Gordon Banks Remembered

     Former Fort Lauderdale Strikers goalkeeper Gordon Banks was remembered in England on Monday. His memorial service was held in Stoke. He passed away on February 12 at the age of 81.
     Banks joined the Strikers during their first season in 1977, after they moved from Miami, and helped the club win the American Conference Eastern Division title with a league-high 121 points and a 19-7 record. They had an 11-2 record at their home field of Lockhart Stadium. He was named the NASL Goalkeeper of the Year when he allowed a league-low 29 goals in 26 games. Banks played another 11 games with Fort Lauderdale in 1978.
     He is most known as the starting goalkeeper for leading England to their only World Cup title when they hosted the event in 1966. They won the championship game 4-2 over West Germany in extra time. He played in the Football Association First Division for Leicester City from 1959 until 1967 and with Stoke City from 1967 to 1973.