STOKE-ON-TRENT: Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper in England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died at the age of 81, his former club Stoke City said on Tuesday. Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end in a car crash that cost him his sight in one eye. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game, Banks will probably be best remembered for the diving stop he made to deny Brazil’s Pele at the 1970 World Cup, which later became known as the “save of the century”. “It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight,” Banks’ family said in a statement posted on Stoke’s official website. “We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him.” Banks played every game in the 1966 World Cup including the 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final at Wembley – the only time England has won the world title. Published in Daily Times, February 13th 2019.