| 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). |
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Christopher N. "Chris" 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. He was promoted four times in his career, and also won the FA Trophy in 1998.
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Banks began his career as an apprentice with Port Vale, turning professional in December 1982. 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. He went on to make seven Fourth Division and three cup appearances in 1984–85. 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. He played 34 games in 1986–87, as Vale secured their third tier status under the stewardship of John Rudge.
After a reserve 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.[1] He made 21 appearances in 1987–88, before he was released. He 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] With Bath, he won the Somerset Premier Cup three times, and finished second in the Southern League in 1989–90.
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.[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] Finishing second in the Southern League in 1996–97, the "Robins" finished second in the Football Conference in 1997–98, before going on to top the Conference table in 1998–99. Banks also played in the 1998 FA Trophy Final at Wembley, as Cheltenham beat Southport 1–0.[4] He helped Cheltenham to the Second Division following victory in the 2002 Third Division play-off Final. He was forced to retire through injury in November 2004,[5] and later trained to be a physiotherapist.[6]
He worked as a postman for four years while completing his training,[6] before he was appointed as Youth Academy Physiotherapist at Stoke City in 2007.[6] He graduated from the University of Salford in 2007 with a degree in Physiotherapy.[7]
In the 2006 publication Cheltenham Town Football Club 50 Greats, Banks was included in the list by authors Tom Goold and Jon Palmer.
Banks also 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 by them after just one year. He went on to have a successful career in non-league football.[8]