sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Luton Town's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu gives brilliant interview after going from National League to Premier League
Home>Football
Updated 21:14 27 May 2023 GMT+1Published 21:08 27 May 2023 GMT+1

Luton Town's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu gives brilliant interview after going from National League to Premier League

Luton Town's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has become the first player to go from the National League to the Premier League with the same club.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Luton Town midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has made history by becoming the first player to go from the National League to the Premier League with the same club.

The Hatters beat Coventry City 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the Championship play-off final at Wembley to earn promotion to the top flight for the first time in 31 years.

It's an incredible achievement for Luton, who were playing Non League football in 2013/14 and had a spell in administration resulting in a points deduction and relegation in 2009.

They returned to the Football League after winning the National League title nine years ago under John Still and one of their stars was there all the way for the journey.

Advert

Mpanzu, a West Ham academy graduate, joined the club on loan in 2013 when they trained on a public playing field where residents would walk their dogs.

The versatile midfielder has seen all the lows at Luton but experienced the highest of highs at 29 in finally being able to sign he is a Premier League player.

It follows on from the stories of Jamie Vardy and Jarrod Bowen but Mpanzu's is extra special considering he did it all with Luton.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

Asked about the achievement after the win, he told Sky Sports: "I feel like I've completed football, man!

"I'll retire this summer, I'm done! It's been a journey. I've been through the highs and lows but you've got to believe in yourself and here I am, a Premier League player."

"I feel like I completed football." 😅

Luton Town's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu is first player in history to play for the same club from the National League to the Premier League 👏 pic.twitter.com/6sjujVs7rG

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 27, 2023

Mpanzu briefly wore the armband at Wembley after Tom Lockyer was forced off early on in worrying scenes, but the former Boreham Wood encouraged his teammate to leave hospital and join in the celebrations after it was communicated that the Wales international was conscious and doing well.

The Congolese international is a massive Arsenal fan and will be looking forward to coming up against the Gunners next season.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy & Sky Sports

Topics: Premier League, EFL Championship

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Recommended reads

Three England stars disagree on the one player from another nation who England needGetty & SPORTbibleTommy Fury disagrees with Tyson's 'no choice' claim as he reveals why he doesn't want his children to boxGetty ImagesEddie Hall confirms retirement decision as ideal next opponent named ahead of Tommy Fury fightGetty Images'I wanted to give back to the sport that gave me everything' - Ashley Cole is finding himself in first manager jobGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

10 mins ago
12 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    10 mins ago

    Why so many players are wearing pink boots at World Cup as key figure explains decision

    It feels like most players at the 2026 World Cup are wearing the same bright boots this summer.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    12 mins ago

    European giants set to hijack Darwin Nunez Liverpool return

    The Al Hilal forward has been heavily linked with a return to Liverpool.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    World Cup star was arrested less than two weeks before playing in nation's opening game

    The player has since played at the tournament and remains part of his nation's World Cup squad.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Keir Starmer opens the door to extra bank holiday if England win World Cup

    The UK Prime Minister joked that England have only won the World Cup under the Labour government.

    Football
  • BREAKING: Luton Town promoted to the Premier League after Championship play-off final win over Coventry
  • Huge concern for Luton Town defender Tom Lockyer after scary incident in Championship play-off final
  • Luton Town's stadium has the most unique away end, you have to go through someone's back garden
  • Michail Antonio Considered Retirement, Now He Has World Cup Dreams With Jamaica