Here at BoyleSports, we caught up with Lee Trundle, a man who has had one of the most colourful careers in British football.
Trundle speaks candidly about the professionalism he showed during his career suggesting that he should have worked harder, but loved a Friday Night too much!
The former Wrexham and Swansea striker has a hard-hitting message for younger players.
In this interview, Trundle touches on how the birth of his daughter reinvigorated his career with a newfound drive and purpose, so much so that the 47-year-old plays for a non-league side on a Saturday, as well as playing Vets football on a Sunday.
We’d party on a Friday
I don't want to be disrespectful and name players who should have applied themselves more, so I'm going to name myself.
I turned professional at 24, and that was down to my attitude. I had a lot of chances to go and trial for Football League clubs, but I didn't drive back then, and I wouldn't turn up if the club was outside of my local radius.
I did that to plenty of clubs. I was living my life like one of my mates and we'd party on a Friday before I played on Saturday. My attitude was the reason I didn't turn professional until 24, and when I speak to young players now, I always highlight that. It doesn't matter how much ability I had, I simply didn't apply myself.
I was a manager, I don't think I'd take a chance on the younger version of me. I don't think I could have been trusted. That's something I regret. I would go on to have a professional career, luckily, and it worked out OK for me.
I could have played at a higher level
I think young players can recover after going out, but you'll always find your level soon enough. I would have been a lot better had I decided to train properly every day and look after my nutrition.
I was still scoring goals, sometimes hat tricks, but had I stayed in more and applied myself, I would have scored even more, attracted more interest, and had the right attitude to play professional football for a major club.
Birth of daughter the turning point
The birth of my daughter proved to be the turning point in my career. I was 24 when she was born, and that's when I started to train properly. Two months later, I signed for Wrexham.
I was being selfish before, but now I was responsible for someone else, and that was the turning point for me.
That's what gives you the drive to do well. You may feel like giving up, but you can't because there's someone else depending on you. You want to look after them and make them proud of you. It brings responsibility and a real hunger to do well.
Fitter now than 30 years ago!
I do my strength and conditioning training at MainWave Fitness in Swansea, and I go to Swansea FC for my ACL rehab plan. I get the plan from them, and do it in the gym. I'll also do it at the training ground sometimes.
I still train every day and I see a nutritionist every five weeks to get my body fat levels checked. I'm seeing him later, and I'm expecting it to be higher due to my injury! I'm not looking forward to it, but it'll motivate me to come back for next season.
Swansea Coaching Return?
I'm currently doing my coaching licence at the moment, and it's definitely something I'll look into. There will come a time when I won't feel that I'm producing what I can on a pitch, and I never want to stay out for my name. I don't want to embarrass myself!
Once I finish, I'll look at the coaching side. I'll continue playing with the veterans on a Sunday as that's a bit of fun, but I'll look into coaching some more once I finish playing on Saturdays.
I would like to stay at Swansea and help the future of the club, no matter what age group it is. I don't have the desire to go on and manage other teams, but I do have the desire to help Swansea City FC at any level I possibly can. The club has been brilliant for me, and I'd love to help them in any capacity.
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Unbelievable Laudrup
I saw a clip of Gianfranco Zola coaching free kicks, and everyone went into the top corner!
If you played at that level, I think the players will have that initial respect. I think it's good to show the players something you want to do as it proves you can relate to them. I'd enjoy that side of coaching.
Michael Laudrup would join in on possession sessions at Swansea, and he was unbelievable. As long as he didn't have to run, he'd be the best player on the park due to his technical skills.
Alan Curtis would do that, too. I always looked up to him, and it's good to have ex-players around.
Mullin deserves a chance!
I'd look at Paul Mullin at Wrexham as I think he deserves a chance to prove himself at a higher level. He has all the attributes - finishing, technique, touch, and I think he's a very good player.
You don't know how good a player is if they don't get the chance!
I was impressed with Wilfried Ndidi and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, too, even if they've already played in the Premier League.
Southampton's Will Smallbone is another player I've been impressed with. Joe Rodon, Daniel James, and Morgan Whittaker, all ex-Swansea players, are others who I think deserve a chance, too.
There are a lot of other players who could make the step up to the Premier League as the Championship has a lot of talented players at the moment.
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