Gordon Banks, England’s 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper, has died aged 81.

A statement released by his family via one of his former clubs Stoke City said: “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.”

In one of his last ever interviews, Banks told The Telegraph that although his finest moments were in an England shirt, the FA did “nothing” for him.

His successors Peter Shilton and David Seaman were among the first to pay tribute to the fellow goalkeeper, talking of their devastation at losing a “hero” and a “legend”.

Widely regarded as England’s best-ever goalkeeper, Banks played in the World Cup final at Wembley in 1966 and lifted the trophy as part of the side that beat West Germany.

Four years later at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, Banks pulled off one of the greatest saves in football history, denying Brazilian superstar Pele by miraculously tipping a low header over the crossbar.

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