Manny Panther

Emmanuel Ugochukwu Ezenwa "Manny" Panther (born 11 May 1984) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for St Johnstone, Partick Thistle, Brechin City, York City, Exeter City, Rushden & Diamonds, Morecambe, Aldershot Town, Grimsby Town and Kidderminster Harriers.

Manny Panther
Panther playing for York City in 2007
Personal information
Full name Emmanuel Ugochukwu Ezenwa Panther[1]
Date of birth (1984-05-11) 11 May 1984[1]
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1997–2001 St Johnstone
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 St Johnstone 11 (0)
2003–2005 Partick Thistle 21 (2)
2005 → Brechin City (loan) 8 (1)
2005–2008 York City 121 (4)
2008–2010 Exeter City 22 (2)
2008 → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 3 (0)
2009–2010 → Morecambe (loan) 19 (0)
2010–2012 Aldershot Town 24 (0)
2011–2012 → Grimsby Town (loan) 7 (0)
2012 Kidderminster Harriers 2 (0)
Total 238 (9)
National team
Scotland U15
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

St Johnstone

Born in Glasgow, Panther started his career at Scottish Premier League (SPL) side St Johnstone after joining the youth system at the age of 13.[2] During the 2001–02 season he suffered a long, career-threatening knee injury that limited him to only five first team appearances. He signed a new one-year deal with St Johnstone in 2002.[3] He was released the following season.

Partick Thistle

He then joined SPL side Partick Thistle in June 2003,[4] and signed a new contract in May 2004 that would last until January 2005,[5] eventually leaving the club in the summer of that year. He was sent out on loan to Brechin City of the Scottish Second Division in February 2005.[6] During his spell at Brechin he scored once against Arbroath.[7]

York City

He signed for Conference National team York City in August 2005 after a trial.[8] He signed a new contract with York at the end of the 2005–06 season, telling the club website "I struggled a bit with injury last season, but feel very fit and I'm ready for the season to begin".[9] He was made the captain of York for the 2006–07 season and scored his first goal for the club on 18 November 2006 against Weymouth.[10]

York City managing director Jason McGill (left) and Panther (right) in 2007

Panther said he was enjoying "a new lease of life" after being asked to play in a more advanced role for York, saying "I'm playing in a slightly different position to what I've been used to," he explained. "The manager has put me in a more attacking position and in a way it's given me a new lease of life."[11] After the end of the season, he said he wanted to sign a new deal with York before leaving for his summer break.[12] Panther was offered a new contract by York at the end of the season on 16 May 2007.[13] Rumours were circulating linking him to a move to newly promoted Scottish Premier League outfit Gretna but he rejected this speculation, saying: I have not heard anything about that."[14] He signed a new one-year contract with York on 16 June.[15] He turned down a new contract in January 2008 and was released by the club after the 2007–08 season.[16]

Exeter City

He signed for Exeter City on a three-year contract in May, following the club's promotion back to the Football League.[17][18] After being an unused substitutes for the first two games of the season,[19][20] he made his debut after coming off the bench in 75th minute of a 1–0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town.[21] He returned to the Conference Premier by joining Rushden & Diamonds on a month's loan in September to gain more first team experience.[22] He was sent off in his debut against Burton Albion a day after joining, which ended as a 2–1 victory.[23] His final appearance for Rushden, a 3–1 defeat to Torquay United, also saw Panther dismissed, meaning he ended the loan spell with three appearances.[24][25] After returning to Exeter he came on as a substitute and scored the equaliser against Morecambe in the 85th minute with a curling shot from outside the penalty area, securing a 1–1 draw.[26] Towards the start of Exeter's League One campaign he handed in a transfer request that manager Paul Tisdale accepted.[27] Panther joined League Two team Morecambe on a season-long loan for the 2009–10 season on 17 August 2009.[28] On his return to Exeter, the club announced that he would be released when his contract expired on 30 June 2010.[29]

Aldershot Town

Panther signed a one-year contract with Aldershot Town on 8 July.[30] He made his debut for Aldershot on 7 August in a League Two fixture at Accrington Stanley.[31] Conference Premier side Crawley Town made an offer for him in December.[32] He signed for Conference Premier side Grimsby Town on loan until January 2012 on 11 November 2011.[33] The loan ended prematurely after he was sent off in a 3–1 victory at home to Lincoln City on New Year's Day 2012,[34] finishing his period at Grimsby with 12 appearances.[35] Panther was released from his Aldershot contract by mutual consent on 29 March 2012.[36]

Kidderminster Harriers

He signed with Conference Premier side Kidderminster Harriers on 31 August 2012.[37] Having made two appearances his contract was mutually terminated on 6 December 2012 before retiring from football to concentrate on a business venture.[38][39]

International career

Panther represented Scotland at under-15 level in 1999 in a tournament in France, playing in games against France, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands.[2] Later in the year he was part of the squad that played England in the 1999 Victory Shield.[40] In March 2000 he was in the squad to play Northern Ireland.[41] Panther linked up with the under-19 squad in August 2002.[42]

Personal life

He is the son of Nigerian boxer Cyril Panther.[43] In 2014, he appeared on channel E4 show Party House.[44]

Career statistics
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Johnstone 2001–02[45] Scottish Premier League 700000—70
2002–03[46] Scottish First Division 4010000050
Total 110100000120
Partick Thistle 2003–04[47] Scottish Premier League 800000—80
2004–05[48] Scottish First Division 13200203[lower-alpha 1]2184
Total 212002032264
Brechin City (loan) 2004–05[48] Scottish Second Division 8100000081
York City 2005–06[49] Conference National 37000—00370
2006–07[50] Conference National 44320—3[lower-alpha 2]0493
2007–08[51] Conference Premier 40120—8[lower-alpha 3]0501
Total 121440—1101364
Exeter City 2008–09[52] League Two 22200001[lower-alpha 4]0232
Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 2008–09[24] Conference Premier 3000—0030
Morecambe (loan) 2009–10[1][53] League Two 19000001[lower-alpha 5]0200
Aldershot Town 2010–11[54] League Two 23010101[lower-alpha 4]0260
2011–12[55] League Two 1000000010
Total 240101010270
Grimsby Town (loan) 2011–12[35] Conference Premier 7040—1[lower-alpha 6]0120
Kidderminster Harriers 2012–13[35] Conference Premier 2000—0020
Career total 23891003018226911
  1. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. One appearance in FA Trophy, two in Conference National play-offs
  3. Seven appearances in FA Trophy, one in Conference League Cup
  4. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  5. Appearance in League Two play-offs
  6. Appearance in FA Trophy

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 326. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Perth prodigy Panther in the pink". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  3. "Reilly joins Saints". BBC Sport. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  4. "Thistle sign up Bonnes". BBC Sport. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  5. "Panther signs new deal". BBC Sport. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  6. "Brechin add two players on loan". BBC Sport. 17 February 2005. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. "Arbroath 1–4 Brechin City". BBC Sport. 19 March 2005. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  8. "Minstermen snap up duo". Non-League Daily. 9 August 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  9. "Panther signs extended York deal". BBC Sport. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  10. Flett, Dave (20 November 2006). "City skipper ends 54-game City goal drought in triumph". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  11. Martini, Peter (9 January 2007). "City's skipper relishes new advanced slot". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  12. Flett, Dave (10 May 2007). "Skipper Panther keen to re-sign". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  13. "York boss releases eight players". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  14. Flett, Dave (16 May 2007). "Midfielder Steve among eight released by City". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  15. "City skipper Manny re-signs". The Press. York. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  16. Flett, Dave (26 April 2008). "Panther packed off". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  17. "Exeter recruit Panther from York". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  18. "Manny: I just want to play". Express & Echo. Exeter. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  19. "Darlington 1–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  20. "Exeter 1–3 Southampton". BBC Sport. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  21. "Exeter 0–1 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  22. "Manny's a Diamond geezer!". Exeter City F.C. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  23. "Rushden & Diamonds 2–1 Burton". BBC Sport. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  24. Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2009). Non-League Club Directory 2010. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 132–133. ISBN 978-1-869833-66-4.
  25. "Rushden & D 1–3 Torquay". BBC Sport. 12 October 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  26. "Morecambe 1–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  27. "Tisdale 'reluctantly' opens door for Manny's exit". The Herald. Plymouth. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  28. "Morecambe secure Panther on loan". BBC Sport. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  29. "Exeter City release nine". BBC Sport. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  30. "Aldershot Town sign Manny Panther and Damian Spencer". BBC Sport. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  31. "First XI Match Report: Accrington Stanley 0–0 Aldershot Town". Aldershot Town F.C. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  32. "Marvin Morgan says he wants to stay with Aldershot Town". BBC Sport. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  33. "Grimsby Town loan Aldershot midfielder Manny Panther". BBC Sport. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  34. "Grimsby Town: Parting loanee's 'Manny' thanks to Mariners". Grimsby Telegraph. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  35. "E. Panther". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  36. "Panther departs". Aldershot Town F.C. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  37. "Kidderminster Harriers sign Josh Gowling and Manny Panther". BBC Sport. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  38. "Panther leaves Harriers". Kidderminster Harriers F.C. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  39. "Manny Panther". Rushden & Diamonds F.C. (hosted by RDFC1992). 5 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  40. "Football;In brief;Sport". The TES. 10 December 1999. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  41. "Temple of Saints – 2000 Archive News From The Oracle". Temple of Saints. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  42. "Temple of Saints – 2002 Archive News From The Oracle". Temple of Saints. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  43. Flett, Dave (8 August 2007). "Manny Panther". The Press. York. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  44. "Manny". Channel 4. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  45. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  46. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  47. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  48. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  49. Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. pp. 406–407. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  50. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 408–409, 420–421.
  51. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 410–411, 420–421.
  52. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  53. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  54. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  55. "Games played by Manny Panther in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
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