- Chris Banks (footballer)
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Chris Banks Personal information Full name Christopher N. Banks Date of birth 12 November 1965 Place of birth Stone, Staffordshire, England Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Playing position Defender Youth career Port Vale Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1982–1988 Port Vale 65 (1) 1988–1989 Exeter City 45 (1) 1989–1994 Bath City 259 (5) 1994–2004 Cheltenham Town 397 (1) Total 766 (13) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Christopher N. Banks (born 12 November 1965 in Stone, Staffordshire) is an English former professional football defender, now a physiotherapist at Stoke City.
Starting his career with Port Vale in 1982, he moved on to Exeter City in 1988. He was at Bath City from 1989 to 1994, before spending ten years with Cheltenham Town. He is considered a highly significant player in the histories of both Bath and Cheltenham, both of whom he captained for many years. In all he played 766 league games in a 22 year career, between 1982 and 2004.
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Playing career
Banks began his career as an apprentice with Port Vale, turning professional in December 1982. He slotted into the first team well, however after a reserve match at Barnsley he was attacked by a gang of youths and had his nose broken whilst waiting at a fish and chip shop on 23 September 1987.[1] He was released at the end of the 1987–88 season and joined Exeter City in June 1988. Despite playing in all but three of Exeter's games the following season, Banks was released by City manager Terry Cooper.[2] In June 1989 he joined Bath City.[3] He was player of the year the following season and became club captain for the four seasons after that.[3]
In July 1994 Banks, who still lived in Staffordshire requested a move north, and was signed by Cheltenham Town, along with Martin Boyle for a combined fee of £16,000.[3] He went on to captain the side as they rose from the Southern League to the Football League. While playing part-time he worked as a tiler, but resumed full-time football on Cheltenham's promotion to the Football League.[2] He was forced to retire through injury in November 2004,[4] and later trained to be a physiotherapist.[5]
Post-retirement
He worked as a postman for four years while completing his training,[5] before he was appointed as Youth Academy Physiotherapist at Stoke City in 2007.[5]
He graduated from the University of Salford in 2007 with a degree in Physiotherapy.[6]
In the 2006 publication Cheltenham Town Football Club 50 Greats, Banks was included in the list by authors Tom Goold and Jon Palmer.
Family
His younger brother Ian was also a professional with Port Vale, but was released by them after just one year. He went on to have a successful career in non-league football.[7]
Honours
- with Bath City
- Southern Football League runner-up: 1989–90
- Somerset Premier Cup winner: 1989, 1990 & 1994
- with Cheltenham Town
- Southern Football League runner-up: 1996–97
- Football Conference runner-up: 1997–98
- Football Conference champion: 1998–99
- FA Trophy winner: 1998
- Football League Third Division play-off winner: 2002
References
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 16. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200.
- ^ a b Shaw, Phil (1999-08-04). "Banks back in League business". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-banks-back-in-league-business-1110662.html. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ a b c "Past Players - B". Bath City F.C.. http://www.ilovebathcity.com/index_golf.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ "Chris Banks to retire from full-time football". Cheltenham Town F.C.. 2004-11-17. http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~327610,00.html. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ a b c "Banks is backing Stoke". This Is Gloucestershire. 2008-08-26. http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/football/Banks-backing-Stokearticle-288024-details/article.html. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ My Graduation - July 2007" graduation booklet, pg 11, University of Salford, July 2007.
- ^ "Banks cuts managerial teeth". NonLeagueDaily. 2005-07-03. http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=27960. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
External links
Categories:- 1965 births
- Living people
- People from Stone, Staffordshire
- English footballers
- Port Vale F.C. players
- Exeter City F.C. players
- Bath City F.C. players
- Cheltenham Town F.C. players
- Physiotherapists
- Alumni of the University of Salford
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