Stoke and Leicester City legend Gordon Banks dies

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A statement said, "It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight. Credit: John Walton/EMPICS Sport

  • Tributes have been pouring in from all around the world to Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81.

  • The former Stoke and Leicester City man is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81.

Banks, who revealed in 2016 that he was battling kidney cancer for the second time, died peacefully overnight.

The former Stoke and Leicester City man is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

A statement issued by Stoke City FC on the Banks family's behalf said:

At Stoke City's press conference today, manager Nathan Jones told reporters how much he would have liked to meet Gordon, "a legend", and in fact plans were in place to do so.

He joked that he remembered his father praising Gordon.

He said,

Pelé has paid tribute to the man who became his great friend after 'that goal' writing,

Gordon Banks jumps to make a save in the match at Wembley. Credit: PA Images

Born in Sheffield, Banks won the League Cup with Stoke and Leicester, before retiring in 1973.

Tributes have been pouring in from the footballing world for Banks.

Other footballers have also expressed their sadness at the death of the player.

Speaking after the death was announced of Gordon Banks OBE, Philip Atkins, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said,