OneFootball
Dan Burke·13 February 2019
OneFootball
Dan Burke·13 February 2019
World Cup winning former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday and people all over the world have joined hands to pay tribute.
Brazilian legend PelĂ© described Banks as a âgoalkeeper with magicâ, Gary Lineker said he was a âlovely, lovely manâ and Wayne Rooney lamented what was a âsad day for English footballâ.
But by far the best tribute of the lot came from ex-Chelsea, Marseille and Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino.
âI met Gordon Banks for the first time about ten years ago,â began Cascarino, in his column for The Times.
âIt was Christmas and we danced to Love Train in a hotel in Liverpool.
âWhen the song came on at about 7pm I had been laughing away with my back to the dancefloor thinking, âWow, itâs a bit early for thisâ â and then I felt a gentle tug on my arm.
âI turned around and there was one of my heroes, a World Cup winner, telling me, âJump in Tony, the love train is going.'â
Of all the Gordon Banks anecdotes, this, by Tony Cascarino, is the most...random. It works though. âÂ
If that doesnât provide you with the funniest mental image you will see today, weâre not sure what will.
âIt was all a bit surreal, him holding onto my hips as we did the love train, kicking our legs out to the side on the dancefloor at the Littlewoods Christmas party,â continued Cascarino.
âI donât know if he was a good dancer as I had my back to him but he was a safe pair of hands, he held onto my hips tightly â although he did have a big target to aim at.
âThe song ended and I turned around and said, âNice to meet you, Gordon.'â.
A remarkable story, and one which reminds us of Peter Reidâs touching homage to the late England and Real Madrid winger Laurie Cunningham.
By the way, what on earth were Gordon Banks and Tony Cascarino doing at the Littlewoods Christmas party in Liverpool anyway?