Arsenal vs Spurs | Boot in both camps | Pat Jennings
Thu 21 September 2023, 17:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
Pat Jennings is somewhat of a one-off.
The best goalkeeper in the world in his pomp, 'Big Pat' crossed the divide in north London when he moved from Spurs to Arsenal in 1977.
Yet it says much about the great man that he's very much loved in N17 and N5.
Pat joined us from Watford in 1964 and won the FA Cup Cup (1967), two League Cups (1971, 1973) and the UEFA Cup (1972) in 590 appearances in all competitions before switching to Highbury. He made another 326 appearances for the Gunners between 1977-1985, lifting the FA Cup in 1979.
Pat returned briefly to Spurs in 1985, building up to the 1986 World Cup, where he played the final matches of his illustrious career. He then returned permanently as goalkeeper coach under Ossie Ardiles in 1993. Over 30 years later, he's still at the club in his role as goalkeeping consultant with our Academy, and still on the training pitches at Hotspur Way today, at the age of 78.
He remains third behind Steve Perryman (854) and Gary Mabbutt (611) in our list of all-time appearances and in addition to his four major trophies, he also famously scored against Manchester United in the 1967 Charity Shield, was named Football Writers Footballer of the Year in 1973, PFA Player of the Year in 1976 and won a then world-record 119 caps for Northern Ireland between 1964-86.
Pat has spoken to us many times over the years about what the derby means to him and meant to the team under Bill Nicholson - here's a fascinating insight from all the way back in 2002...
"It was always the fixture that Bill Nicholson said if we were only going to win two games all season, those were the two in the season we had to win. It was the same in Bill's time as a player and something that has continued through the years. It always meant a lot to me because Bill Nicholson always said how important the derby games were, and the fact I spent so many years at the club meant it meant more to me as well.
"You know how important it is to the supporters, whatever team you play for. You can't get away from that when you live in the area. Wherever you go for up to two weeks beforehand people are starting to talk about it and the whole build up to the match takes over."
On his move in 1977, Pat explained that it looked like he was on his way to Ipswich Town...
"I was surplus to requirements when I left," he said."I was going to Ipswich but unfortunately for Trevor Whymark (Ipswich player), he broke his leg in a pre-season game in Holland and Bobby Robson rang me back to say that he had to buy an outfield player instead.
"Arsenal went well for me. There was an Irish connection there (Northern Ireland colleagues Pat Rice and Sammy Nelson), that helped. We had great times, four cup finals in my first three years, fantastic times for me when I was supposed to be finished. I can remember going to Arsenal a year before that, as a Spurs player, when I was Footballer of the Year and got a fantastic reception. I've always got a good welcome. Most people realise that I'm a Tottenham man through and through, but I would never criticise Arsenal."
