Banks, gordon

Gordon is from a simple working-class family living in Tamuert , a town in Staffordshire , north of Birmingham . While studying at school, he ended up in apprenticeships in a steel shop. The goalkeeper debuted at age 15. His first team was Millspout, representing the Sheffield Steelworks. A year later, he went up a notch by going to the Romance Welfare. It was also a working club, but he played in the regional (Yorkshire) amateur league. He was quickly kicked out of the Roumarch: in the first two matches he conceded 15 goals.

In 1955, he was invited to Chesterfield , the club of the third division of England. A year later, his first major success came to him: defending the gates of the Chesterfield youth team, he became the FA Cup finalist in this category. He was paid two pounds a week.

At age 18, Banks was drafted into the army, the service took place in Germany. There he met the girl Ursula, who became his wife.

In May 1959, Leicester City , who played in the elite division, acquired it for 7,000 pounds. By the summer of 1962, Banks was already one of the top three goalkeepers in Misty Albion.

In April 1967, Banks moved to Stoke City . The gate guard post at Leicester went from Banks to Peter Shilton . Also, the two most outstanding goalkeepers of England of all time are related by the fact that Shilton moved from Leicester to Stoke City in 1975, and after Banks left England he was replaced by Shilton. Thus, Shilton happened to succeed Banks three times.

At 34, he lost his right eye in a car accident on October 22, 1972. Driving a car five miles from his home in Ashley Heat, he got into a car accident with a truck, which he was found guilty of. “I was thinking about the match we played the day before with Liverpool , whether Judge Roger Kilpatrick will report to the disciplinary commission about the incident that happened between us,” “I remember crying out from fear and pain. Then there was a failure, and the first thing I felt when I woke up was the smell and taste of blood. My blood. " Surgeons put 108 stitches on him. Banks had to remove his right eye. A fragment of a windshield stuck in it.

After the operation, Banks began to be compared with Admiral Horatio Nelson , who defeated the French fleet, being one-eyed. A new nickname has replaced the old - Fernandel . Even in his youth, friends called him that, finding in his appearance a lot in common with the famous French comedian.

However, in 1977, Banks was offered to play in the USA at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers club. In the first year he was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the North American Football League . However, life in the United States did not please Banks.

In 1978, Banks returned to England from the United States. Until the end of 1979, he trained Port Vale , in January 1980 he was appointed general manager of the Telford United club. In 1982, he returned to Stoke City for a short time - he was a goalkeeper coach.

Until the end of his life, Gordon Banks lived in the town of Madeley ( Cheshire ).

Banks' wife is called Ursula. They have three children: Robert (born 1958), Wendy (born 1963) and Julia (born 1969). The football player’s friends describe him as “a very calm, good-natured person.” Banks was pleased to accept the results of the IFESF referendum (2nd place among goalkeepers of the 20th century), agreeing that " Yashin was better."

The first match in the national team was held on April 6, 1963 with Scotland . He immediately ousted Ron Springett . The 1966 World Cup at home became his finest hour. Gordon added the title of the best goalkeeper of the tournament to the gold medal and a record for the duration of the “dry” series (441 minutes). He missed the first ball only in the semifinals with Portugal - from Eusebio, and even then from the penalty spot. He took the record from the legendary Brazilian Gilmar (set at the 1958 World Cup ) and held for 12 years until he lost it to Zapp Mayer . The last match in the national team on May 27, 1972 with Scotland .

Team Achievements

England team

• World Champion : 1966
• European Championship bronze medalist: 1968
• Winner of the British Home Championship ( 8 ): 1964 (split victory), 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 (split victory), 1971, 1972

Leicester City

• Football League Cup Winner
• FA Cup Finalist: 1961 , 1963
• League Soccer Cup Finalist: 1965

Stoke City

• Football League Cup Winner : 1972

Personal Achievements

• 2nd goalkeeper of the world in the XX century according to IFFHS .
• 2nd world goalkeeper in history according to France Football ^[2] .
• Football Journalist Association of the Year : 1972
• In March 2004, Pele was named on the FIFA 100 list.
• The 1966 record - seven matches of the team “to zero” in a row - he retains until now: none of his colleagues in the entire history of the England team have kept their gates shut for so long.
• Saves Banks after being hit by Pele at the 1970 World Cup is considered the most outstanding not only in the history of world championships, but in the entire world of football history.
• In 1970, the government decided to give it what it deserved, elevating Banks to the rank of officer of the British Empire. This is the second step in the hierarchy of the Order of the British Empire , and there are five in all.
• At 40, with one eye, he was named the best NASL player.

Matches :

• Total in the top division (England, USA): 526 (-788)
• In the FA Cup: 29 (-31)
• In Eurocups: 5 (-6)

• Official website
• EnglandFootballOnline.com Profile
• Profile on the website of the National Museum of Football (English)