RIP Gordon Banks

Sad to hear of the death of the great Gordon Banks. As a kid I stood on the North Bank at Upton Park for the 1971-72 League Cup Semi-Final, when Banks made that famous save from the Geoff Hurst penalty that would have taken WHU to Wembley. Sadly Geoff hit it a little too close to Banks, but it was still a ferocious shot and the Stoke keeper did brilliantly to tip it over the bar. After two replays (and Bobby Moore having to go in goal) Stoke eventually made it to the final and won the League Cup. I first really became interested in football in 1970 and one of my earliest memories is of Banks' legendary save from Pele at the World Cup. And of course, Banks could have joined West Ham when ethics man Ron Greenwood famously turned down the Stoke custodian as he had already shaken on a deal for Bobby Ferguson. With four World Cup winners West Ham would have had quite a side. Gordon will be missed.