by Gordon Banks
31. It was difficult to adjust to the speed and flight of the ball in the high altitude of Mexico ‘70. Here I appear to be just about coping. In the background is Norman Hunter, who for all his fearsome reputation was booked only four times in his career (which, of course, may say much for the tolerance of referees in those days!).
32. The save that brought me global fame. As soon as the ball left Pelé’s head I heard him shout ‘Goto!’ But I had other ideas.
33. The ball balloons over the bar to safety. Bobby Moore said, ‘You’re getting old, Banksy.You used to hold on to them!’
34. The mark of a good goalkeeper is how few saves he is called on to make. Organizing your defence is the key to good goalkeeping. Here I’m telling Bobby Moore, no less, who he should be marking.
35. In action for England against Scotland in 1971. Also in the picture are Martin Chivers (number 10), Roy McFarland, Billy Bremner and Bobby Moore. England won 3-1.
36. George Best about to pounce and flick the ball away from me during the game at Windsor Park in 1971.To this day, George still insists his goal should have been allowed. I’m with the referee on this one.
37. Doing some preseason training of my own around the lanes of Cheshire in 1972.
38. My favourite photograph. Saving Geoff Hurst’s penalty in the 1972 League Cup semi-final second leg at a very atmospheric Upton Park. The poses struck by my Stoke team-mates suggest they were expecting Geoff to score!
39. I celebrate Stoke City’s victory over West Ham in the semifinal of the League Cup in 1972.This was our fourth meeting, at Old Trafford, and the longest League Cup tie ever.
40. I check that the laces of John Dempsey’s boots are correctly tied during the League Cup final of 1972 between Stoke City and Chelsea.
41. A great day for Stoke City and George Eastham. After our epic win against Chelsea in 1972 I congratulate the scorer of Stoke’s winning goal. At 35 years and 161 days old, George remains the oldest recipient of a
42. My son Robert puts me through my paces at our home in Madeley Heath. I even worked out the angle and my positioning for this one.
43. A great moment for me. Receiving my Footballer of the Year award in 1972.I was the first goalkeeper to win it since my boyhood hero Bert Trautmann in 1956. The following year, Pat Jennings won.
44. Still managing a smile after my near-fatal car crash in 1972. I wouldn’t let my disability beat me. Encouraged by my family and literally thousands of well-wishers, I was to make a comeback in America.
45. My Ford Consul after the crash in October 1972 which resulted in me losing the sight in my right eye.
46. Ursula and Wendy sift through thousands of letters from well-wishers received after my accident.
47. This is Your Life. Left to right, front: my brothers Michael and David, Ursula, Wendy, Julia, me, Tony Waddington (on my left shoulder), Robert, Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore.
48. In action for Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Following the loss of my eye, the decision to play again had been the most difficult of my life. Here, George Graham (8) decides to test out the strength of my ribcage.
49. With my good friend George Best in the colours of the Strikers. George scored what I believe to be the best-ever goal against me. Quite simply, he was a football genius.
50. Pelé visits Wembley prior to England’s last game there against Germany in the qualifying group for the 2002 World Cup. I was coaching some youngsters when my old friend turned up. I think the love and respect Pelé and I have for one another are obvious.
51. Working on the book with friend and collaborator Les Scott.
Career Record
Football League
CHESTERFIELD
1958–59
29 Nov
Colchester United
(h) 2–2
6 Dec
Carlisle United
(a) 0–0 FA Cup
10 Dec
Carlisle United
(h) 1–0 FA Cup (replay)
13 Dec
Norwich City
(h) 1–1
20 Dec
Halifax Town
(a) 2–3
26 Dec
Wrexham
(h) 1–1
27 Dec
Wrexham
(a) 4–3
1 Jan
Hull City
(h) 2–1
3 Jan
Newport County
(h) 3–1
10 Jan
Colchester United
(a) 0–2 FA Cup
17 Jan
Southend United
(a) 5–2
24 Jan
Reading
(a) 2–1
31 Jan
Notts County
(a) 1–3
7 Feb
Mansfield Town
(h) 3–1
14 Feb
Swindon Town
(a) 2–1
21 Feb
Brentford
(h) 1–2
28 Feb
QPR
(h) 2–3
7 Mar
Rochdale
(a) 0–0
14 Mar
Doncaster Rovers
(a) 1–2
21 Mar
Plymouth Argyle
(a) 0–2
27 Mar
Bury
(h) 3–0
11 Apr
Bournemouth
(h) 1–0
13 Apr
Stockport County
(h) 1–0
18 Apr
Colchester United
(a) 0–1
25 Apr
Reading
(h) 1–0
29 Apr
Norwich City
(a) 1–2
Summary: League 23; FA Cup 3; Total 26.
LEICESTER CITY
1959–60
9 Sep
Blackpool
(h) 1–1
12 Sep
Newcastle United
(a) 0–2
17 Oct
Manchester City
(a) 2–3
24 Oct
Arsenal
(h) 2–2
31 Oct
Everton
(a) 1–6
7 Nov
Sheffield Wednesday
(h) 2–0
14 Nov
Nottingham Forest
(a) 0–1
21 Nov
Fulham
(h) 0–1
28 Nov
Bolton Wanderers
(a) 1–3
5 Dec
Luton Town
(h) 3–3
12 Dec
Wolves
(a) 3–0
19 Dec
West Ham United
(h) 2–1
26 Dec
Preston North End
(h) 2–2
28 Dec
Preston North End
(a) 1–1
2 Jan
Chelsea
(a) 2–2
9 Jan
Wrexham
(a) 2–1 FA Cup
16 Jan
West Bromwich Albion
(h) 0–1
23 Jan
Newcastle United
(a) 2–0
30 Jan
Fulham
(h) 2–1 FA Cup
6 Feb
Birmingham City
(h) 1–3
13 Feb
Tottenham Hotspur
(a) 2–1
20 Feb
West Bromwich Albion
(h) 2–1 FA Cup
24 Feb
Manchester United
(h) 3–1
27 Feb
Luton Town
(a) 0–2
5 Mar
Manchester City
(h) 5–0
12 Mar
Wolves
(h) 1–2 FA Cup
15 Mar
Arsenal
(a) 1–1
19 Mar
Wolves
(h) 2–1
2 Apr
Nottingham Forest
(h) 0–1
6 Apr
Sheffield Wednesday
(a) 2–2
9 Apr
Fulham
(a) 1–1
15 Apr
Burnley
(a) 0–1
16 Apr
Everton
(h) 3–3
18 Apr
Burnley
(h) 2–1
23 Apr
Blackburn Rovers
(a) 1–0
30 Apr
Bolton Wanderers
(h) 1–2
1960–61
20 Aug
Blackpool
(h) 1–1
24 Aug
Chelsea
(a) 3–1
27 Aug
Everton
(a) 1–3
31 Aug
Chelsea
(h) 1–3
3 Sep
Blackburn Rovers
(h) 2–4
7 Sep
Wolves
(a) 2–3
10 Sep
Manchester United
(a) 1–1
14 Sep
Wolves
(h) 2–0
17 Sep
Tottenham Hotspur
(h) 1–2
24 Sep
Newcastle United
(a) 3–1
1 Oct
Aston Villa
(a) 3–1
8 Oct
Arsenal
(h) 2–1
15 Oct
Manchester City
(a) 1–3
22 Oct
West Bromwich Albion
(h) 2–2
26 Oct
Rotherham United
(h) 1–2 League Cup
28 Oct
Cardiff City
(a) 1–2
4 Nov
Preston North End
(h) 5–2
12 Nov
Fulham
(a) 2–4
19 Nov
Sheffield Wednesday
(h) 2–1
26 Nov
Birmingham City
(a) 2–0
3 Dec
Nottingham Forest
(h) 1–1
10 Dec
Burnley
(a) 2–3
17 Dec
Blackpool
(a) 1–5
24 Dec
Bolton Wanderers
(a) 0–2
26 Dec
Bolton Wanderers
(h) 2–0
31 Dec
Everton
(h) 4–1
7 Jan
Oxford United
(h) 3–1 FA Cup
14 Jan
Blackburn Rovers
(a) 1–1
21 Jan
Manchester United
(h) 6–0
31 Jan
Bristol City
(h) 5–1 FA Cup
4 Feb
Tottenham Hotspur
(a) 3–2
11 Feb
Newcastle United
(h) 5–3
18 Feb
Birmingham City
(a) 1–1 FA Cup
22 Feb
Birmingham City
(h) 2–1 FA Cup (replay)
25 Feb
Arsenal
(a) 3–1
4 Mar
Barnsley
(h) 0–0 FA Cup
8 Mar
Barnsley
(a) 2–1 FA Cup (replay) (aet)
18 Mar
Sheffield United
(n) 0–0 FA Cup semi-final
23 Mar
Sheffield United
(n) 0–0 FA Cup (replay) (aet)
25 Mar
Preston North End
(a) 0–0
27 Mar
Sheffield United
(n) 2–0 FA Cup (2nd replay)
31 Mar
West Ham United
(a) 0–1
1 Apr
Burnley
(h) 2–2
3 Apr
West Ham United
(h) 5–1
8 Apr
Sheffield Wednesday
(a) 2–2
10 Apr
Cardiff City
(h) 3–0
15 Apr
Fulham
(h) 1–2
19 Apr
Aston Villa
(h) 3–1
22 Apr
Nottingham Forest
(a) 2–2
26 Apr
Manchester City
(h) 1–2
29 Apr
Birmingham City
(h) 3–2
6 May
Tottenham Hotspur
(n) 0–2 FA Cup final
1961–62
19 Aug
Manchester City
(a) 1–3
23 Aug
Arsenal
(h) 0–1
26 Aug
West Bromwich Albion
(h) 1–0
29 Aug
Arsenal
(a) 4–4
2 Sep
Birmingham City
(a) 5–1
5 Sep
Burnley
(a) 0–2
9 Sep
Everton
(h) 2–0
13 Sep
Glenavon
(a) 4–1 ECWC (1)
16 Sep
Fulham
(a) 1–2
20 Sep
Burnley
(h) 2–6
23 Sep
Sheffield Wednesday
(h) 1–0
27 Sep
Glenavon
(h) 3–1 ECWC (2)
30 Sep
West Ham United
(a) 1–4
7 Oct
Sheffield United
(h) 4–1
9 Oct
York City
(a) 1–2 League Cup
14 Oct
Chelsea
(a) 3–1
21 Oct
Blackpool
(h) 0–2
25 Oct
Atletico Madrid
(h) 1–1 ECWC (1)
28 Oct
Blackburn Rovers
(a) 1–2
4 Nov
Wolves
(h) 3–0
11 Nov
Manchester United
(a) 2–2
15 Nov
Atletico Madrid
(a) 0–2 ECWC (2)
18 Nov
Cardiff City
(h) 3–0
2 Dec
Aston Villa
(h) 0–2
9 Dec
Nottingham Forest
(a) 0–0
16 Dec
Manchester City
(h) 2–0
23 Dec
West Bromwich Albion
(a) 0–2
26 Dec
Ipswich Town
(a) 0–1
10 Jan
Stoke City
(h) 1–1 FA Cup
13 Jan
Birmingham City
(h) 1–2
15 Jan
Stoke City
(a) 2–5 FA Cup (replay)
20 Jan
Everton
(a) 2–3
3 Feb
Fulham
(h) 4–1
10 Feb
Sheffield Wednesday
(a) 2–1
17 Feb
West Ham United
(h) 2–2
24 Feb
Sheffield United
(a) 1–3
10 Mar
Blackpool
(a) 1–2
17 Mar
Blackburn Rovers
(h) 2–0
24 Mar
Wolves
(a) 1–1
28 Mar
/> Ipswich Town
(h) 0–2
4 Apr
Manchester United
(h) 4–3
7 Apr
Cardiff City
(a) 4–0
11 Apr
Chelsea
(h) 2–0
21 Apr
Aston Villa
(a) 3–8
23 Apr
Bolton Wanderers
(a) 0–1
24 Apr
Bolton Wanderers
(h) 1–1
28 Apr
Nottingham Forest
(h) 2–1
30 Apr