Gordon Banks OBE (born December 30, 1937) is a former English footballer, elected in a poll by the IFFHS as the second best goalkeeper of the 20th Century.^[1] Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) is an organisation that chronicles the history of football. ... A football goalkeeper leaves the ground to parry a shot on goal In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, or goalie in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the goal. ...

Banks' was a member of the England national team that won the 1966 World Cup. He is also acknowledged by FIFA to have made one of the finest saves in the history of the World Cup, at the 1970 tournament, against Pelé of Brazil.^[2] First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... 1966 was a year of triumph for the host nation, England, which won in a controversial final beating West Germany 4-2. ... The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, known worldwide by its acronym FIFA, is the international governing body of Football (soccer) and the largest sporting organization in the world. ... Qualifying countries The 1970 Football World Cup was held in Mexico, from May 31 to June 21. ... Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player. ...

Early years

Banks, born in Sheffield, was a careful student of goalkeepers during childhood. Banks played in local colliery football as a boy and was offered an apprenticeship by Chesterfield after initially going to work as a coal bagger and then as a bricklayer on leaving school. For other articles with similar names, see Sheffield (disambiguation). ... Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ... If youre looking for the TV show, see The Apprentice. ... Chesterfield Football Club are an English football team currently playing in Football League One. ... Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar. ...

After performances in the youth and A teams gained him promotion to the reserves, Banks was posted to Germany with the Royal Signals on National Service, winning the Rhine Cup with his regimental team. On his return he was offered a full-time contract by the Chesterfield manager, Ted Davison. National Service in the 20th century referred primarily to conscription for military service. ...

He reached the two-legged FA Youth Cup final with Chesterfield in 1956, losing 4-3 on aggregate to the Manchester United team of the famous Busby Babes. He made his debut for the first team at home in November 1958 against Colchester United in the newly formed Third Division. He played just 23 games for the club before First Division Leicester City offered Chesterfield 7,000 pounds in the summer of 1959. The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under-18 sides. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Manchester United Football Club is a world famous English football club. ... Sir Matthew William Busby, CBE (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United F.C. during the 1950s and 1960s. ... Leicester City Football Club, (also known as The Foxes) are an English professional football club based in the city of Leicester. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom Inflation 2. ...

Banks' career started to rise rapidly from hereon in. After 4 games for the reserves, he replaced the injured Dave McLaren for his Leicester City debut in a 1-1 draw against Blackpool on 9 September 1959 and retained his place for the 2-0 defeat against Newcastle 3 days later. With McLaren fit again, Banks was sent back to the reserves but, after the first team conceded 14 goals in the next 5 games, he was recalled and became the first-choice goalie for the remainder of the season. September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1961, Leicester City beat Sheffield United to reach the FA Cup final at Wembley, the first of three they would manage that decade. Their opponents were Tottenham Hotspur, who were a cut above everyone else having won the First Division title with ease and style. Banks played well, but with the right back Len Chalmers carrying an injury, was powerless to prevent second half goals from Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson giving Spurs a 2-0 win and the first "double" of the 20th century. Note: for the full results of all FA Cup finals, see FA Cup Final The FA Cup - this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... Wembley Stadium is a football stadium located in Wembley, London. ... This is a list of decades which have articles with more information about them. ... Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are an English football club, which play in the FA Premier League. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ... Robert Alfred Smith (born 22 February 1933, Skelton) was an English footballer. ...

At the time, Ron Springett was the goalkeeper for England, but after the 1962 World Cup in Chile, a new coach was appointed in former England right back Alf Ramsey. Ramsey demanded sole control of team and began looking towards the next World Cup. He knew that he just needed to find a squad for the final stages as England were hosting the event and didn't need to undergo a qualifying campaign. In goal, Banks was checked out by Ramsey for the first time in April 1963 against Scotland at Wembley. Though England lost 2-1, Banks gained plaudits and Ramsey was pleased with him. He played in 13 of the next 15 internationals, including a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Ron Springett born July 22, 1935 in Fulham, England played as a football goalkeeper for Sheffield Wednesday, QPR and England. ... In 1962 the Football World Cup returned to the continent of South America. ... Sir Alfred Ernest Ramsey (born January 22, 1920 in Dagenham, Essex; died April 28, 1999) was a footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Scotland 11 - 0 Ireland (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Worst defeat Uruguay 7 - 0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First...

Meanwhile, a month after his international bow, Banks was back at Wembley with Leicester for another FA Cup final, this time against Manchester United. United were looking for their first trophy since the Munich air disaster of five years earlier which had claimed the lives of eight of the Busby Babes whom Banks had faced as an adolescent. Banks failed to hold a Bobby Charlton shot from distance which gifted a chance to David Herd and afterwards it went from bad to worse for England's newest keeper, when Denis Law wrongfooted Banks with a smart shot on the turn to put United 2-0 ahead. After Leicester had pulled one back through a diving header from Ken Keyworth, Banks leapt high in the air to claim a high cross from Johnny Giles, only to drop the ball at Herd's feet. Herd scored his second to conclude a 3-1 win. A plaque at Old Trafford Football Ground commemorating the Munich air disaster The Munich air disaster occurred on February 6, 1958, when Flight BE609, a British European Airways Elizabethan class Airspeed Ambassador charter aircraft G-ALZU Lord Burghley, carrying players and backroom staff of Manchester United F.C., plus a... A separate article is about the punk band called The Adolescents. ... Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won a World Cup medal and the European Footballer of the Year award in 1966. ... David Herd (born April 15, 1934 in Lanarkshire) was a Scottish football player. ... Denis Law (born February 24, 1940, in Aberdeen, Scotland) is a retired British football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s. ... Johnny Giles was the all-round midfield general who was at the heart of the great Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. ...

In 1964, Banks had some domestic success when Leicester beat Stoke City 4-3 in the League Cup final over two legs, though they lost the trophy a year later after a 3-2 defeat by Chelsea on aggregate in the final. Stoke City Football Club (known as Stoke Football Club until 1925) is a football club from Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The 1965 League Cup Final, the 5th to be staged since the competitions inception, was contested between Leicester City and Chelsea over two legs. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously as The Pensioners), founded in 1905, are an English Premier League football team. ... Look up Aggregate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The 1966 World Cup

By 1965, Banks was indisputably the first-choice England goalkeeper. He was settling into the form of his life which would last for the next seven years; agile and alert, he was frequently seen making amazing reflex saves and possessed flawless positional sense and reading of attackers' movements and instincts.

His place in the starting line-up was secure as the World Cup approached; that said, one of his most famous stories tells of how he casually said "See you Alf!" to his England boss after one get-together ended, only for Ramsey to reply "Will you?"

When the World Cup began, Banks was in goal as England got through their group containing Uruguay, Mexico and France, drawing 0-0 with the former and clinching 2-0 victories over the latter. Banks wasn't greatly tested, but it was hugely encouraging that he emerged from the group with three clean sheets from three games, a trend which continued when England beat a thuggish Argentina side 1-0 in the last eight, with Geoff Hurst scoring with a header. Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst, MBE (born December 8, 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne,Lancashire) is a footballer enshrined in the games history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. ...

Bobby Charlton scored twice in the semi final against Portugal before a late penalty was conceded by Jack Charlton handling the ball. Banks was finally beaten after 43 minutes when Eusébio put away the spot kick to his right. That said, England had won 2-1 and were in the final, where West Germany awaited. John Jack Charlton OBE (born Ashington, Northumberland, May 8, 1935) was a footballer who spent his whole career in the successful Leeds United side of the 1960s and 1970s and won the World Cup with England. ... Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (pron. ...

It was England who dominated the final but it was Banks who was beaten first. A weak header from Ray Wilson handed a chance to Helmut Haller whose shot wasn't fierce but was on target and needed dealing with. Banks thought Jack Charlton was going to clear; Charlton in turn thought Banks had it covered. Neither went for it as a result, and the ball crept in the corner. England equalised through a Geoff Hurst header within six minutes and went ahead late in the second half through Martin Peters. Ramon (Ray) Wilson MBE (born Shirebrook, Derbyshire, 17th December 1934) was a footballer who played at left back. ... Helmut Haller (born July 21, 1939 in Augsburg, Germany) was a footballer who represented proud West Germany at three World Cups. ... Martin Stanford Peters MBE, (born Plaistow, London, November 8, 1943) was a football player and hero of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup. ...

Banks had little to do during the second half but his known powers of concentration were required when Jack Charlton gave away a dubious free kick 30 yards from goal. Banks duly organised a defensive wall and got into position. Lothar Emmerich slammed the ball into the wall, the ball ricocheted across goal and Banks struggled to follow it across his six yard box, such was the speed and unpredictability of its movement as it took deflections and swipes. Ultimately German defender Wolfgang Weber reached it at the far post and swept it into the net with Banks diving in vain to get his palms to the ball. The final whistle went seconds later to send the game into extra time. Lothar Emma Emmerich (born 29 November 1941 in Dortmund-Dorstfeld; died 13 August 2003 in Hemer) was a German football (soccer) player. ... Wolfgang Weber (born June 26, 1944) was a footballer best remembered for scoring the last-minute equaliser for West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final. ...

England took the lead in extra time with that hotly debated third goal from Hurst. Banks not troubled again until the final minute, when he saved a shot from Siggy Held and moments later could only watch as Uwe Seeler lunged for the ball and missed. Hurst then scored his hat-trick goal and the game was all over. Gordon Banks had 33 England caps and was a world champion. But his career at club level was shortly to take an interesting and unexpected turn.

1966-1970

Coming through the ranks at Leicester City was a young local goalkeeper called Peter Shilton, who was given his debut as a 17-year-old in 1966. It was clear that Shilton was something special, yet the man he had to displace was now regarded as the world's number one goalkeeper. When Shilton told Leicester he wouldn't sign a professional contract unless he was guaranteed first team football, Banks found himself available for transfer, just a year after winning the World Cup. Peter Leslie Shilton OBE (born Leicester, England, September 18, 1949) was an outstanding goalkeeper who holds the record for most international appearances for his country. ...

Banks joined Stoke City and maintained his England place, while Shilton lost in Leicester's third FA Cup final of the 1960s (the 1969 game against Manchester City) and began to make his name. Ramsey gave the odd chance to Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti, Everton's Gordon West and Manchester United's Alex Stepney, but when the big games came along, it was only Banks. Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Peter The Cat Bonetti (born September 27, 1941 in Putney, London, of Swiss parents) was a football goalkeeper for Chelsea F.C., the St. ... Everton Football Club is located in the city Liverpool in Merseyside, England. ... Gordon West is an ex-Everton F.C. and England goalkeeper. ... Alex Stepney (born September 18, 1942 in Surrey) was an English football player. ...

England reached the last four of the 1968 European Championships where they lost to Yugoslavia in Florence. A year later, Banks picked up his 50th cap as England defeated Scotland 4-1 at Wembley. He played in nine more internationals prior to the start of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, for which England once again had not needed to qualify, this time owing to their status as holders. The 1968 European Football Championship final tournament was held in Italy. ... First international Czechoslovakia 7 - 0 Yugoslavia (Antwerp, Belgium; 28 August 1920) Last International Netherlands 2 - 0 Yugoslavia (Amsterdam, Netherlands; 25 March 1992) Largest win Yugoslavia 10 - 1 India (Helsinki, Finland; 15 July 1952) Yugoslavia 9 - 0 Zaire (Gelsenkirchen, Germany; 18 June 1974) Worst defeat Czechoslovakia 7 - 0 Yugoslavia (Antwerp, Belgium... Florences skyline Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ...

Banks, who discovered just after arriving in Mexico that he had been decorated with the OBE, played his 60th England game in the opening group victory over Romania before taking to the field for the keenly-awaited clash with Brazil. After just ten minutes, Banks wrote himself into football folklore. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are...

The 1970 save against Pelé

Playing at pace, Brazil were putting England under enormous pressure and an attack was begun by captain Carlos Alberto who sent a fizzing low ball down the right flank for the speedy Jairzinho to latch on to. The Brazilian winger sped past left back Terry Cooper and reached the byline. Stretching slightly, he managed to get his toes underneath the fast ball and deliver a high but dipping cross towards the far post. Banks, like all goalkeepers reliant on positional sensibility, had been at the near post and suddenly had to turn on his heels and follow the ball to its back post destination. Carlos Alberto Torres (born July 17, 1944, Rio de Janeiro) was a Brazilian football (soccer) player. ... Jairzinho, birth name Jair Ventura Filho, (born December 25, 1944) was a member of the Brazilian national team that won the 1970 World Cup. ... Terry Cooper (born North Yorkshire, England, July 12, 1944) was a classy and highly-rated full back in the great Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. ...

Waiting for the ball was Pelé, who had arrived at speed and with perfect timing. He leapt hard at the ball above England right back Tommy Wright and thundered a harsh, pacy downward header towards Banks' near post corner. The striker, one of the world's greatest, shouted "Goal!" as he connected with the ball. Banks was still making his way across the line from Jairzinho's cross and in the split-second of assessment the incident allowed, it seemed impossible for him to get to the ball. He also had to dive slightly backwards and down at the same time which is almost physically impossible. Yet he hurled himself downwards and backwards and got the base of his thumb to the ball, with the momentum sending him cascading to the ground. It was only when he heard the applause and praise of captain Bobby Moore and then looked up and saw the ball trundling towards the advertising hoardings at the far corner, that he realised he'd managed to divert the ball over the bar - he'd known he got a touch but still assumed the ball had gone in. England were not being well received by the locals after cutting comments made about Mexico prior to the tournament by Ramsey, but spontaneous applause rang around the Guadalajara, Jalisco stadium as Banks got back into position to defend the resulting corner. Pelé, who'd begun to celebrate a goal when he headed the ball, would later describe the save as the greatest he'd ever seen. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player. ... Thomas James Tommy Wright was born 21 October 1944 in Liverpool. ... Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore, OBE (April 12, 1941 - February 24, 1993) was an English footballer and captain of West Ham and the English 1966 World Cup-winning team. ... Billboards and street advertising in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, (2005) Advertising is drawing public attention to goods and services by promoting businesses, and is performed through a variety of media. ... Guadalajara (Spanish pronunciation [gwa. ...

Brazil still won 1-0 - Jairzinho guided a shot past Banks in the second half - but England missed chances to get something, with Jeff Astle infamously putting the ball wide of an open goal and Alan Ball striking the crossbar. England ultimately joined Brazil in the last eight after a win in the final group game against Czechoslovakia. The reward was a rematch of the 1966 final against West Germany. The Astle Gates at The Hawthorns. ... Alan James Ball, MBE (born May 12th 1945 in Farnworth, Lancashire) is an English former professional footballer and football club manager. ...

Image File history File links Banksvspele4. ...

England vs West Germany 1970

The day before the game Banks and England's hopes of making further inroads into the World Cup were dented when he started to complain of an upset stomach. He subsequently spent long periods in the bathroom and despite rest and medication, he did not seem to be recovering in time. But on the day of the game, he offered a glimmer of hope to Ramsey when he said he felt better and asked for a fitness test. He caught a few balls and did some short sprints but something was not right and Ramsey decided he couldn't risk him. Peter Bonetti was summoned to take his place. The overheard remark by Ramsey after Banks' absence from the game was confirmed was: "Of all the players to lose, we had to lose him." A typical American bathroom A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context it is used in. ... Peter The Cat Bonetti (born September 27, 1941 in Putney, London, of Swiss parents) was a football goalkeeper for Chelsea F.C., the St. ...

Bonetti played fine for an hour and England went into a commanding 2-0 lead, with Peters scoring against the Germans again after Alan Mullery had put the defending champions ahead. Franz Beckenbauer then hit a low shot under the body of Bonetti, who had been slow to react, and the Germans had hope, especially when Beckenbauer became more liberated in the game with Ramsey's decision to substitute Bobby Charlton. In the last ten minutes, veteran striker Uwe Seeler looped a back header over Bonetti to take the game into extra time; then Gerd Müller smashed home the winner in the added period. Alan Patrick Mullery MBE (born Notting Hill, London, November 23, 1941) was a footballer who enjoyed an eventful and outstanding career with Tottenham Hotspur and England in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Franz Beckenbauer (born September 11, 1945) is a famous German football player, coach and manager, nicknamed der Kaiser (the emperor) because of his elegant style, his leadership qualities and his domination on the football pitch. ... Uwe Seeler (born November 5, 1936 in Hamburg) is a German football player. ... Gerhard Gerd Müller (born November 3, 1945 in Nördlingen) is a former West German football player. ...

Conspiracies began to surface that Banks had been "nobbled" by someone in England's hotel and that his food had been somehow spiked. This was dismissed by Banks, who watched the game on his hotel TV and saw England go 2-0 ahead. After another visit to the bathroom, he returned to his bed and, feeling rough and sleepy, switched off his TV set to take a nap, assuming the match was won. He was woken by his second understudy, Stepney, who came to his room to signal the devastating final score with his fingers. West Germany had beaten England 3-2. A conspiracy theory attempts to explain the ultimate cause of an event (usually a political, social, or historical event) as a secret, and often deceptive, plot by a covert alliance of powerful people or organizations rather than as an overt activity or as natural occurrence. ...

England's No.1 (1970-1972)

Banks did not play in England's first game after the World Cup, with Ramsey electing to give his old understudy Shilton a debut against East Germany at Wembley. This would be a sign of things to come, but not for a little while. Banks would play in ten of the next 12 internationals as England tried to qualify for the 1972 European Championships but lost yet again to West Germany prior to the finals stage. During this period, Banks was also involved in a notorious incident with Manchester United's George Best who, while playing against England for Northern Ireland, flicked the ball out of Banks' hands and headed it into the net as the protesting goalkeeper chased him. The goal was disallowed for ungentlemanly conduct and England won 1-0, but Banks was left feeling rather embarrassed. First international Poland 3 - 0 East Germany (Warsaw, Poland; 21 September 1952) Last International Belgium 0 - 2 East Germany (Brussels, Belgium; 12 September 1990) Largest win Ceylon 1 - 12 East Germany (Colombo, Ceylon; 12 January 1964) Worst defeat 0 - 3, 12 times; 1 - 4, three times World Cup Appearances 1... The 1972 European Football Championship (Euro 72) final tournament was held in Belgium. ... George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) is widely acknowledged to have been one of the greatest football players of all time, mainly remembered for his halcyon days with Manchester United FC. He played for the Northern Ireland football team, but their lack of success during the peak of... First international Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Largest win Ireland (IFA) 7 - 0 Wales (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 1 February 1930) Worst defeat Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1958) Best result Quarterfinals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none...

At club level, Banks came up with his second most famous save when spectacularly palming a vicious penalty from his England team-mate Hurst over the crossbar as Stoke defeated West Ham United in the semi final of the 1972 League Cup. Banks duly reached his third League Cup final and won it for the second time, when Stoke beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley. Having lost two FA Cup finals, Banks' attempts to be luckier with Stoke in the competition fell agonisingly short as Arsenal beat them in the semi finals of both the 1971 and 1972 competitions. West Ham United F.C. are a football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London and play their home matches at The Boleyn Ground. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in north London. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

Banks played his 73rd England game in a 1-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park on 27th May 1972 and was awarded the Football Writers' Association Footballer Of The Year honour. He was 34-years-old and at the peak of his abilities and powers. He began the next season with Stoke in his usual unflappable manner, but then his top-flight career would be suddenly and violently brought to an end. Hampden Park in Glasgow is Scotlands national football stadium. ... (Redirected from 27th May) May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... The Football Writers Association (FWA) is an association of English football journalists and correspondents writing for newspapers and agencies. ...

A new life

On 22 October 1972, while driving home from a session with the Stoke physiotherapist, Banks lost control of his car which ended up in a ditch. He lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital. When he came round, he was informed that though he had not suffered any life-threatening injury, he had lost the sight in his right eye. He considered trying to resume his career as a goalkeeper but even he had to accept that the loss of binocular vision was an obvious barrier to maintaining his goalkeeping livelihood. Shilton became England's number one and it was he whom Stoke bought in 1974 as Banks' long-term replacement. October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Physical therapy can help restore lost functionality in many people. ... Binocular vision is vision in which both eyes are used synchronously to produce a single image. ...

Banks went into scouting, managed non-league side Telford United and did some work on the commercial side of football. In October 1977 he played for League of Ireland side St. Patrick's Athletic F.C. [1]. He then went to play as a named superstar in the NASL for Fort Lauderdale Strikers alongside his old nemesis Best. He later began a business which distributed tickets for big events to corporate clients, but this fell into a mini-scandal when he received a restricted ban on getting tickets for the FA Cup final after some attributed to his company fell into the wrong hands. Telford United F.C. were an English football team based in Telford, Shropshire. ... The Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or the Eircom League (from the leagues sponsorship by Irish telcom Eircom), is a league of football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. ... St Patricks Athletic F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... North American Soccer League or (NASL) was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. ... The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were an American soccer team, a descendant of the Washington Darts, Miami Gatos, and Miami Toros, that played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ...

Banks met his wife Ursula while on national service in Germany and they married after he returned to England. He now lives in quiet retirement but is still regarded, as a Channel 4 poll to find England's greatest XI showed recently, as the best goalkeeper England has ever produced, and many would claim no goalkeeper in the world has been better. Banks was an Inaugural Inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.[2] He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Keele University in February 2006. National Service in the 20th century referred primarily to conscription for military service. ... Channel 4 is a public-service television broadcaster in the United Kingdom (see British television). ... The Hall of Fame is housed at The National Football Museum in Preston, England. ... Keele University is a research-intensive campus university located near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire in the West Midlands of England between Manchester and Birmingham. ...

Sheffield Walk of Fame

On Tuesday 9 May 2006, Gordon Banks was the first "legend" to be inducted into a new Walk of Fame, by having a plaque installed in the pavement in front of the Town Hall. Banks made a speech to an attendant crowd as to how thrilled he was to be given this honour. The plaque is made of bronze, and is a star set in a circle with a blue background, and the words "SHEFFIELD LEGEND" GORDON BANKS OBE. FOOTBALLER. May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gordon Banks: A Hero Who Could Fly

Best-selling Irish investigative author, Don Mullan, published a boyhood memoir in 2006 called GORDON BANKS: A Hero Who Could Fly in which he wrote about the influence of the England goalkeeper on his life. Mullan discovered at the age of 38 that he is dyslexic but learned to read and write through a giant 500-page scrapbook which he began shortly after seeing Banks play in the 1966 World Cup Final. The Irish author grew up in the famous Republican stronghold of the Creggan Estate, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the height of the troubles and was a schoolboy witness to the tragic events of Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972. In his moving tribute to Gordon Banks he claims that his English hero was one of the reasons why he never choose the path of violence. Gordon Banks launched Mullan's book in Dublin, Derry and at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke in the Summer of 2006 and has described Mullan as 'my greatest fan'. GORDON BANKS: A Hero Who Could Fly has been optioned by BBC Drama and a movie is expected in 2008 [3] [4].

Mullan is also making a major television documentary on Gordon Banks and is actively involved in errecting a monument to the England goalkeeper outside Stoke City FC's Britannia Stadium with the assistance of Banks' legendary teammate Terry Conroy and emerging local sculptor Andrew Edwards. Edwards has taken inspiration from Mullan's book and has named the monument A Hero Who Could Fly and uses the following quote from the Irish author on the monument:

... we lived in an era when sporting heroes were ordinary and unassuming men whose very modesty was the oxygen of dreams. And across the water, on a neighbouring island with whom we Irish had been at war for centuries I had a hero who could fly. His name is GORDON BANKS. From being a timid, fearful young boy he taught me that impossible doesn't exist. Unknown to him he helped save a young fan from making choices that had brought too much sorrow and sadness to Irish and British alike. Who knows? Perhaps it was his best save ever.

References

1. ^ IFFHS' Century Elections - rsssf.com - by Karel Stokkermans, RSSSF.
2. ^ World Cup 1970 Photo Gallery - fifaworldcup.yahoo.com - FIFA.