Gordon Banks

Gordon Banks, OBE (born Sheffield, England, 30th December, 1937) is a former English footballer, considered by many to be the best goalkeeper to have played the game.

"It's Him Or Me"

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.

Related Topics:
Peter Shilton - 1966

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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.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1969 - Manchester City - Peter Bonetti - Everton - Gordon West - Alex Stepney

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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.

Related Topics:
1968 European Championships - Yugoslavia - Florence - Mexico

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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.

Related Topics:
OBE - Romania - Brazil

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