Lee Trundle
|
Trundle playing for Bristol City in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee Christopher Trundle | ||
| Date of birth | 10 October 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team |
Swansea City (Club Ambassador/ Youth coach) | ||
| 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) |
| Total | 568 | (215) | |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Lee Christopher Trundle (born 10 October 1976) is a former English professional footballer who played as a striker from 1995 to 2013. He now works as the club ambassador and youth team coach for Premier League side Swansea City.
Trundle made a name for himself in a four-year spell for Swansea City where he scored 78 goals in 146 appearances between 2003 and 2007. Previous to his exploits in South Wales Trundle had initially come through the ranks in the English Non-league system having 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 games for Rhyl which earned him a move to Wrexham two years prior to his eventual move to Swansea. In 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 after his release from Bristol City he returned to the top tier of Welsh football and signed for Neath. He spent two years with the club scoring 26 goals in 59 games and was eventually let go when the club were liquidated. He rejoined the Football League and signed for Preston North End in the summer of 2012 until he got an injury which saw him lose out on a first team position. It was announced in February 2013 that Lee Trundle signed for Chester until the end of the season. On 28 March 2013, Marine confirmed that they had completed the signing of Trundle from Chester for an undisclosed fee.[1]
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 games (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 game 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 game, 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 has featured for North End in their pre-season friendlies against Southport and Chorley and he 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.
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.[12]
Career statistics
- – Including Football League Trophy matches
† – Including Play-off matches
Personal life
Trundle has been an Everton fan since he was a child.[13] In March 2007, Trundle moved in with pop singer and Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon.[14] The couple split in November 2007.[15]
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
- ↑ "Chester FC sign striker Lee Trundle". Chester Chronicle. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ↑ "Nationwide Division Two & Three round-up". The Daily Telegraph. 20 September 2003. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ "Trundle secures image-rights deal". BBC Sport. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ "Trundle seals £1m Bristol C move". BBC Sport. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ "TRUNDLE JOINS ON LOAN". Leeds United A.F.C. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ "Brighton 0–2 Leeds". BBC Sport. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
- ↑ "LOAN STRIKER DEPARTS". Leeds United A.F.C. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ "Trundle is a swan again". Bristol City F.C. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
- ↑ "Trundle completes a shock move to Neath". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ↑ "Bangor silence pre-match Neath hype". welsh-premier.com. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ↑ "Lee Trundle signs one-year contract at Preston North End". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ↑ "Trunds signs for Swans again". Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ↑ Bailey, Graeme. "Everton join Trundle hunt". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ Smart, Gordon (10 March 2007). "Smitten Kitten to wed footie ace". The Sun. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ↑ Pink, Stuart (26 June 2008). "Liz McClarnon says being a WAG is lonely". The Sun. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
External links
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