England's World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks is being treated for kidney cancer for a second time, it has been revealed.
The 77-year-old, who played a key part in the Three Lions' historic achievement in 1966, is having chemotherapy in order to avoid a transplant.
In an interview with The Mirror, Banks, famed for what is still arguably the finest save in football history when denying Pele in the 1970 World Cup, revealed how he will call upon his national side's success from five decades ago to overcome his latest battle.
"Having been in the World Cup winning side in '66 and then making the save against Pele gives me the confidence to battle my illness," he said. "People still talk about the save and I often think about it.
"If I could make a save like the one against Pele, while playing against the greatest in the world, then I will be able to battle through this health problem. It helps me. I would hope that might act as inspiration to other people in the same position."
Banks, who spent five years at Stoke City as a player, was named as FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year on six separate occasions.
