NOT many people get to see themselves lionised in bronze in their hometown during their lifetime.
Celebrated goalkeeper Pat Jennings is one of the very few, having returned to Newry last November for the unveiling of a sizeable statue – given pride of place close to the Town Hall – capturing him in a classic pose.
His storied senior club career got under way, aged 16, at Newry Town, and took in a stopover at Watford before he enjoyed lengthy spells at North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, whilst his international career spanned decades, earning him 119 Northern Ireland caps.
Jennings’ final match between the sticks – in Guadalajara during the 1986 Mexico World Cup – saw him line out against a Brazil side that included the legendary Zico, Sócrates and Careca, and ended in a not unsurprising 3-0 defeat.
However, it was a series of epic matches from the beginning of the custodian’s life in football 65 years ago, in more familiar surroundings, that caught the eye during a recent visit to the Mourne Observer archives – the 1959 Newcastle and District Cup final and the two replays that were ultimately needed to separate Jennings’ Newry United and Annalong Rangers.
The first clash, which was described by this paper as a “thrilling game”, took place in Newcastle on Easter Monday (30 March 1959), and finished 2-2.
It had drawn what was “probably one of the largest crowds seen at Donard Park for a soccer match since its opening”, and spectators had witnessed “thrills, spills and near-misses at both ends”, despite the pitch being “a real glue pot”.
The match was goalless at half-time, Newry having had “about three-quarters of the attacking play, but their forwards just could not find the net”.
Jennings – just months shy of his 14th birthday, having debuted in senior football at the age of 11 – had been largely untroubled by that point, but that wasn’t to last for long in the second half.
“In one of their breakaways, Annalong were awarded yet another free on the edge of the penalty box, and Rodgers, with a well-placed shot, found the roof of the net,” the match report read.
“Jennings made a gallant but vain effort to save, the ball just passing over his outstretched hands.”
Newry equalised through Cassidy, netting the rebound after his penalty had been saved by Annalong’s keeper Hamilton, and then took the lead when Savage made no mistake with his team’s second penalty of the match.
With time ticking away, Annalong looked “booked for their first defeat of the season”.
“However, a game is never lost nor won till the final whistle, and, in another breakaway, inside-right McBirney sent the Annalong fans wild with delight when, with about five minutes left for play, he scored an equaliser following a goalmouth scramble,” the match report added.
It was “a grand finish to a grand game”.
The Mourne Observer’s photographer was on hand to capture the blurry goalbound ball that ensured a replay (the published snap included a painted on arrow to help readers decipher it), but, unfortunately, the photo did not include the future goalkeeping legend it had flown past.
“Who were the stars?” the match report concluded.
“Well, on the Newry side, every man played his part, and while it may be unfair to single anyone out, special mention must be made of goalkeeper Jennings and left-half Cromwell, who was definitely the best wing-half afield.
“For Annalong, Hamilton, right-back McBirney, centre-half Reilly (who gets a five-star rating), inside-right Rodgers and outside-left Newell were best.”
In its 22 May 1959 edition, the Mourne Observer reported that two replays had taken place over the previous week.
The first (16 May) had finished 1-1 after extra-time, necessitating the second replay on the evening of Wednesday 20 May.
The match report for this game said that it was “played in ideal conditions”.
Annalong started on the front foot, forcing a corner in the first minute, which “Jennings was lucky to gather at the second attempt”.
“After 14 minutes, Johnston put Annalong in the lead with a powerful 30-yard drive – a magnificent effort,” the article read.
Newry equalised just before half-time “through centre-forward Halliday, following a disputed corner on the left”.
For 20 minutes after the break, “Newry clicked into gear and played delightful football”, but “it was Annalong’s quick tackling defenders who came out on top”.
“Just when it seemed that Newry must score, Annalong, for the second time, took the lead,” the report continued.
“This followed a series of quick attacks on the Newry goal, when outside-left Newell, now playing like a man inspired, lobbed a shot goalwards.
“The ball dropped just underneath the bar, and right-back Green, in attempting to head clear, put the ball into his own net.
“After this, Newry went to pieces, and Annalong, using the long ball to advantage, attacked till the final whistle.”
The victory, coming after an exciting and unpredictable three-match marathon, secured Annalong’s fourth honour of the season, something team manager George Cousins described as “an incredible record”, and the cup was presented to captain Ronnie Purdy by Mr R Dalzell, vice-chairman of the Newcastle League.
Newry United were “probably a little unlucky to lose, but they’ve only themselves to blame”, given their inability to “press home their midfield superiority”, the Mourne Observer reported.
However, the team’s young goalkeeper would go on to greater things, and eventually have a statue erected in his honour.