It’s 20 years ago to the day since one of the great days in Cheltenham Town Football Club’s history – the day when all eyes at the old Wembley Stadium were on captain Chris Banks as he lifted the FA Trophy.

Steve Cotterill’s team had defeated Southport 1-0 in the final, courtesy of Jason Eaton’s 77th-minute header, to spark celebrations that will be remembered forever and a day by all Cheltenham fans who were there that day.

There was a sea of red at one end of the famous old stadium – a very appropriate colour because the match had been played in red-hot conditions.

Banks, now 52 and a physiotherapist at Stoke City, retains only hazy recollections of the day – “I remember it was boiling hot,” he chuckled – but many supporters will tell you that it was the day that kickstarted the remarkable rise of Cheltenham Town.

Promotion to the Football League followed in the next season and there was much more to come as the club enjoyed play-off final success as well as a succession of high-profile cup-ties against some of the biggest teams in the land.

Banks played a major part in that early success – he played close on 400 games for the club from 1994 to 2002 – before he was forced to retire through injury.

That special day at Wembley was the only time that Banks, a highly polished central defender, played at the home of English football in his 760-plus game career that also took in Port Vale, Exeter City and Bath City.

“I remember the bus journey down and bits of the journey back,” he said. “But I don’t remember too much about the game. I remember the goal and I remember lifting the trophy. It wasn’t the best game but the only thing that mattered that day was the result.”

It certainly was and Banks is reminded of it regularly because he still has a picture of that special moment when he lifted the cup at his home in Staffordshire.

“I didn’t think about getting my hands on the trophy in the build-up before the game,” Banks added. “I knew it was something that could happen but I didn’t want to tempt fate.

“I remember in the build-up I just wanted to get out there and play. I wasn’t nervous, it was more a sense of anticipation.”

And that anticipation was matched by the thousands of Cheltenham’s fans who descended on England’s capital that day confident that their team would deliver on the big day.

And they had every right to be confident because the club had just finished runners-up to Halifax Town in non-league’s highest tier, the club’s first season back in non-league’s ‘big-time’.

“It was a good side,” said Banks. “They were a great bunch of lads and we all got on. We enjoyed our football and that was the main thing. We worked hard and we managed to achieve things.”

They certainly did and while Banks has only hazy recollections of the game at Wembley – although he does recall feeling “relief at the final whistle” – he has great memories of the players he stood shoulder to shoulder with on that special day two decades ago.

And there were some very good players too with many of them having gone down in history as club legends.

From one-time Chelsea winger Clive Walker, who was the veteran of the team, all the way down to future Burnley star Michael Duff, who was the new kid on the block, they all played their part.

So here’s Banks’ verdict on the players who he played alongside on 17th May 1998

Steve Book (goalkeeper)

“He was a good keeper and one of the characters in the team. He made a really important save at Wembley.”

Michael Duff (right-back)

“Duffo was an apprentice when he first got into the side. I think he was 17 or 18 and he played on the right wing before moving to full-back. Then he moved to central defence and I like to think I taught him all he knew, not that I ever get any thanks! He went on to have a good career and it was fully deserved.”

Mark ‘Boka’ Freeman (centre-half)

“He was a real character. He’d run through a brick wall for you. He was a good lad and enjoyed his football. He enjoyed being part of our success.”

Jamie Victory (left-back)

“He possibly should have been playing at a higher level. He had everything; he was quick, good in the air and had a good left foot. Most of the players in the squad could have played at a higher level given an opportunity.”

Keith Knight (right-sided midfielder)

“He was a great crosser of the ball and he worked hard. He was another character.”

Bob Bloomer (centre midfield)

“He was hard as nails. To come back from the broken leg he had and do so well showed great character. He was experienced and was real down to earth. He was a good friend and colleague.”

Lee Howells (centre midfield)

“He had great ability and was another who could have played at a higher level. It never quite happened but he certainly had all the ability.”

Clive Walker (left-sided midfielder)

“Good experience and good ability. He was a top player who could create opportunities out of nothing.”

Jason Eaton (striker)

“One of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. Didn’t have a bad word about anyone. He was a good lad and a good footballer.”

Dale Watkins (striker)

“He was another who had a good eye for goal. He was very quick as well.”

Jimmy Smith (substitute)

“He was another great character. Another good player and it was Jimmy who won the free-kick which led to the goal.”

Russell Milton (substitute)

“His ability on the ball and his vision was probably the best in the team. Another one who could have played at a higher level.”

Darren Wright (unused substitute)

“I travelled to and from Cheltenham with him and Boka. He had great ability and stamina, he’d run all day. He was a big part of our season.”

And what about Banks himself, how would he describe himself?

“I was just the bloke with the armband who chucked the coin up at the start,” he laughed.

Push him and he’ll tell you of his pride at playing for Cheltenham during such a golden period in the club’s history.

“Yes, I am very proud,” he said, “and I still look out for the club’s results. I like to think I was a loyal player. To play nearly 400 games in nine years for one club is pretty good.

“I missed a few through for injury but not many. You need players with character and mental strength to achieve success and we certainly had plenty of those.

“And with Steve’s (Cotterill) leadership and determination it rubbed off on all of us.”

So how did the FA Trophy success compare with the following season’s title win and the subsequent promotion to what is now League One?

“I can’t choose,” admitted Banks. “I suppose you’ve got to say winning the league because to do that you’ve got to be consistent over 9 or 10 months.

“But for a day out you can’t beat a cup final.”