Everyone at the Club were saddened to hear the news that Peter Banner, who played for Salford during the 1960s and 70s, passed away on 6th June at the age of 76.
Born in Rochdale, he joined Salford from the Spotland Rangers amateur club during March 1967. Scrum-half, Peter became an unlikely star in the costly Salford outfit of the 1970’s.
Although small in stature, he was a gutsy performer and a firm favourite with Salford fans, noted for his quick passing around the scrum and his lightening quick breaks.
He made his first team debut on 18th October 1968 at home to Rochdale Hornets when he deputised for Bob Prosser but his big breakthrough came on 12th February 1971 against Hull when, after consistently impressing in the ‘A’ (reserve) team with half-back partner Ken Gill, the duo were promoted to the senior side.
It was a turning point, and Peter became a prominent figure in the successes that followed. This included the 1973-74 Championship, the 1972 Lancashire Cup final victory over Swinton (when he scored a try in Salford’s first major trophy win since 1939), and the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy triumph over Warrington during 1974-75.
He also played in three losing finals; the Lancashire Cup of 1973 and 1974 and the Players Trophy in 1973.
Representative honours came in 1972 when he played twice for Lancashire and, on 16th February 1975, he made his international debut with Wales, opposing France in Swansea (qualifying through his Newport-born grandfather).
It was the first of nine appearances for the Principality that embraced the 1975 World Cup, an event that also took him to Australia and New Zealand.
The signing of Steve Nash in August 1975 limited Peter’s first team opportunities, the last of his 180 appearances taking place on 31st March 1975 at home to Wigan.
After a month on loan at Halifax, he transferred to Featherstone Rovers in September 1975 before joining Leeds in 1976. He emigrated to Australia in 1977 and, in later years, lived in Thailand.
There will be a minutes applause in memory of Peter prior to this Sunday’s Betfred Super League meeting with St Helens.
