Luke Charles Pennell (né Fathers; born 26 January 1996), is an English footballer who plays for Hayes & Yeading United on loan from side Bedford Town, where he plays as a defender.
Club career Pennell was born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and attended the Lord Grey School in the town. He started his career with local side Milton Keynes Dons before playing for the football team at Milton Keynes College, which he attended for three years. During this period he also spent time at AFC Rushden & Diamonds, featuring for the under-18 and under-21 sides, making 15 appearances and scoring once between 2012 and 2013. In March 2014, he joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Banbury United for a one-month spell, making six appearances and scoring twice. At the end of the season he joined Spartan South Midlands Football League side Wolverton Town, appearing for the first and reserve sides throughout the year whilst still playing for the College team.
After leaving Milton Keynes College in the summer of 2015, he signed for Southern League Premier Division side Dunstable Town. His form for the Blues alerted professional clubs and Pennell spent time on trial with Premier League side Norwich City and Football League sides Burnley, Fulham, Peterborough United and Fleetwood Town. He was offered a professional contract by League One side Fleetwood Town, but he turned the move down due to financial and logistical problems. However, none of the trials proved successful and Pennell returned to playing for Dunstable in January 2016.
In March 2016, he signed for League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on a one-year contract with the option of a further year, after manager John Still learned of his availability following his trial at Norwich. He made his professional debut in April 2016, replacing Justin Hoyte as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat to Leyton Orient as the Daggers were relegated to the National League for the first time in nine years. In May 2019, it was announced that he would be released following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2018–19 campaign.
On 1 July 2019, he signed for National League South side Maidstone United on a free transfer, re-uniting with former Dagenham boss John Still.
Following spells with Gloucester City and Hemel Hempstead Town, Pennell joined Braintree Town ahead of the 2021–22 campaign. During his time in Essex, he went onto feature 42 times as the club fought off relegation from the National League South. He left Braintree at the end of his contract in June 2022.
On 25 June 2022, newly promoted Southern League Premier Division Central side Bedford Town announced the signing of Pennell. In October 2022, Pennell joined Hayes & Yeading United on a one-month loan deal.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBanbury United2013–14SL Premier Division51——1Appearances in Buckingham Senior Charity Cup162Wolverton Town2014–15SSM Division Two2000—0020Dunstable Town2015–16SL Premier Division22330—2One appearance in FA Trophy, one in Bedfordshire Senior Cup0273Dagenham & Redbridge2015–16League Two50———502016–17National League1000—00102017–18National League22000—002202018–19National League17021—00191Total45021—00471Maidstone United2019–20For FA Cup second qualifying round: National League South7020—1Appearances in FA Trophy0100Gloucester City2019–20National League North70———70Hemel Hempstead Town2020–21National League South9010—00100Braintree Town2021–22National League South39010—20420Bedford Town2022–23Southern League Premier Division Central0000—0000Career total136491—511516
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