Pat Jennings: Inside the Collection of a Goalkeeping Great

The Making of a Goalkeeper

Newry, County Down. Cold mornings, rough pitches, a young lad with big hands learning how to read the flight of the ball before anyone ever taught him. 

Pat Jennings’ early football was improvised and instinctive - part Gaelic, part street football, all timing and nerve.

His performances for Newry Town soon drew the attention of Watford, where his composure and timing quickly marked him out. He didn’t dive for effect or shout to command attention; he simply made goalkeeping look simple. Spurs noticed.

Thirteen Years at Tottenham

When Bill Nicholson signed him for Tottenham Hotspur in 1964, Jennings was still only 18 but already carried himself with the authority of a veteran. Within months, he was first choice.

Over 13 seasons he played more than 590 games, winning the FA Cup in 1967, and the League Cups in 1971 and 1973. He gave Tottenham what every side needs - security.

By the late 1960s, he had become far more than Tottenham’s dependable No. 1 - he was redefining what the position meant. In 1967, the same year Spurs lifted the FA Cup, he was named Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, a rare honour for a goalkeeper. 

That same year brought one of football’s strangest moments. In the Charity Shield at Old Trafford, Jennings caught the ball, kicked long, and watched it bounce over Alex Stepney and into the Manchester United goal. It was his only career goal, replayed ever since.

Jennings stayed at Spurs for over a decade, calm and unchanged as managers and players came and went. 

Crossing North London

In 1977, Jennings left Tottenham for Arsenal - a move that raised eyebrows but never changed the respect he was held in.

He went on to play more than 300 games for the Gunners, including three straight FA Cup Finals (1978-1980) and the 1980 Cup Winners’ Cup Final. The shirt was different, the standards weren’t.

At Arsenal, as at Spurs, his consistency never slipped. But while London defined his club career, his heart - and his loyalty - always stayed with Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s Constant

Born in Newry, County Down, Jennings was 19 when he made his debut for Northern Ireland in 1964.  He stayed in goal for more than two decades., earning 119 caps - a record at the time.

He played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, helping Northern Ireland reach the last 16 in Spain before leading the side again in Mexico.

His final match came against Brazil, on his 41st birthday, in the heat of Guadalajara. Northern Ireland lost 3-0, but it was a fitting end - a goalkeeper from Newry facing Zico, Socrates, and Careca on the world stage.

The Pat Jennings Collection

Off the pitch, Jennings was known for his modesty and respect for others. He spoke warmly of teammates and opponents alike - from George Best to Jimmy Greaves - and it showed in the friendships he built across the game. Many of those connections are reflected in the shirts he kept and swapped after matches that mattered.

The Pat Jennings Collection brings them together: his FA Cup Final shirts for both Tottenham and Arsenal, his 100th international shirt, and swap shirts from Best, Liam Brady, Dino Zoff, and Gary Bailey.

It’s football history in fabric form - reminders of a career that spanned more than 20 years and earned the respect of players everywhere he went. Jennings didn’t need to shout to be remembered. He simply loved the game, and people still talk about him.

Under the hammer on October 15th 

Pat has chosen to sell now so he can share the proceeds with his family and free up space at home.

He’s kept the medals and personal awards that matter most - the FA Cup and League Cup medals, his PFA trophies - but he wanted the rest of the collection to be seen again.

Many of the shirts have spent years in storage. Some were returned to him after Tottenham Hotspur removed them from their museum. Jennings felt they should be appreciated by the fans who remember the games, not hidden away.

 Our Head of Sporting Memorabilia, David Convery, said:

“We are honoured to be entrusted with selling the legendary and prized collection of Pat Jennings. We hope that this single-owner auction will offer many different collectors the opportunity to own a part of history from one of the greatest goalkeepers in football’s history. We look forward to displaying the collection in full and welcoming many fans and seasoned buyers to our saleroom in Wellingborough. A record-breaking goalkeeper, both internationally and domestically, Pat continues to generate admiration both on and off the field.”

It’s rare for a player of Jennings’ stature to open his archive to the public. 

This sale does that - giving supporters the chance to see, and own, the shirts and mementoes that tell his story.

The Pat Jennings Collection will be auctioned at BUDDS on 15 October.