
Wales League Welsh Cup League Cup Europe[c] Other Total
2010–11 Neath Welsh Premier League 29 18 1 0 2 0 – – 32 18
2011–12 30 8 – – 2 1 – 32 9
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
2012–13 Preston North End Football League One 1 0 1 0 – – – 2 0
2012–13 Marine Northern Premier League Premier Division – – – – – –
Wales League Welsh Cup League Cup Europe Other[d] Total
2016–17 Llanelli Town Welsh Football League Division Two 23 45 5 6 – – 3 2 31 53
2017–18 Llanelli Town Welsh Football League Division One 3 3 0 0 0 0 – 1 3 4 6
Total England 507 192 18 7 9 0 – 15 4 549 203
Total Wales 100 86 5 6 2 0 2 1 4 5 114 98
Career total 604 275 23 13 11 0 2 1 19 9 660 298
  1. ^ Includes play-off matches in 2005–06 and 2007–08
  2. ^ Includes Football League Trophy matches
  3. ^ Includes UEFA Europa League matches
  4. ^ Includes Welsh Football League Challenge Cup matches

Honours

Club

Wrexham
Swansea City
Llanelli Town

Personal life

Trundle has been an Everton fan since he was a child.[16] In March 2007, Trundle moved in with pop singer and Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon.[17] The couple split in November 2007.[18]

Trundle also performed 'Let it Snow' for Preston's 2012 Christmas light switch on, before turning on the lights alongside singers, Matt Cardle and Russell Watson.

References

  1. ^ "Chester FC sign striker Lee Trundle". Chester Chronicle. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Nationwide Division Two & Three round-up". The Daily Telegraph. 20 September 2003. Retrieved 15 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Trundle secures image-rights deal". BBC Sport. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  4. ^ "Trundle seals £1m Bristol C move". BBC Sport. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  5. ^ "TRUNDLE JOINS ON LOAN". Leeds United A.F.C. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Brighton 0–2 Leeds". BBC Sport. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  7. ^ "LOAN STRIKER DEPARTS". Leeds United A.F.C. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  8. ^ "Trundle is a swan again". Bristol City F.C. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Trundle completes a shock move to Neath". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Bangor silence pre-match Neath hype". welsh-premier.com. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Lee Trundle signs one-year contract at Preston North End". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Swansea City legend Lee Trundle comes out of retirement to play for Llanelli Town". South Wales Evening Post. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Lee Trundle scored this cracking free-kick on his debut for Llanelli Town – and bagged a hat-trick". South Wales Evening Post. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Swansea City icon Lee Trundle signs off epic season with NINTH hat-trick for invincibles Llanelli Town". South Wales Evening Post. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Trunds signs for Swans again". Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  16. ^ Bailey, Graeme. "Everton join Trundle hunt". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  17. ^ Smart, Gordon (10 March 2007). "Smitten Kitten to wed footie ace". The Sun. Retrieved 15 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Pink, Stuart (26 June 2008). "Liz McClarnon says being a WAG is lonely". The Sun. Retrieved 15 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

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