Best remembered for a wonder save in the 1970 World Cup, Gordon Banks is widely regarded as England's greatest goalkeeper for his outstanding reflexes and flawless positional sense.

He made his international debut in 1963 against Scotland following the appointment of Sir Alf Ramsey as the national coach and gained plaudits despite a 2-1 loss.

By the time the 1966 World Cup came around Banks was undisputedly England's first choice goalkeeper, starting each of the games in the group stage and kept clean sheets in all three.

He remained unbeaten until the 82nd minute of the Semi-Final against Portugal, when a Eusebio penalty ensured a nervous final eight minutes for the Three Lions.

In the Final against West Germany, Banks felt he should have saved the opening goal which crept into the bottom corner following a mix-up between himself and Jack Charlton.

He could'nt do much about the German's second goal - though it was ultimately not an issue as England went on to win 4-2 after extra time.

Aged 29 and with 33 international caps, Banks was a World champion. He picked up his 50th cap in a 4-1 friendly victory over Scotland at Wembley in 1969 - although it would be a year later that the everlasting image of Banks would be written into the history books.

Early on in the 1970 World Cup group stage encounter with England, Brazilian winger Jairzinho whipped in a dipping cross from the by-line which was met by an onrushing Pele, who connected with the ball perfectly and headed it firmly towards the bottom corner.

Banks somehow managed to scramble across from his near post and launched himself at the ball, miraculously scooping it over the bar for a corner just as it bounced before the goal line.

Pele was later to describe the save as 'the greatest he had ever seen'. To this day, not many people argue with him. England went on to lose the game, and eventually went out of the tournament to West Germany, but Banks was honoured with an OBE on returning home from Mexico.

The 1972 game against Scotland at Wembley would turn out to be Banks' 73rd and final for his country, as the loss of sight in his right eye from a car crash ended his professional career prematurely.