Chris Banks (footballer, born 1965)

Christopher Noel Banks (born 12 November 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender and later worked as a physiotherapist.

Chris Banks
Personal information
Full name Christopher Noel Banks[1]
Date of birth (1965-11-12) 12 November 1965[2]
Place of birth Stone, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) 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)
1994–2002 Cheltenham Town 397 (1)
Total 766 (13)
International career
1998–1999 England C 2 (0)
Managerial career
2003 Cheltenham Town (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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 20-year career, between 1982 and 2002. He was promoted four times in his career, and also won the FA Trophy in 1998. After retiring in 2002 he went on to qualify as a physiotherapist and worked at Stoke City and Port Vale.

Playing career

Port Vale

Banks began his career as an apprentice with Port Vale, turning professional in December 1982.[2] He had to wait until 29 January 1985 before he made his debut, in a 1–1 draw with Northampton Town in the Football League Trophy.[2] He went on to make seven Fourth Division and three cup appearances in 1984–85.[2] He played nineteen league games in 1985–86, as the "Valiants" won promotion into the Third Division; he also scored his first senior goal, salvaging a point in a 1–1 draw with Burnley at Vale Park on 24 February.[2] He played 34 games in 1986–87, as Vale secured their third tier status under the stewardship of John Rudge.[2] After a reserve team match at Barnsley on 23 September 1987, he was attacked by a gang of youths and had his nose broken whilst waiting at a fish and chip shop.[2] He made 21 appearances in 1987–88, before he was released.[2]

Exeter City

He joined Exeter City in June 1988 as one of manager Terry Cooper's first signings at the club.[4] He briefly played in goal during an emergency situation against Peterborough United and would prank the local media by telling them he was a nephew of Gordon Banks.[4] Despite playing in all but three of the "Grecians" games the following season, Banks was released from his contract at St James Park.[5]

Bath City

In June 1989 he joined Bath City.[6] He was player of the year the following season and became club captain for the four seasons after that.[6] In five years at Twerton Park, he won the Somerset Premier Cup three times, and finished second in the Southern League in 1989–90. He played 259 games for the club, also serving as captain.[7]

Cheltenham Town

In July 1994, Banks, requested a move north to a club closer to his Staffordshire home, and was signed by Cheltenham Town, along with Martin Boyle, for a combined fee of £16,000.[6] He went on to captain the side as they rose from the Southern League to the Football League. While playing part-time at Whaddon Road he worked as a tiler, but resumed full-time football on Cheltenham's promotion to the Football League.[5] Finishing second in the Southern League in 1996–97, the "Robins" finished second in the Conference in 1997–98, and Banks was named as the club's Player of the Year for 1998.[8] Cheltenham finished as champions of the Conference in 1998–99 under the stewardship of Steve Cotterill. Banks also played in the 1998 FA Trophy Final at Wembley, as Cheltenham beat Southport 1–0.[9] He helped Cheltenham to the Second Division following victory in the 2002 Third Division play-off final. He briefly served the club as caretaker manager following Graham Allner's departure in January 2003, before the appointment of Bobby Gould early the following month. He was forced to retire through injury in November 2004,[10] and later trained to be a physiotherapist.[11] In the 2006 publication Cheltenham Town Football Club 50 Greats, Banks was included in the list by authors Tom Goold and Jon Palmer.

Physiotherapy career

He worked as a postman for four years while completing his training,[11] before he was appointed as youth academy physiotherapist at Stoke City in 2007.[11] He graduated from the University of Salford in 2007 with a degree in Physiotherapy.[12] He worked as a postman whilst studying at university.[13] In June 2019, he left Stoke to work as the head physiotherapist at Potteries derby rivals Port Vale.[14] He retired from football in June 2022.[7]

Personal life

Banks played cricket as a spin bowler for his hometown side, Stone, who he captained to the North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier Division title in 2006. His younger brother Ian was also a professional with Port Vale, but was released after just one year; he went on to have a successful career in non-League football.[15]

Career statistics

Playing statistics

Source:[16][17]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1984–85Fourth Division700030100
1985–86Fourth Division1910030221
1986–87Third Division2502070340
1987–88Third Division1402050210
Total 65140180871
Exeter City1988–89Fourth Division4511040501
Cheltenham Town1999–2000Third Division4202040480
2000–01Third Division4012030451
2001–02Third Division3805030460

Managerial statistics

Source:[16]

Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Cheltenham Town (caretaker) 14 January 2003 10 February 2003 5 1 2 2 020.0
Total 5 1 2 2 020.0

Honours

Individual

Port Vale

Bath City

Cheltenham Town

References
  1. "Chris Banks". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 16. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. Rothmans football yearbook 2002-03. London : Headline. 2002. ISBN 978-0-7553-1099-9. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. "Banks, Christopher". grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. Shaw, Phil (4 August 1999). "Banks back in League business". The Independent. London. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  6. "Past Players – B". Bath City F.C. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  7. "Chris Banks Announces Retirement From Football". Port Vale F.C. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  8. Palmer, Jon (6 May 2015). "Trevor Carson the third goalkeeper to win Player of the Year in League era". ctfc.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  9. Metcalf, Rupert (18 May 1998). "Football: Idyllic end for Cheltenham". The Independent. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  10. "Chris Banks to retire from full-time football". Cheltenham Town F.C. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  11. "Banks is backing Stoke". This Is Gloucestershire. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  12. My Graduation – July 2007" graduation booklet, p. 11, University of Salford, July 2007.
  13. "Cheltenham Town where are they now: Chris Banks". Gloucestershire Echo. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  14. Baggaley, Michael (28 June 2019). "Former Stoke City man returns to Port Vale for key role". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  15. "Banks cuts managerial teeth". NonLeagueDaily. 3 July 2005. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  16. Chris Banks at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  17. Chris Banks at Soccerbase
  18. Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
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