Legendary Bolton Wanderers full back Tommy Banks, famous for his 'rugged' play, for want of a better word, has been diagnosed with dementia, the Bolton News reports. Farnworth born and bred, he's now 92

longsidetrumpet wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:36 pm

Legendary Bolton Wanderers full back Tommy Banks, famous for his 'rugged' play, for want of a better word, has been diagnosed with dementia, the Bolton News reports. Farnworth born and bred, he's now 92

I thought he must be getting on, can’t recall having seen him play. My dad said he was a rough bugger.

Saw him play quite a number of times and he was a very uncompromising left back in a day when tackles were accepted as the 'norm' and football was a very different game to its modern form.
Probably Tony's dad was correct in his evaluation! ---there were a lot around in those days!

Left his mark on Pilky and Connelly!
Hartle, Hennin, Higgins and Banks a fearsome defence in days of yore.

Famously heard shouting across to his full back partner, Ray Hartle, ' when tha's finished wi' him, Tommy chip him over here'. No discrimination, applied to any winger.

He used to run the newsagents near my Grandad’s in Farnworth. Another example of how football was just another job back then. A nice old guy he was, genuinely surprised he’s still alive.

Also too young to have seen him but there are legendary tales of him giving wingers gravel rash after he dumped them over the touchline at Burnden.
Best wishes to himself and family.

Always a sad way to end up
Re rough tackles I have fond memories of Andy (Tonka) Wharton dumping Oxford flying winger" Chicken" George Lawrence into the terraces at the old Manor ground.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 01, 2022 7:14 pm

Also too young to have seen him but there are legendary tales of him giving wingers gravel rash after he dumped them over the touchline at Burnden.
Best wishes to himself and family.

There was a trench all round the pitch at Burnden and that's where wingers were placed at the first opportunity by Hartle and Banks. I once spoke to Pilky about them and he said he allowed it to happen as soon as possible, he knew it was going to happen so best get it over and done with,

My Dad took me to Burnden Park many times and at least twice to see them play Blackpool
Each time when the teams where announced before kick off a late change in the Blackpool line up , Stanley Matthews was replaced by another Player
Hartle Banks Hennin Higgins and Edwards were the rougher back 5 in Football and there would have been lots of red cards in this era with those individuals

These were the teams that played in the 1958 FA cup final that Bolton won.
Doug Holden who died last year was a great player for Bolton scoring over 400 goals for them.He later finished his career with Preston.
Bolton Wanderers – Hopkinson, Hartle, Banks, Hennin, Higgins, Edwards, Birch, Stevens, Lofthouse, Parry, Holden

Manchester United – Gregg, Foulkes, Greaves, Goodwin, Cope, Crowther, Dawson, Taylor E, Charlton, Viollet, Webster

Manchester United were recovering from the Munich tragedy & lucky to reach the final with a side cobbled together & for the second year running were handicapped by “robust” challenges on the keeper…Nat Lofthouse in 1958 & Peter McParland in 1957.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:40 pm

I thought he must be getting on, can’t recall having seen him play. My dad said he was a rough bugger.

When I was playing for BGSOB 3rds against one of the Bolton based teams back in the mid 70s he was reputedly playing for the oposition. We were a bit under the cosh and as a traditional full back I didn't get into their half to get a look at him. He must have been in his mid forties at the time.
Sad news that's all to frequent with footballers fro that era.