Everybody at Everton is saddened to learn of the passing of our former goalkeeper Andy Rankin.
Rankin was born in Bootle and played 105 games for the Blues.
He will always be remembered by Evertonians of a certain generation for being the first goalkeeper to ever save a penalty in a European Cup shoot-out. After Everton drew 2-2 on aggregate with Borussia Monchengladbach in 1970, the tournament’s inaugural penalty shoot-out occurred and Rankin saved Ludwig Muller’s fifth kick for the Germans to send Everton through.
Rankin had extensive Evertonian family connections. His grandfather Bruce Rankin played 38 games for the Blues between 1902 and 1905, scoring seven goals and his cousin George Rankin played 39 times in the 1950s.
Andy signed as an amateur for Everton at the age 17. He had joined the Liverpool City Police Cadets but left after five months when he signed professional forms for the club. He made his first-team debut in November 1963 in a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest.
A year later he was picked for an England Under-23 international against Wales at Wrexham. England won 3-2 and amongst Rankin’s team-mates were Cyril Knowles, Norman Hunter, Martin Chivers and a certain Alan Ball
Rankin was a more than capable goalkeeper, but he was most unfortunate to be at the club at the same time as Gordon West, who played over 400 games and won two league titles.
Rankin’s final appearance for Everton was in May 1971 when the Blues lost 3-2 against Stoke City in an FA Cup 3rd/4th place play-off match at Selhurst Park.
Frustrated at not being able to force his way into the team on a more regular basis, he left Goodison Park in 1971 to join Watford, for whom he played more than 300 games. Former Everton player George Kirby was the manager at Vicarage Road at the time, which probably helped the keeper make his mind up about the move.
He hung his gloves up in 1982 after a spell with Huddersfield Town. He dipped his toe into the coaching world but by his own admission it wasn’t for him, and he saw out his working life with a printing firm.
Rankin’s former Everton team-mate, Joe Royle, said: “Andy was a great keeper, very athletic with excellent reflexes. He was brave with it as well.
"Everton was his team and he was just so unlucky to have Westy in front of him.
"Whenever he played, he never let us down, that’s for sure. I’ll never forget the penalty save against Monchengladbach to take us through.
"And I am certain that he will forever be the last Everton goalkeeper to drive three-wheeled Robin Reliant! The lads picked it up one day and hid it behind the gym at Bellefield! Andy saw the funny side because he had a great sense of humour himself. He was just a great guy and I am deeply saddened by his passing.”
The thoughts of everyone at Everton Football Club are with Andy’s family and friends at this sad time.
