England World Cup winner Gordon Banks captivated his audience at Nova Football Club’s presentation evening.
The 1966 world champion, now 72, emptied his treasure trove of stories – and around 300 children from the club hung on his every word.
The Newport-based club dug deep to have Banks at their annual awards ceremony last weekend to celebrate their 35th anniversary.
“It was a really, really, successful night,” said club chairman Wayne Coombe. “Gordon worked extremely hard from 5.30pm to 9.15pm and it was a pleasure to have him with us.
“We couldn’t have asked for more from the bloke.
“Bearing in mind he is now in his 70s, he spent hours signing autographs and told some stories as well.”
Banks recalled how he started life as a coal bagger and bricklayer before being make an apprentice at Chesterfield.
And he nearly quit the game after a bad injury, he said.
But greatness eventually followed in a glittering career, most notably at Leicester, Stoke and England.
Perhaps he is best remembered for ‘that save’ against Pele in the 1970 World Cup.
Coombe added: “His message to the kids was simple: don’t give up. I was surprise to see how many of them knew him, considering they weren’t alive when he was playing.
“It was obvious that he is still a national treasure today.”
Nova covered the cost of Banks’ star-studded appearance at Harper Adams University College by auctioning signed shirts and charity events. A Nova shirt signed by Aston Villa’s squad was also auctioned off for Banks’ chosen charity.
Awards were handed out to the top performers in each age group, from under sevens to under 18s.
A full list of winners and more photographs will be in next week’s Advertiser.
By Sean Wozencroft