One of, if not the greatest, goalkeepers of all time, a genuine legend of the game, and by all accounts, a proper gentleman, passed away peacefully at the age of 81. Gutted as I was that we lost the '72 League Cup Final, it's impossible to begrudge Gordon Banks his only domestic winners medal. Far more famous as England keeper, he was between the sticks for England's 1966 World Cup win. And then of course there was that save, in 1970 from Pele's "perfect downward header"

 

Very sad news, but at least he passed in one of nicest ways possible! Legend of a keeper and without a doubt the greatest England keeper of all time

The 1970 WC was my first real memory of a WC competiton, and that save from Pele was the best I've seen. Lots of skull duggery and mystery surrounding that WC for England though, which for me denied him of another possible WC winners medal. 

I was also at the 1972 LC final against Stoke with my dad, and if I recall it correctly, I still think that Banks brought down Ossie (i think it was) in the box/edge of the box, but we didn't get a penalty. 

Best keeper in the world. RIP big fella.

That save he made from Pele, is still amazing nearly 50 years on !

Very sad news indeed.

RIP

 

Made his full England debut v Scotland at Wembley in 1963.

His last game for England was also against Scotland. This time at Hampden. He kept a clean sheet as England won 1-0.

During his 73 international games, he kept 35 clean sheets and lost just nine games.