Port Vale Football Club can confirm that Head Physio, Chris Banks has announced his retirement from football.

Banks started his playing career at the Valiants having come through the youth system and would make 65 appearances predominantly, as a full back and centre back.

He stayed at Vale Park for four seasons before spending a year at Exeter City.

A move to Bath City would come next for Banko where he would spend a total of five seasons with The Romans, playing 259 times. He also captained the Twerton Park outfit.

In 1994, Chris moved to Cheltenham Town where he would captain The Robins in their return to the Football League - he would stay there until he retired from football due to injury in 2004.

His move to Physiotheraphy came in 2007 when he joined Stoke City as academy physio, He then made the move to the Valiants in 2019 where he has served as Head of Physio since.

In a message to club staff, Chris said:

My love affair with football has ended and I am leaving the PVFC family.

 

Over 40 years of training, playing, coaching, physio ‘ing’ and even managing has taken its toll!

 

Committed to every weekend, Christmas, overnight stays, hotels, pre-season tours, unsociable hours, holidays only in June are just some of the things that I will not miss!

 

However, I will miss the people involved in football, especially all I have met and worked with over the last 3 years at Port Vale.

 

To see first hand what Carol and her family have created in that time has been remarkable, both on and off the pitch!

 

To end this season on such a high is a fitting reward to the efforts of all those involved with the club.

 

I can proudly say here is no comparison in terms of the environment and culture that now exists in Burslem.

 

I am sure the club will continue to thrive and will look forward to watching its progress from afar.

 

Good luck and best wishes,

 

Banko x

The club would like to go on record to thank Chris for the time he has spent at Vale Park and we wish him all the best with his new career.

You'll always be welcome at Vale Park.

Thank you, Banko!