2,055 - the finale

Three giants of Tottenham Hotspur. 10 questions.

Welcome to the 10th and final part of our special 2,055 Q&A with Steve Perryman, Gary Mabbutt and Pat Jennings, all-time Spurs greats and our top three appearance makers with 854, 611 and 590 matches respectively, a grand total of 2,055.

Over the course of the 10-part series we’ve talked to the trio about the day they signed, walking into the dressing room as youngsters, biggest influences and magic moments over their collective span of 34 years at the Club we all love - 1964-1998. What game would they love to play again? What made them proudest?

Now, over 20 years since the last of the trio retired from playing - Mabbsy in 1998 - the final part - what does Spurs mean to them?

These are our heroes, legends whose names are and will be forever indelibly linked with Tottenham Hotspur.

2,055 - part 10

What does Tottenham Hotspur mean to you?

Steve Perryman

854 appearances, 1969-86
UEFA Cup winner - 1972, 1984
FA Cup winner - 1981, 1982
League Cup winner - 1971, 1973

“It’s my life. They took me from a boy to a man, from a naïve 15-year-old to a very experienced 36-year-old. It’s about the people you meet. It’s life. Those people were as real as you could get. There were no playboys, no superstars. They were in other people's minds, but it was real life, whether you were sat in a conversation, not speaking, but listening to the gods of football speak or sitting in Tony’s Café, getting pummelled by the ground staff, it was real. Real life. Tottenham for me is real life. Ups, downs. Left, right. Tall, small. Fast, slow. Heroes, villains. It was my introduction to real life.”

Gary Mabbutt

611 appearances, 1982-1998
UEFA Cup winner - 1984
FA Cup winner - 1991

“Tottenham Hotspur has been part of my family for 38 years. I feel proud that my name has become synonymous with Tottenham Hotspur in the years I’ve been there and the joy I had playing there. It’s the boyhood dream. Could you play at the highest level? Fortunately, I got to do that for both club and country. At the end of my career, I’m still involved with the Club, still having an amazing relationship with everyone connected with the Club and the fans. My life has revolved around the Club, and that’s been since 1982.”

Pat Jennings

590 appearances, 1964-1977
FA Cup winner - 1967
UEFA Cup winner - 1972
League Cup winner - 1971, 1973

“Tottenham Hotspur has been my life. Fourteen years as a player, 13 first of all, then back for a year in 1985, leading up to Northern Ireland qualifying for the World Cup in 1986. I’ve been 26 years on the coaching staff as well now, so that’s 40 years at the Club. That’s incredible, really. After the World Cup Finals in Mexico in 1986, I hosted a box at the Lane for the next seven years for a friend of mine. I watched all the home matches in those six, seven years (1986-1993) and then when Ossie Ardiles took over as manager, he invited me back to be first team goalkeeping coach. That was my friend, Ossie. I’m still working with the Academy and still part of the Legends meet and greet team on a matchday. I’ve also had a great relationship with the fans over the years, and that’s special..”

2,055 - the series

Part one - What do you remember about the day you signed for Spurs?
Part two - What was it like stepping into the dressing room for the first time with all those greats around you?
Part three - At the start of your Spurs career, was there a defining moment when you felt you really belonged?
Part four - Bill Nicholson meant a lot to you all, and played a key role in all of your careers - do you have one abiding memory of the great man?
Part five - Who were the biggest influences in your Spurs career?
Part six - If you could turn back time and play one game again, what would it be?
Part seven - The appearances, the trophies, the glory - what are you most proud of?
Part eight - What are your top three moments at Spurs?
Part nine - You all spent years and years at Spurs - what makes the Club so special?