And Pat Jennings recalled: �Even when I left school and got a job, I always handed the pay-packet to my mother. She would give me five or ten shillings to spend. That feeling of pulling my weight in the family was enough in those days. I don�t expect that todays� teenagers would understand.

�I was simply lucky that soccer opened up a new way of life. But though I was suddenly `rich` when I arrived at Watford, I was so overcome by homesickness that many a night I swore that I would pack up and return to Ireland. Only a love of football, and the fact that manager Stan Berry and his wife did so much to make me feel at home, that I stuck it out.�

Pat explained: �It wasn�t until she decided to go solo and came to London, that we got a chance to see more of each other. While she was appearing at the Palladium, we announced our engagement. Her agent thought that the publicity would be helpful. When the telegrams came pouring in, we hadn�t the heart to tell our friends that it was only a `trial run.`

�Though Eleanor had a contract with Decca, and made several records, she didn�t care for the life-style, singing in night-clubs, and gave up her career on marriage. We have a son, Patrick and three daughters, Siobhan, Ciara and Mairead.�

Transferred to Spurs, whose manager was Bill Nicholson, Pat was critical of the club�s treatment of Nicholson, who had served the club for 34 years, but whose resignation was accepted after a lean spell.

�My own story at Spurs did not have the happiest ending. Nobody was more shocked than me when Spurs decided to let me go after 13 seasons, opting for Barry Owens, who was six years younger. When I was saying goodbye to the players, who were leaving for Sweden, the directors trooped past me without a word of greeting. It was as though I didn�t exist.�

But Pat Jennings had the last laugh, as he went on to star with Arsenal, - who gave him �80,000 for a four-year contract, - helping to win the FA Cup. Spurs later paid �300,000 to Liverpool for Ray Clemence, who was older than Pat. Incidentally, he holds the unique record of scoring a goal. One of his lengthy kick-outs was carried by a strong wind over the head of the opposing goalie, Ray Wood of Man United, who had clashed with Peter McParland in the FA Cup Final!

Referring to the World Cup, in which the Northern Ireland squad sprang a major surprise, defeating the host nation, Spain, he commented: �I have never been prouder to have played on any side than at that moment.� Ironically, on retirement, he was recruited by Spurs as goalkeeping coach, and has also been involved in Public Relations.

Meanwhile, Peter McParland�s football career began at the Abbey CBS, where he captained a side which won the Rannafast Cup. Then came the St Mary�s team, which competed in the Newry Streets League. Other players included Eddie Campbell, Jim Carroll, Peter Keenan, Joe Fearon, Frank Bradley, Paddy Fox, Pat Casey, Robert Kelly, Patsy Hughes, R. Morgan, S. Rooney, B. Murtagh, P. McCauley, T. O�Hanlon and S. Rooney.

There followed a spell with Shamrock Rovers, managed by Ritchie Hollywood, captained by `Pa` Hollywood, with `Bugsy ` McCamley, Patsy Hughes, Joe Fearon, Robert Kelly, `Doc` Rafferty, Gerry Devine and Robert Turley, etc.

Fate stepped in when a challenge game was arranged with Dundalk Minors, who had won the FAI Minor Cup. As a result, Peter signed amateur forms with Dundalk FC. Approached by a Leeds scout, Major Buckley, he went for a trial, but home ties proved too strong. Returning to Ireland, he signed again for Dundalk.

At this stage, Aston Villa entered the scene, offering the Chapel Street prodigy the chance to play for the claret and blue. The transfer fee was fixed for �6,000; and on his first game in the first XI, he scored the winning goal. Indeed, during the 1957 FA Cup competition, he scored seven out of the 18 goals.

When `Pricker` McParland�s reign in the top rank drew to a close, he took advantage of the growing interest in soccer across the Atlantic, and later became national coach in Cyprus, along with other contracts. In 1970, he joined Glentoran as player/manager, steering the Glens to success, snatching the Irish League title from Linfield, managed by his former International teammate, Billy Bingham.

Finally, Peter established a sports business in Bournemouth, but has returned frequently to his hometown. Recently, the superstar has been visiting his sons, who reside in Australia and Japan.

Incidentally, the intriguing situation could have arisen whereby, if Peter and Pat had continued playing Gaelic football, they would have been in the Down squads of the 60�s. What a devastating line-out it would have been, with Pat Jennings in goals, and Peter McParland joining Sean O�Neill, Paddy Doherty and James McCartan in the attack. The Mournemen would have ruled the roost throughout that decade!

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