Paul Bannister

Paul Francis Bannister (born 11 October 1947) is an English former footballer who played as a forward. He made 12 appearances in the Football League for Port Vale between 1965 and 1968, before spells in non-League football with Eastwood, Milton United, Copestick & Farrell, Hanley Rangers, and Middleport W.M.C.

Paul Bannister
Brian Wharburton, Bannister, John James, Stanley Matthews, John Bostock and Stan Turner (left to right)
Personal information
Full name Paul Francis Bannister[1]
Date of birth (1947-10-11) 11 October 1947[1]
Place of birth Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1968 Port Vale 12 (2)
Eastwood
Milton United
Copestick & Farrell
Hanley Rangers
Middleport W.M.C.
Managerial career
Middleport W.M.C.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Bannister graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965.[1] He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season and scored the club's last goal of the season in a 2–1 win over Walsall at Vale Park.[1] At the end of the season, Jackie Mudie's side was relegated from the Third Division to the Fourth Division.[1] He played the opening two games of the following season, but fell out of favour.[1] For the clash with bottom-placed Bradford City on 12 January, Vale assembled the youngest ever Football League forward line: Alex Donald (17), Roddy Georgeson (17), Mick Cullerton (17), Bannister (18), and Paul Ogden (19).[1] He broke his leg in a 2–0 home win over Halifax Town on 27 April 1966.[1] After a second leg fracture he finally recovered to play in the first team again in April 1968, but after three consecutive appearances under Stanley Matthews in 1967–68, he was released by the "Valiants" in July of that year.[1] He moved into non-League football with Eastwood, Milton United, Copestick & Farrell and Hanley Rangers, before taking up a player-manager role with Middleport W.M.C.[1]

Career statistics

Source:[2]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1964–65 Third Division 210021
1965–66 Fourth Division 710071
1966–67 Fourth Division 000000
1967–68 Fourth Division 300030
Total 12200122

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 17. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Paul Bannister at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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