Keith Bannister (born 13 November 1930) is an English former professional footballer who played 64 games in the Football League representing Birmingham City, Wrexham, Chesterfield and Norwich City.^[1] He played as a wing half.

Bannister was born in Sheffield. He was capped at youth level by England, played as a junior with Sheffield United and turned professional in 1948,^[2] but never played for the club in the Football League.^[1] He joined Birmingham City in August 1950, but National Service obligations delayed his debut until 29 November 1952, when he deputised for club captain Len Boyd in a home game against Nottingham Forest which Birmingham lost 5–0.^[2][3] He had a run of games in the second half of the season replacing the injured Roy Warhurst, and a few more at the start of the 1953–54 season, but was unable to dislodge either player from the starting eleven.^[3]

In August 1954 Bannister left for King's Lynn of the Midland League.^[2] After one season he returned to the Football League with Wrexham, six months later moved to Chesterfield, and after a further six months signed for Norwich City, but he was unable to establish himself as a first-team player. In the 1957 close season he dropped back into non-league football with Peterborough United, and went on to play for King's Lynn,^[2] Worksop Town, and Matlock Town. In the 1959–60 season, Bannister, by now playing as a centre-half, captained Matlock through four rounds of qualifying to reach the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history,^[4][5] and contributed to their championship of the Central Alliance League, Division One North.^[6]

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