​Tommy Banks has spent all his life living in Farnworth, a suburb of Bolton, Lancashire. One of seven children Tommy endured tough times growing up into a young man taking part time jobs from 12 years old.

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He signed for Bolton Wanderers, his only professional football league club,  in 1946 playing until 1961. He won the FA Cup with them in 1958 and was capped 6 times  for the England national football team also in 1958, including all four matches in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

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Tommy was a formidable granite like foe,he was the master of the sliding tackle.His timing was so good that he took the ball & many an opposing winger who obtained 'gravel rash', by deposited them down the steep three foot banking onto the rough gravel track that surrounded the pitch at Bunden Park.

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Tommy also had an influential role in the fight to acquire better pay and conditions for football players in the 1961 labour dispute with the Football League. 

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A natural charismatic leader both on & off the field he always led from the front with his football talent or challenging words,spoken from the heart.
Tommy, a non stop grafter has always been his own man, family orientated, 'tha noes' he'll always speak his mind in his strong 'Farn'urth accent no matter the company he's keeping