EXCLUSIVE: Football legend Pat Jennings 'delighted' at £400,000 raised in shirt collection sale
Former Tottenham and Arsenal star Pat Jennings sells his collection of shirts and speaks of his 'delight' at huge sum raised
Football legend Pat Jennings said he was “absolutely delighted” with the huge £400,000 raised from the sale of his incredible shirt collection. It fetched double what was expected.
Jennings had told the Mirror he wouldn’t be attending the auction earlier this week. But he was stunned when he received a call afterwards to give him the final tally - far above the estimated £200,000
The former Tottenham and Arsenal goalkeeper - widely regarded as one of the best players of all time - said: “I’m really pleased with how the auction went. The final total was amazing. I’m absolutely delighted.
“I’m so pleased the shirts are now going to fans who will love and cherish them. Thanks to all who bought them.” Jennings, who is now 80, sold 165 items of football memorabilia, including many from his time at north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Bids from the UK and foreign buyers pushed the collection to double its estimated £200,000 total. And Jennings' blue 1973 Spurs v Norwich City goalkeeper's shirt sold for £33,480 - a record sum.
A jersey from the Spurs v Aston Villa 1971 League Cup final fetched £21,800, while a 1976 Northern Ireland No7 top worn by George Best made £20,600. An England cap which belonged to Jimmy Greaves went for £6,500.
On the memorabilia, Jennings said: “It is just something that has happened to me during all my years in football. I started at Watford when I was 17 and finished playing against Brazil on my 41st birthday in the World Cup Finals in Mexico so there has been a lot of years involved there.
“I was the first player to play 1000 first-class games in 1983 and finished up three years later with around 1100 games. You could imagine what that meant to be with all the players I played with and against.”
David Convery, of Budds Auctions in Wellingborough, Northants, said the sale had "continued Pat's ability to generate excitement".
He added they had been “honoured to be entrusted with selling the legendary and prized collection of Pat Jennings.”