Legendary England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who was pivotal in bringing his country its only World Cup victory, died earlier this month at the age of 81. On Saturday, his former club Stoke City honored him with this amazing throwback Jack Butland Gordon Banks jersey.
Banks made 250 appearances with Stoke City, his hometown club. He played 73 times for the Three Lions, including two World Cups. Banks is often credited with making the greatest save of all time, denying a header from Pelé at the 1970 World Cup.
Stoke City, playing at home for the first time since Banks’ death, honored the iconic keeper by kitting out Butland, an England goalie himself, with a jersey similar to the one Banks used to wear for the Potters.
It was a perfect tribute.
What our number one will be wearing against Aston Villa tomorrow.
No badge, no sponsor, no name.Remembering Gordon Banks OBE. pic.twitter.com/Vlg6aDR8f8
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) February 22, 2019
Jack Butland will wear this special shirt tomorrow in honour of the late Gordon Banks. Lovely touch pic.twitter.com/SGS56W14ps
— Vintagefootballshirts.com (@VFshirts) February 22, 2019
Currently in the second-division Championship, Stoke hosted Aston Villa in a matchup of two former Premier League regulars. The match finished in a 1-1 draw, but the Jack Butland Gordon Banks jersey looked phenomenal.
Stoke's Jack Butland wearing a commemorative shirt in today's game against Aston Villa as a tribute to the late Gordon Banks pic.twitter.com/VotLNNraLz
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) February 23, 2019
Before the match, fans adorned the Banks statue outside the bet365 Stadium with flowers, flags and scarves.
Floral tributes continue to be laid at the Gordon Banks statue before kick off.
Thank you! pic.twitter.com/jkdcB1ophl— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) February 23, 2019
Stoke City wasn’t the only club honoring Gordon Banks on Saturday. Banks made more than 350 appearances with Leicester City and the Foxes honored him before hosting Crystal Palace.
Rest in peace, Gordon Banks. pic.twitter.com/IvRHJuYqsx
— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 23, 2019
Lovely tribute to Gordon Banks ahead of #LeiCry - glowing words from @alanbirchenall about our #leicester World Cup winner - great banner from the @UFS2013 too pic.twitter.com/WaEMXXCmbA
— Rishi Madlani (@RishiMadlani) February 23, 2019
Finally, just because it’s an incredible photo, here’s an old pic of Banks making what I think was a better save than that made on Pelé, sprawling out to make a save on this doggo.
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