Tommy Banks (footballer)

Thomas Banks (10 November 1929 – 13 June 2024) was an English footballer who played as a left-back.

He was born at Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of a coal miner, Jack Banks and his wife, Catherine, and attended Harper Green Secondary school. He played for Bolton Wanderers from 1947 to 1961 and was a member of the 1958 FA Cup winning team when Bolton beat Manchester United. He also played six matches for the England national team in 1958, including all four matches in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He got his opportunity in the England team because of the death of incumbent left-back Roger Byrne in the Munich air disaster in February 1958. He made only a single appearance for England after the tournament. Banks also had a role in the fight to acquire better pay and conditions for football players in the 1961 labour dispute with the Football League. He also played non-League football for Altrincham.

Banks died of complications of dementia on 13 June 2024, at the age of 94.

His recent death was acknowledged, alongside those of Kevin Campbell and Matija Sarkic, during BBC commentary on England's opening match of Euro 2024 against Serbia, where it was mentioned that Banks had been England's oldest living former player.

Honours
Bolton Wanderers
 * FA Cup: 1957–58