Jack Butland will pay tribute to the late Gordon Banks by wearing a goalkeeper kit with no name, badge or sponsor when Stoke play Aston Villa on Saturday.
England’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Banks, widely remembered for his gravity-defying save to deny Pele in 1970, died on February 12 at the age of 81.
And the Championship clash with Villa represents the Potters’ first opportunity to honour their club legend at the Bet365 Stadium.
Gordon Banks – The man behind the save
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Butland, Stoke’s current number one, will don a green jersey modelled on the top worn by Banks during his six years at the club during the 1970s.
The one-off kit will carry a small message in the bottom right-hand corner, which reads: “Gordon Banks, RIP, 30/12/1937-12/02/2019.”
Banks, who became a prominent figure at Stoke during his retirement, enjoyed a close friendship with Butland and acted as an inspiration for the England international.
Butland told talkSPORT: “I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know him in the last few years. Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him will tell you what he’s like – he immediately lifted up the room whenever he walked in.
“He had a witty and funny personality but he was extremely humble and positive. He was an incredible person.
“I had the pleasure of meeting him in the last few weeks at his home with his family. We had a cup of tea and chatted about all sorts of football things. They’re memories that I hold very dear.
“It’s going to be strange for the club and me to not have him around.
“I’ll always hold onto his legacy and those memories we have and use it as fuel for fire. I’ll never be able to fill his shoes unless we go and win two World Cups!”