Sir Geoff Hurst described Gordon Banks as a "superstar" on the pitch which contrasted with his self-effacing personality as footballers past and present turned out to pay their respects to the World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

The former England international died, aged 81, on February 12 and his funeral was held at Stoke Minster on Monday afternoon.

Hurst, Sir Bobby and Jack Charlton and Roger Hunt, who were in the starting XI alongside Banks as England defeated Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final, were among the mourners.

A reputation as one of the finest shot-stoppers of his or any era was not the only legacy Banks left behind, according to Hurst.

The former striker said in a moving eulogy: "He was a superstar on the field but, quite frankly, off the field he was not a superstar at all.

"He was a very ordinary guy, never had any airs and graces, and that was one of the beautiful things about Banksy that I remember very well.

"He was a joker, a funny man, for over 50 years and every time we met during our careers or years after he would come up and joke.

"Banksy, rest in peace. We love you and we miss you."

Hundreds gathered at the bet365 Stadium to watch the funeral which was broadcast on two big screens.

Hours earlier a five-car funeral cortege passed through the ground, stopping for a few minutes at the pitch-side dugout, to a sustained round of applause.

The various achievements of Banks, who made 73 international appearances and was named FIFA goalkeeper of the year on six occasions, were displayed on the screens as a chant of 'England's number one' broke out.

Sheffield-born Banks made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke and, such was his standing, he was named the club's president following the death of Sir Stanley Matthews at the turn of the century.

Gordon Banks - In pictures 51 show all Gordon Banks - In pictures 1/51 England's Gordon Banks holds the Jules Rimet World Cupp 1966 trophy at Wembley EMPICS Sport 2/51 England's Gordon Banks, Ian Callaghan, Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles at Wemblet inb 1966 PA 3/51 Gordon Banks jumps to make a save in the match with Hungary at Wembley PA 4/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks makes a remarkable save from a header by Pele of Brazil during their first round match in the World Cup at Guadalajara, Mexico, June 1970 Getty Images 5/51 Leicester City goalkeeper Gordon Banks reads a special edition of the London Evening Standard in the grounds of his team's hotel on the day before the match in 1963 PA 6/51 Leiceter Citys' Gordon Banks in action at Wembley during the FA Cup Final in 1961 PA 7/51 England Captain Bobby Moore (l) introduces The Earl of Harewood to goalkeeper Gordon Banks in 1964 PA 8/51 Gordon Banks dives in front of Scotland's Denis Law during an International at Wembley in 1965 PA 9/51 England's national soccer team captain Bobby Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet trophy as he is carried by his teammates following England's victory over Germany (4-2 in extra time) in the World Cup final 30 July 1966 at Wembley AFP/Getty Images 10/51 England footballers Roger Hunt (Liverpool), Gordon Banks (Leicester) and Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) enjoy a game of cards after a talk by the team manager at Roehampton on 22nd February 1966 Getty Images 11/51 The England football team with the Jules Rimet trophy which they won in the 1966 World Cup final PA 12/51 Ramiro Navarro of Mexico leaps over Gordon Banks as the England ''keeper makes a save during their match which England won by two goals in 1966 at Wembley Getty Images 13/51 England goolkeeper Gordon Banks makes a spectacular save during a training session at Roehampton, in preparation for an international match against France Getty Images 14/51 ngland's goalkeeper Gordon Banks, right, clears the ball from the head of Portugal's Jose Augusto during the World Cup semi-final played at Wembley in 1966 AP 15/51 Eusebio of Portugal (No13) leaps for a header but the ball is punched away by England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (No1) in the World Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, London PA 16/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks gathers the ball safely, watched by teammates Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, and Portugal's Mario Coluna and Eusebio PA 17/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (left) and his teammate Nobby Stiles in a victory hug after England beat Portugal 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final at Wembley, London PA 18/51 German defender Wolgang Weber (left) ties the score shooting past English defender Norbert Stiles (centre) duting the 1966 World Cup final AFP/Getty Images 19/51 West Germany's Wolfgang Weber (on ground left) starts to celebrate after scoring past England's goalkeeper Gordon Banks, for an equaliser in the last minute of normal time in the World Cup Final at Wembley. England went on to win the 1966 World Cup 4-2 after extra time Getty Images 20/51 Bobby Charlton raises the Jules Rimet trophy in the air following England's 4-2 victory after extra time over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, 30th July 1966. Amongst his team mates celebrating with him are goalkeeper Gordon Banks, Alan Ball on his right and team captain Bobby Moore (1941 - 1993) at his left Getty Images 21/51 Gordon Banks, Tony Waiters, Jackie Charlton, Bobby Moore, George Cohen, Ray Wilson; (bottom, from L) Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton, Joe Baker, John Connelly, Nobby Stiles, pose in London. - Gordon Banks, goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup victory over the then West Germany, has died aged 81 AFP/Getty Images 22/51 Leicester City's Gordon Banks prepares for a Cup match in 1966 Getty Images 23/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks saves a shot from Scotland's Denis Law at Wembley in 1967 Getty Images 24/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks dives, as Spain's Ansola comes in during the European Nations Cup Quarter Final, First Leg at Wembley, London in 1968 PA 25/51 A game of cards takes the mind off football and relieves the tedium of waiting for the plane for members of the England party en route to Belgium from Heathrow Airport in 1970. From left to right; Geoff Hurst, Jeff Astle, Gordon Banks, Alan Ball, Tommy Wright and Jackie Charlton. PA 26/51 Stoke City's Gordon Banks punches clear off the head of Manchester City's Tommy Booth in 1970 PA 27/51 Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks in 1970 Getty Images 28/51 Gordon Banks, the Stoke and England goalkeeper after he received the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award for 1972 PA 29/51 Goalkeepers Phil Parkes, Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton training with the England squad at Roehampton in 1972 Getty Images 30/51 Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks leads his team out onto the pitch for the FA Cup semi-final match against Arsenal at Sheffield's Hillsborough Stadium in 1972 Getty Images 31/51 Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks (r) tries to punch clear from Chelsea's John Dempsey in 1972 PA 32/51 Gordon Banks, voted the world's top goalkeeper after the 1966 World Cup, makes a gesture of jubilation after Stoke City's dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham in Manchester in 1972 PA 33/51 Stoke City and England goalkeeper Gordon Banks recuperates at the North Staffordshire Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent, following a car crash which cost him the sight in his right eye in 1972. He retired from football as a result Getty Images 34/51 Former England goalie Gordon Banks with his daughter Wendy in the goalmouth at Stoke City Football club after her marriage in 1996 PA 35/51 Pele and Gordon Banks at Wembley in 2000 Getty Images 36/51 Ex-England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, holds his 1966 World Cup winner's medal at a photocall at Christie's South Kensington in 2001 PA 37/51 Brazilian football legend Pele (C) and former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks present Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry (R) with a trophy to mark his inclusion in the FIFA 100 top players in 2004 Reuters 38/51 ormer International soccer players England goal keeper, Gordon Banks (left) with a picture of his famous save from Brazil striker Pele in 2004 PA 39/51 Former England football player Gordon Banks signs a builder's book at Wembley Stadium in 2006 AFP/Getty Images 40/51 Former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks in 2008 PA 41/51 Gordon Banks stands next to the new Gordon Banks statue at the Britannia Stadium in 2008 PA 42/51 Gordon Banks, who was goalkeeper for England in the 1966 World Cup, runs with the London 2012 Olympic torch outside Wembley Stadium in 2012 Reuters 43/51 Former Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks holds the Jules Rimet trophy as he is awarded a Stoke City shirt IN 2013 PA 44/51 Former England international footballer Gordon Banks waves to the fans ahead of the English League Cup fourth round football match between Stoke City and Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England on October 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images 45/51 Wembley Stadium Interactive Tour launch with Former England Goalkeeper Gordon Banks Nigel Howard 46/51 A new statue of former Stoke City and England goalkeeper Gordon Banks outside the ground prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium IN 2015 Getty Images 47/51 Former England and World Cup winning players (left to right) George Cohen, Gordon Banks, Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hurst with the Jules Rimet trophy in 2016 PA 48/51 England's former goalkeeper Gordon Banks arrives on stage during the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on December 1, 2017 AFP/Getty Images 49/51 Gordon Banks during his speech at the Football Writers Association Tribute Night at The Savoy, London in 2018 PA 50/51 Former England soccer player Gordon Banks on stage for the Final Draw of the FIFA World Cup 2018 at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow EPA 51/51 Gordon Banks waves as he walks on stage for the 2018 soccer World Cup draw in the Kremlin in Moscow. AP 1/51 England's Gordon Banks holds the Jules Rimet World Cupp 1966 trophy at Wembley EMPICS Sport 2/51 England's Gordon Banks, Ian Callaghan, Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles at Wemblet inb 1966 PA 3/51 Gordon Banks jumps to make a save in the match with Hungary at Wembley PA 4/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks makes a remarkable save from a header by Pele of Brazil during their first round match in the World Cup at Guadalajara, Mexico, June 1970 Getty Images 5/51 Leicester City goalkeeper Gordon Banks reads a special edition of the London Evening Standard in the grounds of his team's hotel on the day before the match in 1963 PA 6/51 Leiceter Citys' Gordon Banks in action at Wembley during the FA Cup Final in 1961 PA 7/51 England Captain Bobby Moore (l) introduces The Earl of Harewood to goalkeeper Gordon Banks in 1964 PA 8/51 Gordon Banks dives in front of Scotland's Denis Law during an International at Wembley in 1965 PA 9/51 England's national soccer team captain Bobby Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet trophy as he is carried by his teammates following England's victory over Germany (4-2 in extra time) in the World Cup final 30 July 1966 at Wembley AFP/Getty Images 10/51 England footballers Roger Hunt (Liverpool), Gordon Banks (Leicester) and Bobby Charlton (Manchester United) enjoy a game of cards after a talk by the team manager at Roehampton on 22nd February 1966 Getty Images 11/51 The England football team with the Jules Rimet trophy which they won in the 1966 World Cup final PA 12/51 Ramiro Navarro of Mexico leaps over Gordon Banks as the England ''keeper makes a save during their match which England won by two goals in 1966 at Wembley Getty Images 13/51 England goolkeeper Gordon Banks makes a spectacular save during a training session at Roehampton, in preparation for an international match against France Getty Images 14/51 ngland's goalkeeper Gordon Banks, right, clears the ball from the head of Portugal's Jose Augusto during the World Cup semi-final played at Wembley in 1966 AP 15/51 Eusebio of Portugal (No13) leaps for a header but the ball is punched away by England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (No1) in the World Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, London PA 16/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks gathers the ball safely, watched by teammates Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, and Portugal's Mario Coluna and Eusebio PA 17/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (left) and his teammate Nobby Stiles in a victory hug after England beat Portugal 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final at Wembley, London PA 18/51 German defender Wolgang Weber (left) ties the score shooting past English defender Norbert Stiles (centre) duting the 1966 World Cup final AFP/Getty Images 19/51 West Germany's Wolfgang Weber (on ground left) starts to celebrate after scoring past England's goalkeeper Gordon Banks, for an equaliser in the last minute of normal time in the World Cup Final at Wembley. England went on to win the 1966 World Cup 4-2 after extra time Getty Images 20/51 Bobby Charlton raises the Jules Rimet trophy in the air following England's 4-2 victory after extra time over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, 30th July 1966. Amongst his team mates celebrating with him are goalkeeper Gordon Banks, Alan Ball on his right and team captain Bobby Moore (1941 - 1993) at his left Getty Images 21/51 Gordon Banks, Tony Waiters, Jackie Charlton, Bobby Moore, George Cohen, Ray Wilson; (bottom, from L) Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton, Joe Baker, John Connelly, Nobby Stiles, pose in London. - Gordon Banks, goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup victory over the then West Germany, has died aged 81 AFP/Getty Images 22/51 Leicester City's Gordon Banks prepares for a Cup match in 1966 Getty Images 23/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks saves a shot from Scotland's Denis Law at Wembley in 1967 Getty Images 24/51 England goalkeeper Gordon Banks dives, as Spain's Ansola comes in during the European Nations Cup Quarter Final, First Leg at Wembley, London in 1968 PA 25/51 A game of cards takes the mind off football and relieves the tedium of waiting for the plane for members of the England party en route to Belgium from Heathrow Airport in 1970. From left to right; Geoff Hurst, Jeff Astle, Gordon Banks, Alan Ball, Tommy Wright and Jackie Charlton. PA 26/51 Stoke City's Gordon Banks punches clear off the head of Manchester City's Tommy Booth in 1970 PA 27/51 Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks in 1970 Getty Images 28/51 Gordon Banks, the Stoke and England goalkeeper after he received the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award for 1972 PA 29/51 Goalkeepers Phil Parkes, Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton training with the England squad at Roehampton in 1972 Getty Images 30/51 Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks leads his team out onto the pitch for the FA Cup semi-final match against Arsenal at Sheffield's Hillsborough Stadium in 1972 Getty Images 31/51 Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks (r) tries to punch clear from Chelsea's John Dempsey in 1972 PA 32/51 Gordon Banks, voted the world's top goalkeeper after the 1966 World Cup, makes a gesture of jubilation after Stoke City's dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham in Manchester in 1972 PA 33/51 Stoke City and England goalkeeper Gordon Banks recuperates at the North Staffordshire Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent, following a car crash which cost him the sight in his right eye in 1972. He retired from football as a result Getty Images 34/51 Former England goalie Gordon Banks with his daughter Wendy in the goalmouth at Stoke City Football club after her marriage in 1996 PA 35/51 Pele and Gordon Banks at Wembley in 2000 Getty Images 36/51 Ex-England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, holds his 1966 World Cup winner's medal at a photocall at Christie's South Kensington in 2001 PA 37/51 Brazilian football legend Pele (C) and former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks present Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry (R) with a trophy to mark his inclusion in the FIFA 100 top players in 2004 Reuters 38/51 ormer International soccer players England goal keeper, Gordon Banks (left) with a picture of his famous save from Brazil striker Pele in 2004 PA 39/51 Former England football player Gordon Banks signs a builder's book at Wembley Stadium in 2006 AFP/Getty Images 40/51 Former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks in 2008 PA 41/51 Gordon Banks stands next to the new Gordon Banks statue at the Britannia Stadium in 2008 PA 42/51 Gordon Banks, who was goalkeeper for England in the 1966 World Cup, runs with the London 2012 Olympic torch outside Wembley Stadium in 2012 Reuters 43/51 Former Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks holds the Jules Rimet trophy as he is awarded a Stoke City shirt IN 2013 PA 44/51 Former England international footballer Gordon Banks waves to the fans ahead of the English League Cup fourth round football match between Stoke City and Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England on October 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images 45/51 Wembley Stadium Interactive Tour launch with Former England Goalkeeper Gordon Banks Nigel Howard 46/51 A new statue of former Stoke City and England goalkeeper Gordon Banks outside the ground prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium IN 2015 Getty Images 47/51 Former England and World Cup winning players (left to right) George Cohen, Gordon Banks, Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hurst with the Jules Rimet trophy in 2016 PA 48/51 England's former goalkeeper Gordon Banks arrives on stage during the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on December 1, 2017 AFP/Getty Images 49/51 Gordon Banks during his speech at the Football Writers Association Tribute Night at The Savoy, London in 2018 PA 50/51 Former England soccer player Gordon Banks on stage for the Final Draw of the FIFA World Cup 2018 at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow EPA 51/51 Gordon Banks waves as he walks on stage for the 2018 soccer World Cup draw in the Kremlin in Moscow. AP

The statue erected in Banks' honour outside their stadium, holding the Jules Rimet trophy aloft in one hand and his gloves in the other, was decorated with several Stoke and England scarves.

The surrounding area was adorned with shirts, flags and even the odd pair of goalkeeping gloves in tribute to one of the city's favourite adopted sons.

His daughter Wendy spoke poignantly at the service and said he told her shortly before his death: "I've had a good innings and a great life.

"I have no regrets, I did a job I loved and would have done it for free. But don't tell them, Wend!"

Banks' funeral was held 47 years to the day since Stoke's League Cup win - the second time he had won the competition, having done so with Leicester in 1964, but his only trophy with the Potters.

En route to the final, Banks memorably saved a penalty from Hurst, whose West Ham side were overcome by Stoke after a semi-final replay.

Hurst humorously suggested it was that moment - and not his wonder save from Brazil striker Pele in the 1970 World Cup - that should live long in the memory.

He added: "Gordon Banks OBE contributed to the worst moment of my footballing career.

"We often joke privately and publicly about the save from Pele but the most important save was the one that got them through (in the League Cup).

"The save against Pele wasn't as important - we lost the game and we still qualified for the later stages of the World Cup."

Jack Butland, Joe Anyon and Kasper Schmeichel - the current number ones at the three English clubs Banks played for, Stoke, Chesterfield and Leicester - as well as England stalwart Joe Hart served as pallbearers.

Irish author, humanitarian and media producer Don Mullan gave an emotive eulogy to a man he idolised growing up in Derry, Northern Ireland, and with whom he developed a friendship in his later years.

Mullan said: "He was not only the world's greatest goalkeeper, I had a colossus of humanity for a mentor.

"From being a timid, fearful young boy, he taught me that impossible doesn't exist. Unknown to him he helped save a young fan from making choices that had brought too much sorrow and sadness to Irish and British alike.

"Who knows? Perhaps it was his best save ever."