Huge coup as Ammanford sign ex-Swansea and Sheffield United player

There has been a huge coup as Welsh outfit Ammanford manage to sign an ex-Swansea City and Sheffield United player Leon Britton.

Britton, aged 38 years old, is known to be one of the Swans’ greatest-ever players, hanging up his boots in 2018 after a career spanning 20 years.

He spent his youth career at Arsenal (trainee since he was nine) and then joined West Ham in 1999 in a deal worth £400,000 – highest transfer fee ever paid for a 16-year-old at that time.

Britton was unable to break into the first team at West Ham, then joined Swansea City on loan in December 2002, helping the club to avoid relegation from the Football League. He was named PFA Fans’ Player of the Year for the Third Division in the 2002–03 season and left Swansea manager Brian Flynn impressed, so much so the player signed permanently.

Britton went on to win the club’s Player of the Year award in both the 2002–03 and 2005–06 seasons as well as the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year (for Third Division) in 2002-03.

The midfielder scored 15 goals in 336 matches between 2002 and 2010, before then leaving for Sheffield United, despite Premier League interest.

He was handed a regular role in the centre of the Blades midfield but failed to really show the form he had displayed at Swansea, and with Sheffield United in a difficult period, Britton played under four managers within the space of five months and eventually asked to return to his former employer, stating that his previous transfer had been a “mistake” and that he “should never have left Swansea”.

The Blades admitted that he had never settled in South Yorkshire and agreed to let him return to Wales after only 26 appearances for the club.

He joined Swansea again in 2011, scored against the Blades in his second debut for the Swans, and helped guide them to Premier League promotion for the first time in their history following a 4–2 victory over Reading in the Championship playoff final at Wembley for the 2010-11 camapign. Britton started the match and completed 77 minutes before being substituted by Mark Gower.

Britton stated he would like to finish his career with the club and admitted he cannot imagine playing elsewhere. He stayed with them until 2018, taking his Swansea stats total to 17 goals in 520 matches, also playing in the 2013 League Cup Final – a 5-0 win over Bradford City.

On the 11th of May 2018, it was announced that Britton would retire from professional football after the end of the 2017–18 season. He opted to become a club ambassador following Swansea City’s relegation to the Championship.

He was a part of the coaching staff at the Liberty Stadium under Paul Clement, and took caretaker charge of them following the ex-Madrid assistant’s sacking.

He has held various roles at the club; he was appointed as football advisor and later sporting director in SA1, a position he held up until last summer, when he stood down to spend more time with his family before having a spell as a player for Llanelli Town in 2019, then suffered a broken foot in his second league game for the club.

The 38-year-old is now back in football, once again as a player, signing for JD Cymru South side Ammanford in what is being described as a major coup for the club and league.

He joins his old team-mates Lee Trundle and Andy Robinson at the Recreation Ground, which is situated half an hour’s drive north of Swansea.

In a video posted on Ammanford’s Twitter account, Britton said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be signing for the club.

“I can’t wait to get the boots back on and put this shirt on. I can’t wait to play for this Black and White Army.”

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 @AmmanfordAFC

Leon Britton ✍🏼 #BlackAndWhiteArmy⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/X1raIFCoqk

— Ammanford AFC (@AmmanfordAFC) February 6, 2021

Cuppla quick calls get the team back together 😂 pic.twitter.com/dH4Nb9XjHn

— Cameron Sansom (@CamSansom) February 7, 2021

Fans reacted as Ammanford sign the ex-Swansea and Sheffield United player, find out what they wrote below…

@higgy04: Brilliant, can’t wait to see another legend play in Ammanford

@JordanWebber96: All the best, Leon! YJB

@Swansdc11: can’t wait to see @LeeTrundle10 @robbo9rovers and Leon back on the pitch together

@fishprice68: That’s it, I’m coming to watch Ammanford. Legend.

@Carys_Ingram: So we’re all @AmmanfordAFC now yeah, since theyre becoming @SwansOfficial 2.0?

@scfcoli: There’s somewhere I’ll be heading when we can. The chance to see Leon and Trunds out on the pitch together in 2021 is an opportunity I am not missing out on…

@troutyscfc: Where can I get my “Britton 7” shirt? #TheGreatest

@No1Densley: Insane. Few pennies in that group chat. Well done guys keep building. Get Ammanford on the map.

@Tomtomthomas25: Bloody hell @LeeTrundle10!!! The boys getting back together.

@PJ9620: Does this make me an Ammanford fan now?

@sw37ans: Brilliant, good luck Leon. Will be up to watch when its allowed

@RhidianEvans: Heard Wilfred Bony looking for a club, be your summer signing will it?

@robgriffiths100: Great signing lads – fantastic to have Britts playing in the league

@only1Hollett: Great signing. I love the fact ex-pro’s are signing for clubs and passing their experience onto local lads

@LeeBowe90528119: Looks like the band are getting back together… I can see Rangel & Bony down there next lol

@stuman2426: Awesome fair play what an addition to the league

@markjones45sw: Hell of a signing that

@InkinDaniel: Ammanford my new team!

@PaulStPeter3: @robbo9rovers and @LeeTrundle10 and now Leon what a team get dyer down there as well

@richierees30: Leon! Leon! Leon! Leon! Swans legend. Good luck with Ammanford town lad.

@1RichiePhillips: The rise of my hometown club during the last few years has been the stuff of dreams… If it is a dream, don’t wake me. Leave me dream that little longer.

@ForeverJACK: Directions to the ground please….

@Shadwell1: Ha ha just watched the video. Brilliantly done

@Princewillyhams: Oh yes! Defo watching more local footy when it’s allowed

@Domj5: This is what dreams are made of