To celebrate Stoke City's promotion to the top flight, Barclays - title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League - invited Banks to accompany the Barclays Premier League trophy to Stoke on Tuesday 1st July.

Banks, who made 194 appearances between 1966 and 1972 for Stoke and earned 73 caps in a glittering England career spanning nine years, appeared at the Barclays branch in Town Road, Hanley, to sign shirts and meet supporters.

academy players

Potters fans eagerly awaiting the start of the new season had the chance to see and have their photo taken with the Barclays Premier League trophy. The trophy was then transported to the Britannia Stadium where members of administration staff and academy players had the chance to see the silverware.

Stoke are currently preparing for their first-ever Barclays Premier League season, with their opening fixture being at Bolton Wanderers on 16th August.