Pat Jennings

Pat Jennings

Pat with former Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham

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Former Northern Ireland international and Spurs and Arsenal goalkeeping legend, Pat Jennings - who won an astonishing 119 international caps and who was voted Footballer of the Year in 1973 - is Colm Keane's guest on Ireland's Soccer Top 20, Friday 3 December, 7.02pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

Star of Northern Ireland's World Cup exploits in 1982 and 1986, Pat Jennings made his way in 1963 from Newry Town to Watford in the old Third Division. Soon he was on his way to Spurs and later to Arsenal, where he experienced UEFA CUP, FA Cup and League Cup success.

Playing at a time of widespread violence in English soccer, Pat gives a remarkable insight on the programme to the dangers facing goalkeepers in the 1970s and 1980s.

"I've had everything thrown at me from door handles to snooker balls to beer bottles," Pat says on the programme.  "They even used coins with the edges sanded down like razor blades.  If they had hit you they would have split you and cut you to bits.  I played in a game at Everton one afternoon and a Coca-Cola bottle hit me bang on the top of the head. "I was playing at Nottingham Forest one afternoon and I went nine or ten yards out of my goal to get a back-pass.  Next thing I felt something going into my arm.  When I looked down there was a dart stuck full-length into my arm.  Thankfully, all that side of it is gone now."

Throughout his career, Pat Jennings became one of the most highly respected goalkeepers and is regarded by many as the finest net-minder in the history of the game.

"I've never seen a goalkeeper make a save that I didn't think I was capable of making.  I'd been brought up in Gaelic football.  Crosses into the box, which seem to be a problem for loads of goalkeepers nowadays, were just ten-a-penny for me. "I'm just grateful for the career that I've had.  It's nice that wherever you go throughout the world, people recognise you on the streets.  They recognise you and want an autograph and it's a pleasure to be able to give them an autograph and have a chat about football."

The story of Pat Jennings - who played at the highest level for 24 years - can be heard on Ireland's Soccer Top 20, Friday 3 December, 7.02-7.30pm on RTÉ Radio 1.