GORDON BANKS Born: 30th December 1937 in Tamworth (Staffordshire). Position: Goalkeeper. Caps: England 73 (1963-1972) League Games: England 487 (1958-1972) USA 39 (1977-1978) Domestic Cup Games English Cup 29 International Club Cup Games: European Cup Winners’ Cup 4 (1961) UEFA Cup 1 (1972) European Footballer of the Year: 1966 (14th), 1970 (8th), 1972 (7th) English Footballer of the Year: 1972 (Footballer Writes’ Player of the Year) Clubs Millspout Steelworks FC (1953-1954) Rawmarsh Welfare (1954-1955) Chesterfield FC (1955-1959) Leicester City FC (1959-1967) Stoke City FC (1967-1973) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977-1978) Trophies won: World Cup: 1966 English Champion: - English runner-up: - English Cup winner: - English Cup runner-up: 1961, 1963 English League Cup winner: 1964, 1972 English League Cup runner-up: 1965 World Cup Participation: 1966, 1970 European Championship Participation: 1968, 1972 Gordon Banks will forever be remembered as one of England’s footballing immortals and is regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper of all time. He was born in Sheffield in 1937 and joined Chesterfield at the age of 15. Although he did not make his league debut until the age of 20, his potential was clear and in the summer of 1959 Leicester City swooped for the youngster in a £7,000 move. His first season saw Leicester fight off relegation and maintain their place in the first division. The second was a season of real progress as Leicester finished 6th and reached the final of the FA Cup. Despite dominating the early exchanges, Leicester were eventually beaten 2-0 by a wonderful Spurs team (the first to do the double in the twentieth century). In 1963 Banks won his first cap for England in a 2-1 defeat at home to Scotland. This was another season of mixed fortunes for Banks and Leicester as they finished 5th and again reached the final of the FA Cup. This time they lost 3-1 to Manchester United and Banks was himself at fault for two of the goals. However, the next year Banks and Leicester won the league Cup defeating Stoke in the final. In 1966 came Banks’ (and English sport’s) finest hour. Banks did not concede a goal as England topped a group containing Uruguay, Mexico and France. In the quarter final England faced Argentina, in a match widely remembered for the actions of Argentine captain Antonio Rattin. After the game Alf Ramsay described the Argentines as “animals”, but England won the game 1-0 despite the distraction and advanced to the semi-final. In the semis England faced Portugal who had already scored 14 goals and were lead by Eusebio, the tournament’s leading striker. Despite the best efforts of the Portuguese they were kept quiet by an excellent England defence. Bobby Charlton scored a goal in each half and although Portugal scored through a Eusebio penalty (ending Banks record of 7 straight clean sheets) it was not enough and England were in the World Cup final. It was to be a memorable affair. England fell behind after just 12 minutes to a goal from Haller. However, Hurst and Peters gave England the lead until, with just a minute to go, Weber equalised to force extra-time. In the first half of extra-time Hurst hit the ball into the underside of the bar and as it bounced down the only question was whether the ball had crossed the line or not. The goal was given and Hurst hit a thunderous 4th in the final minute to secure the World Cup and the first ever World Cup final hat-trick. In 1967 Banks joined Stoke City (turning down Liverpool) for £52,000. Leicester were fortunate they had a young Peter Shilton in reserve. In 1968 England finished 3rd at the European Championships, their best ever finish, after losing 1-0 to Yugoslavia in a bad tempered semi-final that saw Alan Mullery become the first England player to be sent off . In the 3rd place play-off they beat the USSR 2-0 with goals from Charlton and Hurst. One of the highlights of 1969 was England’s tour of Latin America in which they drew 0-0 with mexico and beat Uruguay before travelling to Rio. There they faced a Brazil side without Pele, but who still put up a stern test. Banks saved a penalty from Carlos Alberto but Brazil beat the World Champions 2-1. The two teams were to renew their acquaintance at the following year’s World Cup finals in Mexico. England beat Romania 1-0 in their opening game while Brazil defeated Czechoslovakia. The game between the two sides (who between them had won the last 3 World Cups) was billed as the final that might have been and it more than lived up to expectation. In the first half Jairzinho hit the by-line and centred the ball for Pele who headed powerfully towards the bottom corner. It appeared a certain goal to everyone except Banks who somehow managed to turn the ball over the bar. David Coleman (and the rest of the watching world) was almost speechless with wonder at what many regard as the most miraculous save ever. Brazil ended up winning the game 1-0 through a Jairzinho goal but Banks’ moment lived on. After beating the Czechs 1-0 in the final group game, England faced West Germany in the quarter final. Banks was sick though before the match and had to be replaced by Peter Bonnetti who was rather unfairly blamed for all of Germany’s goals as England crashed out 3-2. In 1972 Banks won the League Cup, Stoke City’s first ever trophy. Banks had played a vital role, saving Geoff hurst’s extra time penalty in the semi-final to force a replay. He was also named the Football Writers’ Player of the Year, a rare accolade for a goalkeeper. However, in August 1972 banks was involved in a car crash and lost sight in his right eye, he tried to continue but was unable in England. So in 1977 he joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and was named most valuable goalkeeper in his first season, before returning to England to manage Telford United. Gordon Banks was more than just a great goalkeeper, he was the rock on which England’s greatest side was built. With Banks at the back the team had a confidence which flowed through from centre back to centre forward. It takes a special sort of player to instill that sort of confidence, and Banks was that sort of man. He was the model on which great English goal keepers from Clemence to Shilton have modelled themselves on ever since. He was a man who could achieve the spectacular (the save from Pele) but was also very consistent, he had 35 clean sheets in 73 caps and only lost 9 times. Had he not suffered a tragedy when he had so much more to give, Banks might even beat Shilton, his England successor in caps. League Statistics per Season Season - Club - Games – Goals [ Caps / Goals ] 1958/59 Leicester City FC.............3rd Division 1959/60 Leicester City FC.............32 / 00 1960/61 Leicester City FC.............40 / 00 1961/62 Leicester City FC.............41 / 00 1962/63 Leicester City FC.............38 / 00 [ 4 / 0 ] 1963/64 Leicester City FC.............36 / 00 [ 8 / 0 ] 1964/65 Leicester City FC.............38 / 00 [ 6 / 0 ] 1965/66 Leicester City FC.............32 / 00 [14 / 0 ] 1966/67 Leicester City FC.............36 / 00 [ 4 / 0 ] 1966/67 Stoke City FC..................04 / 00 1967/68 Stoke City FC..................39 / 00 [ 6 / 0 ] 1968/69 Stoke City FC..................30 / 00 [ 6 / 0 ] 1969/70 Stoke City FC..................38 / 00 [10 / 0 ] 1970/71 Stoke City FC..................39 / 00 [ 5 / 0 ] 1971/72 Stoke City FC..................36 / 00 [ 6 / 0 ] 1972/73 Stoke City FC..................08 / 00 1977.... Fort Lauderdale Strikers....28 / 00 1978.... Fort Lauderdale Strikers....11 / 00 International Club Games 1961/62 Leicester City FC..EC2.....04 / 00 1972/73 Stoke City FC......EC3......01 / 00
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