Luke Banner is going nowhere – other than into the Thurlow Nunn League premier division with Halstead Town.

The Humbugs goalkeeper had a chance to jump two levels after being approached by Witham Town manager Garry Kimble about a switch to the Ryman League division north side, but he turned down the opportunity after opting to stay at Rosemary Lane.

Banner said he had made a commitment to Halstead when returning to the club at the start of this season and wanted to be a part of their bid to earn promotion from Thurlow Nunn League division one this year.

The clean sheet he kept in last weekend’s FA Vase first qualifying round win against Haverhill Rovers was Banner’s third of the campaign and he felt the team’s performance in getting that victory was the perfect example of why he had chosen not to leave.

He said: “Mark (Benterman) chased me for a while and asked me to come back (over the summer).

“I signed and committed to the club, but after six games, Witham came in for me.

“I spoke to Garry Kimble, but I feel we have something good here and I made a commitment at the start of the season.

“I think our win in the Vase just sums it all up really.

“It sums up why I have stuck around here.

“There’s definitely something special happening.

“I feel I can personally have a good year as I’ve started well, but we’ve started well as a team and I believe we can win the league. We can be playing in the premier division next year, but the Vase win sums up why I made that decision."

The Humbugs return to Thurlow Nunn League division one action tomorrow with a trip to Stowmarket Town.