David Penney
Encyclopedia
David Mark "Dave" Penney (born 17 August 1964) is an English football manager and former player. Born in Wakefield
, West Yorkshire
, Penney entered professional football at the relatively late age of 21. He had been working as a bricklayer
and playing for nothing at Pontefract Collieries
for 5 years before he was spotted by Derby County
scout Ron Jukes, who recommended him to manager Arthur Cox
. He was offered a contract at the then Third Division
club and they climbed two divisions before he left for Oxford United
for £175,000. He then went on to Wales
, where he played for Swansea City
and Cardiff City
. After a while Penney decided he wanted to go back up North, so he joined Doncaster Rovers
in 1998.
final in the 2002–03
season. Their stay in Division Three wasn't long though as he managed Doncaster to the Division Three title. During a further two seasons of cementing Doncaster's place in Coca-Cola League One
Penney famously masterminded victories over Premier League sides Manchester City
and Aston Villa
, and nearly overcame Arsenal
in the Carling Cup
quarter-finals before finally being beaten in a penalty shootout. Penney left Rovers on 30 August 2006 as he felt he had taken the club as far as he could.
He was appointed manager of Darlington
on 30 October 2006. He returned to Doncaster
with Darlington for a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie on 9 January 2007, Doncaster winning the game 2-0, and Penney received a hero's reception from the home fans at the new Keepmoat Stadium.
Penney was apponted manager at Oldham Athletic on 30 April 2009. He left on 6 May 2010, through mutual consent, with falling attendances one of the reasons why Penney was relieved of duty.
On 10 January 2011 Penney was appointed as manager of League One club Bristol Rovers. His tenure in charge of the west country club did not last long however, as he was sacked less than two months later having lost nine of his 13 games in charge. His last game was a 2-0 defeat against Dagenham and Redbridge,with Defender Romain Vincelot and a free kick from Danny Green sealing a win for the Daggers. Jerel Ifil was sent off in the first half. Following receiving the sack from Bristol Rovers, Stuart Campbell was put in charge for the game against Tranmere, in which a Chris Lines goal sealed a 1-0 win.
While at the Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
, he only recorded two wins, Swindon Town F.C.
and Oldham Athletic F.C.
, and also recorded a 6 - 1 defeat away to Walsall F.C.
.
He was reported as being furious after being overlooked for the Grimsby Town managerial job when Rob Scott and Paul Hurst were appointed on 22 March 2011.
.
Swansea City
Cardiff City
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, Penney entered professional football at the relatively late age of 21. He had been working as a bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
and playing for nothing at Pontefract Collieries
Pontefract Collieries F.C.
Pontefract Collieries F.C. are a football club based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. They play at the White Rose Stadium off Skinner Lane, near the old Prince of Wales Colliery.-History:...
for 5 years before he was spotted by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
scout Ron Jukes, who recommended him to manager Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox (footballer)
Arthur Cox is a former English football manager.Cox has managed a number of clubs including Chesterfield, Newcastle United, where he won promotion to the First Division and introduced future international players such as Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle...
. He was offered a contract at the then Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
club and they climbed two divisions before he left for Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
for £175,000. He then went on to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, where he played for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
and Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. After a while Penney decided he wanted to go back up North, so he joined Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in 1998.
Managerial career
In 2002 Penney hung up his boots to pursue a career in management and he remained at Doncaster taking the managerial job on a full-time basis. After a well-placed finish in his first season, Penney guided Doncaster back into the Football League with victory in the play-offFootball League Play-Offs
The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion places within the Football League. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is...
final in the 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season. Their stay in Division Three wasn't long though as he managed Doncaster to the Division Three title. During a further two seasons of cementing Doncaster's place in Coca-Cola League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Penney famously masterminded victories over Premier League sides Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, and nearly overcame Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the Carling Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
quarter-finals before finally being beaten in a penalty shootout. Penney left Rovers on 30 August 2006 as he felt he had taken the club as far as he could.
He was appointed manager of Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on 30 October 2006. He returned to Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
with Darlington for a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie on 9 January 2007, Doncaster winning the game 2-0, and Penney received a hero's reception from the home fans at the new Keepmoat Stadium.
Penney was apponted manager at Oldham Athletic on 30 April 2009. He left on 6 May 2010, through mutual consent, with falling attendances one of the reasons why Penney was relieved of duty.
On 10 January 2011 Penney was appointed as manager of League One club Bristol Rovers. His tenure in charge of the west country club did not last long however, as he was sacked less than two months later having lost nine of his 13 games in charge. His last game was a 2-0 defeat against Dagenham and Redbridge,with Defender Romain Vincelot and a free kick from Danny Green sealing a win for the Daggers. Jerel Ifil was sent off in the first half. Following receiving the sack from Bristol Rovers, Stuart Campbell was put in charge for the game against Tranmere, in which a Chris Lines goal sealed a 1-0 win.
While at the Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium may refer to:In Canada:* Memorial Stadium , St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador; former home of the St. John's Maple LeafsIn the United Kingdom:...
, he only recorded two wins, Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
and Oldham Athletic F.C.
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, and also recorded a 6 - 1 defeat away to Walsall F.C.
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
.
He was reported as being furious after being overlooked for the Grimsby Town managerial job when Rob Scott and Paul Hurst were appointed on 22 March 2011.
Personal life
Penney's son, Mark Penney, is a semi-professional footballer, with his clubs including Glasshoughton WelfareGlasshoughton Welfare F.C.
Glasshoughton Welfare A.F.C. is a football club based in Glasshoughton near Castleford, West Yorkshire, England and currently are members of the Northern Counties East League Division One.-History:...
.
As a player
Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
- Second Division TitleFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
winner: 1986–871986-87 in English footballThe 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
- Welsh FA CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
winner: 1991 - West Wales Senior Cup winner: 1991
- West Wales Senior Cup winner: 1995
Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
- FAW Invitation Cup runner-up: 1998
As a manager
Doncaster RoversDoncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
- Nationwide ConferenceConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
Play-Off FinalFinal (competition)The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
winner: 2002–032002-03 in English footballThe 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable... - Nationwide Division Three Title winner: 2003–042003-04 in English footballThe 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
Managerial statistics
- As of 5 March 2011.
| Team | Nation | From | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... | 22 April 2000 | 31 May 2000 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 66.7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
27 December 2001 | 30 August 2006 | 241 | 114 | 62 | 65 | 47.3 | ||||
| Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
30 October 2006 | 30 April 2009 | 139 | 60 | 35 | 44 | 43.2 | ||||
| Oldham Athletic Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league... |
30 April 2009 | 6 May 2010 | 48 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 27.1 | ||||
| Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
10 January 2011 | 7 March 2011 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 15.38 |