World Cup winner Gordon Banks was England’s greatest ever goalkeeper. And he was so much more.
Seen now in grainy slo-mo, his famous wonder-save from Pele during the 1970 tournament is still breathtaking.
Nearly half a century on, as the former Sheffield coal bagger twists through the air with the agility of a flying gymnast, the Brazilian great still seems certain to score.
Pele’s applause – and shared surprise – during that game in Mexico was a deserved sporting tribute from one legend to another.
Banks was a modest man with nothing to be modest about.
And he could teach some of today’s over-paid players a thing or two about how to play the game and how to live the life.
Those players are good. Not as good as him.
This hero to many was a decent bloke, unassuming, never standing on ceremony or precious and always happy to chat to fans.
The hero of 1966 was far too decent to bemoan his lack of a knighthood.
So let us. It was an absolute outrage.
Other players knew though. His fans, his game and his country knew.
They knew his was a rare greatness.
Gordon Banks, safe as the Bank of England, has a place in our history.
And a hold on the nation’s hearts. For keeps.
Heroes failed
Our ambulances are under-staffed and under-funded.
The injured and the sick are too often left waiting for hours.
Now we learn the bosses at 12 trusts are banking £11million a year between them.
The cost of 300 much-needed extra paramedics.
With frontline heroes struggling for decent pay, fatcats can never be welcome in the NHS.
Time to lead…
Running down the clock on Brexit is a dangerous game for Theresa May to play with our future prosperity and security.
Great leaders lead. This one’s a follower,
Remember: a desperate hope that something might turn up is not a winning strategy.
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