IN THE BANKS

Well seniority has grabbed another of the 1966 World Cup squad, Gordon Banks who has died at the age of 81. With 73 caps under his belt, he should have won more had it not been for the eye injury he sustained in that car accident. It didn't stop him from playing!
He played at Chesterfield (1958-9 23 apps)), Leicester City (1959-67 293 apps), Stoke City (1967-73 194 apps)), Cleveland Stokers, Hellenic (S.Africa), Fort Lauderdale and St Patrick's Dublin.

As a 15 years old he played locally in South Yorkshire with Rawmarsh Welfare and work as a bag carrier at the local coal merchant's. He a game against Stocksbridge Works (a few miles from me now! and the home club of Jamie Vardy) in the Yorkshire League; After a 12-2 and 3-1 defeat, Gordon was "released". He became a hod carrier. His career then restarted at the Spireites in 1953 on £3 a week.

Goalies of that era were all around the same size 5'11" on the main, not the hunks of today. Gordon Banks had amazing anticipation and was not only a brilliant goalkeeper but also a team comic. He entertained his squads including of course, the 1966 World Cup winners. In the tournament Banks had not conceded from open play until the Final but let in one by Eusebio from the penalty spot.

Whilst at The Hendon Hall Hotel, Gordon kept the troops amused with his party pieces, such as impersonating  a comedian of the day, Freddie Frinton, whose catch song was "Sugar in the Morning", which led to Gordon being known as "Sugar".

This video is not entirely about Banks but may cheer you up after hearing the sad news of Gordon's death. He would have found it funny.
https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/happy-birthday-banksy.html
This is a Blog from 2018...on his birthday.

Banks claims that the save he made against West Ham and Geoff Hurst in the League Cup semi-final was his greatest. if Hurst had scored then surely the Potters would have been out of the Cup. Stoke went through and won the League Cup beating Chelsea.
In the 1963 League Cup Semi-final Banks, then at Leicester City had faced 34 shots from Liverpool and did not concede. Leicester had one and scored!
He managed Telford Utd briefly in 1979-80.

His international career started in 1963 and ended on 27th May 1972 v Scotland at Hampden Pk, a 1-0 win.
He had 35 international clean sheets and 9 losses.
Here's THE SAVE