Gordon Banks

Gordon Banks (30 December 1937 – 12 February 2019) was an English professional goalkeeper. Over a 20-year career, he played 679 matches and earned 73 caps for England, including every game of their 1966 World Cup triumph. He is often ranked among the finest goalkeepers ever.

Born in Abbeydale, Sheffield, Banks grew up in the working-class Tinsley area before his family moved to Catcliffe after his father opened an illegal betting shop. The business brought some prosperity but also tragedy: his disabled brother was robbed of the shop's daily takings and died from his injuries weeks later. Banks left school at 15 to work as a bagger for a coal merchant, building upper-body strength. He began playing for amateur side Millspaugh after their regular goalkeeper didn't show up; a trainer spotted him in the crowd and asked him to fill in, knowing Banks had played for Sheffield Schoolboys. That led to a game for Rawmarsh Welfare in the Yorkshire League, but after a 12–2 loss on debut and a 3–1 home defeat, he was dropped and returned to Millspaugh. He then became a hod carrier.

Scouted by Chesterfield while playing for Millspaugh, Banks got a six-game youth-team trial in March 1953 and signed a part-time £3-a-week contract that July. The reserve team was placed in the Central League due to a powerful director, not merit, and Banks conceded 122 goals in the 1954–55 season as the side finished last with three wins. During national service with the Royal Signals in Germany, he won the Rhine Cup with his regimental team. After recovering from a fractured elbow, he helped Chesterfield's youth team reach the 1956 FA Youth Cup final, where they lost 4–3 on aggregate to Manchester United's "Busby Babes," featuring Bobby Charlton and Wilf McGuinness.

Banks made his first-team debut under Doug Livingstone in November 1958, a 2–2 draw with Colchester United at Saltergate. He missed only three games that season due to injury. With no goalkeeping coach, he learned from his mistakes and became a vocal presence, organising his defence. After just 23 league and three cup appearances, Leicester City manager Matt Gillies bought him for £7,000 in July 1959, raising his wages to £15 a week.

At Leicester, Banks competed with five other keepers, including Scotland international Johnny Anderson and Dave MacLaren. He began the 1959–60 season as second-choice reserve keeper. After four reserve games, MacLaren got injured, and Banks debuted for Leicester against Blackpool on 9 September, a 1–1 draw. He kept his place for a 2–0 loss to Newcastle three days later, then returned to the reserves when MacLaren recovered. But after the first team conceded 14 goals in five matches, Banks was recalled and became first-choice for the rest of the season. He conceded six in a heavy defeat at Everton but improved steadily, and Leicester finished 12th. He worked extra hours on weaknesses like catching crosses.

Banks played in four cup finals for Leicester: losing the 1961 and 1963 FA Cup finals, winning the League Cup in 1964, and finishing as runners-up in 1965. Despite this success and his 1966 World Cup win, Leicester dropped him and sold him to Stoke City for £50,000 in April 1967. At the 1970 World Cup, he made one of the game's greatest saves, denying Pelé a goal, but missed the quarter-final loss to West Germany due to illness.

Banks was Stoke's goalkeeper when they won the 1972 League Cup, the club's only major honour. He remained Stoke's and England's number one until a car crash in October 1972 cost him sight in his right eye and ended his professional career. He later played two seasons in the United States for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–78) and, despite one-eyed vision, was named NASL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1977 for the league's best defensive record. He briefly managed Telford United before leaving football in December 1980.

Banks was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972 and FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year six times. The IFFHS ranked him the second-best goalkeeper of the 20th century, behind Lev Yashin.