LITTLE BRITTON’S STILL GOT TOUCH
LEON Britton may be fast approaching his 39th birthday, and he may have 520 games behind him for Swansea City in every league in English football, but his love of the game remains as strong as ever.
Two years ago he flirted with the JD Cymru South division at Llanelli Town and on the first day of the new season last week he ensured that after a gap of more than 500 days there was plenty of the Ammanford fans to smile about after a 3-1 win at Llanelli.
Not that it was merely Britton who grabbed the headlines. The old Swansea City gang were back together in perfect harmony as Lee Trundle, who is 45 in October, banged in two goals to give his a dream start.
“I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit stiff the morning after playing my first 90 minutes of football for at least two-and-a-half years when I was at Swansea,” admitted Britton.
“The manager told us before we went out that it had been more than 500 days since we last played a league game and all the boys were relishing the return. We’d been training hard, and had had a couple of friendlies, but nothing is quite the same as playing a league game in front of fans when the points matter.
“The feeling of the first goal going in, and celebrating together and cuddling, was amazing. The post-match feeling in the changing room is the thing you miss most having been out for so long.
“When I retired from professional football I signed six months later for Llanelli. I broke my foot after only two games and I’ve missed having a game. I do play five-a-side with various friends in midweek, but it’s never quite the same as playing 11-a-side in a league.
“I just wanted to get the boots back. I was missing it a little bit not playing and they’re a good bunch of lads at Ammanford.”
One of Trundle’s two goals came from the penalty spot and the third goal for the visitors came from Tristan Jenkins.
“With Trunds’ game he doesn’t do a lot of running – he likes the ball to his feet around the box and he’s never lost sight of where the goal is. He took his goals really well and he’s still showboating at times as well,” added Britton.
In other games in the South section, there were two goals apiece for Dan Jarman and Ryan Prosser in a thrilling 3-2 win for Cambrian and Clydach Vale at Undy Athletic. Prosser ensured the visitors were 3-1 up with his second in the 57th minute shortly after Jarman had got his first.
Jarman then made it three goals in five minutes to haul it back to 3-2, but Cambrian held out to take the full three points. Briton Ferry beat Swansea University 3-0.