Hurst: Forget 1966 Banks was prouder of charity work
‘HE WAS INSPIRATION’
SIR Geoff Hurst has paid a moving tribute to his former team-mate Gordon Banks.
The goalkeeping legend helped England lift the World Cup in 1966.
But Sir Geoff – who scored a hat-trick in the final – said it was Gordon’s work in helping people with dementia that he was most proud of.
The former England, Leicester and Stoke keeper was a passionate supporter of the Alzheimer’s Society charity.
He lost his brother David to dementia in 2012 and saw three fellow World Cup heroes – Nobby Stiles, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson – struck by the disease.
Ahead of Gordon’s funeral on Monday, Sir Geoff said: “Gordon was an inspiration to us all and I’m incredibly proud of the work we did together, not only in our careers, but to support the work of Alzheimer’s Society.
“We have all lost a dear friend, activist and hero. Our lives will not be the same without him.”
Last year at the age of 80 Gordon boosted the charity’s flagship fundraising campaign, Memory Walk, by taking take part in an event in his home town of Stoke.
Monday’s service will see the funeral cortege pass through Stoke City’s Bet 365 Stadium before travelling into the city via the site of the old Victoria Ground.
Sir Geoff, 77, will be delivering one of the main addresses at the service.
Fellow World Cup winners Sir Bobby Charlton and George Cohen are also expected
to attend.