Pat Jennings encyclopedia topics

Club career

Newry Town & Watford

Jennings began his playing career with his hometown side Newry Town as a sixteen year old. After impressing with the team he moved to English Third Division side Watford in May 1963. Jennings again impressed in his first season in English football, as he played every league game for his club, and was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £27,000 at the end of it.

Tottenham Hotspur

Jennings spent thirteen years at White Hart Lane, where he played in 472 league games for Spurs, and 591 in all competitions. He won the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973, and the UEFA Cup in 1972. He also scored once, in the 1967 Charity Shield, with a kick from his hands — sending a large punt down the field that bounced over Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney and landed in the net. In 1973 the Football Writers' Association named him as its footballer of the year, three years later he won PFA's version of the award.

Arsenal

In August 1977, he was transferred to Tottenham's arch-rivals, Arsenal, with Tottenham thinking he was nearing the end of his career. However, Jennings saw off rivals for the goalkeeper's jersey to play for Arsenal for another eight years. Whilst at Highbury, he helped Arsenal to three successive FA Cup finals, in 1978, 1979, and 1980. However, Arsenal only managed to win the second of these finals, a 3-2 victory against Manchester United. In total, Jennings made 327 appearances for Arsenal, 237 of them in the League, between 1977 and his eventual retirement from first-team club football in 1985.

Shamrock Rovers

He guested for Shamrock Rovers in a testimonial for Shay Brennan shortly after the World Cup in 1986.

International career

Jennings made his Northern Ireland debut as an eighteen year old, whilst playing for Watford. This game was on the 15th of April 1964, and was a British Home Championship match against Wales, Northern Ireland won the game 3-2; George Best made his international debut in the same game. Jennings played his final international game on his 41st birthday, having returned to Tottenham Hotspur six months earlier, playing in their reserve side to maintain his match sharpness. This game was Northern Ireland's final group game in the 1986 World Cup, and was against Brazil, Brazil won the game 3-0. This was Jennings's second World Cup, he had previously played in the 1982 World Cup.

Retirement

Following his retirement Jennings has worked as a goalkeeping coach. He has worked at Tottenham in this capacity since 1993. In 2003 Jennings was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of the skills he demonstrated in the English league.

His son, also named Pat, is also a goalkeeper. He has played for Eircom League clubs UCD and is playing for Derry.

Jennings now lives in Broxbourne, Herts.