Matthew Pennington

Matthew Pennington
Personal information
Full name Matthew Pennington[1]
Date of birth (1994-10-06) 6 October 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Warrington, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Blackpool
Number 5
Youth career
2005–2013 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2021 Everton 7 (1)
2014 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 17 (2)
2014–2015 → Coventry City (loan) 24 (0)
2016 → Walsall (loan) 5 (0)
2017–2018 → Leeds United (loan) 24 (0)
2018–2019 → Ipswich Town (loan) 30 (1)
2019–2020 → Hull City (loan) 14 (0)
2020–2021 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 19 (2)
2021–2023 Shrewsbury Town 82 (7)
2023– Blackpool 21 (1)
International career‡
2013 England U19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:53, 14 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:48, 1 April 2019 (UTC)

Matthew Pennington (born 6 October 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL League One 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][23] for a reported loan fee of £500,000.[24] 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.[25] He was unavailable until the latter half of September, when he returned to the bench.[26] In October, Pennington returned intermittently to the starting eleven.[27]

After 24 appearances, on 18 May 2018, Leeds announced Pennington would be returning to his parent club upon the expiry of his loan.[28]

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.[29]

Ipswich Town (loan)

On 31 August 2018, Pennington joined Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season.[30] 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.[31]

Hull City (loan)

On 8 August 2019, Pennington joined Hull City on loan for the 2019–20 season.[32] He made his first appearance for the club in the first round of the EFL Cup in a 3–0 win at Tranmere Rovers.[33]

Shrewsbury Town (loan)

On 31 December 2020, Pennington joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[34] 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.[35]

Blackpool

After rejecting the offer of a new contract with Shrewsbury, Pennington agreed to join Blackpool on 1 July 2023.[36]

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.[37]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Everton 2013–14[38] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2014–15[39] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[40] Premier League 4 0 1 0 1 0 — 6 0
2016–17[41] Premier League 3 1 0 0 0 0 — 3 1
2017–18[27] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[42] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2019–20[43] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2020–21[44] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 7 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 1
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2013–14[38] League One 17 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 2
Coventry City (loan) 2014–15[39] League One 24 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 25 0
Walsall (loan) 2015–16[40] League One 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Leeds United (loan) 2017–18[27] Championship 24 0 0 0 0 0 — 24 0
Ipswich Town (loan) 2018–19[42] Championship 30 1 1 0 0 0 — 31 1
Hull City (loan) 2019–20[43] Championship 14 0 0 0 2 0 — 16 0
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2020–21[44] League One 19 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 2
Shrewsbury Town 2021–22[45] League One 45 3 2 0 2 0 2[b] 0 51 3
2022–23[46] League One 37 4 3 2 2 0 0 0 42 6
Total 101 9 6 2 4 0 2 0 113 11
Blackpool 2023–24 League One 21 1 0 0 1 0 2[b] 0 24 1
Career total 243 14 8 2 8 0 5 0 264 16
  1. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Matthew Pennington: Overview". Premier League. Premier League. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. ^ "So Close..." Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Matthew Pens New Deal". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Martinez Praises Debutant Pennington". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Tranmere Rovers: Liam Ridehalgh rejoins ahead of permanent deal". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "Tranmere Rovers vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers – 1 January 2014". Soccerway.
  8. ^ "Tranmere Rovers vs. Crewe Alexandra – 25 January 2014". Soccerway.
  9. ^ "Latest Sky Bet League 1 News". The Football League. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  10. ^ "So Close..." Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  11. ^ "Pennington Loaned To Coventry". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Matty Pennington: Everton defender extends Coventry loan". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ Aidan McCartney (9 January 2015). "Everton loan star Matthew Pennington is YOUR Coventry City Telegraph Player of the Month". Coventry Telegraph.
  14. ^ "Matthew Pennington: Coventry City extend defender's loan deal". BBC Sport.
  15. ^ Kieran Crowley. "Matthew Pennington voted as the Coventry City 2014/15 Young Player of the Year". Coventry City F.C.
  16. ^ "Pennington picks up Sky Blues award". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Pennington loaned to Walsall". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Everton recall Matthew Pennington". Everton F.C.
  19. ^ Johnstone, Neil (15 May 2016). "Everton 3 Norwich 0". Everton F.C. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  20. ^ Urbani, Rob (8 January 2017). "Pennington on comeback trail". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  21. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (1 April 2017). "Liverpool 3–1 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 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.
  22. ^ "Everton Defender Joins on Loan". Leeds United F.C. 19 July 2017.
  23. ^ Pennington joins Leeds on loan, Everton F.C., 19 July 2017
  24. ^ Barton, Joey (4 September 2017). "Monday, September 4, 2017". The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. talkSPORT. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  25. ^ "REPORT: BOLTON WANDERERS 2–3 LEEDS UNITED". Leeds United F.C. 6 August 2017.
  26. ^ "Leeds United news: Pennington and Cooper set to return v Ipswich". Football Insider. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  27. ^ a b c "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  28. ^ "LEEDS UNITED 2018/19 RETAINED LIST". Yorkshire Evening Post. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Matthew Pennington signs new contract at Everton until 2021". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Pennington joins Ipswich on loan". Everton F.C.
  31. ^ "Birmingham 2–2 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  32. ^ "Pennington Pens Loan Deal". Hull City A.F.C. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Tranmere Rovers 0–3 Hull City". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  34. ^ "Shrewsbury Town sign Everton's Matthew Pennington and Blackburn's Harry Chapman on loan". BBC Sport. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Pennington pens permanent deal in Shropshire". Shrewsbury Town FC. 27 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Blackpool sign Shrewsbury defender Pennington". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  37. ^ "TheFA.com – Report: England U19s 1–0 Turkey U19s". The Football Association.
  38. ^ a b "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  41. ^ "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  42. ^ a b "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  43. ^ a b "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  44. ^ a b "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  46. ^ "Games played by Matthew Pennington in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.