Ay, ay, ay, ay, Banks is better Yashin
Ay, ay, ay, ay, Forest are in for a thrashin’
a thrashin’, a thrashin’, a thrashin’.
2 October 2015
THIS LEADEN PAUL
Voted best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the secretive IFFHS. At time of writing, the only goalie to be awarded the Ballon d’Or. Also played in goal for Dynamo Moscow…in ice hockey. Believed to have inspired the aesthetic choices of Johnny Cash (q.v.).
2 October 2015
peter mcornithologist
I was fortunate enough to see the great man live. 1966 World Cup quarter final. Russia 2 Hungary 1. Yashin was fantastic. I remember frustrated Hungarians thumping the Roker Park turf on several occasions. Poor Hungary on the other hand had a goalie with no arms and a face like his.
2 October 2015
Eric olthwaite
I never saw him. However, when I was a student, in Coleraine, I lived in the seaside town of Portstewart. Harry Gregg owned a hotel there and in the bar displayed shirts he had swapped when playing international matches, one of which was Lev’s. It was black, his own choice of colour, apparently, as he believed it made him look bigger to onrushing forwards.
2 October 2015
Steve nice
Yes he did the greatest save I have ever seen. It could have been in that Hungary game. Mind you I was only 11 and quite impressionable. (Gordon Banks’ 1970 Pele save is a close second)
3 October 2016
Chris The Siteowner
If I wear this to the Public Service Broadcasting gig tonight, it’s because life is a PB/PSBR, I guess.
10 April 2018
Transit Full Of Keith
As mentioned on a couple of other threads, here’s a link to the Russian song “Goalkeeper” dedicated to Lev Yashin by Vladimir Vystotskiy (top Soviet singer-songwriter). As recently played to Bob Wilson on the radio. Some nice footage in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKMyogEUwQ4
Can’t manage a translation, but the basic premise of the song is a keeper getting quite irate as he’s heckled by a press photographer – who wants him to let one in so he can get the perfect picture for the back page of Pravda …
4 May 2018
Transit Full Of Keith
^ sorry, typo. The name’s Vysotskiy (or Vysotsky, depending on preference).
“The report said nothing about how he suffered concussions but carried on, nothing about the rest of the team, only about Lev. They said he was sleeping and the goals flew in.”
This first appeared in 2018. When I first referenced it I didn’t notice the author. Is the Goalkeepers’ Union providing journalism training for its members when they hang up their gloves?
There are 14 Half Man Half Biscuit albums, plus two roundup compilations, as well as 4 EPs and a handful of one-off songs. No 'Greatest Hits'. Indulge yourself by starting here.
Breaking News
Latest gigs, forthcoming releases, and anything else we find out.
Search the site
Search for any lyric, reference, song title ...whatever.
The A to Z of HMHB
Add your bit, and sign up for email updates. Latest addition: Trespass
About HMHB
The story of Half Man Half Biscuit, where to get the music, and about this site.
Latest Comments
There are now 37,083 comments on this site. Why not make it one more?
Your PBRs
Life is a Permanent Biscuit Reference.
HMHB in the Media
Mentions of lyrics and the band.
Gig News & Reviews
What it says. Always worth reading.
The Lux Familiar Cup 2015
In which we chose the nation's favourite Half Man Half Biscuit song. For the next four years, anyway.
Random Lyrics
The famous Half Man Half Biscuit Random Lyrics Generator™ – click here for a different gem every time. Makes a nice default page for your browser.
Bobby SVARC
Ay, ay, ay, ay, Banks is better Yashin
Ay, ay, ay, ay, Forest are in for a thrashin’
a thrashin’, a thrashin’, a thrashin’.
2 October 2015
THIS LEADEN PAUL
Voted best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the secretive IFFHS. At time of writing, the only goalie to be awarded the Ballon d’Or. Also played in goal for Dynamo Moscow…in ice hockey. Believed to have inspired the aesthetic choices of Johnny Cash (q.v.).
2 October 2015
peter mcornithologist
I was fortunate enough to see the great man live. 1966 World Cup quarter final. Russia 2 Hungary 1. Yashin was fantastic. I remember frustrated Hungarians thumping the Roker Park turf on several occasions. Poor Hungary on the other hand had a goalie with no arms and a face like his.
2 October 2015
Eric olthwaite
I never saw him. However, when I was a student, in Coleraine, I lived in the seaside town of Portstewart. Harry Gregg owned a hotel there and in the bar displayed shirts he had swapped when playing international matches, one of which was Lev’s. It was black, his own choice of colour, apparently, as he believed it made him look bigger to onrushing forwards.
2 October 2015
Steve nice
Yes he did the greatest save I have ever seen. It could have been in that Hungary game. Mind you I was only 11 and quite impressionable. (Gordon Banks’ 1970 Pele save is a close second)
3 October 2016
Chris The Siteowner
If I wear this to the Public Service Broadcasting gig tonight, it’s because life is a PB/PSBR, I guess.
10 April 2018
Transit Full Of Keith
As mentioned on a couple of other threads, here’s a link to the Russian song “Goalkeeper” dedicated to Lev Yashin by Vladimir Vystotskiy (top Soviet singer-songwriter). As recently played to Bob Wilson on the radio. Some nice footage in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKMyogEUwQ4
Can’t manage a translation, but the basic premise of the song is a keeper getting quite irate as he’s heckled by a press photographer – who wants him to let one in so he can get the perfect picture for the back page of Pravda …
4 May 2018
Transit Full Of Keith
^ sorry, typo. The name’s Vysotskiy (or Vysotsky, depending on preference).
4 May 2018
Cream cheese and chives
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/yashin
A great thing to read first thing in the morning…
7 June 2018
paul f
And very topical:
“The report said nothing about how he suffered concussions but carried on, nothing about the rest of the team, only about Lev. They said he was sleeping and the goals flew in.”
7 June 2018
Chris Quinn
A great piece about the great man:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/yashin
27 December 2018
Cream cheese and chives
This first appeared in 2018. When I first referenced it I didn’t notice the author. Is the Goalkeepers’ Union providing journalism training for its members when they hang up their gloves?
27 December 2018