PM pays tribute to Stoke football

Gordon Brown paid tribute to Banks' England career

The prime minister has praised a Stoke City legend as well as the team's promotion to the Premier League.

Gordon Brown paid tribute to Gordon Banks at prime minister's questions in the House of Commons after a question by Stoke South MP Robert Flello.

Mr Flello asked the PM to join him in paying tribute to Banks, who will have a statue dedicated to him on 12 July.

Mr Brown congratulated Stoke City on promotion and added he was "looking forward to meeting Gordon Banks".

"He was capped 73 times for England and it's absolutely right that we unveil a statue to him at Britannia Stadium in Stoke," he said.

Mr Flello said Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Brazilian legend Pele will attend the "celebration of goalkeeper Gordon Banks" on 12 July.

Mr Flello said Banks was "not only a great goalkeeper, perhaps the best in the world, but a decent man".

Stoke City were promoted in May and are set to play in the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.