If it wasn’t for Banksy ..Denis was desperate
LOSS OF A GOALKEEPING GREAT ENGLAND
BY GAVIN BERRY DENIS LAW wanted goals galore in Scotland’s famous 3-2 win at Wembley in 1967 as revenge for England hitting nine past them six years earlier.
And Jim McCalliog reckons the legendary striker might have got his wish if it wasn’t for the heroics of Gordon Banks who pulled off a string of superb saves and one wonder stop from Law.
Tributes poured in for England’s World Cup-winning keeper Banks, regarded as one of football’s greatest ever shot-stoppers, who died yesterday at the age of 81.
Banks is best remembered for his unbelievable save to deny Pele as he somehow scooped the Brazilian’s header away in their 1970 World Cup group clash in Guadalajara.
McCalliog came up against Banks on several occasions during a club career spent almost entirely in England. But it was during that unforgettable Auld Enemy clash that he recalled the goalie’s best display against him.
The 72-year-old said: “For us to get three goals against Gordon Banks tells you everything about our performance that day because England were a bit stingy with the goals, especially at Wembley where they won the World Cup the previous year.
“It was a tough ask for us but when you’ve got guys of the calibre of Denis Law and Bobby Lennox who can score goals and also Willie Wallace then that was in our favour.
“Banksy did make some great saves that day but he didn’t have a chance with Lennox’s goal which was right in the bottom corner.
“He was close to getting mine but I was always in the box seat because I could see Bobby Moore and Banksy coming to shut me down but I was just ahead of them and rifled it into the corner.