PAT JENNINGS-GK

Some of you may be "old enough" to understand what  "sideburns" are. Not a pretty name and some of us could never quite match the "set of sideburns" that the youthful males in our village  sported, when ever there was a Youth Dance in the village hall. I could "twist away" all night but never got to walk a gal home, because all the attraction to them, was not twisting, but seemed to be with the older chaps sporting facial hair and girls liked that, apparently. Mind you, there were some girls with sidies as well, but that's another matter. 

Pat Jennings, Spurs' very famous goalkeeper, possessed one of the greatest set of sideburns (see below) along with accompanying  "big hair" which unbelievably was all the rage a few decades ago. Jennings was a very successful goalkeeper with Arsenal and Tottenham (how he chose to cross the divide heaven knows!!) and Northern Ireland. In 1983 on this day, Pat made his 1000th appearance. 

As a youngster, Pat never benefited from proper coaching, so he relied on natural practise and therefore developed an "unorthodox" technique between "the posts". He was 6' 2" tall and had shovel-like hands, as well as being a decent athlete, so he faired well in the goal. He was one of few footballers to have "crossed the divide" in North London, moving to Arsenal after his spell at Spurs. Quite a shock!! He won 119 CAPS for his country.

Personal information
Full name	Patrick Anthony Jennings
Date of birth	12 June 1945 (age 79)
Place of birth	Newry, Northern Ireland
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1956	Shamrock Rovers (Newry)
1961–1963	Newry Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1963–1964	Watford	48	(0)
1964–1977	Tottenham Hotspur	472	(0)
1977–1985	Arsenal	237!!	(0)
1985–1986	Tottenham Hotspur	0	(0)
1986	Everton	0	(0)
Total		757	(0)
International career
1964–1986	Northern Ireland	119	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jennings spent thirteen years at White Hart Lane, where he played in 472 league games for Spurs, and 591 matches in all competitions. He helped win 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 FA Charity Shield, from his own area!! kicking the ball from his hands and sending a large punt down the field that bounced over "rival" England, the Manchester United goalkeeper, Alex Stepney and into 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 – he was the first goalkeeper to receive this accolade, and to this date remains only one of two, along with Peter Shilton.

Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings played his final international game at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, on his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest-ever participant until Roger Milla broke his record at 42 in 1994.

Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings played his final international game at the 1986 Wiorld Cup on his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest-ever participant until Roger Mila broke his record at 42 in 1994. He is still associated with Spurs and hosts Corporate Hospitality fans in the Pat Jennings' Lounges at White Hart Lane and Windsor Park, Belfast.