JASON BANTON

Full Name: Jason Steve Banton

Born: 15 December 1992

1. Came from: Crystal Palace   Went to: Crystal Palace

1. First game: 02 February 2013   Last game: 13 April 2013

2. Came from: Crystal Palace   Went to: Released

2. First game: 11 January 2014   Last game: 14 May 2015

Appearances: 56 (38/18)   Goals: 8

Born in Tottenham in 1992, Banton began his career with Arsenal and spent eight years with the club, progressing through their academy to be offered a scholarship. In 2008 he joined his local club, Tottenham Hotspur, but left shortly after, returning to Arsenal following a brief trial with West Ham United. Later that same year he left Arsenal once more, signing for Blackburn Rovers. A right-footed left-winger, he spent just over two years at Ewood Park and was capped by England at under-17 level, but could not break into the Rovers first team squad despite being the top goalscorer for their academy side.

Following his release by Blackburn, Banton signed for Liverpool in January 2011 after impressing during a trial, but was released at the end of the season. He then joined Leicester City on a one-year contract, but again could not make an impact on the first team. He made one appearance for Burton Albion during a short loan spell, and had his contract cancelled by mutual consent after less than six months with Leicester. In January 2012 he signed with Major League Soccer and was drafted by the Seattle Sounders but then 'cut' during training camp the following month. Returning to England, he joined Crystal Palace on trial and did enough during several under-21 development games to earn a contract in October 2012. He made his first team debut against Stoke City in the FA Cup in January 2013 and, after encouragement from Palace team-mates Darcy Blake and Yannick Bolasie - both former Pilgrims - Banton joined Argyle on a one month loan deal on transfer deadline day.

Banton went on to play a vital role in Argyle’s fight for survival and rates as one of the most significant loan signings in the club's history, weighing in with 6 goals in 14 games after his loan spell was extended for the rest of the season. Those performances netted Argyle eight invaluable points in their battle to avoid relegation and his goals were enough to ensure he finished as the club's leading scorer for the season – a statistic that told its own tale. He also picked up the League Two Player of the Month award for March, the same month that John Sheridan won Manager of the Month.

Despite attempts by the manager to get Banton back on loan for the 2013-14 season, Palace sent him out to MK Dons until the end of 2013, but Sheridan finally got his man in the January transfer window, with the added surprise of a full 18-month contract. Hopes were high for a repeat performance from the 21-year-old, but he found it much harder to achieve and maintain his earlier form, and also suffered from spells of niggling injuries. Although he occasionally showed tantalising glimpses of his earlier speed and trickery, Sheridan decided not to renew Banton's contract at the end of the 2014-15 season and he left the club.

Following his time at Home Park, Banton then embarked on a remarkable footballing odyssey - seemingly never settling anywhere for long. From 2015 onwards he played for nearly 20 clubs including in 2015-16 Wycombe Wanderers (5 games, 1 goal) to whom he was loaned to Hartlepool United (4 games) before joining Notts County in 2016 (9 games). He then played in 2016–2017 for Crawley Town (14 games) including a loan to Partick Thistle.

Further spells over the next couple of years included spells at Woking (25 games, three goals), back in Devon at Torquay United (6 games) then several loan spells from Plainmoor to St Albans City, Dulwich Hamlet and Truro City.

He then spent time with Braintree Town, Romford & Cray Wanderers whilst also being dual registered back with Braintree Town, then Kingstonian, Bishop's Stortford, Sittingbourne, Herne Bay and then Brightlingsea Regent after which he retired from football in March 2023. However, as of the start of the 2023-24 season he came out of retirement in July 2023 to sign for Hendon giving him a career total of 25 clubs whilst still only 30.