Gordon Banks

1.1. Childhood and Education

Gordon Banks was born in Abbeydale, Sheffield, on 30 December 1937, and grew up in the working-class area of Tinsley. His family later moved to the village of Catcliffe after his father established what was then an illegal betting shop. This period brought increased prosperity but also tragedy, as Banks's disabled brother was mugged for the shop's daily takings and subsequently died from his injuries some weeks later. Banks left school in December 1952, at the age of 15. He took up employment as a bagger for a local coal merchant, a physically demanding job that helped develop his upper body strength. He later switched jobs to become a hod carrier.

1.2. Early Football Activities

Banks's initial foray into organized football began with amateur side Millspaugh. He stepped in as their goalkeeper when the regular player failed to show up for a match. A trainer at the club, who was aware of Banks's prior experience playing for Sheffield Schoolboys, invited him to play in goal. His performances for Millspaugh earned him an opportunity to play in the Yorkshire Football League for Rawmarsh Welfare. However, his debut was a heavy 12-2 defeat to Stocksbridge Works, followed by a 3-1 home loss, which led to him being dropped by Rawmarsh. He subsequently returned to play for Millspaugh.

2.1. Chesterfield

Banks was scouted by Chesterfield while playing for Millspaugh and was offered a six-game trial with the youth team in March 1953. His performances during these trials were impressive enough for manager Teddy Davison to offer him a part-time contract of 3 GBP a week in July 1953. The club's reserve team competed in the Central League, but due to the influence of a powerful club director rather than on merit, they struggled. Banks conceded 122 goals in the 1954-55 season as the "Spireites" finished in last place with only three victories.

During his national service, Banks was stationed in Germany with the Royal Signals, where he won the Rhine Cup with his regimental team. He recovered from a fractured elbow to help the Chesterfield youth team reach the 1956 final of the FA Youth Cup. In the final, they were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Manchester United's renowned "Busby Babes", a team that included future stars like Wilf McGuinness and Bobby Charlton.

Banks made his first-team debut under manager Doug Livingstone, replacing the long-serving Ron Powell, in a Third Division game against Colchester United at Saltergate in November 1958. The match concluded in a 2-2 draw. Banks retained his place for the following game against Norwich City, and by the end of the 1958-59 season, he had missed only three games due to injury. With no specialized goalkeeping coach to guide him, Banks learned from his mistakes directly on the pitch, and he soon developed into a modern, vocal goalkeeper, actively directing his defenders to create a more effective defensive unit. Despite having only 23 league and three cup appearances to his name, Banks was surprised when Matt Gillies, manager of First Division club Leicester City, purchased him from Chesterfield for 7.00 K GBP in July 1959. This transfer also resulted in a significant wage increase for Banks, rising to 15 GBP a week.

2.2. Leicester City

At Leicester City, Banks faced stiff competition from five other goalkeepers, including the 30-year-old Scotland international Johnny Anderson and 25-year-old Dave MacLaren. He began the 1959-60 season as the reserve team's goalkeeper, effectively positioning him as the club's second-choice, behind only MacLaren. After playing four reserve team games, MacLaren picked up an injury, prompting manager Matt Gillies to select Banks for his Leicester debut against Blackpool at Filbert Street on 9 September. The match ended 1-1. Banks kept his place for the subsequent 2-0 loss to Newcastle United. With MacLaren fit again, Banks was initially sent back to the reserves. However, after the first team conceded 14 goals in their next five matches, he was recalled and firmly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season. The defensive record did not immediately improve, with Banks conceding six goals in a heavy defeat by Everton, but he consistently improved with each match, and the Foxes ultimately secured a comfortable 12th-place finish. Banks dedicated significant extra hours to training, devising his own practice sessions to enhance his skills, particularly in handling crosses - a unique approach at a time when specialized goalkeeping coaches were uncommon. By the summer, both Anderson and MacLaren had departed, leaving Banks as the club's undisputed number one goalkeeper, supported by a group of understudies.

Leicester finished sixth in the 1960-61 season and notably managed to defeat champions Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. However, their greatest accomplishment was reaching the FA Cup final. Banks played a crucial role, conceding only five goals in their nine games en route to the final, and notably keeping three clean sheets across the semi-final and two replays against Sheffield United. Their opponents in the final at Wembley were Tottenham, who had already clinched the First Division title by a considerable margin. Leicester faced an uphill battle as right-back Len Chalmers suffered a severe injury early in the match. Coupled with Ken Leek being dropped for disciplinary reasons in favor of rookie Hughie McIlmoyle, City were effectively playing with ten men and offered minimal attacking threat. Goals from Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson secured a 2-0 victory for Spurs, making them the first team of the 20th century to achieve the "double". Banks was unable to prevent either goal.

The 1961-62 season proved highly disappointing for Leicester, as they finished 14th in the league and were eliminated from the FA Cup by Stoke City. The only notable highlight was the club's participation in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. This presented Banks with a dilemma: choosing to play for his club against Spanish side Atlético Madrid or attending the England versus Portugal match as a non-playing squad member. He opted to attend both games, leaving London at full-time from the England match to arrive in Leicester 30 minutes before the kick-off against Madrid. A last-minute goal earned the Spaniards a 1-1 draw at Filbert Street. In the return leg, Banks saved an Enrique Collar penalty, but Atlético were awarded a second penalty, which Collar converted, leading to Leicester's 2-0 defeat and a 3-1 loss on aggregate.

Banks sustained a broken nose on the opening day of the 1962-63 season, during a 2-1 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage. Leicester then embarked on a pursuit of a possible double, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals while sitting atop the league table in April. City defeated Liverpool 1-0 at Hillsborough to reach the final, with Banks keeping a clean sheet despite his goal being under nearly constant siege from the Merseyside club. The News of the World famously reported that Liverpool had managed 34 attempts on goal compared to Leicester's single attempt. Banks later stated that this match represented his finest performance at club level. Unluckily, Banks then broke a finger in a 2-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, which sidelined him as Leicester lost their final three league games, finishing the season in a disappointing fourth place. In the 1963 FA Cup final, Banks and the rest of the team underperformed, ultimately losing the game 3-1 to Manchester United.

City concluded the 1963-64 season in 11th place, having displayed inconsistent form throughout the campaign. Success for the club instead came through the League Cup. They convincingly defeated West Ham United 6-3 over two legs in the semi-finals to reach the final against Stoke City. The opening tie at the Victoria Ground finished 1-1 in extremely muddy conditions, with Banks spilling a shot from Bill Asprey, allowing Keith Bebbington to pounce on the rebound. In the return leg at Filbert Street, goals from Mike Stringfellow, Dave Gibson, and Howard Riley secured a 3-2 win for Leicester, clinching the tie 4-3 on aggregate.

Banks began the 1964-65 season on wages of 40 GBP a week, with the club only agreeing to increase it to 60 GBP a week in December. These meager wages made it challenging for the club to effectively utilize the 80.00 K GBP they received from the sale of Frank McLintock, who had submitted a transfer request due to dissatisfaction with his pay. Quality replacements were reluctant to join a club that paid full internationals like Banks and McLintock no more than the base rate offered by rival clubs to average players. Leicester finished 18th in the league and were eliminated from the FA Cup by Liverpool at Anfield in the sixth round. In the League Cup, City endured difficult ties, narrowly progressing past Peterborough United (in a replay), Grimsby Town, and Crystal Palace (in a replay), before recording an emphatic 8-1 victory over Coventry City at Highfield Road. After comfortably easing past Plymouth Argyle in the semi-finals, Banks found himself playing in another League Cup final. However, Chelsea ultimately won the final after successfully defending their 3-2 first-leg lead from Stamford Bridge with a goalless draw at Filbert Street.

Banks missed the first nine games of the 1965-66 season after suffering a broken wrist (a Distal radius fracture) when diving at the feet of Northampton Town's Joe Kiernan in a pre-season friendly match. Leicester finished the season in seventh place and were eliminated from both cup competitions at the hands of Manchester City.

Despite being a World Cup winner in the summer of 1966, Banks was controversially dropped towards the end of the 1966-67 season in favor of the highly promising teenage reserve goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Manager Matt Gillies was blunt, telling Banks, "we [Gillies and the club's directors] think your best days are behind you, and you should move on." Teammate Richie Norman later informed Banks that Gillies had been pressured into this decision, as Shilton had reportedly told the board he would leave the club unless he was given first-team football. Banks was subsequently placed on the transfer list at 50.00 K GBP, the same price the club received for Derek Dougan in March 1967. However, many of the big clubs were unwilling to spend such a significant sum on a goalkeeper. Liverpool manager Bill Shankly showed strong interest but could not persuade the club's board of directors to agree to such a large fee for a goalkeeper. West Ham United manager Ron Greenwood was prepared to match the fee but instead signed Bobby Ferguson from Kilmarnock for 65.00 K GBP, as he had already agreed terms with Kilmarnock and wished to honor his word. Terms were instead agreed with Stoke City, a mid-table First Division side.

2.3. Stoke City

Upon leaving Filbert Street, Banks requested a loyalty bonus from Leicester, but was told by Matt Gillies, "We've decided not to pay you a penny. There's to be no compensation payment and that's final." Banks initially refused the move to Stoke until Stoke boss Tony Waddington seemingly negotiated a 2.00 K GBP payment out of Leicester. It was only some years later that Banks was informed that Stoke had actually made the payment themselves, not Leicester. Waddington, who highly valued skilled goalkeepers, and Banks developed a close professional relationship. During this period, Banks relocated his home to Madeley, Staffordshire. He replaced John Farmer as the club's number one goalkeeper and played in the last four games of the 1966-67 season, making his home debut at the Victoria Ground in a 3-1 victory over his former club, Leicester.

Banks fitted in well at Stoke City, as Waddington was deliberately building a team composed of veteran players who were considered by some critics to be past their prime. The "Potters" struggled near the foot of the First Division table during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 campaigns, before rising to ninth place in the 1969-70 season, with Banks remaining a consistently reliable stopper for the club. However, on 1 March 1969, he was knocked unconscious at Roker Park by Sunderland's Malcolm Moore, and his replacement, David Herd, conceded four goals in a 4-1 defeat. Banks also played a season for the Cleveland Stokers of the American United Soccer Association in the summer of 1968, appearing in seven of the short-lived club's 12 games in Cleveland, Ohio.

Banks himself believed he made three of the best saves of his entire career while playing in a Stoke shirt. In the first instance, he saved and caught a powerful and well-placed header from Manchester City's Wyn Davies from 8 yd out. In the second case, he saved a Francis Lee header at Maine Road. And he made his third great save for the club by catching a volley from Tottenham Hotspur's Alan Gilzean that had been struck from 6 yd out at White Hart Lane.

Stoke began to genuinely compete for honors in the 1970-71 season. Despite impressive victories against top clubs such as Arsenal and Leeds United, City ultimately finished the season in mid-table obscurity. The club's significant achievement was reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup, having beaten Millwall, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, and Hull City along the way. Facing Arsenal at Hillsborough in the semi-finals, they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2, and were subsequently beaten 2-0 in the replay at Villa Park.

Despite another mid-table finish in the 1971-72 season, Stoke once again reached an FA Cup semi-final, overcoming Chesterfield, Tranmere Rovers, Hull City, and Manchester United. They again faced Arsenal, and once more, a draw at Villa Park necessitated a replay at Goodison Park. The Gunners' goals in their 2-1 victory came from a disputed Frank McLintock penalty and a John Radford goal that television replays clearly showed was offside. In a May 2011 interview, Banks stated that he still felt "cheated" out of a chance to play for the club in an FA Cup final.
Stoke and Banks found solace in the League Cup, though their path to the final was arduous, requiring 11 matches. They overcame Southport, then Oxford United (after a replay), Manchester United (in a second replay), Bristol Rovers, and finally West Ham United (in a second replay following an aggregate draw after two legs). In extra time of the second leg against West Ham, Banks fouled Harry Redknapp, conceding a penalty, but then crucially saved Geoff Hurst's powerful spot-kick, keeping City in the competition. They then faced Chelsea in the 1972 Football League Cup final at Wembley. Peter Osgood beat Banks with a hooked shot just before half-time, but goals from Terry Conroy and George Eastham secured Stoke a 2-1 victory, marking the club's only major honor. At the end of the season, Banks was named the FWA Footballer of the Year, becoming the first goalkeeper to receive the honor since Bert Trautmann in 1956.

On 22 October 1972, while driving home from a therapy session for his injured shoulder with the Stoke physiotherapist, Banks lost control of his new Ford Consul (a re-badged Ford Granada Mk I) car, which ended up in a ditch near his home in Madeley Heath. He had attempted to overtake another car on a sharp bend and collided with an oncoming Austin A60 van. He was immediately taken to the North Staffordshire Hospital. During an operation, he received 200 stitches in his face and over 100 micro-stitches inside the socket of his right eye. He was informed that the chances of saving the sight in his eye were 50-50. Unfortunately, his sight never returned, and the loss of binocular vision severely limited his abilities as a goalkeeper. This effectively ended his top-flight professional career the following summer. The Japanese source also notes that a passionate fan offered to donate an eye to Banks, but he respectfully declined the offer.

2.4. Late Career in North America and Ireland

In April 1977, Gordon Banks made a remarkable return to professional football, playing as a named superstar in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The Strikers went on to win their division in the 1977 season, and Banks was deservedly named NASL Goalkeeper of the Year after conceding only 29 goals in 26 games, marking the best defensive record in the NASL.

During this period, he also made a brief but notable appearance in the League of Ireland, playing one game for St Patrick's Athletic. He kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park on 2 October 1977. Following this, he returned to Fort Lauderdale and played 11 games in the 1978 season.

3.1. Early International Caps

Gordon Banks was capped twice for the England under-23 side in 1961, participating in matches against Wales and Scotland. At the time, Ron Springett was the primary goalkeeper for the England senior team. However, following the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, a new coach, former England right-back Alf Ramsey, was appointed. Ramsey demanded sole control over the team and immediately began looking towards the next World Cup tournament.

Banks earned his first senior cap on 6 April 1963 against Scotland at Wembley. This opportunity arose after Springett was dropped from the squad following a poor performance. England lost the match 2-1, although Banks was not held responsible for either goal, as Scotland's first came from an error by Jimmy Armfield and the second from the penalty spot. He was subsequently selected for the next match against Brazil, which ended in a creditable 1-1 draw. Banks continued to perform consistently, firmly establishing himself as England's first-choice goalkeeper. In 1963, his growing reputation led to him being chosen to play against the Rest of the World team in a celebration match marking 100 years of The Football Association.

Banks also participated in two of England's three games at the "Little World Cup" tournament in Brazil during the summer of 1964, which included a 1-1 draw with Portugal and a 1-0 defeat to Argentina. Blackpool's Tony Waiters earned five caps in the England goal in 1964, but his challenge to Banks's first-team place effectively ended after he conceded five goals to Brazil. During England's summer tour of 1965, Banks developed a solid understanding with his defenders-George Cohen, Jack Charlton, Bobby Moore, and Ray Wilson-as he conceded only two goals in four matches against Hungary, Yugoslavia, West Germany, and Sweden. In the build-up to the 1966 World Cup, England played seven more friendlies in 1966. Their biggest test of character came in the British Home Championship, where they defeated Scotland 4-3 in front of a crowd of over 130,000 at Hampden Park. Heading into the World Cup, England had suffered only one defeat in 21 matches since the "Little World Cup" - a game against Austria which Banks missed due to injury.

3.2. 1966 FIFA World Cup Triumph

Gordon Banks entered the 1966 FIFA World Cup as England's undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. His understudies, Ron Springett and Peter Bonetti, never took to the field during the tournament. England opened the competition with a goalless draw against Uruguay, a match in which Banks was largely a spectator as the highly defensive Uruguayan side rarely ventured out of their own half. They then secured a 2-0 victory over Mexico, with Banks again rarely troubled. A subsequent 2-0 win over France ensured England's progression through the group stage without Banks conceding a single goal.

In the quarter-finals, England defeated Argentina 1-0, with Geoff Hurst scoring with a header. The match was marred by the first-half sending off of Argentine midfielder Antonio Rattín, who famously refused to leave the pitch after being dismissed for dissent. In contrast to the previous games, the semi-final against Portugal proved to be a fair and open contest between two talented teams eager to attack from the outset. However, there was a moment of panic in the buildup to the game: trainer Harold Shepherdson realized he had forgotten to buy chewing gum, which Banks used to make his hands stickier and improve his grip on the ball. As the teams were in the tunnel, Shepherdson had to run to a nearby newsagents to purchase some. Bobby Charlton scored two goals for England, but Portugal made a strong finish and were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute after Jack Charlton handled the ball in the penalty area. Eusébio converted the penalty after sending Banks the wrong way, and the game finished 2-1 in England's favor. This goal marked the first time Banks had conceded for England in 721 minutes of regular play, a record for an England goalkeeper that stood until 2021 when it was broken by Jordan Pickford.

England's opponents in the final were West Germany. Although England largely dominated the final, it was Banks who was beaten first. A weak header from Ray Wilson presented a chance to Helmut Haller, who sent an accurate but relatively weak shot into the corner of the net; Banks had been unsighted by Jack Charlton, and he failed to adjust his position in time to reach the ball. England equalized through a Geoff Hurst header within six minutes and then took the lead late in the second half via Martin Peters. With mere seconds left in the game, Lothar Emmerich sent a free kick into the England penalty area, and the ball fell to Wolfgang Weber, who guided it over a lunging Ray Wilson and an outstretched Banks into the net, taking the game into extra time. In extra time, the Germans launched several shots at the England goal, which Banks managed to catch and control without any great danger. Hurst then scored two more goals to complete his hat-trick, and although many claimed his second goal never crossed the line, Banks always maintained his belief that the officials called the decision correctly. Between these goals, Banks had to deal with a powerful shot from Sigfried Held and was later exposed, only for Uwe Seeler to come just centimeters away from connecting with the ball.

3.3. UEFA Euro 1968

Scotland became the first team to defeat the reigning world champions, as goals from Denis Law, Bobby Lennox, and Jim McCalliog secured a 3-2 victory at Wembley on 15 April 1967. Despite this setback, England qualified for UEFA Euro 1968, which consisted of just four teams: England, Italy (hosts), the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. England played just two games at the tournament, losing 1-0 to Yugoslavia, and then beating the Soviets 2-0 in the third-place play-off to secure the bronze medal.

3.4. 1970 FIFA World Cup and the "Save of the Century"

Banks entered the 1970 FIFA World Cup as England's number one goalkeeper, having accumulated 59 caps. His understudies were Peter Bonetti (with six caps) and Alex Stepney (with one cap). Banks found the extreme heat and high altitude in Guadalajara, Mexico, particularly difficult to cope with. The team's efforts at acclimatization were further complicated by the false accusation that Bobby Moore had stolen the infamous "Bogotá Bracelet". Despite these challenges, a goal from Geoff Hurst was enough to defeat their first opponents, Romania. A far tougher test awaited on 7 June, when England faced Brazil. The day before the match, Banks was informed that he had been awarded an OBE.

Brazil, playing at a relentless pace, was putting England under enormous pressure. An attack was initiated by captain Carlos Alberto, who sent a low ball down the right flank for the speedy Jairzinho to latch onto. The Brazilian winger sprinted past left-back Terry Cooper and delivered a cross into the six-yard box, where Pelé connected with a powerful header, directing the ball low towards the right-hand corner of the goal. In the knowledge that his header was perfectly placed, Pelé immediately shouted "Gol!_Goal!^Portuguese".

The split-second nature of the incident allowed Banks time for only one conscious thought - that the shot was impossible to catch, and the only way to prevent Pelé from following up on any rebound would be to parry the ball over the bar. The ball bounced approximately 2 yd in front of the goal-line, and Banks managed to make contact with the ball with the fingers of his right hand, subtly rolling his hand to angle the ball over the crossbar. He landed in the inner netting of the goal and knew he had saved the ball after seeing Pelé's stunned reaction. Banks then rose to his feet to defend the ensuing corner kick and broke into laughter after the following famous exchange:
:"I thought that was a goal." (Pelé)
:"You and me both." (Banks)
:"You're getting old, Banksy, you used to hold on to them." (Bobby Moore)
Pelé himself, along with numerous journalists and pundits, would later describe this save as the greatest in the history of the game. Banks later remarked, "They won't remember me for winning the World Cup, it'll be for that save. That's how big a thing it is. People just want to talk about that save." In 2002, the UK public voted the save as No. 41 in the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. The save also became the basis for the idiom "Safe as the Banks of England" in England, referring to something extremely secure and reliable.

Brazil ultimately won the match 1-0 after Jairzinho scored against Banks in the second half. England eventually joined Brazil in the last eight after securing a victory in their final group game against Czechoslovakia, which set up a rematch of the 1966 final against West Germany.

The day before the crucial quarter-final game against West Germany, England's hopes of making further inroads into the World Cup were severely dented when Banks complained of an upset stomach. He became affected by violent stomach cramps and aching limbs, spending his time in the bathroom sweating, shivering, and vomiting. He passed an extremely undemanding fitness test but suffered a relapse shortly before the game, forcing manager Ramsey to rest him and play Peter Bonetti in his place. Ramsey famously remarked that "of all the players to lose, we had to lose him." Banks watched the game on television from his hotel room. Due to a delay in the broadcast, he switched the television off with England leading 2-0, only for Bobby Moore to return to the hotel to break the news of their 3-2 defeat after extra time. Suspicions later surfaced that Banks had been poisoned to remove him from the game, but with no evidence to support them, Banks himself never believed these theories.

3.5. Final International Appearances

England came close to qualifying for UEFA Euro 1972, but ultimately lost 3-1 to West Germany in the final round of qualifying matches. On 15 May 1971, Banks was involved in a notorious incident with George Best, who, while playing against England for Northern Ireland, audaciously flicked the ball out of Banks's hands and headed it into the net. Although it was a daring move, it was disallowed by the referee, who judged it to be dangerous play.

Gordon Banks played his 73rd and final game for England on 27 May 1972, in a 1-0 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park. Throughout his distinguished 73 international appearances, he maintained an impressive record of 35 clean sheets and lost only nine games.

9.1. Honours and Individual Accolades

Banks received numerous honors throughout his illustrious career:

• Leicester City**
  • Football League Cup: 1963-64
  • FA Cup runner-up: 1960-61, 1962-63
• Stoke City**
  • Football League Cup: 1971-72
• England**
  • FIFA World Cup: 1966
  • UEFA European Championship third-place: 1968
  • British Home Championship: 1964 (shared), 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 (shared), 1971, 1972
  • Individual**
    • FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
    • FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1966
    • World XI: 1969, 1971, 1972
    • FUWO European Team of the Season: 1969, 1970
    • Rothmans Golden Boots Awards: 1970, 1971, 1972
    • Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE): 1970
    • Daily Express Sportsmen of the Year: 1971, 1972
    • Sport Ideal European XI: 1971, 1972
    • FWA Footballer of the Year: 1972
    • Football League 100 Legends: 1998
    • English Football Hall of Fame: 2002
    • NASL All-Stars: 1977
    • NASL Goalkeeper of the Year: 1977
    • FIFA 100: 2004
    • PFA Team of the Century (1907-1976): 2007
    • Freedom of the City of Stoke-on-Trent: 16 October 2014
    • Freedom of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme: 23 February 2018
    • IFFHS 20th Century World's Best Goalkeeper: 2nd place (after Lev Yashin)

9.2. Tributes and Memorials

Gordon Banks was an Inaugural Inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002, recognizing his immense contributions to English football. In March 2004, he was prominently named by Pelé as one of the world's 125 greatest living footballers, a testament to his global standing in the sport. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Keele University in February 2006, further acknowledging his broader impact beyond the football pitch. In May 2006, Banks became the first 'legend' to be honored with a plaque installed in the pavement in front of Sheffield Town Hall as part of a new Walk of Fame, commemorating his local roots and achievements.

A significant tribute occurred in July 2008 when Pelé himself unveiled a statue of Banks outside the Britannia Stadium, depicting his famous 1970 World Cup save. This event highlighted the lasting significance of that moment and the mutual respect between the two football giants. In March 2011, Banks was also inducted into the City of Stoke-on-Trent Hall of Fame, alongside Roy Sproson, cementing his place in the local footballing history. Pelé and Banks developed a close friendship over the years, and following Banks's death, the Brazilian affectionately described him as a "goalkeeper with magic."

The exceptional security of Banks's goalkeeping gave rise to the English idiom "Safe as the Banks of England," which is still used today to describe something that is extremely reliable and secure, a testament to his consistent and trusted performances.

9.3. Published Works

In 1980, Gordon Banks published his first autobiography, titled Banks of England. He later released a more comprehensive autobiography in 2002, titled Banksy: My Autobiography. Additionally, Irish investigative author Don Mullan published a boyhood memoir in 2006, Gordon Banks - A Hero Who Could Fly, in which he explored the profound influence of the England goalkeeper on his own life.

10.1. Club Statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

10.2. International Statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year