In our series to commemorate our appearance at Wembley in the 1996 League Two play off final, we remember Gary Bannister, one of the inspirations behind that memorable season.

Gary Bannister only played one full season for Quakers – but what a season that was when he made Feethams the last stop in his long and illustrious career.

“Banno” brought an air of grace and style to the advanced midfield role when he signed for Darlington in August 1995, after being freed by Lincoln City.

Gary brought a sense of panache to the team. He was more than just a finisher, he was an excellent creator of goals for others with a skilful touch in a tight situation.

At first, though, to the fans he didn’t seem to click, and it appeared as if he was going to be like another old established professional who couldn’t adjust to life in the basement of the Football League. He’s previously played for QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United earlier in his career.

But manager David Hodgson stood by him. “People thought that he was finished after he had done nothing at Lincoln, but the truth was that their up and under style just didn’t suit his style of play.

“Gary was very clever, and had a great football brain.

“When he was playing in the top flight, he was top scorer at one time. He was the player I needed to use as an example to a young team. The reason why I brought him in was because he could play one-touch and two-touch football.”

After winning the opening game of that play-off season at Exeter, Quakers didn’t win any of their next eleven league and cup games. “Banno took a pounding from some of the fans, who said that he was finished,” said Hodgy. “Someone suggested that I should leave him out altogether, but my point was that he was playing his game, and the rest of the players weren’t in tune with him.

“It was only when the players started playing the way we wanted to, then we started getting the best out of him. I think even Banno had his doubts at one point, but once he started to believe, that people believed in him, then we got the best out of him.”

Some of Gary’s goals that season were top quality, especially away from Feethams. Goals at Torquay, Preston and Scarborough from the edge of the box were quite memorable as Quakers surged to the play off final at Wembley. It was no coincidence either that Robbie Blake blossomed as a striker alongside him.

Sadly, Wembley was cruel to Gary, just as it was when he went there with QPR against Oxford in the League Cup final a decade before, and he finished on the losing side.

And in the following summer, he hung up his boots for good after being diagnosed with a neck injury which had troubled him in his latter days.

He left the club, but returned in November 1996 as assistant manager to Hodgson, who had returned to the club for a second spell following the departure of Jim Platt.

“I knew that Gary could help on the training ground,” said Hodgson. “He had loads of experience he could pass on, and I knew that the fans would relate to him.”

However, Gary didn’t really take to management, and after two years, decided to cut his ties with the professional game, and retired to Cornwall.