Andy Rankin RlP

[Flaming Pie]

Sad to hear about the death of former Everton, Watford and Huddersfield goalkeeper Andy Rankin. I remember him producing some superb saves for The Blues during his Everton career . Unfortunately for Andy, Everton also had the outstanding Gordon West in goal during the 1960s early 70s era, which limited his appearances for the club. It looks like he was as popular at his next club Watford as he was at Goodison.

[grantham]

Born in Bootle, England in 1944. Goalkeeper Andrew George Rankin began their career with the first of 3 clubs, Everton during the 1963-1964 season. Rankin spent the longest spell of their career with Watford, spending some 9 seasons with The Hornets. To date, our database contains details of 474 appearances made and 0 goals scored in a career spanning 19 seasons.

The biggest move of their career saw Rankin join Watford for £12,500 during the 1971-1972 season. Andy Rankin has now retired from the game, having last played during the 1981-1982 campaign for Huddersfield Town. Rankin sadly passed away on 21/08/2023, aged 79 archives.football AutoBio.

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[Pete’s Picture Palace]

A fine keeper, now passed aged 79. Watford fans seem to recall one particular save at Old Trafford v United about 1978 or 79, I saw it on Twitter so guess you could find it too if you're interested - one of those fantastic once in a lifetime saves, reactions, agility and strength to the fore.

Here's a not so happy moment for Andy - just before he left Goodison - this was the FA Cup semi final in 1971 and a gloating Ian Callaghan laughs in Andy's direction, with a nice young fan for company. I would imagine some keepers might want to wipe that smirk off his face. Maybe Andy did too!

RIP Andy.



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[Thedoog10]

Sad excellent keeper seen him come threw at Everton ,and yes so unlucky to be there at the same time has the great Gordon West.
I was at Goodison Park early 60 one game when Andy got injured and had to play out ( no subs back then ) he was an excellent footballer and far from out of his
depth has an outfielder player had an outstanding game .

[Flaming Pie]

The doog, that’s a great story which l knew nothing about. It’s unusual the way Andy was content to play second fiddle to Gordon West at Everton , when during the mid- 1960s he could easily have walked into a lot of top teams as first choice keeper if he had left. Perhaps he was happy with his lot at Goodison? The first goalie l have vague memories of at Everton was Albert Dunlop. He was a character!

[Thedoog10]

FP he was the keeper at Goodison when I started going in 1960 and a good keeper he was .
He lost his place in the team half way threw Everton's 62/63 Championship season but played the last few games after West got injured .
Story has it that he was not well liked among a certain group of players there for some reason !!!.
When he left Everton he signed for Wrexham and eventually became manager there and once picked himself has center forward in the team during a bad run of results a character for sure passed very young at only 57.

[sir craven]

57? surely not.

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

sir craven wrote:

57? surely not.

Doog is talking of Albert Dunlop, who was only 57. Andy was not far short of 80.

[Flaming Pie]

I’ve got The Sunday People articles from the mid 1960s about Albert Dunlop somewhere. With this thread being a tribute to Andy Rankin and all that, l won’t put them up at the moment, but Albert’s story was pretty sensational at the time. Pete, I had a look at that save against Man Unt in The League Cup 1978 when Watford won 2-1. . If anything epitomised Andy it was that fantastic save. Those two bullet headed goals from Luther Blissett as well , wow!

[Thedoog10]

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

sir craven wrote: 57? surely not. Doog is talTking of Albert Dunlop, who was only 57. Andy was not far short of 80.

Thanks Pete sorry if my post was a little misleading.