Chris Llewellyn

Christopher Mark Llewellyn (born 28 August 1979) is a Welsh football coach and former professional footballer who is currently manager of the Colchester United under-18 team.

For the American poet, see Chris Llewellyn (poet).

Chris Llewellyn
Llewellyn (in red) playing for Wrexham in 2008.
Personal information
Full name Christopher Mark Llewellyn
Date of birth (1979-08-28) 28 August 1979
Place of birth Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder / Striker
Club information
Current team
 Colchester United under-18s
(manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2003 Norwich City 142 (17)
2003 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 14 (3)
2003–2005 Wrexham 91 (15)
2005–2006 Hartlepool United 29 (0)
2006–2008 Wrexham 79 (12)
2008–2009 Grimsby Town 28 (0)
2009–2010 Neath 34 (9)
2010–2012 Llanelli 14 (3)
2012 → Aberystwyth Town (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2013 West End 0 (0)
Total 432 (59)
National team
1996-1997 Wales U21 14 (0)
1998 Wales B 1 (0)
1998–2007 Wales 6 (1)
Teams managed
2014–2015 Swansea City (U21s)
2015–2017 Swansea City (U18s)
2017 Colchester United U18
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He has made over 350 appearances in the Football League for Norwich City, Bristol Rovers, Wrexham, Hartlepool United and Grimsby Town, before joining Welsh Premier League sides Neath, Llanelli and Aberystwyth Town. He earned 6 full international caps for Wales, scoring once from between 1998 and 2006. He also previously earned 14 caps for the Wales U21 team.

Club career

Norwich City

A product of the Norwich City youth team, Llewellyn broke into the first team at Norwich in the 1997–1998 season making a total of 16 appearances with 4 goals. After injury in the 2002–03 season, he lost his place and went on loan to Bristol Rovers; he was released in June 2003 from Norwich.

In the 6 years that Llewellyn spent in the first team it was rumoured that on more than one occasion an unknown Premiership club had had an offer of 3 million pound plus rejected by Norwich, who were keen to keep hold of the player dubbed, 'The New Giggs.' It was this title that earnt him cult hero status at Norwich, indeed a group of supporters known as, 'The Barclay Boys,' regularly sang a song about their Welsh Wizard to visiting supporters, 'Try and spell his effing name, effing name, effing name, try and spell his effing name, Chris Llewellyn.'

Wrexham

Llewellyn signed for Wrexham and a strong 2003–04 season saw him recalled to the Welsh squad in May 2004 and come on a sub to win his third cap against Norway. He took part in the club's Football League Trophy win in 2005.[1]

Hartlepool United

Later, he signed for Hartlepool United but only stayed one season and returned on a free to Wrexham on 29 June 2006. He scored once for Hartlepool in an FA Cup tie against Tamworth.[2]

Return to Wrexham

On the final day of the 2006–2007 season, Wrexham needed to avoid defeat against Boston United to avoid relegation to the Conference National. After coming from 1–0 down, Llewellyn scored the goal which handed the Red Dragons a 2–1 lead before they eventually won 3–1 and preserved their Football League Two status.[3] He was released by Wrexham in May 2008 following the club's relegation to the Football Conference.[4]

Grimsby Town

He joined Grimsby Town on a two-year contract in July 2008.[5] He made his league debut in the opening game of the season, in the goalless draw with Rochdale. He made 32 appearances in all competitions for Grimsby, 17 as substitute.[6]

Neath

Llewellyn was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2008–09 season and joined Welsh Premier League side Neath Athletic.[6] After scoring five times in the opening five games of the season, Neath manager Andrew Dyer praised Llewellyn's performances and described him as "the best striker in the league".[7] However, he scored just four times during the rest of the season.

Llanelli

In June 2010, he left Neath by mutual consent to sign for Llanelli.[8] Llewellyn scored in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League second leg tie against FK Tauras Tauragė.

He joined Aberystwyth Town on loan in January 2012. He left Llanelli in June 2012 after being released.[9]

West End

In June 2012, Llewellyn was appointed player-assistant manager at Welsh Football League side West End alongside manager Anthony Wright.

Coaching career

In December 2012, Llewellyn joined Swansea City as a full-time youth coach.[10] In February 2014, Llewellyn became manager of Swansea City Under 21s. Llewellyn replaced Kristian O'Leary who was promoted to the role of Assistant First Team Coach.[11]

In 2015, the Under-21s won the 2014-15 Professional U21 Development League 2. In doing so, the under-21s became the first Swansea City Academy age-group to win an English national development trophy.[12]

Ahead of the 2015-16 season, Llewellyn took charge of the under-18s team alongside Eric Ramsay.[13]

International career

He gained Welsh B and under-21 honours. He later won full honours and made his Welsh debut against Malta in 1998. He was recalled to the full Wales squad in May 2004 and come on a sub to win his 3rd cap against Norway. Llewellyn scored his first international goal for Wales against Liechtenstein in November 2006 alongside his ex Norwich City strike partner Craig Bellamy.

References
  1. "Southend 0-2 Wrexham". BBC. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. "Hartlepool 1-2 Tamworth". BBC. 3 December 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  3. "Boston lose Football League spot". BBC. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  4. "Roberts and Llewellyn leave Reds". BBC Sport. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  5. "Grimsby sign midfielder Llewellyn". BBC Sport. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  6. "Llewellyn leaves Mariners". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  7. "Llewellyn best striker in league says Dyer". welsh-premier.com. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  8. "Reds sign Llewellyn as Griffiths stays". Welsh-premier.com. 8 June 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  9. "Bowen and Kellaway sign for the Reds". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  10. "Former Norwich City and Wales star Chris Llewellyn has finally joined Swansea City". South Wales Evening Post. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  11. "Llewellyn targets top-two finish". Swansea City A.F.C. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  12. "Llewellyn delighted to end season on a high". Swansea City A.F.C. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  13. "Swans Academy makes coaching changes". swanseacity.com. Swansea City A.F.C. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
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