I know a few people have already posted on the General Football thread. I know too that we are all heartily sick of the milking of emotion when the groundsman's cat dies. But just sometimes someone goes and all football fans - especially those of a certain age - draw in a breath and feel genuinely saddened while privilieged to have seen that person in their pomp. Banks was simply the best keeper I ever saw. Not the flashest, but with an uncanny ability of knowing where the ball was going. I saw him a few times at The Dell, and I remember once a little lad (you will now be in your 60's if you're out there) who asked his dad why the Saints players kept shooting straight at the keeper. The save from Pele was remarkable, of course. And perhaps one of the most astonishing things was that it wasn't typical Banks. Great player from an era when football players were just blokes who played footie for a living and retired and ran pubs or sold insurance or something. Thanks for memories, Gordon
Another of the heroes of 1966 gone. I can’t add anything to what’s been said but farewell Gordon, you were truly one of the greatest. RIP
Born to late to have seen him play live, but have seen many videos of him, A true English football legend. RIP
The world was a different place in 1970. Mexico was on the other side of a huge planet, football was a sport people played by people who loved the game more than money.
"As safe as the Banks of England", says it all. He will be forever a part of English football folklore along with the other World Cup winners and he always struck me as being a top bloke as well. R.I.P. Banksy...
Difficult to compare players of different eras, but Banksy was undoubtedly the best keeper I have seen play between the sticks. Remember talking to a work colleague, who whilst on a family holiday in Fort Lauderdale about 10 years ago, bumped into Gordon Banks in a shopping mall. He told me that Banks seemed genuinely moved when my colleague said 'Gordon, would you mind if my son shook your hand as I've always told him you are the best goalkeeper in the world'. He also said they continued to chat for quite a while and he was a really nice, unassuming guy. Sad news.
That save was unbelievable. And he played in an era when keepers were not treated like a shower of pansies. Respects.
Every time I watch that save I still expect one time for Pele to score RIP Banksy. Truly of the best if not best keepers to have played the beautiful game.
To me that's the best save ever made. Banks never used to have to make saves like that usually because he was most often in the right place. But during that attack he'd strayed to the near post, to nullify Jairzinho, who crossed, and Banks had to scramble the 6 yard box to save. I put him in the top 3. In his era he was the best. Lev Yashin had retired, and I can't think of anyone who was near. In the First Division, which had the best goalkeepers, Pat Jennings had moments when he came close. Bob Wilson was consistent. Alec Stepney same. Gary Sprake was inconsistent. Peter Bonetti just wasn't as good. Peter Shilton at Leicester was still learning his trade. Eric Martin was a pretty good keeper too. Tommy Lawrence at Liverpool. Nobody else.
Hi SS! Long time no hear! All I can think off is Dino Zoff in his era (just) or maybe Buffon a lot later on. Maybe Ray Clemence in there as he was England's no1 before Shilton took over. Edit: Totally agree, incredible save made to look effortless.
I still can’t work out the trajectory of the ball after he stopped it. The way it went up and seemed to spin backwards was incredible. Not noticed before but both centre backs were marking the near post for the cross.
Was a definite “sir” & deserved the title Sir a very long time ago (with of course, a few of his team mates).
