RIP GORDON BANKS

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A truly great keeper. Capable of breath-taking saves, made very few errors. Whether he could have played sweeper and passed the ball accurately with his feet, we'll never know, but he was the outstanding keeper of his era. Even better than Hodgy, and it is hard to praise someone more highly than that.
 
Shalalalafenoughty said:
TC put one past him from the edge of the box, though. Great shot into the top corner. Also, he squeezed a shot past him at his near post - a very rare thing indeed where Banks was concerned - from a narrow angle a few minutes later but it was disallowed for Currie carrying the ball out of play.

Banks was an absolutely fantastic goalkeeper. I stood on the Leppings Lane end for a League Cup semi-final replay between Stoke and West Ham in the early seventies and the Stoke fans absolutely revered him. He was brilliant that night.

The save against Brazil stands out, of course. The move down the right, the cross from Jairzinho and in particular the bullet downward header from Pelé were all perfect which made the save even better. Some of the players on the pitch that day were footballing gods.
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Very well said.
 
Shalalalafenoughty said:
TC put one past him from the edge of the box, though. Great shot into the top corner. Also, he squeezed a shot past him at his near post - a very rare thing indeed where Banks was concerned - from a narrow angle a few minutes later but it was disallowed for Currie carrying the ball out of play.

Banks was an absolutely fantastic goalkeeper. I stood on the Leppings Lane end for a League Cup semi-final replay between Stoke and West Ham in the early seventies and the Stoke fans absolutely revered him. He was brilliant that night.

The save against Brazil stands out, of course. The move down the right, the cross from Jairzinho and in particular the bullet downward header from Pelé were all perfect which made the save even better. Some of the players on the pitch that day were footballing gods.
Click to expand...

Today he'd be playing for one of the M'chester clubs, possibly Chelsea, but his talent was such that his standing in the modern game would be just as high as it was when he played. There simply aren't enough words to describe just how great banks was. It's no different to trying to explain why George Best was as unique as he was. I was fortunate to see both players in their prime, and you just knew that their like would never be seen again in my lifetime.
 
Woodys Thunderbolt said:
Banksy was in the opposition goal in the first ever match i attended at Bramall Lane, Blades v Stoke City 71/72 season. I was stood right behind the goal on the kop and remember him tipping a Woody piledriver over the bar. Blades lost 3-2.
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I was at that game, about the 5th game I had attended. I think one of the goals went in straight from a corner, think it was a Stoke goal
 
Two of the greatest England keepers

0_Gordon-Banks-and-Peter-Shilton-in-training-at-the-Victoria-Ground.jpg
 

SouthEssexBlade said:
That League Cup semi-final save against Geoff Hurst. Hurst absolutely belted it, straight down the middle. Banks dived, but somehow managed to twist back mid-dive and double fist it away.

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Apart from all the other qualities needed by top keepers, he must have been between the eagles and hawks in the eyesight queue, unbelievable reflexes
 
Silent Blade said:
The Chesterfield Youth team including Gordon that lost to Busby Babes in the 1956 FA Youth Cup final. Keith Havenhand (his family are Blades fans) was my driving instructor. Charlie Rackstraw played in the same Shiregreen FC team as my twin uncles.

View attachment 49598
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The lad on Banks' right and the one sitting directly in front of him both look to be in their mid-30s...
 
Shalalalafenoughty said:
TC put one past him from the edge of the box, though. Great shot into the top corner. Also, he squeezed a shot past him at his near post - a very rare thing indeed where Banks was concerned - from a narrow angle a few minutes later but it was disallowed for Currie carrying the ball out of play.
Click to expand...
I was at that game,must be the only time I can remember seeing him live...well i say remember,i can't remember much about the game tbh...we were on the Kop which was packed...Stoke were a decent side with Banks,Jimmy Greenhoff,Terry Conroy along with ex Wendy Richie in the line up.
Do you know if he ever played at the Lane for Leicester?
 
jockdodds said:
I had the great privilege to meet Gordon. My good friend the author Don Mullan commissioned me to paint the cover for his biography of Gordon "Gordon Banks - A Hero Who Could Fly". I attended the book launch with Gordon and Don. Such a lovely, humble man, and as others have said, a true legend.
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Following on from my mention of Don Mullan's book, I see that someone from Stoke has placed a copy on Gordon's statue!
banks.jpg
 
Dnblade said:
I was at that game,must be the only time I can remember seeing him live...well i say remember,i can't remember much about the game tbh...we were on the Kop which was packed...Stoke were a decent side with Banks,Jimmy Greenhoff,Terry Conroy along with ex Wendy Richie in the line up.
Do you know if he ever played at the Lane for Leicester?
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Blades and Foxes were in same division from 1961 to 1968 although Gordon left for Stoke in 1967, I would be surprised if Gordon never played for Leicester at the Lane. Just remembered that I saw a photo of Gordon claiming a catch for a cross when we lost at home to Leicester in December 1966.
 
Silent Blade said:
Blades and Foxes were in same division from 1961 to 1968 although Gordon left for Stoke in 1967, I would be surprised if Gordon never played for Leicester at the Lane. Just remembered that I saw a photo of Gordon claiming a catch for a cross when we lost at home to Leicester in December 1966.
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Yes,i was thinking the same;he must have come with Leicester at some point SB,being in the same Division for a few years.
 
My Dad's a Catcliffe lad and has fond memories of Gordon. He was always amazed that he managed to play in the League Cup Final after having a skinful in The Plough the night before! Anyone that knew him just thought he was a down to earth, lovely bloke.
 

Woodys Thunderbolt said:
Banksy was in the opposition goal in the first ever match i attended at Bramall Lane, Blades v Stoke City 71/72 season. I was stood right behind the goal on the kop and remember him tipping a Woody piledriver over the bar. Blades lost 3-2.
Click to expand...
It took some doing as Woody had a thunderbolt shot for sure
 
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