England’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks dies at 81

London [UK], Feb 13 (ANI): Former England football team goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who was a part of the team that lifted the World Cup trophy in the year 1966, died at the age of 81 on Tuesday.
Gordon’s death was confirmed by his former club Stoke City who tweeted a statement from his family.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight. We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him,” the statement read.

In 2016, Gordon had revealed that he was battling from Kidney Cancer for the second time, CNN reported.
The goalkeeper is famous for making the “save of the century” when he denied Brazilian great Pele a goal during a match in 1970 at Guadalajara, Mexico.
After the demise of Gordon, Pele took to his Facebook account and wrote a heartfelt note for his “friend”.
“I scored so many goals in my life, but many people, when they meet me, always ask me about that save. While it was indeed phenomenal, my memory of Gordon is not defined by that - it is defined by his friendship. He was a kind and warm man who gave so much to people. So I am glad he saved my header - because that act was the start of a friendship between us that I will always treasure. Whenever we met, it was always like we had never been apart,” Pele wrote.
“I have great sadness in my heart today and I send condolences to the family he was so proud of. Rest in peace, my friend. Yes, you were a goalkeeper with magic. But you were also so much more. You were a fine human being,” he added.
Gordon, who has 73 England caps to his name, won the FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year title six times in his career. He initially joined Leicester City and appeared in two FA Cup finals along with winning League Cup in 1964 before joining Stoke City in 1967. (ANI)