A bit off subject but what was the name of the Pub which he was Landlord of - Cleveland Street - Now closed down -
Sorry if it has been mentioned

I thought it was Hastings?

I played against Tony a few times, his 'party piece' was to run at wingers and frighten the life out of them or trample over them. I played wing on the 1st occasion and he did both.

I learned a valuable lesson (the hard way), not to try to tackle him anywhere above the bootlaces.
The next game I was playing centre and I anticipated “his” ball as he used to shout, “My ball” I shot out from the defensive line and snapped at his ankles as he caught the ball, he dropped it in the tackle and I thought he was going to stamp me into the mud with anger, he was screaming at the ref, complaining I was “fecking offside” I have never been so glad that he only did his 20minutes a game.

Don Robson tells some great tales from his time coaching Donny, in the old Tattersfield days. A couple that spring to mind were:

On his first training session, he got them all out on the pitch and said, "right lads, I don't really know any of you and how you play, so can you take up your usual positions on the field".

They all ran behind the sticks, waiting for the conversion.

The other tale is of a young local lad who had quite a bit of talent (a rarity in Donny in those days). They used to train on Tuesdays & Thursdays and he was always there at the 7.00 pm start on a Tuesday but couldn't make until 8.10 pm on a Thursday. Don stuck this for a couple of weeks and then pulled him to one side to enquire what the problem was. The lad's answer was "well it's Thursday Don". When Don asked what was so special about Thursdays, the lad replied, "Top of the Pops innit?"

Full Measure - just come to me - I am sure he was there when he died !!

Tony was a hard man but a good lad.

He used to do about 4 runs a game and it usually took 4 men to tackle him each time. If you got him down by yourself you were rewarded with the ultimate Banham accolade "facking good tackle mate".

Tony's (de)motivational cry to his Shire Horse team was "cam on you facking lazy kents" which was a bit rich given Tony's work rate.

Never saw him foul anyone when I played against him, always good for a laugh and a pint after, a real character sadly missed.

Tony had long left Full Measure before his final days, as said elsewhere he was running a pub in Leeds when he died.

I was running the Mermaid on Bethune Ave, about 15 years ago for a one eyed Geordie called Brendan, who was good mates with Tony at the time, he used to come in with this big black leather coat on, have a pint or two then leave to take care of a bit of business. IIRC he used to be mates with Duncan Woods, who was a doorman at Tower and also a prop for Ace, a mountain of a man, never saw him play, but got told in his day and for his size, he had a fair bit of pace.

Used to visit his daughters in Hedon while he was out running a pub somewhere. I remember having to sneak out the backdoor a time or two as he drove up the driveway. Don't get the wrong impression though, his daughters where very nice respectable girls, I was just scared of him catching me in his house.

In 1986 (christmas) Mr Banham was employed to 'bounce' at Pennine Rambler (north Branshlome).....The place was pretty peaceful until a couple of 'two pumps and a squirt hero's' decided to cause a bit of bother after a minor lager frenzy (two pints each....whoooooooo!!!).....BAD MISTAKE......Tony grabbed the pair of 'em by the short neck hair and dragged 'em out backwards accross the floor.......The screams from both lads actually sounded scary....I guess it hurt a bit

He then launched them about ten feet each accross the path!!!
I found him to be a nice guy......honest!!!!

I used to play alongside Duncan Woods for Ace. I bet Dunc and Tony Banham didnt get any bother when they were out together!

ha ha i can just picture it now. you was built like a stick in them days. good on ya for having the bottle to try tho.
your right about Dave Hossle, he got his throat slashed in Hastings.

Got me like that once as well, he could shift for a big guy.

He also refereed for a bit once he finished playing, remember him awarding a breakaway try for the team i was playing for while he was still stood on the halfway line. Nobody argued about his positioning though. Didn't he also set up the kingston liberators american football team?

Who was it who did it? I've been racking my brains.

I remember Hossel went back playing again once he'd recovered, He had a go at an opposing player and the shout came from the touchline, "don't be scared of him, his head's only stitched on"

Played against him once for Abbey v Oddbottle...a sunday morning thing against 2 local pubs......i put a sly one in in a 3 man tackle....he flattend me about 10mins later....told me after the match he recognised my boots as he was being tackled when i hit him and knew who it was..........he was one big mean bugger.

Dave played in the same team as me at Stonehouse. I recall him getting into a bit of bother at someones house, which ended up all over the HDM. IIRC it was alleged he was running around the front garden stark naked with a dustbin lid in his hand. He took a real beating from the boys in blue that day! But he was totally innocent (but I won’t go into this any further). He was a great singer was Dave.

the story i was told was that he was ' friends' with a local butchers wife and was bragging about the friendship in Hastings in front of the husband. so the husband left and returned with a works knife and cut him. This may or may not be accurate as it was a well passed about story.

Hey RBA I played for Ace too alongside Duncan. who are you ?

Tony Banham was a HUGE man. Played a few times against him think he played for North Bransholme ay the time when I played for Reckitts as a young nipper.

We had a scrum half called Tommy Elm who tried taking Tony's head off with a swinging arm. From the ground you heard Tony say " I hope that fackin wont you Tommy " . As Tony got up, Tommy pointed to me and said " it want me Tony it was him !!!"

Closest I've come to shi**ing myself on a pitch LOL

Always a gentleman when we saw him in pubs after the game, and his enornmous hands made a pint glass look like a thimble.

I played alongside you for a couple of years mate. Wouldnt want to blow my cover on here though.