Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium

  Tia Richardson and Jordan Banks will be on Creative MKE this Sunday at 7pm. You can hear the show live on @WUWMradio 89.7 or via replay/podcast on starting on Tuesday 8am. https://www.imaginemke.org/podcast for more about the show.   Click here to donate to the project

Friends, admirers and fans of the late great Jimmy Banks, please join us for a get together with the Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium. Where and When: Saturday, August 5th at the Bavarian Bierhaus from 1-5 pm This project will tell an amazing and beautiful story of a man who went from Westlawn Housing Projects on Milwaukee's Northwest side to the World Cup Italy. But as Jimmy would want it, it’s not just his story, it’s our story, your story, it’s a Milwaukee story. Come share your experiences and memories so we can preserve the legacy of one of Milwaukee's finest - Jimmy "GeeGee" Banks. You will be able to make a donation to the project in person or online here if you can't make it. The event is open to the public. Food and beverages will be for sale from the Bavarian Bierhaus, 700 W Lexington Blvd, Glendale, WI 53217. Go to jimmybanksstadium.org to learn more about the project.

  If you were not able to listen live, you can listen back to Rob Harrington's interview on SiriusXMFC with @TMeola1 and @EricWynalda you can listen below . Please share and check out http:// jimmybanksstadium.org to learn more, donate, and get involved!  

  In the fall of 2022 MPS renamed Custer Stadium Jimmy Banks Memorial Stadium. The effort led by friends, former players, family members, and others from the Milwaukee soccer community encouraged the district to make the change to recognize Jimmy’s legacy. Shortly after the stadium renaming that same group formed The Friends of Jimmy Banks Stadium to continue to raise the profile of his legacy of integrating soccer at the national level and community building at the local level. We want children right in his old neighborhood to see themselves in this legacy and to increase athletic and academic opportunities for them. Planned projects include a mural at the stadium, a scholarship for MPS students, and more.  DONATE!

1982 MPS graduate Jimmy Banks started playing soccer while living in the Westlawn housing projects, and reached the world stage playing for the United States in the 1990 World Cup. After playing in the biggest sporting event in the world Jimmy returned to Milwaukee to continue his playing career and start giving back to his hometown by starting the Jimmy Banks Soccer League and later the Simba Lions soccer club. Both programs gave inner-city youth a place to learn the world’s game, and more importantly, the value of hard work, respect, and teamwork.