'Bert Williams was the best' says World Cup winner Gordon Banks

World Cup winner Gordon Banks today paid a heartfelt tribute to Bert Williams describing him "the most agile goalkeeper ever".

The man recognised as Wolves' greatest goalkeeper passed away peacefully at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital yesterday morning, surrounded by his family. He was 93.

Williams was England's oldest living international who played at the World Cup in 1950, winning 24 caps in a glittering career which saw him help Wolves become one of the top teams in the world, winning the FA Cup in 1949 and the League title in 1954.

In his 420 appearances for Wolves from 1945-57 – a club record for a goalkeeper which stood for 42 years until it was overtaken by Mike Stowell in 1999 - he inspired people such as Banks, who is recognised as one of the country's greatest goalkeepers and was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team.

"Bert has to be in the top group of goalkeepers to have played the game," the 76-year-old told the Express & Star.

"He should be remembered as the most agile goalkeeper ever.

"He really could leap across that goal like no one else – I've never seen anyone else come up to his standards.

"I've seen great goalkeepers like the Russian Lev Yashin, but Bert was smaller and had this extra leap to get across the goal and cover the top corner of the net – he was absolutely brilliant.

"You have to remember Wolves were a really great side at the time, not just in this country but throughout Europe, and he was playing for Wolves and England and played for England at a World Cup, so his standing was very high in the game.

"I know Ron Flowers very well and he said Bert was a great player, which is a top recommendation from an outstanding player himself.

"He had a great name in the game but he deserved it – he was brave and he was a great goalkeeper.

"Every time I saw him play live, he had this incredible agility to get around the goal and he got to the top corner of the net.

"He wasn't the biggest but he had an incredible leap and spring which enabled him to get right across the goal to make great saves."

The pair became firm friends in recent years and Banks used to travel from his home in Crewe to Bert's house in Shifnal.

"He was a gentleman – I admired him so much," said Banks, who played for Stoke and Leicester.

"He was a lovely man – it was just a great privilege to have known him and actually meet him. He was such a nice man.

"I admired him so much as a young boy and as a young man starting out in football.

"So to have seen him play and know what a great goalkeeper he was, then met him in later life was a great honour for me."

Banks said watching Bert taught him to be more mentally aware in his penalty area.

"From watching Bert and seeing what he did I learned to be a lot calmer and relaxed in goal – I started to observe things more and become alert to people in the penalty area and the danger they posed," he said.

"You don't forget things you feel are going to help you as a goalkeeper.

"I saw things Bert did and I tried to copy them. It helped me to be better."

Banks also praised Bert's bravery as he kept goal at a time of heavy leather balls, and little protection from referees or gloves.

"It was very dangerous – the forwards were coming in to try to get that ball and your head was at their feet, but we did it," he said. "Bert was very brave."

Banks was due to see Bert yesterday and visited him two weeks ago.

"It's very sad because my brother David died of Alzheimer's and to see Bert struggling like he was wasn't nice at all," he added.