Pulp star unveils plaque for World Cup hero uncle

A plaque honouring World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has been unveiled in his home city.

Born in 1937 in Abbeydale, Sheffield, the footballer was an integral part of England's victorious 1966 campaign.

Banks, who died aged 81 in 2019, is also famously remembered for his wonder save to deny Brazil legend Pele during the subsequent World Cup.

Those gathered at the unveiling, marking the location where he was born, included Pulp drummer Nick Banks, the goalkeeper's nephew.

"We've got a World Cup winner that came from this city," he said.

"That's something that should be shouted from the rooftops."

The plaque, installed on the side of Jameson's Tearooms on Abbeydale Road, is close to the since-demolished Arthur Road birthplace of the footballer.

The youngest of four sons, Banks' family moved from Arthur Road to live in Tinsley before moving to Catcliffe.

Banks went on to play club football for Chesterfield, Leicester City and Stoke City along with gaining 73 caps for England.

Discussing what it was like to have a famous uncle, Nick said: "I thought I had the ultimate bragging rights, the world's number one.

"As soon as it was football in school games, it was 'Banks in goal' .

"Trouble is, I was hopeless!"

Wendy, Julia and Robert Banks, the footballer's children, also attended the unveiling on Friday.

"It's a really proud day," Wendy said.

"Dad was very keen to tell everyone he was from Sheffield, so this is lovely for us."

Other attendees at the unveiling included prominent former Sheffield MPs David Blunkett and Richard Caborn and Sheffield United legend Tony Currie.

Addressing the gathered crowd, football historian John Stocks, a trustee for Sheffield Home of Football, described Banks as a "wonderful human being".

"As safe as the Banks of England, that's how we thought of Gordon," he said.

"He was an absolute inspiration to the entire country."

Since forming in 2023, the Sheffield Home of Football charity has installed a series of blue plaques celebrating notable places and people connected to the sport in the city.

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