Alex Penny
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alex Penny
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|2|16|df=y}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hulltigersacademy.com/news/u18s-in-profile-with-billy-russell |title=U18s in profile with Billy Russell |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. Academy |date=13 January 2015 |accessdate=11 August 2017}}
| birth_place = Nuneaton, England
| height =
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Kidderminster Harriers
| clubnumber = 2
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2015
| youthclubs1 = Hull City
| years1 = 2015
| clubs1 = Bedworth United
| caps1 = 5
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = Stourbridge
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015–2016
| clubs3 = Hinckley
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2016–2017
| clubs4 = Nuneaton Town
| caps4 = 24
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2018
| clubs5 = Peterborough United
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2018–2019
| clubs6 = Hamilton Academical
| caps6 = 8
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2019–2020
| clubs7 = Boston United
| caps7 = 15
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2020–
| clubs8 = Kidderminster Harriers
| caps8 = 106
| goals8 = 5
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 = Wales U16
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 11:29, 2 April 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Alexander James Robert Kevin Penny (born 16 February 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|KiddermH}} club Kidderminster Harriers.
Early life
Penny was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, but moved away at a young age.{{cite news |url=https://www.nonleaguedaily.com/latest-transfer-news/nuneaton-pick-up-penny-as-duffy-departs.html |title=Nuneaton pick up Penny as Duffy departs |website=Non-League Daily |publisher=Baltic Publications |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223443/https://www.nonleaguedaily.com/latest-transfer-news/nuneaton-pick-up-penny-as-duffy-departs.html |archivedate=11 August 2017 |url-status=usurped}} He attended Withernsea High School from 2008 to 2013.{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Nuttall |url=http://www.withernseahigh.org.uk/index.php/latest-news/2016-news/july-2017/844-congratulations-alex |title=Former student signs with Peterborough United |publisher=Withernsea High School |date=25 July 2017 |accessdate=11 August 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811225154/http://www.withernseahigh.org.uk/index.php/latest-news/2016-news/july-2017/844-congratulations-alex |archivedate=11 August 2017 |url-status=live}}
Club career
Penny played for his local club Withernsea{{cite news |url=http://www.holderness-gazette.co.uk/arts270717withernseaafc.htm |title=Withernsea's junior tournament goes from strength to strength |newspaper=Holderness Gazette |location=Withernsea |accessdate=11 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811150507/http://www.holderness-gazette.co.uk/arts270717withernseaafc.htm |archive-date=11 August 2017 |url-status=dead }} before joining Hull City's youth system aged 11.{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Whitney |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/uncategorized/penny-in-duffy-out-at-nuneaton-47795/ |title=Penny in – Duffy out at Nuneaton |website=Non-League Pitchero |date=16 June 2016 |accessdate=11 August 2017}} Despite being offered an extension to his scholarship in April 2015,{{cite web |url=http://www.hulltigersacademy.com/news/retained-list-finalised |title=Retained list finalised |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. Academy |date=1 April 2015 |accessdate=11 August 2017}} he signed for Southern League Premier Division club Bedworth United in September.{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Whitney |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/uncategorized/latest-moves-41951/ |title=Latest moves…. |website=Non-League Pitchero |date=10 September 2015 |accessdate=11 August 2017}} Having made five appearances, he signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Stourbridge later that month.{{cite web |title=Stourbridge 3–1 Dunkirk |url=http://www.stourbridgefc.com/teams/61056/match-centre/2-28905 |publisher=Stourbridge F.C. |accessdate=26 January 2018 |via=Pitchero}} In November 2015, Penny signed for Midland League Division One club Hinckley,{{cite web |first=Richard |last=Clark |title=Player news... |url=http://www.stourbridgefc.com/teams/61056/news/player-news-1525992.html |publisher=Stourbridge F.C. |date=14 November 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018 |via=Pitchero}} after making two appearances for Stourbridge. He made 17 appearances and scored two goals for Hinckley in the 2015–16 season, the team finishing fifth in the Midland League Division One.{{cite web |title=Midland Football League – Midland Football League Division One: 2015–2016 |url=http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/divisions/215/5/ |website=Non League Matters |publisher=Summit Soccer |accessdate=11 August 2017}}
In June 2016, Penny signed for National League North club Nuneaton Town on a one-year contract.{{cite web |title=Penny joins Nuneaton |url=http://hinckleyafc.org.uk/2016/06/15/penny-joins-nuneaton/ |publisher=Hinckley A.F.C. |date=15 June 2016 |accessdate=11 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811153031/http://hinckleyafc.org.uk/2016/06/15/penny-joins-nuneaton/ |archive-date=11 August 2017 |url-status=dead }} He made 28 appearances in 2016–17 as Nuneaton finished 12th in the National League North.{{cite web |title=Conference North: 2016/17: Latest table |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1514 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=11 August 2017}} He joined Jamie Vardy's V9 Academy, aimed at helping non-League players into professional football,{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Badcock |title=The V9 Academy unveil their chosen list of graduates |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/conference-premier-step-one/19165/the-v9-academy-unveil-their-chosen-list-of-graduates/ |newspaper=The Non-League Paper |location=London |date=11 May 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}} and impressed Football League scouts during training matches at the City of Manchester Stadium in May 2017.{{cite news |first=Steven |last=Coney |title=Penny drops for the Posh! V9 Academy helps another Non-League star into the EFL |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/conference-north-step-two/19763/penny-drops-for-the-posh-v9-academy-helps-another-non-league-star-into-the-efl/ |newspaper=The Non-League Paper |location=London |date=25 July 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}
On 19 July 2017, Penny signed for League One club Peterborough United on a three-year contract after a successful trial.{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Swann |title=Breaking news: Peterborough United spend a pretty penny on defender |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/breaking-news-peterborough-united-spend-a-pretty-penny-on-defender-1-8063274 |newspaper=Peterborough Today |date=19 July 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}} The undisclosed fee set a new record for a transfer fee received by Nuneaton.{{cite news |title=Alex Penny: Peterborough United sign Nuneaton Town defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40655083 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2017 |accessdate=11 August 2017}} On 5 August 2017, he made his Football League debut as an 89th-minute substitute in Peterborough's 2–1 home win over Plymouth Argyle, on the opening day of 2017–18. He made his first start for the club three days later, playing the first 68 minutes of a 3–1 home defeat to Barnet in the EFL Cup.
On 6 June 2018, Penny signed for Scottish Premiership club Hamilton Academical for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44395986 |title=Defender Alex Penny joins Hamilton Academical on a two-year deal |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=7 June 2018 |accessdate=7 June 2018}} His contract was mutually terminated in May 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/player-departure/|title=Player Departure « Hamilton Academical Football Club|website=www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk|date=30 March 2018}}
Penny signed for National League North club Kidderminster Harriers in February 2020 on a two-year contract.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-21 |title=Penn pounces for Penny |url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2020/02/21/penn-pounces-for-penny/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Official Website of the Harriers - Kidderminster Harriers FC |language=en-GB}} On 5 October 2021, Penny scored his first Kidderminster Harriers goal in a 3–0 home win against Ware FC in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying round. On 5 February 2022, he scored the only Kidderminster goal against West Ham in the FA Cup fourth round{{Cite news |title='The upset is on!' Penny puts Kidderminster ahead against West Ham |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/60272996 |access-date=2022-05-14}} and went on to extend his deal to the summer of 2023 in April 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-22 |title=Alex Penny signs new contract |url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2022/04/22/alex-penny-signs-new-contract/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Official Website of the Harriers - Kidderminster Harriers FC |language=en-GB}} Penny was subsequently named in the 2021-22 National League North Team of the Season.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/the-national-league-north-big-winners-are-announce-70753 |title=The National League North Big Winners Are Announced |publisher=The National League |date=18 May 2022 |access-date=18 May 2022}} Following promotion back to the National league during the 2022/23 season, Penny signed a new one-year deal with Kidderminster running through till 2023/24 season{{cite web | url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2023/05/30/alex-penny-tied-up/ | title=Alex Penny tied up | date=30 May 2023 }}
International career
Penny was capped by the Wales national under-16 team, playing at the 2011 and 2012 Victory Shields.{{cite web |title=Scotland U16s held in Wales |url=http://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/sjfa/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1747&newsCategoryID=39&newsID=8631 |publisher=Scottish Junior Football Association |date=30 September 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}{{cite news |first=Terry |last=Phillips |title=Wales were edged out in a close-fought Victory Shield under-16 international in Port Talbot last night |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wales-were-edged-out-close-fought-2015768 |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=2 November 2012 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}
Career statistics
{{updated|6 April 2024}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Kidderminster Harriers
- National League North Team of the Season: 2021-22{{cite web |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/the-national-league-north-big-winners-are-announce-70753 |title=The National League North Big Winners Are Announced |website=thenationalleague.org.uk |date=2022-05-18 |access-date=2022-05-18}}
- National League North play-offs: 2022-23{{cite web | url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2023/05/16/highlights-harriers-promoted-at-brackley/ | title=Highlights: Harriers promoted at Brackley | date=16 May 2023 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170811151821/https://www.theposh.com/teams/first-team/defender/alex-penny/ Alex Penny profile] at the Peterborough United F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Kidderminster Harriers F.C. squad}}
{{2021–22 National League North Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Penny, Alex}}
Category:Footballers from Nuneaton
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Wales men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Hull City A.F.C. players
Category:Bedworth United F.C. players
Category:Stourbridge F.C. players
Category:Hinckley A.F.C. players
Category:Nuneaton Town F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players
Category:Boston United F.C. players
Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Midland Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players