Back in the summer, Lee Trundle dusted himself down for his 29th season in football having confirmed his return to the JD Cymru South with Trefelin.
Having spent most of the previous campaign recovering from an injury which cut short a spell with Mumbles Rangers, Trundle sat down to consider his next steps.
“Joining Trefelin was my first choice,” he explained. “I had other options, but as soon as I sat down with ‘Hillo’ [Trefelin manager Andy Hill] and a couple of the people on the board and heard his plans, what he wanted to do and how he wanted to take the team forward, I said I was going to sign there and then.”
Trundle remains one of Welsh domestic football’s most recognisable faces as reaches the ripe old age – in footballing terms at least – of 48 today, and since returning for a second spell at Trefelin, the popular Liverpudlian hasn’t looked back.
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Despite reaching the twilight of a lengthy playing career, Trundle continues to thrive on the domestic football scene, where the old adage ‘class is permanent’, has never felt so true.
The same deft touches and flicks, the silky turns and the exquisite finishes that turned the former Swansea City star into a household name in his heyday can still be witnessed first-hand across the grounds of the JD Cymru South, with Trundle already racking up eight goals in nine matches for seventh-place Trefelin.
“I love playing football, there’s no better place than I’d rather be than out on a football pitch,” he said.
“I was speaking to Alan Curtis yesterday and we were chatting about still playing, and he was saying to me to play as long as you can, because you’re a long time finished.
“I’m just enjoying every game and going out there with that enthusiasm to score goals and help the team, but I’m enjoying the football.”
Trundle remains as committed and as passionate as ever to the game and despite working for his beloved Swansea City in an ambassadorial capacity these days, he still ensures that he maintains a professional approach to his match day preparation throughout the week through gym work, stretching sessions, pool work and warm downs to aid his recovery.
“Years ago, you’d have players in the JD Cymru Premier, who you could see were good, but probably didn’t look after themselves as much as they should,” he said. “You look at the top level of the Cymru Premier now and everyone’s an athlete, everyone does everything right and when that happens, it filters down into the league’s below.”
Trundle believes the league’s improving standards on the pitch and the friendly environment off it ensure his love of the game remains as strong as ever.
“I’m really enjoying the standard of football in the Cymru South,” he said. “The following is getting better as well, and I do think that’s because the quality of football and quality of the players is getting better. Everyone’s enjoying it.
“When you’re going to other grounds, everyone makes you feel welcome and although it’s competitive in the actual games, as soon as you finish, you go into the clubhouse, you’ll have a chat with everyone and it’s brilliant.”
Trundle continues to love life in the JD Cymru South, where he hopes he can continue his form in front of goal to help drive Trefelin onwards.
“I’ve played under Andy Hill before at Llanelli and I did well there with his style of play, and it looks like it may continue into my time at Trefelin as well,” he said.
“It’s great that we’re challenging at the right end of the table and I think this is the most open the league has been for a long time.
“In the past you could probably pick one team out and say they’re favourites to win but I think this season, you can probably pick from eight teams, who have a chance of winning the league – it’s one of the seasons where anyone can beat anyone.”
