Adrian Pennock
|
File:DPMM-Hougang United 4 August 2023 (Officials).jpg Pennock with DPMM in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adrian Barry Pennock | ||
| Date of birth | 27 March 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Ipswich, England | ||
| Position | Central defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dartford (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1989 | Norwich City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1992 | Norwich City | 1 | (0) |
| 1991 | → Molde FK (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 1992–1996 | AFC Bournemouth | 131 | (9) |
| 1996–2003 | Gillingham | 168 | (2) |
| 2003–2005 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 14 | (0) |
| Total | 329 | (12) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2005–2007 | Welling United | ||
| 2013–2016 | Forest Green Rovers | ||
| 2017 | Gillingham | ||
| 2017–2018 | Barrow | ||
| 2019–2024 | DPMM | ||
| 2024– | Dartford | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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Adrian Barry Pennock (born 27 March 1971) is an English former footballer who played for Norwich City, Molde FK, AFC Bournemouth, Gillingham and Gravesend & Northfleet. He is the manager of Dartford.
He spent two years as Welling United manager before joining Stoke City to be first team coach. He left at the end of the 2012–13 season following the departure of Tony Pulis, and on 12 November 2013, he was appointed as a manager for Forest Green Rovers where he twice led them to record highest league finishes.
He left his position as head coach of League One side Gillingham in September 2017,[1] and was appointed as manager of National League club Barrow the following month, a post he held until the end of the 2017–18 season. In 2019 he was appointed manager of DPMM of Brunei, a team that plays in the Singapore Premier League.[2]
Playing career
[edit | edit source]Norwich City
[edit | edit source]Although born in Ipswich and having grown up supporting Ipswich Town, Pennock began his career with their fiercest rivals, Norwich City, where he progressed through the ranks to turn professional in 1989. He was only to manage one appearance for the Canaries' first team
AFC Bournemouth
[edit | edit source]In 1992, Pennock was allowed to move to AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £30,000. He was a regular for the Cherries until he suffered a knee injury in December 1995 and was unable to regain his place in the team.
Gillingham
[edit | edit source]In October 1996 his former Bournemouth manager, Tony Pulis signed him for Gillingham for £25,000. Pennock spent over six years at Priestfield Stadium where he was a regular in the first team at Gillingham until a recurring knee injury took its toll. He developed a reputation as a practical joker whilst with Gillingham – during one pre-season friendly he switched on the pitch sprinkler system during the match. He also scored a memorable own goal against Wigan Athletic in 2000 which spawned a recurring terrace chant of "He only scores own goals". Such was his affinity with the fans that he even acquired his own fan club. On the pitch, he was named captain for the 2000 Football League Second Division play-off final which saw the Gills promoted to the Football League First Division for the first time in their history.[3]
Gravesend & Northfleet
[edit | edit source]Injuries forced Pennock to retire from League football in 2003, after which he signed for Football Conference side Gravesend & Northfleet, where he was also assistant manager.
In January 2006, he was involved in a dispute with Gillingham chairman Paul Scally over a testimonial match which Pennock alleged he was promised as part of his final contract at Gillingham but which never materialised.[4]
Managerial career
[edit | edit source]Welling United
[edit | edit source]In January 2005 Pennock was appointed manager of Welling United of the Conference South and by the end of the season had guided them to their best league position for six years.
Stoke City (coach)
[edit | edit source]He left Welling at the end of the 2006–07 season to take up a coaching position at Stoke City, under his former Gillingham manager, Tony Pulis.[5] He was initially appointed youth team boss at Stoke.[6] In January 2010, Pennock expressed an interest in one day returning to management.[7] In the summer of 2011 he made the step up to become first team coach at Stoke.[8] He left the club at the end of the 2012–13 season.[9]
Forest Green Rovers
[edit | edit source]On 12 November 2013, Pennock was appointed as the new manager of Conference Premier side Forest Green Rovers.[10] He led the club to a 10th-place finish at the end of the 2013–14 season.
In January 2015, he was linked with the vacant managerial role at Gillingham, however he issued a statement declaring his aim to remain at Forest Green.[11]
At the end of the 2014–15 season he led Forest Green to a record highest league finish of 5th in the Conference Premier, meaning that the club secured a place in the play-offs for the first time. Forest Green were knocked out in the semi-finals, losing 3–0 on aggregate against Bristol Rovers.[12]
On 4 September 2015, after leading Forest Green to seven straight wins in the renamed National League at the start of the 2015–16 season, he was named August Manager of the Month.[13] On 5 September 2015, he led the club to an eighth straight league win at the start of the season with victory at Chester – a National League record.[14] On 5 February 2016, he was named National League January Manager of the Month having guided Forest Green to six straight wins.[15]
Despite taking Forest Green to 2nd in the National League, which was another record highest finish, he was relieved of his duties on 27 April 2016, just one week before the play-offs, after a poor run of results that had failed to see his side win in seven games.[16]
In November 2016, he returned to Welling United after being appointed as a consultant to new manager Jamie Day, who had been his assistant at Forest Green.[17]
Gillingham
[edit | edit source]On 4 January 2017, Pennock was appointed as the new head coach of his former club and League One side Gillingham.[18] Steve Lovell and Jamie Day were announced as part of his team of coaching staff.[19] Pennock and Day left Gillingham by mutual consent on 25 September 2017, following a 3–0 defeat at Rochdale.[20]
Barrow
[edit | edit source]On 27 October 2017, Pennock was appointed as manager of National League side Barrow.[21] Barrow parted company with Pennock on 18 May 2018, with the side having narrowly avoided relegation.[22]
DPMM
[edit | edit source]At the conclusion of the 2018 Singapore Premier League season, DPMM appointed Pennock as manager for the 2019 season.[23] Pennock led the Brunei side to their second Singapore Premier League title in his first season in charge.[24]
Dartford
[edit | edit source]On 1 March 2024, Pennock returned home and was named the manager of Dartford of the National League South, the sixth tier of the English football league system.[25]
Career statistics
[edit | edit source]Player
[edit | edit source]Source:[26]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Norwich City | 1989–90 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990–91 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1991–92 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Molde FK (loan) | 1991 | Tippeligaen | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Total | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| AFC Bournemouth | 1992–93 | Second Division | 43 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 1 |
| 1993–94 | Second Division | 40 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 4 | |
| 1994–95 | Second Division | 31 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 5 | |
| 1995–96 | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| Total | 131 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 160 | 10 | ||
| Gillingham | 1996–97 | Second Division | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| 1997–98 | Second Division | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 1998–99 | Second Division | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | Second Division | 34 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | |
| 2000–01 | First Division | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | First Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | First Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 168 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 199 | 3 | ||
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 2002–03 | Conference National | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | Conference National | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 329 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 389 | 14 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy and Football League play-offs.
Manager
[edit | edit source]- As of match played 20 December 2025
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Welling United | 14 January 2005[citation needed] | 27 April 2007[citation needed] | 103 | 44 | 26 | 33 | 42.72 | [27] |
| Forest Green Rovers | 12 November 2013[citation needed] | 27 April 2016[citation needed] | 140 | 64 | 37 | 39 | 45.71 | [28] |
| Gillingham | 4 January 2017[18] | 25 September 2017 | 32 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 18.75 | [29] |
| Barrow | 27 October 2017 | 18 May 2018 | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 31.25 | |
| DPMM | 1 January 2019 | 31 December 2023 | 62 | 27 | 12 | 23 | 43.55 | |
| Dartford | 1 March 2024 | Present | 92 | 42 | 21 | 29 | 45.65 | |
| Total | 461 | 193 | 117 | 151 | 41.87 | |||
Honours
[edit | edit source]Player
[edit | edit source]Gillingham
Manager
[edit | edit source]DPMM
Individual
[edit | edit source]- National League Manager of the Month: August 2015,[30] January 2016[15]
- Singapore Premier League Coach of the Year: 2019[31]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]In October 2023, Pennock, his wife Tania, and their son Ashley were among the winners of a £1 million prize in the People's Postcode Lottery paid out to residents of Hempstead near Gillingham.[32]
References
[edit | edit source]- Specific
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- ^ Former star Pennock to sue Gills
- ^ Pennock to quit Welling for Stoke
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- ^ Adrian Pennock at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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- General
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Adrian Pennock at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Adrian Pennock at SoccerbaseLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Profile at ex-canaries.co.uk
- 1971 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Ipswich
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Norwich City F.C. players
- Molde FK players
- AFC Bournemouth players
- Gillingham F.C. players
- Ebbsfleet United F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Eliteserien players
- English football managers
- Welling United F.C. managers
- Forest Green Rovers F.C. managers
- Gillingham F.C. managers
- DPMM FC managers
- Barrow A.F.C. managers
- Dartford F.C. managers
- National League (English football) managers
- English Football League managers
- Expatriate football managers in Brunei
- Stoke City F.C. non-playing staff
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Norway