On February 26, 1983 Pat Jennings became the first man in English football to make 1000 first team appearances when he turned out for Arsenal against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, and as you would expect from one of the greatest ‘keepers of his generation the big Irishman kept a clean sheet.
Born in Newry, Co. Down, Jennings was a giant of a man whose huge hands were some of the safest in the game during a career that saw him play for Watford, Tottenham and Arsenal. He would also become the most capped player for Northern Ireland at the time; making 119 appearances and even scoring direct from a goal kick in the 1967 FA Charity Shield against Manchester United.
Beginning at Shamrock Rovers at the age of 11, Jennings concentrated on Gaelic football until he was 16, returning to Newry Town and impressing with his hometown team before moving to Third Division Watford in May 1963.
In his first season in England Jennings played every league game for The Hornets while also making his debut for Northern Ireland in the same game that George Best made his international bow and it wasn’t long before First Division Tottenham Hotspur pounced to capture his services in 1964 for £27,000.
Jennings played 591 games for Spurs in 13 years at the club, winning the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973, and the UEFA Cup in 1972. In 1973 he was named Player of the Year by the Football Writers' Association and won the PFA's version of the award three years after that; making him the first goalkeeper to receive the award.
One of his most memorable moments came in the Charity Shield of 1967 when his long clearance bounced over the head of Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney and into the net for the only goal of his professional career, ensuring his place among the few stoppers who have found the net during a game.
Amazingly, in 1977, Tottenham felt that Jennings was past his best and allowed him to join North London rivals Arsenal, where he went on to enjoy another glorious eight years and whilst at Highbury reached four Cup finals in three years; the FA Cup final in 1978, 1979, and 1980, as well as the European Cup Winners Cup final the same year; proving that he still had plenty to offer.
Jennings would make an astonishing 327 appearances for Arsenal between 1977 and 1985, not bad for a man who many thought was over the hill, and celebrated becoming the first player in English football to make 1,000 senior appearances with a clean sheet in a goalless draw at West Brom.
Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings continued playing for his country for a while longer and took part in his final international game at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, which also happened to be his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest ever player having made his debut some 21 years previously.
In a career spanning some 23 years Pat Jennings played a total of 1,097 games, won two FA Cups, two League Cups, a UEFA Cup and was voted Player of the Year on two occasions but due to his warm and friendly demeanour, which gave him the reputation of being something of a gentle giant, he also won many friends throughout the game too and remains one of the most popular players among the fans of the clubs he played for; including Tottenham and Arsenal, which is no mean feat.
