Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Banks robbed
Knighthood hero deserved was delayed in ‘blunder’ at Whitehall
FRIENDS of Gordon Banks were “given the nod” just 48 hours before he died that he would be considered for a knighthood this year.
The legendary England goalkeeper was expected to feature in this summer’s Queen’s birthday honours list.
But it would prove too late as the 1966 World Cup winner lost his long battle with cancer this week, aged 81.
Frustrated campaigners say he could have become Sir Gordon sooner, but the Government’s Honours Committee allegedly lost nomination papers.
As knighthoods cannot be awarded posthumously, it means the former Stoke City and Leicester star will never get the honour he deserved.
Anthony Munday, 59, was part of the campaign. The former Lord Mayor of Stoke said last night: “It is frustrating and disappointing that the system may well have let Gordon down.” He and former Stoke City star Terry Conroy nominated Gordon for the honour three years ago.
But Anthony said: “The honours came along each year, summer, New Year, and we did not hear anything.”
After getting political contacts to look into it, he was shocked to be told the forms had been lost. He added: “It was mislaid, basically lost. Not at our end but in London in the Cabinet Office.”
Terry, 72, who played with Gordon at Stoke, said: “When we found out the nomination was misplaced there were overtures made to the people and they
said OK, it is being looked at again, but it is too late now.” Staffordshire farmer and Stoke City fan Caroline Tellwright also nominated Gordon for a knighthood, unaware of Anthony and Terry’s application.
She was put in touch with them and in January this year, after the original papers were found, they were told both nominations were being put together.
And on Saturday they received information from a source that Gordon was being considered for a knighthood this June. Terry said he visited his old pal two weeks ago. He added: “We knew then time was short. There is no doubt he should have been knighted.”
Apart from his brilliance between the sticks, Gordon was known for his charity work for North Staffordshire Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Society.
Caroline said: “He was my hero. It was not necessarily about him being the greatest goalkeeper in the world, it was all his charity work.
“And Theresa May today in Parliament mentioned that.”
Prime Minister Mrs May said yesterday: “He was regarded as one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers but I also know that he did a lot of community work.”
The Cabinet Office said it could not comment as “the nomination process is confidential”.
Time was short. There is no doubt he should have been knighted TERRY CONROY FRIEND OF GORDON BANKS