Banton Out To Prove Himself With Saints

The lively forward, like so many other players at the end of the season, found himself on the scrapheap, but he's determined to prove his worth having signed for Ian Allison's St Albans City.

The 21-year-old had been with Luton since 2012, after joining as a scholar, before signing a professional contract the following year.

Banton only played five times for the Hatters' first team, spending the majority of his time on-loan in Non-League at Concord Rangers, Biggleswade Town, Hemel Hempstead Town, Boreham Wood and St Albans.

Now the young striker finds himself permanently, for now, in the National League South with the Saints after a loan spell at the end of last season.

"It was a no-brainer," he told the club's website about signing. "I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed my time here last season. That was very much a key factor in my decision and now everything has been agreed, I can just focus on pre-season and getting going."

"I knew Ian and Lee Allinson from my time at Boreham Wood and Biggleswade respectively so I knew that they would be able to help me develop as a player.

"It’s all about trust more than anything else. Of course I had better offers but despite the general assumption, there are footballers out there that aren’t driven by money."

And on leaving Luton having spent five years at the club, he said: "It took me a while to come to terms with leaving Luton. I was disappointed obviously and I don’t want to sound like I’m constantly on repeat but I felt as though every time I was given an opportunity I made the most of it with the performances on the pitch.

"I gave everything at Luton but I suppose it says a lot about the quality of the players and the quality of the club that it just wasn’t good enough on this occasion.

"I’m not going to hide the fact that getting back into the professional game is the ultimate goal but I’m very excited by this new opportunity at St Albans City.

Banton continued: "I have to say that it’s going to be a new chapter of my career. It’s been a very long time since I’ve played week-in, week-out and to be honest I’m going to learn a lot about myself as the season progresses.

"I’ve not been in this position before so I have no idea of what I’m capable of, it’s an exciting prospect certainly."