Dedicated footballer, modest man and a pioneer for all keepers
The great Gordon Banks was a pioneer for all goalkeepers, a trendsetter who took the art of preventing goals to new heights.
Though my own mentor at Leicester was my first coach, a man called George Drewis, Banksy was certainly up there as a huge influence.
I first visited Leicester as a 10-year- old when they asked local primary schools to send their promising footballers along and I was chosen by George to train two nights a week. I think you will find that George was also an unsung mentor for Gary Lineker, who credits him for teaching the art of when to shoot.
But there were no specialist goalkeeping coaches in those days, with keepers doing their own short post-session routine while the other players were in the bath.
Gordon decided that was not enough so he used to get players in on a Tuesday and Thursday to give them extra practice, especially at shot-stopping.
I got involved retrieving the balls that flew wide and being behind the goals taught me so much.
I quickly realised that one of Gordon’s great strengths was his anticipation and positioning. he taught me that getting behind the ball before it reached you cut down the need to fling yourself around.
Yet he still used to dive fulllength for shots that were going wide. Always. I still believe it was that habit that allowed him to save the Pele header at the 1970 World Cup. I am certain that was because he had taught himself the need to go for everything.
There were three world-class keepers from whom I learned the vital lessons that earned me 125 england caps.
It was Gordon who taught me the value of positioning yourself to the best advantage, Peter Bonetti showed me the value of agility and the Man in Black, Lev Yashin, the mindset that you should never concede a goal.
Banksy was the first-team keeper when I signed my first contract at Filbert Street at the age of 15 and I was very quickly promoted to the reserves.
So for at least one session a week Gordon and I trained together. We both had a good work ethic. Then Gordon was selected for england.
There were times when he was with Alf Ramsey’s squad and I was promoted to the first team. eam. That That’s s how I made my debut against everton at the age of 16 and played a handful of games that season while he was on international duty.
I realised that while Gordon was at his peak I would stay in the reserves. I was really ambitious. Around that time Stoke were showing interest in him and other clubs were enquiring about me. There was a bit of friction in the air, but Gordon liked the deal on offer at Stoke and the club wanted to cash in so off he went leaving me as No 1 at Leicester.
Our careers criss-crossed at international level, too. he was the unquestioned top choice and I became his understudy under Ramsey.
Gordon was retained after Alex Stepney and Bonetti were left out and suddenly I was his understudy and made my debut against east Germany.
It was when Gordon had his accident that I became first choice. Coincidentally, I was to follow him to Stoke, though John Farmer was in goal at the time.
Gordon and I stayed in touch and did a few events together. he was a dedicated footballer, a modest man and taught me about being strong on the pitch and humble off it.
A legend. Peter Shilton was talking to Steve Curry Curry.