GORDON BANKS

One of the greatest goalkeepers ever to play the game, Gordon Banks made more than 600 league appearances in England alongside a successful international career. He surely would have gone on to make many more club and international appearances but for a serious car crash that cost him the sight in his right eye and ended his top level career at the age of 34.

Starting his career in the lower divisions in England with Chesterfield, Banks moved on to Leicester City in 1959 and in just eight years at the club made more than 350 league appearances. The highlight of his time at Leicester came in 1964, when the club won the English League Cup. Making his international debut in 1963, he quickly established himself as England's first choice goalkeeper.

In 1966, he would be one of the stars of the England team that won the World Cup on home soil, playing in all six matches. One year later, Banks moved on to Stoke City, and remained as first choice for England as they reached the European Championship semi-final in 1968 and the World Cup quarter-final two years later. In that World Cup he made what is considered the finest save of all time from Pelé in a group game against Brazil, but unfortunately for England, Banks missed the quarter-final against West Germany with food poisoning as England lost 3-2.

In 1972, he won his second League Cup winners' medal and became one of a select group of goalkeepers to be named English Footballer of the Year, but his career came to a sudden halt later that year when his car crashed returning home from training. That proved to be the end of Banks' club career in England, but he did return a few years later to play in the U.S.A. for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. After retiring from playing, he briefly managed Telford United as well as being reserve team coach at Port Vale and coaching goalkeepers at Stoke.