Leeds United and Swansea City will have very different memories of striker

Leeds United and Swansea City will have very different memories of striker

It showed how well thought of he is in the city when he was recently awarded an honorary degree from Swansea University in their December 2024 graduation ceremonies, but Trundle didn’t quite enjoy that same success everywhere.

The striker previously played for Swansea, Wrexham, Bristol City, Leeds United, and Preston in the Football League. His tenure at Leeds was not particularly successful.

Trundle moved to then-League One side Leeds on loan from Bristol City in 2009, but he struggled to live up to the reputation he’d established at Swansea City, much to the despair of fans.

After a successful four-year spell with Swansea City, where he had developed a reputation as one of the deadliest finishers outside the Premier League, Trundle joined Championship side Bristol City.

Given Trundle’s prior League One form with Swansea City, fans were naturally enthused about his signing and expected big things from the striker, but many were disappointed by what they witnessed.

His stay with Leeds got off to a strong start, with him scoring in his second game for the club, a 2-0 win over Brighton, which saw his one-month loan term extended by another month, but that was as good as it got for the striker.

He failed to score again, missing a penalty in a 2-0 loss to Hereford United, and was benched for his final three games with the club before returning to Bristol City in March 2009.

Despite his past League One success, Trundle only scored once in ten games for the Whites, falling short of his expectations.

Despite this, he has no regrets about his time with the Whites, telling Football League World previously: “You have to take a chance if a move comes up. Leeds United is a massive club with a massive fan base, a massive tradition, and a rich history; it was a transfer that I believed was appropriate at the time to gain more football experience, but as previously stated, it was not a long-term move, so it was best for all parties to return to Bristol City.”

Leeds fans will not remember Trundle fondly, unlike Swansea fans.

Trundle scored 91 goals in 194 appearances for Swansea across three divisions, laying the groundwork for the club’s future Premier League success.

Even after announcing his retirement from football, Liverpool-born Trundle continues to live in Swansea and serve as a club ambassador while also playing semi-pro football in Wales’ second tier, and while he was not born in the city, he is undoubtedly one of Swansea’s own.