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.

Early Years

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 down a mine and then as a bricklayer on leaving school. He reached the FA Youth Cup final with Chesterfield in 1956, losing to the Manchester United team of the famous Busby Babes. He made his debut for the first team a year later.

Related Topics:
Colliery - Apprentice - Chesterfield - Mine - Bricklayer - FA Youth Cup - 1956 - Manchester United - Busby Babes

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Banks went to Germany on National Service during his years with Chesterfield. He played just 23 games for them before Leicester City offered Chesterfield 7,000 pounds in 1959.

Related Topics:
Germany - National Service - Leicester City - Pound - 1959

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Banks' career started to rise rapidly from hereon in. In 1961, Leicester City reached 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 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.

Related Topics:
1961 - FA Cup - Wembley - Decade - Tottenham Hotspur - First Division - Bobby Smith - Terry Dyson - 20th century

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At the time, Ron Springett was the goalkeeper for England, but after the 1962 World Cup in Chile, a new coach was appointed in Alf Ramsey, who began looking towards the next World Cup, knowing 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.

Related Topics:
Ron Springett - 1962 World Cup - Chile - Alf Ramsey - April - 1963 - Scotland

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Meanwhile, a month after his international bow, Banks was back at Wembley with Leicester for another FA Cup final, this time against Manchester United, a side looking for its 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. Denis Law wrongfooted Banks with a smart shot on the turn to put Leicester ahead, and afterwards it went from bad to worse for England's newest keeper. He failed to hold a Bobby Charlton shot from distance which laid a chance on a plate for David Herd and, after Leicester had pulled one back through 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, and he scored his second to conclude a 3-1 win.

Related Topics:
Munich air disaster - Adolescent - Denis Law - Bobby Charlton - David Herd - Ken Keyworth - Johnny Giles

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In 1964, Banks had some domestic success when Leicester beat Stoke City 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.

Related Topics:
1964 - Stoke City - League Cup - Chelsea - Aggregate

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