From the Meadow to White Hart Lane via Highbury, Spain and Mexico, in the words of folk singer Tommy Sands, there was ‘no need to fear, big Pat Jennings is here’.
Newry’s most famous son returned to his native city on Wednesday to unveil a statue in his honour and not even a last-minute health scare could prevent the goalkeeping great from attending the ceremony.
As dependable between the sticks as he is off it, Pat Jennings walked through a guard of honour made up of the soccer and Gaelic football teams from his former school, St Joseph’s High School, before pulling the cover off an imposing bronze statue, expertly crafted by sculpture Andy Edwards, in front of the people of Newry, as well as family, friends and other former greats of the game.
In a ceremony compered by BBC NI’s Stephen Watson, Liam Brady, Gerry Armstrong and Ledley King all paid tribute to a man regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and the proceedings were rounded off by a specially penned tune by Tommy Sands celebrating big Pat’s career.
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The current head boy of St Joseph’s High School Leigh Fulton also addressed the gathering, acknowledging what an inspiration Pat had been for everyone at the school.
The playing fields in the city’s Meadow area – which now bear his name - is where it all began for a man who went on to win 119 caps for Northern Ireland, playing in two World Cups, and with huge distinction for both Tottenham and Arsenal.
The plinth of the statue is adorned with a list of Pat’s achievements in the game, as well as the imprints of those huge trademark hands, but he has also garnered huge acclaim off the field, raising over £2 million for charity over the years.
His prowess with the ball in hand was honed playing Gaelic football for Newry Shamrocks but it was while playing for Newry Town that saw him catch the eye of English football scouts and the fresh-faced teenager was soon making a trip into the unknown to play for Watford.
He moved to Tottenham in 1964, winning the FA Cup (1967), League Cup (1971) and UEFA Cup (1972) in a spell with the club which saw him make a total of 591 appearances, the most by any goalkeeper at the club and third overall.
A move to Arsenal didn’t diminish his popularity across north London, and he went on to spend eight years at Highbury, winning the 1979 FA Cup.
He was named Football Writers Player of the Year in 1973 and received the PFA Player of the Year Award in 1976, becoming the first goalkeeper to have won both awards.
Only Steven Davis has won more international caps, with Jennings winning 119 caps in a Northern Ireland career that began in 1964 and ended in the 1986 at the World Cup in Mexico, his last appearance coming against Brazil.
“I’ve watching other people have statues unveiled to them and never though it would ever happen to me” Jennings said.
“Having said that, I’ve had an unbelievable career in football. Having left here as a 17-year-old to play for Watford, I never dreamt I’d be back here over 60 years later unveiling a statue,” said a typically modest.
“I love the place, I love every opportunity I have to be back home. I’m lucky to have great family and friends here over the years.
“This is my home city and I wouldn’t have wanted it anywhere else. I was lucky enough, where football started for me out in the Meadow, to have that named Jennings Park in 1976 and I’ve really been proud and everywhere I go, I’ve never missed an opportunity to acknowledge that.”
The statue sits in the shadow of Newry Town Hall, just yards away from where last week’s floods devastated businesses in the area. It is hoped that visitors to the statue and the inspiration ‘big Pat’ brings to the town will see brighter days ahead.
