FA Chairman Greg Dyke has sent his best wishes to England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who revealed he is receiving treatment for kidney cancer.
Banks has previously faced a battle with the disease, losing a kidney 10 years ago, and his latest diagnosis came after a holiday last year.
"I am one of many in the country who have it," Banks told the Sunday Mirror. "I have to battle on."
Gordon Banks makes a save for England against Scotland at Wembley
Banks, 77, starred for the Three Lions as they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley Stadium in 1966.
The Sheffield-born stopper did not concede a goal in the tournament until the semi-final against Portugal – and that was a penalty.
Up to that game Banks had kept seven consecutive clean sheets for the national side, and his performances in the World Cup earned him the tag ‘safe as the Banks of England’.
Banks helped England reach the last four of the European Championship in 1968, but unfortunately missed the team’s quarter-final exit from the 1970 World Cup at the hands of West Germany after he suffered an upset stomach the night before the match.
“On behalf of all of us at The FA, we wish him well in his latest battle”
Greg Dyke FA Chairman
He continued to make regular appearances for England until he sadly lost the sight in his right eye in a car accident in 1972, ending his top-flight career.
Altogether he played for the national team 73 times, keeping 35 clean sheets and conceding just 57 goals.
At club level Banks began his career at Chesterfield before making a name for himself at Leicester City and Stoke City.
And Dyke offered his support to the six-time FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year.
“Gordon Banks is rightly regarded as one of English football’s all-time greats," he said.
"He enjoyed a wonderful club career and of course he played a major part in the 1966 World Cup success. His remarkable save from Pele in the 1970 Finals remains one of the best ever.
"On behalf of all of us at The FA, we wish him well in his latest battle.
"As we look towards the commemorations at Wembley of the 50th anniversary of England’s finest hour next year, our thoughts are with him today.”
