Scott Banks signs on loan

From the Palace to the Kingdom

Dunfermline Athletic are very pleased to announce the signing of 19 year old Scott Banks on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of this season, subject to FA approval and international clearance

A Scotland U19 internationalist, Scott is a product of the Dundee United Academy and he earn a move to the English Premiership club in January last year.

Scott had been on the radar of Stevie Crawford for a couple of seasons, so we are all really pleased that we have managed to secure his services for the rest of this season.

After his outstanding performances for Crystal Palace’s U23 team, this season, Scott had numerous clubs north and south of the border who were interested in him. So, it is pleasing to see that he felt moving to East End Park was the right environment for the next stage in his development.

Manager Stevie Crawford said of the signing:-

“We are delighted to bring in another attacking option to the team. Myself and Greg watched Annan Athletic play Clyde in the play final game in May 2019. Scott caught the eye then and we have monitored his situation since then.

“We were interested when he was at Dundee United but for one reason or another it didn’t come to fruition that we could get him in on loan. Maybe it was because they were in the same division at the time but since then he has moved on to Crystal Palace. We have kept tabs on him and we just feel that he is going to be an exciting addition to add quality to that final third.”

Scott comes from Linlithgow and was signed by Dundee United in 2013 from Linlithgow Rose Boys Club. As an attacking midfielder he was top scorer for United’s under 17s and he is a graduate of the SFA Performance Programme at Graeme High School in Falkirk.

He signed his first professional contract with the Tannadice club in 2018 and in February the following year, Banks joined Clyde on loan for the rest of the 2018–19 season, quickly becoming a "fans` favourite" during his 15 appearances.

He scored his first senior goal at Clyde and it was certainly one many will remember as he cut inside and rifled an unstoppable 30 yard drive into the top corner against Peterhead. That strike won him the club’s goal of the season award.

He was also man of the match against Annan Athletic in the second leg play off match that secured Clyde`s promotion, 2-1 on aggregate, from League Two.

After impressing manager Robbie Neilson in pre-season matches, Banks made his Dundee United debut as a substitute against Hearts in the Betfred Cup in July 2019.

Scott made four appearances for Dundee United before signing a three year contract at Crystal Palace in January last year. He was quickly loaned out Alloa Athletic until the end of the 2019/20 season. He had made four appearances for the Wasps before the season was brought to a premature end due to the Covid pandemic.

It is reported that Palace manager Roy Hodgson is very impressed with his young Scot and Stevie Crawford added:-

“He is very much in Crystal Palace’s plans, it is just that we are continually monitoring players and we like the fact that he can play in a number of positions. He is adaptable, he can play in wide areas, he can play in off the striker and I think he will add quality to help the team.

“It is going to be a difficult season and to get Scott over the line will bring good competition for players. At times we are asking players time and time again, but sometimes especially when you are playing in that attacking third and looking for that wee bit of creativity and spark. You go through lulls during the season so to freshen that up is not having a go at anybody or saying that we are disappointed, it is just to give us options.

“We have played twelve league games now and there are going to be a number of weeks coming up where we are going to be playing midweek fixtures as well so Scott will come in and very much help us on that side of things.”

Dunfermline Athletic would like to thank Dougie Freedman at Crystal Palace, and Scott’s representative for their help and support in making the deal happen.

We welcome Scott to East End Park.

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