As a player, he was a striker who notably played in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers as well as making top flight appearances for Aston Villa.
Penrice's potential footballing ability was evident from a young age and he was signed up as an apprentice by Bristol City; however, they later decided to release him, stating that he was too small to make it as a professional.
[3] Penrice attended the same secondary school team as fellow future professional footballers Gary Smart and Ian Holloway, who were all roughly the same age.
While playing for Mangotsfield, Penrice attended college and became a qualified plumber, planning to build himself a new career after failing to make the grade at Bristol City.
Penrice re-signed for Bristol Rovers on a free transfer in the summer of 1997 to lead them to the Second Division play-offs that year alongside player-boss Ian Holloway in the centre of midfield.
After a 16-year career, scoring 110 goals in 400 professional appearances, Penrice retired from playing and became Holloway's assistant manager at Rovers after Phil Bater moved to take control of the youth team.
Since his retirement from playing, Penrice has stuck with friend Ian Holloway as his assistant manager at both Bristol Rovers and later at Queens Park Rangers.
[12] Penrice is now involved in international player recruitment on a freelance basis, searching out talent abroad for a number of clubs, including Wigan and Blackpool.