Jim Morris   10 #37 Posted November 3, 2012 Thanks Hillsboro for getting in touch. As I am a newby to Sheffield I cant send a PM but will say publically that this thread has been of great help, and Hillsbro particularly. JM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Jim Hardie   527 #38 Posted November 3, 2012 (edited) The birth certificate arrived earlier than was promised, and so I now have the details; shaznay was (almost) right. Gordon Banks was born on 30 December 1937 at 15 Arthur Road, in the "Sheffield South West" sub-district. The houses have long been demolished but Arthur Road and Frederick Road were adjacent cul-de-sacs off Abbeydale Road, near the picture palace (Frederick Road is still on the map but Arthur Road isn't). So perhaps the Banks family moved to Tinsley when Gordon was very young, so that he didn't remember living at Abbeydale and regarded himself as being "from Tinsley". Anyway, the birth certificate is the ultimate reference source – Gordon Banks is a Sheffield lad and was born on Arthur Road.  In case it's of interest, Gordon's father was Thomas Banks, a "general labourer" and his mother Nellie Banks, formerly Yates.  If anyone would like to see the birth certificate, PM me an email address and I'll send a JPEG scan.  I'm sure you're right about Gordon's birthplace, but it's no wonder there's always been confusion about it as his own official website has it down as Rotherham. Edited November 3, 2012 by Jim Hardie SPELLING ERROR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
hillsbro   32 #39 Posted November 3, 2012 In view of the renewed interest in this thread, I've uploaded a scan of the letter I received from Gordon Banks in 2007. I found his address (which I removed from the scan) by looking on the 2003 and 2004 electoral rolls that I have on CDs. Knowing that Gordon's wife is called Ursula, I actually found two people in the UK with the name Gordon Banks who shared an address with an Ursula Banks. I tossed a coin and wrote to the Ashton-under-Lyne address. Needless to say it was the wrong one, but this Gordon Banks was kind enough to reply, telling me that he often receives letters intended for his namesake.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
hillsbro   32 #40 Posted November 3, 2012 I'm sure you're right about Gordon's birthplace, but it's no wonder there's always been confusion about it as his own official website has it down as Rotherham.Yes - I saw this also. It's a mystery, but perhaps Gordon prefers people to think he was born in Rotherham. The Wikipedia article also gives Rotherham as his birthplace, with a link to Gordon's website. I did think of editing this, quoting the General Register Office birth entry (Volume 9c Page 893) but I was sure that someone would "correct" it!. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Jim Hardie   527 #41 Posted November 3, 2012 Yes - I saw this also. It's a mystery, but perhaps Gordon prefers people to think he was born in Rotherham. The Wikipedia article also gives Rotherham as his birthplace, with a link to Gordon's website. I did think of editing this, quoting the General Register Office birth entry (Volume 9c Page 893) but I was sure that someone would "correct" it!.  Go on, be a devil! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
hillsbro   32 #42 Posted November 3, 2012 Go on, be a devil!Hee, hee, hee... ...!.! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Gazza58 Â Â 10 #43 Posted November 3, 2012 My Mother was in the class above Gordon when she was at school at Tinsley, She tells me he was born at Catcliffe and later moved to Tinsley. His father had a bookmakers at Catcliffe and as she remembers it was in the railway arches near to the roundabout. Â My grandad had the cobblers shop in the same area,gordon was often in the shop, according to my mam. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
NumbBum   10 #44 Posted November 5, 2012 I was always told that a relative (dad ?) Lol Banks ran the pub just opposite where George Banks the builders was, not far from the Locks at Tinsley Park.  The Plumpers.  I met Johnny (Our Jack) a few times - many many years ago at the home of a friend. He was a friendly unassuming sort. I remember him saying that they used to live near the Plumpers pub.  Mick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
garypeacock   10 #45 Posted November 5, 2012 I'm sure you're right about Gordon's birthplace, but it's no wonder there's always been confusion about it as his own official website has it down as Rotherham.  David Seaman was born in Rotherham, does that help? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Shogun   10 #46 Posted November 5, 2012 Well we have defo found out he is a Sheffield lad, if we could find out he was a Wednesdayite that would put the icing on the cake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
herbiegrass   10 #47 Posted November 5, 2012 Well we have defo found out he is a Sheffield lad, if we could find out he was a Wednesdayite that would put the icing on the cake.  Fraid not. when I met him he told me he would go to both United and Wed matches as he had no favourits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Johnsworld   10 #48 Posted November 6, 2012 My grandma (of Plumpers Road) used to tell me of the times she used to babysit Gordon as a baby. Also, when he was older, he would spend hours kicking his ball to a wall and saving it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...