Pat Jennings

Patrick Anthony Jennings (born 12 June 1945 ) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is widely recognised as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport and was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 1973, 1975 and 1985.

He played 119 international matches for Northern Ireland in an international career which lasted for over 22 years. During his career, Jennings played for Newry Town, Watford and in the top division with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, winning the FA Cup with both of the north London rivals. In total, Jennings made over 1,100 competitive appearances, and despite being a goalkeeper, he scored from play in the 1967 FA Charity Shield.

Club career Newry Town & Watford After playing for a local under-18 side in Newry at the age of 11 (named Shamrock Rovers, not to be confused with the Dublin club of the same name), Jennings concentrated on Gaelic football until he was sixteen years old, when he made his football comeback with his hometown side Newry Town. After impressing with the team he moved to English Third Division side Watford in May 1963. Jennings again impressed in his first season in England, playing every league game for his club, and making two international appearances that season. He was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £27,000 in June 1964. he was transferred to Tottenham's arch-rivals, Arsenal, with Tottenham, who had just been relegated, 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 four Cup finals in three successive years; the FA Cup final in 1978, 1979, and 1980, as well as the European Cup Winners Cup final that year. 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. Jennings played his final game in the league for Arsenal against Sheffield Wednesday on 25 November 1984, and he was eventually replaced by John Lukic as the first choice keeper. A farewell match for Jennings was played against Tottenham Hotspur 8 May 1985 at Highbury.

Later career After his retirement, Jennings returned to Tottenham Hotspur, playing mostly in their reserve side to maintain his match sharpness for Northern Ireland's 1986 World Cup campaign. His final appearance for Tottenham was in the Football League Super Cup against Liverpool in January 1986. He was also briefly on Everton's books, having been signed as goalkeeping cover for the 1986 FA Cup final against Liverpool after Neville Southall was injured playing for Wales. They have four children: Mairead, Siobhan, Ciara and Patrick Junior, a goalkeeper. Jennings is Catholic.

Honours Jennings was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to association football in the 1976 Birthday Honours; he was promoted to Officer of the same Order (OBE) in the 1987 New Year Honours for services to football, particularly in Northern Ireland, and promoted further to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to association football and charity. On 8 November 2023, Jennings unveiled a statue in his honour in Kildare Street, Newry.

Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup: 1966–67 Football League Cup: 1970–71, 1972–73 FA Charity Shield: 1967 UEFA Cup: 1971–72

Arsenal FA Cup: 1978–79; runner-up: 1977–78, 1979–80

Northern Ireland British Home Championship: 1979–80, 1983–84

Individual Rothman's Golden Boots Awards: 1973, 1974 FWA Footballer of the Year: 1972–73 Ballon d'Or nominee: 1973, 1975, 1985