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." šŸ˜…

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 šŸ‘ 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:Ā 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

Eddie 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 jobGettyAn interview with Ben Stokes: 'English cricket doesn't lack talent... there are quite a few names'Getty ImagesMichael Bisping suggests radical eye poke rule change ahead of Tom Aspinall comebackGetty Images

Advert

  • 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

Choose your content:

17 mins ago
an hour ago
4 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    17 mins ago

    Six major rule changes at the 2026 World Cup that every fan needs to know about

    Gary Neville has described one of the rule changes as ā€œunbelievable".

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Four Premier League clubs could claim more than £100m over Man City 115 charges case

    Manchester City could face further legal battles following the 115 case.

    Football
  • Getty
    4 hours ago

    Mohamed Salah gives green light to join new club days before World Cup

    Salah has departed Liverpool ahead of the World Cup and his likely next destination has been named.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Liverpool in race against time to sign top target with club using never-before-seen transfer tactic

    Andoni Iraola has been handed a transfer dilemma just days into his reign as Liverpool boss.

    Football