Posted by:
kentish
(
)
Date: February 12, 2019 11:48AM
Devout soccer fans will perhaps know the name Gordon Banks. An all-time great goalkeeper for England who died today. A great memory from my past, standing in a crowd of around 100,000 at the semi final of the World Cup at Wembley with Banks in goal for England and going on to defeat the then West German team in the final. If I have ever experienced mass euphoria it was there that day.
Banks pulled off perhaps the greatest save in soccer history when England played Brazil in the 1980 World Cup in Mexico. Brazil crossed the ball into the box where the great Pele headed the ball low into the goal. Or so he thought. Pele was so sure it was going to be a goal he raised his arms in triumph and shouted"Goal!" only to see Banks pull off the most amazing stop and tipping the ball away. It was an amazing save and even the great Pele lowered his arms and applauded,
Forgive my ramblings but another bit of life's memories appeared today to remind me of the vast amount of pleasure sport has given me in life. RIP Gordon Banks one of my sporting icons.