Chris Banks (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Christopher N. Banks 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.
, 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. 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. In June 1989 he joined Bath City
. He was player of the year the following season and became club captain for the four seasons after that.
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. 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. He was forced to retire through injury in November 2004, and later trained to be a physiotherapist.
in 2007.
He graduated from the University of Salford
in 2007 with a degree in Physiotherapy
.
In the 2006 publication Cheltenham Town Football Club 50 Greats
, Banks was included in the list by authors Tom Goold and Jon Palmer.
with Cheltenham Town
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, now a physiotherapist at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
.
Starting his career with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in 1982, he moved on to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in 1988. He was at Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
from 1989 to 1994, before spending ten years with Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
. 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.
Playing career
Banks began his career as an apprentice with Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, turning professional in December 1982. He slotted into the first team well, however after a reserve match at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
he was attacked by a gang of youths and had his nose broken
Nasal fracture
Broken Nose' redirects here, for the Song by Catherine Wheel, please see Adam and EveA nasal fracture, commonly referred to as a broken nose, is a fracture of the bone or cartilage of the nose...
whilst waiting at a fish and chip shop
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
on 23 September 1987. He was released at the end of the 1987–88 season
1987–88 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1987–88 season was Port Vale's seventy-sixth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Third Division. John Rudge's side started the season well, but then suffered following the sale of star striker Andy Jones...
and joined Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in June 1988. Despite playing in all but three of Exeter's games the following season, Banks was released by City manager Terry Cooper. In June 1989 he joined Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
. He was player of the year the following season and became club captain for the four seasons after that.
In July 1994 Banks, who still lived in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
requested a move north, and was signed by Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
, along with Martin Boyle for a combined fee of £16,000. 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. He was forced to retire through injury in November 2004, and later trained to be a physiotherapist.
Post-retirement
He worked as a postman for four years while completing his training, before he was appointed as Youth Academy Physiotherapist at Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in 2007.
He graduated from the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
in 2007 with a degree in Physiotherapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
.
In the 2006 publication Cheltenham Town Football Club 50 Greats
Cheltenham Town Football Club 50 Greats
Cheltenham Town Football Club: 50 Greats is a book by Tom Goold and Jon Palmer published in 2006.The book lists the 50 Cheltenham Town players that Goold and Palmer considered to be greatest. The players are in alphabetical order, as it was thought to be unfair to rank them in any order. It only...
, 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.Honours
with Bath City- Southern Football LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
runner-up: 1989–90 - Somerset Premier CupSomerset Premier CupThe Somerset Premier Cup is the senior local county football cup for teams based in Somerset, organised by the Somerset County Football Association.It was formerly known as the Somerset Professional Cup....
winner: 1989, 1990 & 1994
with Cheltenham Town
- Southern Football LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
runner-up: 1996–971996–97 Southern Football LeagueThe 1996–97 Southern Football League season saw Gresley Rovers win the Premier Division. However, as their ground failed to meet the required standard, second-placed Cheltenham Town were promoted to the Football Conference instead... - Football ConferenceFootball ConferenceThe Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
runner-up: 1997–98 - Football ConferenceFootball ConferenceThe Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
champion: 1998–99 - FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
winner: 19981998 FA Trophy FinalThe 1998 FA Trophy Final was the 29th final of The Football Association's cup competition for levels 5-8 of the English football league system. It was contested by Cheltenham Town and Southport on 17 May 1998 at Wembley, London.... - Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
play-off winner: 2002