Gordon Banks: 'Bill Shankly told me he would sign me once. I don't think he could get the money from his board'

There was a look of concern on Banks’ face as he momentarily worried I was going to turn to the young staff member and yell, “Do you know who this is?”

With a gentle arm on the shoulder, Banks eased me away so as not to embarrass the oblivious employee.

“No, no, no,” he replied, politely motioning towards the dining area. “We’ll sit over there where it is quieter. That will be fine.” 

Amid the wealth of tributes to England’s finest-ever goalkeeper, citing World Cup wins and what remains, arguably, the greatest of all saves against Pele in Mexico ‘70, this anecdote may sound inconsequential. But it serves to underline the immediate perception of a most unassuming legend, someone who could not comprehend - and would certainly never expect - the red carpet to be rolled for him. He was a man as engaging when inviting the opinions of someone he was meeting for the first time as when sharing a ready-made, instant supply of anecdotes from a decorated career.

“You’re from Liverpool?” he asked upon hearing my accent. “Bill Shankly told me he would sign me once. I don’t think he could get the money from his board.”

During the course of the interview, Banks sounded like many footballers of his generation. Their timing was both perfect yet strangely unfortunate, securing the reputation of football Gods without the life-changing financial rewards to go with it. A lingering sense of under-appreciation from football’s executives and directors was apparent, palpable heartbreak in Banks’ voice when he recounted stories of sacrifice from England teammates – those he described as his ‘band of brothers’ – no longer around or in strong enough health to participate in annual reunions.

“(Sir) Geoff Hurst used to organise them,” he said. “We would arrange a date for the players and wives. We did that for a good few years, but so much has happened to the players now. A few suffer from Alzheimer’s, a few others we have lost. Geoff had to stop it. We all felt sad about that.”

This most affable gentleman showed a hint of anger when referencing the England heroes whose financial difficulties compelled them to sell their World Cup winners’ medal.

“There have been a lot of things like that,” he said. “In my case it was my shirt. That was 10 or 15 years ago. I still have my medal. The current players may be appreciated more. Maybe it will seem better for them. 

“As professionals, they are already being more rewarded. You have to remember when I turned professional I was earning £20 a week. We just felt fortunate to be professional footballers. That was our life.”

Even when the World Cup was on home soil, Banks could recall none of the hype of the contemporary international tournament.

“There was nowhere near as much on the television or the newspapers,” he said. “You would hear some of the pubs were a bit fuller, but nothing like you see now. To be fair, we spent most of the time in the hotel so did not really know. We just trained, had a meal and relaxed. 

“I remember Sir Alf (Ramsey) took us to the cinema one day. There were a few messages of good luck when we saw people in the street but nothing too much.”

Even the celebrations after beating Germany were relatively low key.

“Obviously the crowds gathered on the day we won. I can remember the traffic being brought to a standstill as the fans celebrated around Hyde Park,” he said. “What was special for me was seeing my dad and getting a big hug from him.

“I took my medal home to him in Sheffield. He said to me, 'Come on, then. We’ll show everyone'. He took me around to about four nearby pubs where I could meet some of his mates. They all wanted a look at it and shook my hand. I sat down with them all and enjoyed it. That was where you saw how if you win, it lifts the country.”

Banks' words were not delivered with bitterness for indulgences granted the modern player. Far from it. He was a champion of the new generation, not envious.

Midway through the interview he intervened to ask permission to make a point about the current England No 1, Jordan Pickford. Having publicly backed Stoke's Jack Butland to start before the World Cup, Banks wanted Pickford to know he now felt he deserved his place.

“I do not want anyone to think I am biased to Stoke’s goalkeeper,” he said. “What changed it for me was a save Pickford made against Colombia – the shot that was going right into the top corner before the end. I don’t know how he bloody made that save. I saw why the manager thought he was the one.”

Too many of those who made the mightiest contribution of all to our national game felt ignored by those who benefited from touching the hem of their greatness. 

Based on his last interviews, Banks may have found any tributes penned by suited executives hollow. It will be those from fellow professionals, peers and supporters thrilled by his agility that affirmed his place – not only as England’s – but one of the world’s best goalkeepers, that would mean more.

The Football Association could honour the memory of Banks by arranging a final reunion for the 1966 band of brothers.

A sculpture of Bobby Moore stands proudly at Wembley. A statue of Moore's 10 team-mates alongside their captain is long overdue.