Paul Francis Bannister is an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 former footballer.

Playing career

Bannister graduated through the Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

 youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965. He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season

1964–65 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1964–65 season was Port Vale's fifty-third season of football in the Football League, and their sixth season in the Third Division. They went on a club record streak of 13 home games without a clean sheet from 26 September to 15 March...

 and scored the club's last goal of the season. He played the opening two games of the following season

1965–66 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1965–66 season was Port Vale's fifty-fourth season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Fourth Division following their relegation from the Third Division. For the first time in their Football League history they played three divisions below rivals Stoke City...

, but fell out of favour. He broke his leg in a 2–0 home win over Halifax Town

Halifax Town A.F.C.

Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...

 on 27 April 1966. After a second leg fracture he finally recovered to play in the first team again in April 1968, but after three consecutive appearances was released in July of that year. He moved into non-league football with Eastwood

Eastwood Town F.C.

Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...

, Milton United

Milton United F.C. (Oxon)

Milton United F.C. is a football club based in Milton, Oxfordshire, England. They were established in 1909 first noted as competing in the North Berks League in 1926, joining the Hellenic League Division One in 1989...

, Copestick & Farrell and Hanley Rangers before taking up a player-manager role with Middleport W.M.C.