The Hindu : Legends: Gordon Banks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 29, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Legends: Gordon Banks

England has produced a long line of top-flight goalkeepers but observers say Gordon Banks (see picture, signing autographs) was the best of them all.

England had reached the semifinals without conceding a goal in the 1966 World Cup, until it happened against Portugal. Banks let in his first goal — a penalty by Eusebio — in 443 minutes of World Cup football. Not that the goal changed history for England reached the final but as Banks was to write later, ``At that level, every goal is like a knife in the ribs''.

England won the final beating Germany in extra-time but for Banks there was despair first before euphoria. The goal that helped Germany equalise just when all seemed set for England to grab the Jules Rimet Trophy was, as Banks said, ``like being pushed off Mount Everest with just a stride to go to the top.'' Of course once again that lapse did not turn serious for he was to become England's hero.

It was by chance that Banks took to goalkeeping. An apprentice bricklayer, he had gone to watch a local amateur side Millspaugh when he was asked if he could stand in the goal since the regular goalkeeper had not turned up. Soon he graduated to join Romarsh Welfare of the Yorkshire league but disaster struck after two games. He had let in fifteen goals and that sent him packing. This was the man who went on to become the `Banks of England' for it was said his hands were as safe between the posts as money in Bank of England!

Joining third division North side Chesterfield as a part-time pro in 1955, Banks moved to Leicester City in 1959. In his second season with Leicester, the club reached the FA Cup final. Two years later Leicester was once again in the final. His consistency brought him a call to the National side in 1963 for the match against Scotland. It was Alf Ramsey's second game as England Manager.

England won that match. Few weeks later England faced Brazil at Wembley and did well to hold the World champion 1-1 but Ramsey did not spare Banks for letting in a goal. What Ramsey was talking about was a world class goal, a curling 30 yarder by Pepe, something Banks firmly believed no goalkeeper could have stopped.

England lost only nine of their 73 matches with Banks in goal. The 1966 World Cup certified him as the best in the world. Four years later, England began its title-defence on a none-too-convincing note. England and Brazil put up a classic with Banks enacting what has been described as the `save of the century'. Prior to that match, Ramsey had confided to Banks that he was being considered for OBE and nothing was more stimulating!.

Banks played the game of his life. The dramatic moment came when Brazilian winger Jairzinho lofted a high dipping centre to Bank's far post. Pele crashed a perfect header. Banks dived as the bouncing ball rose and flicked it with his outstretched right hand. The ball amazingly scaled the bar for what even Pele considered as the greatest save he had seen.

Brazil won that Group match but England too progressed beating Czechoslovakia next. That was when Banks took ill and England was soon to crash out. Banks' professional career too ended in 1972 when a road accident took away his right eye. He fought hard to regain fitness but the high standards eluded him. Only few months earlier he was adjudged the `Footballer of the Year'. — S.R. Suryanarayan

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