Yesterday evening the Walsall Football Supporters' Trust, and The Saddlers Club held an 'Evening with Gordon Banks' in aid of the Alzheimers Society which is in association with the Bert 'The Cat' Williams' Alzheimers Appeal, and Walsall Ladies Football Club.
Special guest Gabriel Sutton of The Football Lab attended the event and shares his review below...
It may not be every day that you’ll see a famous footballer in Walsall, but Gordon Banks spent the evening at the Saddlers Bar, for a very worthwhile cause. Banks had not played for Walsall himself, but he had a close friendship with goalkeeper Bert Williams, an ex-Saddler, who sadly passed away earlier this year. After Williams’ wife died due to Alzheimer’s, and Banks had also lost a family member to this disease, together they helped raise £150k for the Alzheimer’s Society, a care and research charity. This was what last night’s event was in aid of.
It was a fantastic night full of laughs, none more so than at the beginning, when the short film on the big screen wouldn't play, and we got to witness one of the ‘computer experts’ desperately trying to get it to work. One audience member shouted: “Try turning it off and on again!” Thankfully, after a few anxious moments, they got the video to work.
It was a 5 minute video, in which Gordon met up with Bert for afternoon tea to discuss their respective football careers, and the work they were doing for Alzheimer’s Society.
At the end, the interviewer said: “Sitting on the sofa, there’s more than 100 England caps between you.” To which Bert replied: “England caps? I thought you meant 100 custard pies!"
After that video, Gordon reflected on his memories as a kid of watching Bert, when he was playing in Stan Cullis’ successful Wolves team. Banks recalled that he possessed incredible agility, was a great shot stopper, but was also a very honourable man. It was clear that Gordon idolized Bert, that he had learned from Bert, a great compliment any goalkeeper could have from one that went on to lift the World Cup.
After impressing in his 23 games for Chesterfield, Banks moved to Leicester City for £7k, increasing his pay to £15 p/w. Many people remarked on how this represents the extent to which money in football has risen over the last 50 years, or perhaps even the last 20 years, with the influence of Sky Sports.
Banks believes that footballers in his day were not in it for money, because the pay for being a footballer was not too different from the average working man’s wage. Footballers were in the game for the pure enjoyment of playing football, a hobby that they loved, in front thousands of people every week. Money was secondary.
Now, he argues that the increase of money in the Premier League has led to attitudes of apathy towards the English national team. Footballers do not get paid to play for England, and so Banks feels that there is a resultant lack of enthusiasm and dedication. He suggests that when players leave for an international break, their club managers instruct them not to enter 50/50 tackles, not to exert extra energy, among other things, simply to keep them fresh for when they return to the club side. Because footballers are paid so much by their clubs, that is who they will obey.
Gordon went on to talk about the nasty Argentinian side he faced with England. According to him, the team employed constant dirty tactics such as biting, kicking, cheating, and deliberately injuring players. He remarked that their captain, the appropriately-named Antonio Rattin, was “the type of man that would kick his own father”, before adding, “if he knew who he was”.
Banks also joked that one Argentinian player would say to another: “excuse me, could you have a look at this leg?”
“Yes, what’s
the problem?”
“I don't know whose it is."
Banks seemed slightly reluctant to talk in great detail about England’s 1966 World Cup win, which underlines his modesty. However, his save from Pele at the 1970 World Cup is regarded as one of the best saves of all time, and people tend to ask him about that moment, more than the glory of ’66. He recalls that Pele thought it had gone in, and was already half-celebrating before Banks tipped it over. Straight after that moment, Banks thought to himself: “You lucky sod!” (or words to that effect). He joked that Bobby Moore had said: “Try and hold onto it next time.” Banks added that, bizarrely, every time that save is played on TV, Pele receives a substantial fee, while he gets nothing!
At the same World Cup, England were knocked out at the quarter-finals by West Germany. He says that when he went off injured early in that game, he went to the team’s hotel, where he would watch the match on repeat. When the players arrived back at the hotel, the match on TV showed that England were winning 2-0, and so when everybody looked disappointed saying they had lost, Banks thought for a long time they were having him on. Unfortunately, West Germany had won 3-2, ending England’s hopes of holding onto their status as world champions.
Banks talked about football management, and declared his admiration of Sir Alf Ramsey’s methods. According to Banks, Ramsey was very much a man for detail, and would always give his players every shred of information on their next opponents. This may seem surprising, given that managers in the 60s and 70s, notably Brian Clough and Sir Matt Busby, often had a more laissez-faire attitude regarding tactics.
Banks would make a brief venture into management himself. He took up the job as manager of non-league Telford United, who were battling relegation with just a couple of months of the season to go. Banks took over and guided them to safety, with a 13th place finish. However, early on in the following season, he left temporarily to undergo surgery. He was sacked upon his return, because the manager who had been in his place had guided the team to victory in the FA Trophy. After that experience, Banks did not want to stay in the game.
Many thanks to Gordon Banks for sharing his memories, and supporting a very worthwhile cause in the Alzheimer’s Society. Thanks too to everybody who arranged the evening.
By: Gabriel Sutton.
Banks seemed slightly reluctant to talk in great detail about England’s 1966 World Cup win, which underlines his modesty. However, his save from Pele at the 1970 World Cup is regarded as one of the best saves of all time, and people tend to ask him about that moment, more than the glory of ’66. He recalls that Pele thought it had gone in, and was already half-celebrating before Banks tipped it over. Straight after that moment, Banks thought to himself: “You lucky sod!” (or words to that effect). He joked that Bobby Moore had said: “Try and hold onto it next time.” Banks added that, bizarrely, every time that save is played on TV, Pele receives a substantial fee, while he gets nothing!
At the same World Cup, England were knocked out at the quarter-finals by West Germany. He says that when he went off injured early in that game, he went to the team’s hotel, where he would watch the match on repeat. When the players arrived back at the hotel, the match on TV showed that England were winning 2-0, and so when everybody looked disappointed saying they had lost, Banks thought for a long time they were having him on. Unfortunately, West Germany had won 3-2, ending England’s hopes of holding onto their status as world champions.
Banks talked about football management, and declared his admiration of Sir Alf Ramsey’s methods. According to Banks, Ramsey was very much a man for detail, and would always give his players every shred of information on their next opponents. This may seem surprising, given that managers in the 60s and 70s, notably Brian Clough and Sir Matt Busby, often had a more laissez-faire attitude regarding tactics.
Banks would make a brief venture into management himself. He took up the job as manager of non-league Telford United, who were battling relegation with just a couple of months of the season to go. Banks took over and guided them to safety, with a 13th place finish. However, early on in the following season, he left temporarily to undergo surgery. He was sacked upon his return, because the manager who had been in his place had guided the team to victory in the FA Trophy. After that experience, Banks did not want to stay in the game.
Many thanks to Gordon Banks for sharing his memories, and supporting a very worthwhile cause in the Alzheimer’s Society. Thanks too to everybody who arranged the evening.
By: Gabriel Sutton.