MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 20:53:20| >> :600:122814:122814:

Hero, mentor and inspiration - fellow goalkeepers pay tribute to Gordon Banks

Hero, mentor and inspiration - fellow goalkeepers pay tribute to Gordon Banks
© Reuters
Peter Shilton and Peter Schmeichel were among those to salute Banks' greatness.

Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81, is regarded as England's greatest ever goalkeeper and one of the finest the world has ever seen.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at some of the tributes paid to England's World Cup hero by other famous keepers:

Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton (left) succeeded Gordon Banks (right) as England's number one
Peter Shilton (left) succeeded Gordon Banks (right) as England's number one (PA)

Shilton succeeded Banks as the number one at Leicester, Stoke and England. He said on Sky Sports: "Gordon was my hero when I was a youngster watching Leicester City on the terraces. I eventually joined the club and quickly became his understudy at 16. I trained with him for about a year once a week and he was always helpful, he was always a gentlemen. Then Leicester sold Gordon to Stoke and I took over.

"I was understudy in the England squad as well for a number of years and in that era, he was just a great goalkeeper. When you work with Gordon, it's bound to rub off on you a little bit. I always admired his positional play in that era. It was a different era for goalkeepers, different rules. But it was still the same job, keep the ball out of the net, and he was the best around at the time.

"We had a friendship – we were rivals as well, but we had a friendship – and it's just so tragic news that he's finally gone. I know he hadn't been very well, but it's hit me quite hard that he's actually passed away."

Peter Schmeichel

The former Manchester United keeper's save from Rapid Vienna's Rene Wagner in 1996 drew comparisons to Banks' unforgettable stop from Pele in 1970. The Dane said on Twitter: "So sad to hear that Gordon Banks one of my heroes and a true legend in life and football, has passed away. An inspiration, a winner and a true gentleman. My thoughts are with his family and friends. #RIPGordonBanks"

Ray Clemence

Ray Clemence won his first of 61 England caps in November 1972, six months after Banks played his final game for his country. The former Liverpool and Tottenham keeper said on Sky Sports: "The whole football world is so deeply saddened by it, and particularly myself.

"What I loved about him was he made the game of goalkeeping look so ridiculously easy, and yet [was] capable of making incredible saves like the one against Pele. He will be remembered for that, but also he will be remembered for being a wonderful, wonderful person. He always had time for people, always had a smile on his face, never bragged about what a great, great goalkeeper he was.

"Certainly he was a great mentor for me, not only on the training ground and how to play in games, but also how to behave off the field as well."

David Seaman

David Seaman paid tribute to Gordon Banks
David Seaman paid tribute to Gordon Banks (Adam Butler/PA)

The former Arsenal great, who won 75 caps for England, tweeted: "So sad to hear of the passing of a true legend #gordonbanks"

Neville Southall

Former Everton and Wales keeper Neville Southall tweeted: "A incredible keeper and it was a joy to have met and worked with him A true gentleman"

Jordan Pickford

Current England number one Jordan Pickford tweeted a video of Banks' save from Pele and wrote: "One of the greatest saves of all time. RIP Gordon Banks. A true legend of the game. All my thoughts with your family and friends at this difficult time."

Gianluigi Buffon

The former Italy keeper, who has 176 international caps and won the World Cup in 2006, tweeted that Banks had been an inspiration to his career.

"I am one of the many who built their dreams on your perfect save! Once more, with all my heart: thank you, dear #GordonBanks"

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'a3a08cbf-f320-45cd-80fe-a0f9c9000336');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Hero, mentor and inspiration \u2013 fellow goalkeepers pay tribute to Gordon Banks'});

ID:350123: cacheID:350123:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:12341:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mesut Ozil in action for Arsenal on January 29, 2019
Read Next:
How Arsenal could line up against BATE
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!