Gordon Banks, World Cup Winner.
Much more than that actually. *That* save against Pele will go down in football history, in fact in 2002 he remarked to FourFourTwo magazine that “It’s something that people will always remember me for. They won’t remember me for winning the World Cup, it’ll be for that save. That’s how a big a thing it is. People just want to talk about that save.” In another interview, with The Observer Sport Monthly, he commented that “As I got to my feet I tried to look as nonchalant as possible, as if to say that I make that sort of save all the time.”
Gordon Banks defended more nets than just the English national one however. A quick glance at his C.V shows Stoke City, Leicester City , Chesterfield , The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Cleveland Stokers and, believe it or not, Saint Patrick’s Athletic.
Banks played one game for the Saints, a home match against Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers. Barry Bridges was managing the Saints at the time, as player manager. The year previously, in 1976, Pats had gained some attention by picking up Neil Martin, a former Hibernan F.C, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest striker, among other clubs. In fact, English player manager Bridges had an impresive record himself, including but not limited to spells at Chelsea, Milwall and QPR.
Barry Bridges
The Irish Times of October 1st 1977 noted that Barry Bridges stated there was a “fifty fifty” chance Banks would line out the next night in Richmond Park. Picked up from Fort Lauderdale, it all depended on clearance from the American F.A. The paper noted that
“The signing, which is likely to extract a sharp response from St. Patrick’s first choice goalkeeper, Mick O’ Brien, represents the Dubliners’ most entreprising move since Neil Martin joined the club last seaon”
Amazingly, Gordon Banks had returned to goalkeeping despite losing sight in one eye following a car crash. It was common enough at the time for English players to semi-retire in the U.S game, and Banks signing to Pats was a surprise to many. In the end, he was given clearance to perform and maintained a clean seat, in a one nil home victory over Rovers. He would never grace the pitch at Richmond Park again, and returned to the United States.
Barry Bridges remained at Pats until February 1978, moving on to become player manager of Sligo Rovers. Banks remains just one former English international to briefly play in the Irish league. Geoff Hurst, Terry Venables (another Saint), Carlton Palmer and Bobby Charlton are just a small selection of others who have done the same.
Gordon played alongside future Waterford United player Bobby Charlton in 1966.
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Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
And I’d always though Gordon Brown was a Jam Tart?
Interesting stuff, I never would have even dreamt that!
Who did Geoff Hurst & Bobby Charlton play for do you know?
Well spotted anarchaelogist, made the error on the last image. Gone now, the effect of too much Sky News me thinks.
IS he a Jambo? As a Hibernian man, I hate him a tiny bit more now 😉
barry, Bobby was a Waterford United man. Not sure on Hurst.
There was quite a few famous names that ended up in the game here.
Trevor Brooking had a brief spell at Cork City.
Derry City though had a raft of them. Luther Blisset had a brief spell at Derry in 1993.
One of the better of that breed of players I’ve seen was Denis Tueart when he was at Derry in the 1985/86 season.
Alan Sunderland also played for Derry that season.
In the 90s former Man United striker Scott McGarvey, ex Man City midfielder Neil McNab and ex Southampton and Arsenal man Steve Williams all donned the Derry jersey briefly too.
Oh and meant to include that Hurst played for Cork Celtic. George Best also played for Cork Celtic the same season.
That’s crazy, I always thought Irish players should come home and play for a bit in their twilight years rather than end up plying their trade in the nether regions of English/Scottish football.
Saying that i’m not a major fan of league of ireland football, living in Kildare will do that to you.
These lads generally came over to play just a few games. The club got a big gate because of the big name and the player got a few bob for his appearance.
A lot of Irish players will settle and marry in England so the prospects of them coming home are slim enough.
Still though a lot of Irish players did come home in recent years despite offers from lower division clubs (and some stayed at home rather than go to the UK also) as often the money here was better.
Thats all changed now as teams like Drogheda and Cork went bust and everyone else had to scale back (bar Sporting Fingal!)
In fairness, IEL, the money here was never better. The disparity just wasn’t big enough to negate the attractions of moving home.
That Banks save is the most over-rated moment in football history (maybe after Michael Owen’s goal against Argentina.) I made better saves than that in the Brenfer League Under-12s!
The save Ashley Bayes made against Shels to win Bohs the league is honestly the best I’ve ever seen. Shite ‘keeper otherwise.