Gordon Banks

Lore & Background

Banks was born in Abbeydale, Sheffield, on 30 December 1937, and brought up in the working-class area of Tinsley. He left school in December 1952, aged 15, and worked as a bagger for a coal merchant, then as a hod carrier. He began playing for amateur side Millspaugh after their regular goalkeeper failed to appear, and was scouted by Chesterfield in March 1953. He made his first-team debut in November 1958 and was sold to Leicester City for £7,000 in July 1959. At Leicester, he played in four cup finals: losing the 1961 and 1963 FA Cup finals, winning the League Cup in 1964, and finishing as finalists in 1965. Despite his World Cup win in 1966, Banks was dropped by Leicester and sold to Stoke City for £50,000 in April 1967.

Reader's Guide

Gordon Banks is remembered as one of football's greatest goalkeepers, central to England's 1966 World Cup triumph and renowned for a spectacular save against Pelé in the 1970 World Cup. His career spanned 20 years and 679 appearances, including a League Cup win with Stoke City in 1972. A car crash in October 1972 cost him the sight in his right eye and ended his professional career, though he later played two seasons in the United States for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, earning NASL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1977. 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, after Lev Yashin. His legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and skill, despite the abrupt end to his top-level career.

Did You Know?

• Banks was sold from Chesterfield to Leicester City for £7,000 in July 1959.
• He made one of the game's greatest saves to prevent a Pelé goal in the 1970 World Cup.
• A car crash in October 1972 cost him the sight in his right eye and ended his professional career.
• Despite having only one eye, he was NASL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1977.