Stoke City legend Gordon Banks gets stamp of approval

GORDON Banks has been honoured by the Royal Mail as part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Association Football rules being established.

Gordon is one of 11 leading British players who will appear on stamps shortly to mark the occasion.

The former Stoke and England goalkeeper is joined in the Royal Mail's 'dream team' by fellow Englishmen Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, John Barnes, Bryan Robson, Kevin Keegan and Jimmy Greaves.

The team is completed by Welshman John Charles, Scotland's Dave Mackay and Denis Law and Northern Ireland's George Best.

Wow look at this!!!

Hylands Ltd & Panasonic Store

View details

Print voucher

8kg 1400 spin A+++ rated washer
with a full 6 year warranty - yes SIX years
delivered FAST & FREE
was OVER £600 - For a limited time ONLY £449.90
Amazing value!!!

Terms: 8kg 1400 spin A+++ rated washer
with a full 6 year warranty - yes SIX years
delivered FAST & FREE
was OVER £600 - For a limited time ONLY £449.90
Amazing value!!!

Contact: 01782 342609

Valid until: Saturday, June 01 2013

"I'm absolutely delighted to be included in this line-up," said Gordon, "especially when you consider all the great players they could have chosen from before my time, during my time and after I was playing."

The decision to select Gordon has gone down well with Stoke fans.

Supporters' club chairman Bryan Shaw said: "At the time he was one of the best goalkeepers in the world. If they had to choose a goalkeeper I think 99 per cent of the country would go for Gordon Banks.

"It's a nice honour for him, and a nice honour for Stoke City."

Potters fan Rob Ledgar, who presents a sports show on Six Towns Radio, predicted that the stamps would prove popular in the city.

The 47-year-old, from Heron Cross, said: "It's great for Gordon Banks to be involved, he's a Stoke City and England legend. It must be a really proud moment for him to appear on a stamp. I'm sure they will be a big seller in Stoke."

However, there is no place in the 'dream team' for Sir Stanley Matthews, pictured below, the only footballer to be knighted while still playing.

The Hanley-born 'wizard of the dribble' was also the first winner of the European Footballer of the Year and English Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards in 1956 and 1948.

Nigel Gough, from the Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation, said: "People playing pre-1960 don't really get accolades like this because the people who make these lists never had the opportunity to see them play.

"If I had a 'dream team' I would put him in without hesitation. He surpasses many of those players. In his day he was the finest player in the world."

The series, entitled Football Heroes, were illustrated by artist Andrew Kinsman and are available from Post Offices from May 9.

Sir Trevor Brooking, FA director of football development, said: "It is fantastic that the Royal Mail has honoured a whole team of these heroes from across the United Kingdom."

Andrew Hammond of Royal Mail added: "The stamps celebrate heroes of the beautiful game who excelled on the pitch at club and national level and are rightly considered icons of the sport."