British Soldiers To Perform Guard Of Honour At Gordon Banks' Funeral

The former England international passed away earlier this month (Picture: PA).

British soldiers will form a guard of honour at the funeral of England World Cup winner Gordon Banks.

Personnel from 16th Signal Regiment will perform the duty at the goalkeeper's funeral, including Royal Signals Corps footballers, which takes place on 4 March.

The former footballer, himself once a soldier in the Royal Corps of Signals, died earlier this month at the age of 81.

Gordon Banks' family requested a military presence at the funeral given the goalkeeper’s links to the Army.

The soldiers, commanded by a junior officer, will provide a guard of honour on the route to Stoke Minster.

At the start of his career in professional football, Gordon Banks served in the Royal Corps of Signals as part of his National Service.

He was posted to Germany, aged 17, where he was a motorcycle despatch rider from 1955 to 1957.

During his time with the military, Banks still had sporting success, winning the Rhine Cup.

The commanding officer of 16th Signal Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Davenport, said: "We have seen the important role that Gordon Banks has played in the life of the local community and it is fitting that we can pay our tribute by providing a guard of honour at his funeral. 

"We are proud to have been asked to participate by Gordon Banks’ family.

"I am glad that our role within the local community also allows us to mark Gordon Banks’ links with the Royal Corps of Signals where he made a great impression at the start of his footballing career."