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7 June 1970.The date of the greatest-alleged-goalkeeping save ever. The Mexico World Cup Group 3 match between England and Brazil. Midday kick off in the blazing heat of Guadalajara (7pm our time.) I remember as an 11 year old watching this with my old man on our black and white TV. A great game of football between two top sides settled by a second half goal set up with a pass from Pele and Jairzinho rifling home from just outside the box.. However,the match will always be remembered for THAT save by Gordon Banks from Pele's header. The greatest goalkeeping save ever?
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One For The Oldies! on 10:36 - Jun 7 with 1814 views
I've always thought it was the greatest save ever, and I've never changed my mind. I believe Pele said he was screaming 'Gooooooal' when he headed the ball and could not believe what Banks did.
A beautiful moment in a beautiful game when football was a beautiful thing.
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One For The Oldies! on 10:56 - Jun 7 with 1726 views
Always gives me the chance to recall how a mate and fellow QPR fan and I were travelling in 2002, and we managed to blag our way back into the Estadio Jalisco after a game and got talking to the security guards, who promptly invited us to tread the turf.
Whereupon we got them to participate in a 'Phoenix from the Flames'. They looked slightly worried after we got one of their crew to be Jarzinho out wide to cross an imaginary vall to me to head toward gial, only for Kev, in a QPR shirt, to pull off 'that' save, again. Whereupon, we were deemed muy loco and pointed to the door.
About a year later, a mate of mine was visiting an old colleague who had recently married an American and had moved over there. The pair went for a few beer and after a while, the new resident said, "I do miss British humour...I heard a funny story from a couple on holiday here a few weeks back. There's these lads travelling and they were in the stadium where Banks made that save, and they.....". My mate phissed himself and added, "They're QPR fans!"
[Post edited 7 Jun 11:13]
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
I've always thought it was the greatest save ever, and I've never changed my mind. I believe Pele said he was screaming 'Gooooooal' when he headed the ball and could not believe what Banks did.
A beautiful moment in a beautiful game when football was a beautiful thing.
Fans would always roar GOOOAAL ! when the ball went in. Anyone too young would hear it plainly on an old commentary. Now it's YEEEESSS ! When and why it changed, I dunno.
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One For The Oldies! on 11:31 - Jun 7 with 1651 views
I seem to remember that later on towards the end of his career Banks was asked if that was his greatest save and he replied that he thought he had made a better one in a league game - that must have been something else if it beat the Pele one
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One For The Oldies! on 11:50 - Jun 7 with 1567 views
Isn't it the alleged(ly) greatest goalkeeping save rather than the greatest alleged goalkeeping save? (I think the fact that it was a goalkeeping save is not in dispute?)
On the subject of anniversaries I forgot to post yesterday that it was 40 years since the McGuigan - Pedroza fight. Pedroza was quite the globetrotter.
Football was always better when the commentary came down the end of a phone line. Pretty certain that was the great Hugh Johns . The best commentator ever.
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One For The Oldies! on 17:50 - Jun 7 with 1194 views
I suppose all keepers have one worldie in them, even Roberts. I even remember Lee Harper saving a penalty in a second leg cup tie at Charlton once. You knew he would because we were already about 4 goals behind and it was totally pointless. Total waste of his one penalty save.
At least that Judas Seaman save in the cup semi final when it was behind him is not being mentioned. Always thought it was overrated, he was slow to move which is why it was behind him (being 57 at the time) and the ball was going incredibly slowly. Not that I bear him a very long-standing grudge, of course.
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One For The Oldies! on 19:37 - Jun 8 with 895 views
It was an outstanding save. But the high profile players involved and the importance of the tournament itself, has probably elevated to a slightly higher status than is warranted. With the lighter football means it travels at a faster pace and a more 'wayward' trajectory combined with the greater athleticism of the players (including keepers) means that there have been many saves of a higher quality in the intervening years.
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One For The Oldies! on 23:44 - Jun 8 with 778 views
It was an outstanding save. But the high profile players involved and the importance of the tournament itself, has probably elevated to a slightly higher status than is warranted. With the lighter football means it travels at a faster pace and a more 'wayward' trajectory combined with the greater athleticism of the players (including keepers) means that there have been many saves of a higher quality in the intervening years.
I was watching this live in the pub with my dad and the whole pub ( not full of United supporters and to collectivise the comments) went "what a save". I was reminded of the Banks one at the time and this thread reminded me, It's not as good as the Banks one though, but still pretty amazing, the fact I put in to youtube 'Schmeichel Banks save' and it popped up top says a lot.
Beer and Beef has made us what we are - The Prince Regent
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One For The Oldies! on 21:34 - Jun 9 with 455 views
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Oh yeah the wet leather football weighed exactly the same as the synthetic waterproof ball used today