Jason Banton

Jason Steve Banton (born 15 December 1992) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Glebe.

He left Arsenal in 2008 after becoming "disillusioned" by his lack of progress, and signed with Blackburn Rovers in October.

In his first year with the club, Banton was the top-scorer in their academy side.

Banton had his contract at Blackburn terminated towards the end of 2010.

An England under-17 international, he had a number of clubs as a young player, spending time at Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool and Leicester City, before making his debut in the Football League on loan at Burton Albion in October 2011.

He joined Liverpool in January 2011 after spending time there on trial.

Banton was released at the end of the season without making a first-team appearance for the club.

He signed a one-year contract with Leicester City in summer 2011.

He joined Burton Albion on loan for one month on 30 September, and made his first-team debut the next day against Bradford City.

Banton returned to Leicester without making another appearance for Burton and had his contract cancelled by mutual consent in December.

He signed with Crystal Palace in 2012, and was loaned out to Plymouth Argyle and Milton Keynes Dons before joining Plymouth permanently in January 2014.

In January 2012, Banton signed with Major League Soccer and entered the MLS SuperDraft.

He was selected by Seattle Sounders FC in the second round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft as the 34th pick overall.

Describing his position in the draft, Banton said: "It doesn't mean anything. I'm just glad to get the opportunity to come to Seattle."

The club's technical director Chris Henderson said: "We think he's a guy who, depending on how things play out with our wingers, can step in on either flank."

Banton was cut by the Sounders in February after attending training camps in Washington and Arizona.

Banton then returned to England and joined Crystal Palace on trial in the summer, where he was given a contract through to the end of the 2012–13 season in October.

He made his first-team debut for Palace in an FA Cup tie against Stoke City in January 2013.

Later that month, Banton joined Plymouth Argyle on loan until March.

"He can be a very exciting player," said manager John Sheridan.

"I thought it was important we got a player who is going to gain us that ground, 30 or 40 yards on up the pitch, quickly."

Banton made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge, and scored both goals in a 2–1 win at Aldershot Town a week later.

In March, he signed a new one-year contract with Palace and extended his loan with Argyle until the end of the season.

Banton won the Football League Two Player of the Month award for March after scoring three goals in six appearances.

In all, he played in 14 matches for Argyle and scored six goals before being recalled by Palace in April.

At the start of the 2013–14 season, he moved to Milton Keynes Dons on loan until January 2014.

Banton made his debut against Shrewsbury Town on 3 August and scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup tie at Northampton Town three days later.

He scored two more goals and had made 17 appearances in all competitions before losing his place in the team in December.

Having not played in a first team game for nearly a month, and with his loan due to expire, he returned to Crystal Palace at the start of January.

In January 2014, Banton rejoined Plymouth Argyle permanently by signing an 18-month contract.

He helped the "Pilgrims" to reach the League Two play-offs in 2014–15, and scored against Wycombe Wanderers in the semi-final first leg at Home Park, though Plymouth lost the tie 5–3 on aggregate.

He signed with Wycombe Wanderers in June 2015, and spent a brief time on loan at Hartlepool United.

On 13 February 2016, he signed for Notts County until the end of the 2015–16 season, he was released by Notts at the end of the season and signed for Crawley Town, subsequently going on loan to Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle.

At the end of the 2016–17 season Banton was released by Crawley and joined National League Woking.

On 20 June 2018, he joined Gary Owers' National League South challengers Torquay United.

Banton went onto have spells at Braintree Town, Romford and Cray Wanderers before eventually joining Kingstonian ahead of the 2021–22 campaign.He signed with Sittingbourne FC in June 2022.

In October 2022, Banton signed for Herne Bay.

In December 2022, Banton transferred to Brightlingsea Regent.

Banton was born in Tottenham.

He began playing for Arsenal's youth teams at the age of seven and progressed through their academy to be offered scholarship terms.