Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings said he "never dreamed" his home city of Newry would put up a statue in his honour, but that he is humbled and delighted that it is being worked on.
A local group, Friends of Big Pat, held a gala ball on Sunday night at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry to pay tribute to the former NI, Arsenal and Spurs goalkeeper.
"I can't imagine it being anywhere else other than in my hometown," he told Belfast Live.
Read more: Pat Jennings set to be immortalised with statue in his home city
"Lots of people get statues put up around their clubs and that, but I mean to have this in the middle of Newry will be fantastic, I can't believe it really.
"My wife and I have been back to Newry every year, right through The Troubles, back from about 1962 or 1963.
"That's how much it means to me, I haven't missed a year and I could have been anywhere else in the world at that time, but no, I wanted to go home."
The man with the famously large hands is currently building a house on the site of his grandmother's former homeplace in Newry, such is his connection to his home city.
The 77-year-old's place in Northern Irish football history and hearts is assured with a record 119 caps for his country and his honours list at club level is equally impressive with two FA Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA cup to his name among many individual honours as well.
The statue will stand at over 7ft eventually and fans will have the chance to place their hands in a mould of Pat's at the base of the statue.
He said he had got a preview of the work that is being carried out on the statue by sculptor Andy Edwards and was pleased.
"I was up and met the artist a couple of weeks ago in Wales where it's being made, and saw the whole setup and how it's being made," he said.
"There's a lot of people working on it and that was an experience in itself, I got measured up, face measurements and all that and he's got lots of photos of me.
"There's lots of photos of me down through the years but to have a statue is something special.
"It was a brilliant lookalike at the much smaller model, so whenever we get to the life size, it'll be really interesting.
"The lad that's making it has great experience, with working on The Beatles, Sir Alex Ferguson and a lot of famous footballers from the past."
Radio presenter and fellow Newry man Kevin McAllister is one of the committee members for Friends of Big Pat, and a driving force behind recognising one of Newry's most famous sons.
"He's a prime example to young people who at the age of 15, 16 was cutting down trees in Killeavy with his father and went on to achieve all his goals," he said.
"He went across to Watford and worked so hard, climbed the ladder and became one of the world's best goalkeepers, it's a testament to his hard work too.
"And to have that statue for some young person who maybe has low self-esteem, I think they can see that statue and it mightn't necessarily be sport but whatever field they want to excel in, it shows that hard work can get you there."
The Gala Ball on Sunday marked an opportunity to raise funds towards the committee's £100,000 target for the project and Kevin said it went off perfectly.
There was a special song penned for Pat by Tommy Sands, with the great and good of NI sport present as well as tributes from some old friends.
"There were several video appearances, Paddy Kielty was in there, Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa (former Spurs players), Liam Brady, the current NI manager Michael O'Neill and Phil Coulter all paid tribute to Pat," he said.
"Everybody had a fantastic time and we were still going at 3.30am in the morning.
"We had Paddy Reilly, Dana, Red Hurley and Seamy McPeake from Belfast and they all got up and sang.
"We had people from all walks of life, from hurling, Gaelic football, football and rugby, then we had clergy from the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church so it was a real cross-community effort.
"We had the NI Football Supporters Club Newry section there too and David Hanna from the Ulster Scots played the pipes as Pat came into the room so that was something to see."
He said Pat's contribution was particularly recognised within the realms of football but that he had done so much more for Newry and people across the island of Ireland.
The former goalkeeper has been involved with over 30 years of peacebuilding work with all-island charity Cooperation Ireland and has been recognised several times in Honours Lists, most recently being honoured with a CBE.
"Pat lobbied for Newry to get city status and his work with Co-operation Ireland, he's raised over £2m for it, that was one of the key things Liam Brady said, he said he'd never forget the work he had done with Co-operation Ireland.
"He epitomises what we should be doing in Northern Ireland, working cross-community, getting on with it and making it a better country."
Planning work continues for the statue, which will be placed in Newry city centre, and Kevin McAllister said the committee has been united in their goal.
"It's a fantastic team that have really put their shoulder to the wheel to get it across the line.," he said.
"To do this, it has to be a team effort and I'm conscious that I'm speaking on behalf of them here too, because it has taken such a great effort from everyone.
"We're looking forward to unveiling the statue, if all goes to plan as we still have to get planning permission, but if all goes to plan we're hoping for September in Newry."
To find out more about the work being done by the Friends of Big Pat committee, you can visit their website.
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