Lee Trundle reveals major risk he took when playing for Wrexham AFC | OneFootball

Lee Trundle was a delight to watch from the minute he first stepped on the pitch for Wrexham.

The striker was signed from Rhyl by Brian Flynn for £50,000 in February 2001 after impressing in a friendly against the Red Dragons.

The Scouser with the magic feet was an instant hit after scoring eight goals in 14 appearances.

He was later part of the Denis Smith team which gained promotion from League Two in 2002/03 before breaking fans’ hearts by signing for South Wales rivals Swansea.

Despite the nature of his departure, he is still thought of fondly by Wrexham supporters and featured for the club in a seven-a-side tournament in the US last summer.

Trundle had a different grounding in football to most players after entering the professional game with Wrexham at the age of 24, having only played for non-league sides beforehand.

Now aged 47, the striker has this week admitted that some of his old habits got him in trouble during his time in North Wales.

Wrexham legend warned Trundle's secret was risking career

Speaking on the UndrTheCosh podcast, he revealed how former Liverpool legend Joey Jones hauled him over the coals.

It came after the Wrexham coach, known in his heyday for his no-holds-barred approach to defending, discovered Trundle was still playing Sunday league football in Liverpool under the pseudonym of Lee Preston.

In a typical straight-talking fashion, Jones warned him he was potentially putting his career at risk.

Recalling the encounter, Trundle said: “I was still playing on a Sunday under a different name. Even when I signed for Wrexham, I remember I made my debut on a Saturday and then played for the lads on the Sunday morning with my local team.

“You can imagine with it being Sunday league that I scored ten or twelve each game, so people are then talking and asking who I am.

“I remember I went into training on the Monday morning and Joey Jones, the Wrexham and Liverpool legend, said to me: ‘You played yesterday’.

“He said listen, don’t play again because this is your career now and if something happens to you on a Sunday, then that's your career gone.

“That was my last game on a Sunday, and I didn't play after that again.”

Trundle confesses to regular drinking sessions

Playing Sunday league football wasn’t the only habit Trundle carried into his Wrexham career.

Players who drink alcohol on a regular basis receive short shrift from their managers these days.

However, Trundle admitted he still enjoyed drinking sessions with friends pretty often, even after arriving at the Racecourse.

He said: “When I went into professional football, I didn’t change massively if I’m being honest.

“You’re training every day, and I was 24, so my body was getting used to it.

“I felt as though I was fitter and stronger, but I’d still go out on a Saturday and Sunday, and I’d do that every weekend. I’d do a Wednesday in St Helens as well as we had a day off on a Thursday.

“I'd still enjoy my nights out, but once you’re training every single day, then you’re fitter anyway.”

There is little doubt that Trundle’s antics would be frowned upon in the modern game, but it did not hold back his career during the 2000s.

After leaving Wrexham, he became a fan favourite at Swansea City after scoring 91 goals in 194 appearances (as per Transfermarkt) and regularly appearing on Soccer AM to show off his skills.

He also enjoyed spells at Bristol City and Leeds United before gradually dropping down the leagues and was still playing as recently as last summer for Mumbles Rangers in the third tier of Welsh football.