Steve Banks
Encyclopedia
Steven "Steve" Banks is an English
footballer playing as goalkeeper
and is also goalkeeping coach for Scottish Premier League
club Dundee United
.
, London
, Banks began his career as a trainee with West Ham United
. He made just one first team appearance, in the Anglo-Italian Cup
, for West Ham, before joining Gillingham
on a free transfer in March 1993.
Banks was a regular for the remainder of the season and his form the following season led to a £60,000 move to Blackpool
in August 1995. He spent four years with the Seasiders, making more than 150 league appearances for the club. In March 1999, Banks moved to Bolton Wanderers
for a fee of £50,000. Although a regular at the start of his time with Bolton he soon lost his place and had loan spells with Rochdale
(December 2001 to May 2002) and Bradford City
(August to November 2002) before joining Stoke City
on loan in December 2002 which he played ten times in his loan spell
Banks joined Stoke on a free transfer in February 2003. However, he played just four times after his free transfer and was released at the end of the season.
Banks joined Wimbledon
in August 2003 and was a regular in their struggling Championship side until returning to Gillingham
on a free transfer in March 2004.During his second run with Gillingham he appeared in the film Green Street
.
on a free transfer as back-up for regular goalkeeper Craig Gordon
. He made his Hearts debut as a substitute in the 2–2 draw against Falkirk
on 2 October 2005, after Craig Gordon
's sending off. Two weeks later, Banks played in a 1–1 draw with Celtic
at Celtic Park
in which he made a number of saves to maintain the Jambos' unbeaten start to the season. He made another rare start against Dundee United on 23 December 2006 and kept a clean sheet as Hearts won by a single goal at Tannadice. Banks repeated the feat on 10 February 2007, in a 1–0 win against Caley Thistle
at Tynecastle
. Earlier in the day, Banks, who had recently become first-choice ahead of unsettled Gordon, signed a contract that will keep him at Hearts until the end of the 2007–08
season. Gordon returned to the starting line-up on 17 February in Hearts' 1–1 draw with St. Mirren
. Banks was forced to take control of the Jambos during a 1–0 defeat to Kilmarknock on 27 October 2007, when Stephen Frail
was sent from the touchline.
On 16 August 2008, Banks was omitted from the Hearts squad to face Rangers
at Ibrox
, with Jamie MacDonald
selected to start and recent signing Marian Kello
on the bench. Hearts lost the game 2–0 and afterwards owner Vladimir Romanov
told the Hearts players that Banks "could no longer be trusted" comparing him to former captain Steven Pressley
and fellow defender Andy Webster, who both left Tynecastle under controversial circumstances. A statement on the club's official website stated that Banks was no longer available to play for the first-team and he was no longer first-team goalkeeping coach but he would take a similar coaching role with the youth team.
Hearts
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer playing as goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
and is also goalkeeping coach for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
.
Early career
Born in HillingdonHillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Banks began his career as a trainee with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. He made just one first team appearance, in the Anglo-Italian Cup
Anglo-Italian Cup
The Anglo-Italian Cup is a defunct European football competition that was played intermittently between 1970 and 1996 between clubs from England and Italy. Founded by Gigi Peronace in 1970, following the success of the Anglo-Italian League Cup, it was played as a professional tournament until 1973...
, for West Ham, before joining Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on a free transfer in March 1993.
Banks was a regular for the remainder of the season and his form the following season led to a £60,000 move to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in August 1995. He spent four years with the Seasiders, making more than 150 league appearances for the club. In March 1999, Banks moved to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
for a fee of £50,000. Although a regular at the start of his time with Bolton he soon lost his place and had loan spells with Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
(December 2001 to May 2002) and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
(August to November 2002) before joining Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on loan in December 2002 which he played ten times in his loan spell
Banks joined Stoke on a free transfer in February 2003. However, he played just four times after his free transfer and was released at the end of the season.
Banks joined Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in August 2003 and was a regular in their struggling Championship side until returning to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on a free transfer in March 2004.During his second run with Gillingham he appeared in the film Green Street
Green Street
Green Street is a 2005 British/American independent drama film about football hooliganism in England. It was directed by Lexi Alexander and stars Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam. In the United States and Australia, the film is called Green Street Hooligans, while in the United Kingdom it has the...
.
Heart of Midlothian
In August 2005, Banks joined Heart of MidlothianHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on a free transfer as back-up for regular goalkeeper Craig Gordon
Craig Gordon
Craig Sinclair Gordon is a Scottish footballer, currently playing as a goalkeeper for both Sunderland and the Scotland national team. He was a nominee for STV's Scotland's Greatest Ever Football Team in 2010....
. He made his Hearts debut as a substitute in the 2–2 draw against Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
on 2 October 2005, after Craig Gordon
Craig Gordon
Craig Sinclair Gordon is a Scottish footballer, currently playing as a goalkeeper for both Sunderland and the Scotland national team. He was a nominee for STV's Scotland's Greatest Ever Football Team in 2010....
's sending off. Two weeks later, Banks played in a 1–1 draw with Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
in which he made a number of saves to maintain the Jambos' unbeaten start to the season. He made another rare start against Dundee United on 23 December 2006 and kept a clean sheet as Hearts won by a single goal at Tannadice. Banks repeated the feat on 10 February 2007, in a 1–0 win against Caley Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. Earlier in the day, Banks, who had recently become first-choice ahead of unsettled Gordon, signed a contract that will keep him at Hearts until the end of the 2007–08
2007-08 in Scottish football
The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
season. Gordon returned to the starting line-up on 17 February in Hearts' 1–1 draw with St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
. Banks was forced to take control of the Jambos during a 1–0 defeat to Kilmarknock on 27 October 2007, when Stephen Frail
Stephen Frail
Stephen Frail is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently the Celtic under-19s coach.-Playing career:...
was sent from the touchline.
On 16 August 2008, Banks was omitted from the Hearts squad to face Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
, with Jamie MacDonald
Jamie MacDonald (footballer)
Jamie MacDonald is a professional football player currently playing for Heart of Midlothian. MacDonald, a goalkeeper, signed for Hearts in June 2002 from their youth side.-Queen of the South:...
selected to start and recent signing Marian Kello
Marián Kello
Marián Kello is a professional football goalkeeper who is currently playing for Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League.-Club career:...
on the bench. Hearts lost the game 2–0 and afterwards owner Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Nikolayevich Romanov ; born 1947 in Tver Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR) is an ethnic Russian businessman who also holds Lithuanian citizenship following that country's independence from the Soviet Union. He is chairman of UBIG Investments which is the majority shareholder in Scottish Premier...
told the Hearts players that Banks "could no longer be trusted" comparing him to former captain Steven Pressley
Steven Pressley
Steven John "Elvis" Pressley is a retired Scottish footballer, who is now the manager of Scottish First Division club Falkirk. Pressley had a long playing career, playing for both halves of the Old Firm and making over 100 league appearances for both Dundee United and Hearts...
and fellow defender Andy Webster, who both left Tynecastle under controversial circumstances. A statement on the club's official website stated that Banks was no longer available to play for the first-team and he was no longer first-team goalkeeping coach but he would take a similar coaching role with the youth team.
Dundee United
Hearts announced on 1 June 2009 that Banks had severed all ties with the club and he signed for Dundee United the next day.Honours
Dundee UnitedDundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
- 1: 2010
Hearts
- 1: 20062005-06 in Scottish footballThe 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
External links
- Steve can't bank on a star turn – The Scotsman article
- Banks lives up to Gordon's fine tradition – The Independent article
- Poor Hearts in debt to Banks – The Scotsman article
- Profile at londonhearts.com