Banks to Clemence, Shilton to Seaman – England’s greatest goalkeepers

Banks to Clemence, Shilton to Seaman – England’s greatest goalkeepers

Former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence has died at the age of 72.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best keepers to have played for the national team.

Gordon Banks

The former Leicester and Stoke number one is regarded as one of the best keepers of all time. A key member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, Banks won 73 caps and produced what is widely regarded as the greatest ever save to keep out Pele’s header in a match against Brazil at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Banks died in February 2019 aged 81.

Ray Clemence

Ray Clemence (right) made 61 appearances for the Three Lions before injury curtailed his playing career
Ray Clemence (right) won 61 caps for England (PA)

Peter Shilton

With 125 appearances, Shilton is England’s most capped player and his international career spanned some 20 years and took in three World Cups. In 1986 he was involved in one of the most controversial World Cup incidents as Argentina’s Diego Maradona scored his ‘Hand of God’ goal to help knock England out in the quarter-finals. Four years later, Shilton was part of Bobby Robson’s squad which reached the semi-finals of Italia ’90, only to this time lose a penalty shoot-out to West Germany. Shilton enjoyed a long playing career with Leicester, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, where he won the European Cup twice, Southampton and Derby before joining Plymouth as player-manager in 1992.

David Seaman

David Seaman's saves in the penalty shoot-out win over Spain helped England reach the semi-finals of Euro 96 at Wembley
David Seaman’s saves in the penalty shoot-out win over Spain helped England reach the semi-finals of Euro 96 at Wembley (Adam Butler/PA)

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