Question 1

True or false: Gordon Banks won the World Cup with England in 1966 as the starting goalkeeper.

Accepted Answer

True. Banks played every minute of the 1966 tournament, keeping four clean sheets and earning the Golden Glove equivalent before it was official.

Question 2

True or false: The save against Pele in 1970 is often called 'the save of the century'.

Accepted Answer

True. FIFA and many pundits have dubbed it the greatest save ever, with Pele himself saying he thought it was a goal until Banks appeared.

Question 3

True or false: Banks never played for a club outside of England during his entire career.

Accepted Answer

False. He joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the US in 1977, so he did play outside England.

Question 4

True or false: Gordon Banks once saved a penalty from Pele with his little finger.

Accepted Answer

False. The famous save was a header, not a penalty. In the 1970 World Cup, Pelé headed the ball, and Banks tipped it over the bar with his fingertips, not his little finger.

Question 5

True or false: After retiring, Gordon Banks became a professional golfer and won a senior tour event.

Accepted Answer

False. He loved golf but never turned pro; instead, he ran a pub, worked as a coach, and made public appearances after his career ended.

Question 6

True or false: Banks lost an eye in a car accident in 1972, which ended his top-level career.

Accepted Answer

False. Gordon Banks lost sight in his right eye, not the eye itself, in the 1972 crash. The injury forced his retirement, but the claim he 'lost an eye' is inaccurate.

Question 7

True or false: Gordon Banks was knighted for his services to football in 1970.

Accepted Answer

False. He was appointed an MBE in 1970, but never knighted. Only a few footballers have received knighthood, like Bobby Charlton.

Question 8

True or false: Gordon Banks was the first goalkeeper to be named FIFA World Player of the Year.

Accepted Answer

False. The FIFA World Player of the Year award was introduced in 1991, long after Banks retired in 1972. No goalkeeper ever won the award during its existence (1991–2009).

Gordon Banks Trivia Questions