webfact Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 England's World Cup-winning keeper Banks dead at 81 Soccer Football - England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks passes away - bet365 Stadium, Stoke-On-Trent, Britain - February 12, 2019 Scarves are left on a statue of Gordon Banks outside the stadium Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine STOKE-ON-TRENT, England (Reuters) - Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died at the age of 81, his former club Stoke City said on Tuesday. Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end in a car crash that cost him his sight in one eye. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game, Banks will probably be best remembered for the diving stop he made to deny Brazil's Pele at the 1970 World Cup, which later became known as the "save of the century". "It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," Banks' family said in a statement posted on Stoke's official website. "We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him." Banks played every game in the 1966 World Cup including the 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final at Wembley -- the only time England has won the world title. Four years later though, in Mexico, he produced one of the most outstanding saves in the history of the tournament in a group game in which Brazil beat England 1-0. Pele rose to head a cross from the byline by right-winger Jairzinho, thundering the header down towards Banks' right hand post. The ball appeared to be past Banks, but his agility and strength saw him get down and palm it high and wide to safety. Thirty-eight years later, Pele travelled to Stoke to unveil a statue to Banks and recalled the save. "From the moment I headed it, I was sure it had gone in," he said. "After I headed the ball, I had already began to jump to celebrate the goal. Then I looked back and I couldn't believe it hadn't gone in. I have scored more than a thousand goals in my life, and the thing people always talk to me about is the one I didn't score," he said. Banks recalled the moment modestly as a piece of good fortune. "As soon as I got my hand to it, I thought it was going in the top corner," he said. "But after I'd landed on the hard floor, I looked up and saw the ball bounce behind the net and that's when I said:Banksy, you lucky prat." The Sheffield-born Banks began his career at Chesterfield in 1958 and moved to Leicester City the following year. He won his first England cap in 1963, four years before he joined Stoke. Banks retired in 1973 following the car crash, aged only 33, but four years later he returned to play in the North American Soccer League with Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Peter Shilton, the former England goalkeeper who made a record 125 appearances for his country and like Banksplayed for Leicester and Stoke, tweeted: "I’m devastated - today Ive lost my hero our condolences to his family RIPGordon". Soon after Banks' death was announced, football fans and others began taking flowers and scarves to the life-size statue of him outside the Stoke City stadium. Some touched the statue in reverence, or wiped away tears. Around the city, where Banks is a revered figure and was often seen at charity and football events, flags were lowered at public buildings, and local radio talk-shows were inundated with calls remembering him. For some, it rankled that Banks was never awarded a knighthood. "Even though they never knighted him, he was always a Sir to us, and he always will be," said Glen Rushton, 67, leaving a wreath at the statue. The German Football Association (DFB) paid tribute to Banks on, saying on Twitter: "A fierce opponent and a good man. Rest in peace, Gordon Banks." (Reporting by Simon Evans in Manchester and Andrew Cawthorne in Stoke-on-Trent, Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly and Angus MacSwan) -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegman Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 R.I.P. Banksy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabCNesbitt Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 R.I.P. Banksy. I met him on several occasions and even stayed at his house once as I was friends with his daughter and her husband, he was always very welcoming and a pleasure to meet. A legend in Stoke and likewise for anyone who remembers the England World Cup victory in 1966 and his subsequent appearances for England in the early 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavideol Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 he was a heck of a goal keeper, always admired him and enjoyed seeing him on the field.... R.I.P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mansell Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 He didn't concede a goal till the semi-final in the 1966 WC, and they played some tough teams like Portugal with Eusabio, and Argentina. Pathetic he wasn't knighted, but then again it's who you know. I worked at Alfred Herbert's in Coventry and the chairman got knighted for creating another company, but then it went under. Did he give the knighthood back.....of course not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman34014 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Used to buy my Cup Final Tickets off of him. He used to buy them from the players who got them free and then sell them on, nice little earner after retirement. Bless you Banksy, you were the best 'Keeper ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil B Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 A true gentleman and sportsman. Came from an era when most footballers were gentlemen. R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Certainly the best goalkeeper of his era, and one of the best of all time. Did his national service with the Royal Signals, RIP Gordon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 2 hours ago, Basil B said: A true gentleman and sportsman. Came from an era when most footballers were gentlemen. R.I.P. About as good an epitaph as they come... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil B Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 9 hours ago, Mansell said: He didn't concede a goal till the semi-final in the 1966 WC, and they played some tough teams like Portugal with Eusabio, and Argentina. Pathetic he wasn't knighted, but then again it's who you know. I worked at Alfred Herbert's in Coventry and the chairman got knighted for creating another company, but then it went under. Did he give the knighthood back.....of course not. None of the 1966 England team got a knighthood other than Sir Alf Ramsey as team manager in recognition of the World Cup win. Though a number of the team Geoff Hurst & Bobby Charlton) got a Knighthood later on for other achievements. Bit of an insult when one thinks of the likes of of Sir Philip Green getting a knighthood. There again GF Newman's "The Corrupted" is a good insight in to how the honors system works. Seems plenty of Gerry Oldman's got a knighthood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evadgib Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Gordon Banks missed out on knighthood 'after Whitehall officials lost papers' EXCLUSIVE: Pals said the much-loved England goalkeeper who died this week was being considered for the summer - but it can’t be awarded posthumously https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gordon-banks-missed-out-knighthood-13996664 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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