Matthew Pennington Explained

Matthew Pennington
Fullname:Matthew Pennington[1]
Birth Date:6 October 1994
Birth Place:Warrington, England
Height:1.85 m[2]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Blackpool
Clubnumber:5
Youthyears1:2005–2013
Youthclubs1:Everton
Years1:2013–2021
Clubs1:Everton
Caps1:7
Goals1:1
Years2:2014
Clubs2:Tranmere Rovers (loan)
Caps2:17
Goals2:2
Years3:2014–2015
Clubs3:Coventry City (loan)
Caps3:24
Goals3:0
Years4:2016
Clubs4:Walsall (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2017–2018
Clubs5:Leeds United (loan)
Caps5:24
Goals5:0
Years6:2018–2019
Clubs6:Ipswich Town (loan)
Caps6:30
Goals6:1
Years7:2019–2020
Clubs7:Hull City (loan)
Caps7:14
Goals7:0
Years8:2020–2021
Clubs8:Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps8:19
Goals8:2
Years9:2021–2023
Clubs9:Shrewsbury Town
Caps9:82
Goals9:7
Years10:2023–
Clubs10:Blackpool
Caps10:21
Goals10:1
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:England U19
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:18:53, 14 February 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:14:48, 1 April 2019 (UTC)

Matthew Pennington (born 6 October 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for club Blackpool. He has also played for Everton and Shrewsbury Town, with loan spells at Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City, Walsall, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Hull City.

He has also represented the England national under-19 football team at international level.

Club career

Everton

Pennington joined Everton at the age of 11. In July 2013, he signed a new contract which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2015,[3] followed by a three-year deal taking him to 2018.[4] He played in two friendlies during July 2015, against Dundee and Leeds United, and made his full debut against Barnsley in the League Cup on 26 August 2015.[5]

Tranmere Rovers (loan)

On 2 January 2014, Pennington joined League One side Tranmere Rovers on a one-month loan deal.[6] He made his debut on 4 January 2014, playing ninety minutes in a 1–1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[7] On 25 January 2014, he scored his first senior goal in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra.[8] He was recalled by Everton on 22 February 2014 to strengthen their under-21 squad.[9] On 27 March 2014, he re-joined Tranmere on loan until the end of the season.[10]

Coventry City (loan)

On 27 November 2014, Pennington joined Coventry City on loan until 4 January,[11] and this was subsequently extended to 7 February.[12] In January 2015, he was voted as the club's Player of the Month in a poll conducted by the Coventry Telegraph.[13] On 7 February 2015, his loan was extended to the end of the season, with Pennington from then on being played more consistently at his more natural centre-back position.[14] Pennington was named as Coventry City Young Player of the Year 2014–15, voted for unanimously by Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff.[15] [16]

Walsall (loan)

On 23 March 2016, Pennington joined Walsall on loan until the end of the season.[17]

Return to Everton

On 21 April 2016, having played five games for Walsall, his loan was terminated at the minimum 28-day point due to a defensive crisis at his parent club.[18] He was recalled to be available for Everton's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. After picking up a hamstring injury in the final day of the Premier League 2015–16 season on 15 May 2016 in a 3–0 victory against Norwich City,[19] a recurrence of the injury in pre-season required surgery and ruled Pennington out until January 2017.[20]

After returning from injury, his first goal came on 1 April 2017, in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, levelling the game at 1–1, in an eventual 3–1 loss.[21]

Leeds United (loan)

On 19 July 2017, Pennington joined Leeds United on a season-long loan,[22] for a reported loan fee of £500,000.[23] On 6 August 2017, Pennington made his Leeds United debut in a 3–2 victory against Bolton Wanderers. He picked up an ankle injury in the match and had to be replaced by fellow debutant Conor Shaughnessy in the second half.[24] He was unavailable until the latter half of September, when he returned to the bench.[25] In October, Pennington returned intermittently to the starting eleven.

After 24 appearances, on 18 May 2018, Leeds announced Pennington would be returning to his parent club upon the expiry of his loan.[26]

Return to Everton

He returned to Everton to play in the 2018–19 pre season under their new manager Marco Silva, and on 11 May 2018 Pennington signed a new long-term contract at the club, keeping him there until the end of the 2021 season.[27]

Ipswich Town (loan)

On 31 August 2018, Pennington joined Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season.[28] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City on 29 September 2018; he was sent off in the match.[29]

Hull City (loan)

On 8 August 2019, Pennington joined Hull City on loan for the 2019–20 season.[30] He made his first appearance for the club in the first round of the EFL Cup in a 3–0 win at Tranmere Rovers.[31]

Shrewsbury Town (loan)

On 31 December 2020, Pennington joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[32] On 24 April, he scored his first goal for the. club in the 53rd minute during a 1-0 win at Blackpool.

Shrewsbury Town

On 27 May 2021, Pennington signed for Shrewsbury Town on a permanent deal following his release from Everton.[33]

Blackpool

After rejecting the offer of a new contract with Shrewsbury, Pennington agreed to join Blackpool on 1 July 2023.[34]

International career

Pennington made his debut for England U19s on 21 March 2013, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute in a 1–0 win over Turkey.[35]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton2013–14Premier League00000000
2014–15Premier League0000000000
2015–16Premier League40101060
2016–17Premier League31000031
2017–18Premier League0000000000
2018–19Premier League00000000
2019–20Premier League00000000
2020–21Premier League00000000
Total7110100091
Tranmere Rovers (loan)2013–14League One172000000172
Coventry City (loan)2014–15League One240000010250
Walsall (loan)2015–16League One5000000050
Leeds United (loan)2017–18Championship2400000240
Ipswich Town (loan)2018–19Championship3011000311
Hull City (loan)2019–20Championship1400020160
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2020–21League One192100000202
Shrewsbury Town2021–22League One453202020513
2022–23League One374322000426
Total101962402011311
Blackpool2023–24League One211001020241
Career total2431482805026416

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists . Premier League . 26 June 2020 . 9 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Matthew Pennington: Overview . Premier League . Premier League . 15 August 2020.
  3. Web site: So Close.... Everton F.C.. 4 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140616022025/http://www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/matthew-pennington. 16 June 2014. dead.
  4. Web site: Matthew Pens New Deal. Everton F.C.. 8 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040607/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/07/07/matthew-pens-new-deal. 24 September 2015. dead.
  5. Web site: Martinez Praises Debutant Pennington. Everton F.C.. 28 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160731055023/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/08/27/martinez-praises-debutant-pennington. 31 July 2016. dead.
  6. Web site: Tranmere Rovers: Liam Ridehalgh rejoins ahead of permanent deal. BBC Sport.
  7. Web site: Tranmere Rovers vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers – 1 January 2014 . Soccerway.
  8. Web site: Tranmere Rovers vs. Crewe Alexandra – 25 January 2014 . Soccerway.
  9. Web site: Latest Sky Bet League 1 News. The Football League. 16 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140316061656/http://www.football-league.co.uk/league1/news/20140224/matthew-kennedy-and-matthew-pennington-recalled-from-tranmere-rovers_2293324_3684860#. 16 March 2014. dead.
  10. Web site: So Close.... Everton F.C.. 28 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121600/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/03/27/trio-loaned-out. 4 March 2016. dead.
  11. Web site: Pennington Loaned To Coventry. Everton F.C.. 27 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129181258/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2014/11/27/pennington-loaned-to-coventry. 29 November 2014. dead.
  12. Web site: Matty Pennington: Everton defender extends Coventry loan. BBC Sport.
  13. News: Everton loan star Matthew Pennington is YOUR Coventry City Telegraph Player of the Month. Aidan McCartney. 9 January 2015. Coventry Telegraph.
  14. Web site: Matthew Pennington: Coventry City extend defender's loan deal. BBC Sport.
  15. Web site: Matthew Pennington voted as the Coventry City 2014/15 Young Player of the Year. Kieran Crowley. Coventry City F.C..
  16. Web site: Pennington picks up Sky Blues award. Everton F.C.. 6 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222145/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/05/06/pennington-picks-up-sky-blues-award. 4 March 2016. dead.
  17. Web site: Pennington loaned to Walsall. Everton F.C.. 26 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020759/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2016/03/24/pennington-loaned-to-walsall. 7 November 2017. dead.
  18. Web site: Everton recall Matthew Pennington. Everton F.C..
  19. Web site: Everton 3 Norwich 0. Everton F.C.. 15 May 2016. 15 May 2016. Neil. Johnstone.
  20. Web site: Pennington on comeback trail. Everton F.C.. 8 January 2017. 18 July 2017. Rob. Urbani. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025836/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/01/09/pennington-on-comeback-trail. 7 November 2017. dead.
  21. Web site: Liverpool 3–1 Everton. BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. 1 April 2017. Jagielka flicked on a corner at the near post and, after Ashley Williams got a touch, Matthew Pennington arrived to slot in his first Everton goal on his first appearance of the season.. Mandeep. Sanghera.
  22. Web site: Everton Defender Joins on Loan. Leeds United F.C.. 19 July 2017.
  23. Web site: talkSPORT. 4 September 2017. Monday, September 4, 2017. 5 September 2017. The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. Joey. Barton.
  24. Web site: REPORT: BOLTON WANDERERS 2–3 LEEDS UNITED. Leeds United F.C.. 6 August 2017.
  25. News: Leeds United news: Pennington and Cooper set to return v Ipswich. 18 September 2017. Football Insider. 14 November 2017.
  26. News: Yorkshire Evening Post. 18 May 2018. 18 May 2018. LEEDS UNITED 2018/19 RETAINED LIST.
  27. News: BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. 3 August 2018. Matthew Pennington signs new contract at Everton until 2021.
  28. Web site: Pennington joins Ipswich on loan. Everton F.C..
  29. News: Birmingham 2–2 Ipswich Town . BBC Sport. 29 September 2018. 1 October 2018.
  30. Web site: Pennington Pens Loan Deal. Hull City A.F.C.. 8 August 2019. 8 August 2019.
  31. News: Tranmere Rovers 0–3 Hull City . 13 August 2019 . BBC Sport . BBC . 13 August 2019.
  32. News: Shrewsbury Town sign Everton's Matthew Pennington and Blackburn's Harry Chapman on loan . BBC Sport . 31 December 2020 . 31 December 2020.
  33. News: Pennington pens permanent deal in Shropshire . Shrewsbury Town FC . 27 May 2021.
  34. News: Blackpool sign Shrewsbury defender Pennington . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-06-26.
  35. Web site: TheFA.com – Report: England U19s 1–0 Turkey U19s. The Football Association.