Banbury United's Remembrance Day tribute to former players

The club paid tribute to Eddie Salmons, Archie Bywater, Oliver Twynham, and Alban Danson, all of whom played for Banbury Spencer, the club's former name, and served in various capacities during the war.

Mr Salmons, a chartered accountant, moved to Banbury from the Manchester area in 1931.

Eddie Salmons (Image: Banbury United) He was a centre-half in Banbury Spencer's first-ever game after the club's formation in August 1931.

Mr Salmons, who was also the club's secretary and later chairman, served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a sergeant-instructor during the war.

He died in a flying accident in May 1941 at the age of 33, and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial tablet in St Mary's Church in Banbury.

The names of Archie Bywater and Eddie Salmons appearing on the War Memorial tablet in St Mary’s Church, Banbury (Image: Banbury United) Mr Twynham joined Banbury Spencer from the local village side King's Sutton, starting out in the Spencer reserve side.

He made a total of 16 first-team appearances in his two spells with the club.

He served as a private in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry during the war but was killed in action at St Omer, France, in 1940 at the age of 21.

The King’s Sutton War Memorial showing villagers who lost their lives in World War Two (Image: Banbury United) His name is on the War Memorial at King's Sutton, located on the village green outside the Church.

Mr Danson joined Spencer before the start of the 1937/38 season having played for Liverpool Amateurs from 1935 to 1937.

In total he made 41 first-team appearances for Spencer over two seasons before leaving the club in April 1939.

He served in the RAF as a pilot officer during the war but was killed on active service on air operations over Dortmund in November 1944 at the age of 30.

Alban Danson’s name on the War Memorial in the village of Upton, near Birkenhead, Cheshire (Image: Banbury United) His name is on the War Memorial in the village of Upton, near Birkenhead, Cheshire.

Mr Bywater, born in Banbury, also played in Spencer’s first game and their first season of competitive football in the Banbury Division of the Oxfordshire Junior League in 1933/34.

Archie Bywater’s grave at Minaucourt Communal Cemetery in North East France (Image: Banbury United) He joined the RAF in January 1939 and served as an aircraft wireless operator.

He was killed when his plane was shot down over Minaucourt, in the region of Marne in Northeast France, while on a bombing raid to Stuttgart in March 1943, at the age of 25.

He had been due to receive his Distinguished Flying Cross Medal from King George VI at Buckingham Palace later in March 1943.

His name appears on the memorial tablet in St Mary's Church in Banbury.