Bolton Wanderers legend Tommy Banks is oldest England star

Farnworth’s finest turned out 255 times for Wanderers and earned six caps for his country, playing at the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden.

Banks – who as of Tuesday was exactly 94 years, four months and nine days – took over as the oldest surviving member of the Three Lions after the sad passing of former Luton Town goalkeeper Ron Baynham earlier this week, the FA confirmed to The Bolton News.

Known in his playing days for being an uncompromising defender and the scourge of wingers up and down the land, Banks signed for Bolton in 1947 whilst still working down the pit in Mossley Common and playing for local team, Partridge’s FC.

He had already turned down overtures from Arsenal, Leeds United, Wolves and Burnley – and even a personal visit from Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby, who had turned up on his mother’s doorstep while he was at work with an offer to come and watch the club train the following day.

Banks made his debut for the club in a First Division match against Wolves in May 1948 and went on to play alongside his older brother Ralph in his formative years at Burnden Park.

READ MORE: Tommy's first taste of footballing success.

His prowess as a football was often overlooked, however, and by 1958 he had forced his way into the England squad, making his debut against the Soviet Union in Moscow.

He gained fame as the face of Gillette blue razors, becoming the first English sportsman to appear in a TV advert, and rubbed shoulders with many of the footballing stars of the day before finishing his career in non-league football with Altrincham and Bangor, then moving into the building trade and briefly running a newsagent in Farnworth.

Banks and his second wife, Rita, have stayed in his hometown and it was confirmed in late 2022 that he had been diagnosed with dementia. He continued to fundraise for the Alzheimer’s Society and held a fundraiser at Farnworth Cricket Club with the help of local businessman, Martin Axford and his family.

The longest living England international footballer ever was Ivor Broadis, who played for Newcastle United and Manchester City. He passed away in April 2019 aged 96 years and 112 days. Former Bolton goalkeeper Dick Pym also lived to 95 years and 227 days before passing away in 1988. He is third on the list.

The current oldest living England internationals

1. Tommy Banks (ex-Bolton Wanderers, born November 1929).

2. Colin McDonald (ex-Burnley, born October 1930).

3. Ken Brown (ex-West Ham, born February 1934).

4. Bryan Douglas (ex-Blackburn Rovers, born May 1934).

5. Frank Blunstone (ex-Chelsea, born October 1934).