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#3 Lee Trundle
By Martin Jones
We all have our favourite players and for those of us of a “certain age” many of them were legendary players from the swinging sixties and seventies. Martin Jones has been a Jack since the late ’60s and he’s been taking a nostalgic look back at some of the players that made the biggest impression on him. But it’s a modern hero that has Martin’s attention in this issue as he waxes lyrical over the magical Lee Trundle.
It was the summer of 2003, Swansea City had just survived relegation from the Football League when the then manager Brian Flynn pulled off a masterstroke by signing a certain Lee Christopher Trundle from Wrexham on a free transfer.
At the time the only thing I knew about Lee Trundle was that he had scored against the Swans in a League game for Wrexham. I soon discovered that prior to joining Wrexham Trundle had been quite a journeyman in football terms, playing for the likes of Chorley, Stalybridge Celtic and Rhyl, which is where he caught the attention of Wrexham.
Flynn’s capture of Trundle quickly became a shrewd piece of business as he scored in his first game for the club in a 3-2 win over Bury at Vetch Field. Soon after he got his first hat-trick for the Swans in an away game against Cheltenham.
Trundle rapidly became a fan favourite with his flamboyant style and showboating and the crowds started to come back in numbers as the season went on. At the same time as he signed Trundle, Flynn also signed the talented Andy Robinson on a free transfer after the player was released by Tranmere Rovers. The Scouse pair quickly forged a successful partnership with Trundle often profiting from his buddy’s service as he plundered an impressive 22 League and Cup goals in that first season.
The Swans made it to the 5th round of the FA Cup with Robbo’s former club Tranmere Rovers putting an end to the run with a 2-1 victory at Prenton Park. The round before though the Swans faced Premier League hopefuls Preston North End at the Vetch. In front of a jam packed North Bank the Swans triumphed 2-1 with a brilliantly taken winning goal from Trundle in one of the most exhilarating games I can remember in my time watching the Swans.
Although the Swans finished in 10th place that season Brian Flynn was sacked and replaced by Kenny Jackett.
Trundle continued his goal scoring exploits the following season (2004/05) firing 23 League and Cup goals as the Swans won promotion at Bury’s Gigg Lane in front of over 5,000 Jacks – myself included. The promotion meant that the Swans would start the 2005/06 season in a higher division as well as a new stadium – and it gave the Vetch Field the successful send off the ‘Old Girl’ deserved.
The higher level and bigger home stage inspired Trundle and a further 21 League and Cup goals were plundered in a successful season that ended with the bitter disappointment of losing the Play Off Final on penalties to an inferior Barnsley side at the Millennium Stadium, which was standing in for Wembley as it was rebuilt.
There was Millennium Stadium success though as the Football League Trophy was collected after victory over Carlisle United. Trundle’s exceptional volley to open the scoring in that game will go down as one of his best goals – and there were many to choose from such as the volley from the halfway line which lit up the Liberty in a game against old foes Yeovil.
Season 2006/07 would be Trundle’s final full season with the Swans and it brought a further 20 League and Cup goals. It also brought with it the attention of Championship clubs and at the start of the following season the Scouse striker made the move to Bristol City in exchange for a cool £1m.
His time with the Robins was unsuccessful from a scoring point go view with just 8 league and Cup goals over two seasons. Bristol City did however get to the Play-Off Final in Trundle’s first season, losing 1-0 at the new Wembley Stadium.
Trundle returned to the Swans on loan from the Robins during the 2009/10 season, adding a further five goals to his tally as Paolo Sousa’s side just missed out on a Championship Play-Off berth.
By the end of his career he also played for Neath and Ammanford Townwith his last appearance as a player at Haverfordwest County in 2019.
Overall Lee Trundle scored a prolific 83 goals in his 166 appearances for Swansea City and he continues to serve the club with distinction as a club ambassador.
But as well as the goals I will always remember Trundle as a club Legend and a talisman for the resurgence of the fan base at Swansea City.
Magic Daps indeed…
