Thomas Banks (17 June 1867 – 26 November 1919) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club in both the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and the Victorian Football League (VFL). He captained the club to its first VFA premiership in 1895, and also captained Victoria in intercolonial matches. Born in country Victoria to an African ex-slave who escaped the Southern United States, Banks was one of the most popular footballers of his generation, and in 1911 became the first ex-player to be awarded life membership of the VFL.

Family

The son of Jordan Henry Banks (1832-1887), and Sarah Jane (1849-1940), née McMullen, Thomas Banks was born on the Maryborough goldfields, His father, Jordan Henry Banks, was once an American slave: His brother James Albert "Darky" Banks (1883-1930) played football and cricket for many years in Western Australia. He married Mary Ellen Moriarty, the sister of Geoff Moriarty, on 17 December 1918 (11 months before his death).

Footballer

He was an Australian rules footballer who was recruited from Maryborough and played 171 games with Fitzroy; and, as third captain of the team, he was captain of the club's first premiership team in 1895.

After football

After retirement, he served at the Fitzroy football club as an administrator for many years.

Death

He died in hospital, after an operation, on 26 November 1919.

Obituary

A former Fitzroy team-mate, Sam McMichael (1869-1923), who had played alongside Banks on many occasions — who regularly contributed to The Referee under the nom de guerre "The Onlooker" — wrote an informative obituary, that clearly situates the extraordinary Banks within his era: