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Post by htafcokay on Aug 21, 2023 20:37:08 GMT 1
Sad news emerging tonight that the former Town goalkeeper between 1979 and 1982 has passed away.
Please post all your memories of him on this thread if you wish.
RIP Andy Rankin.
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Post by Chips Longhorn on Aug 21, 2023 20:42:19 GMT 1
Sad news . He was a really competent keeper for us . Lived on Larch Ave Thongsbridge (or on neighbouring street) . When I was in his company he nevwr really spoke about Town he wanted to talk about his time at Everton . Decent bloke though. Is he the first player from the Buxton era to pass away ? RIP
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Post by rothwellterrier on Aug 21, 2023 20:43:36 GMT 1
Sad news. RIP Andy.
(Edit: my like on the op was for the thread being left in this section).
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Post by kennyk2 on Aug 21, 2023 20:46:04 GMT 1
That game v Charlton down at the Valley (80/81?). We won 2-1 and he was magnificent.
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Post by drayltonboy (independent) on Aug 21, 2023 20:48:13 GMT 1
Didn't he have two false front teeth? Odd memory I know.
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 21, 2023 20:48:37 GMT 1
Sad news . He was a really competent keeper for us . Lived on Larch Ave Thongsbridge (or on neighbouring street) . When I was in his company he nevwr really spoke about Town he wanted to talk about his time at Everton . Decent bloke though. Is he the first player from the Buxton era to pass away ? RIP Not the first Buxton player to pass away but the first from that promotion team, yes.
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Post by Walton-on-the-Hill Terrier on Aug 21, 2023 20:54:04 GMT 1
Didn’t see him play too many times for Town as his time partly coincided with me living in the States. I was well aware of him at Everton and was chuffed that Town could attract such a good, experienced goalkeeper. Not the tallest, but very agile. RIP Andy.
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Post by DeepSpace on Aug 21, 2023 21:06:36 GMT 1
Charlton away in 1981 is still one of my finest memories in over 50 years of watching Town.
RIP
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Post by Christ in Shades (art) on Aug 21, 2023 21:11:24 GMT 1
Sad news . He was a really competent keeper for us . Lived on Larch Ave Thongsbridge (or on neighbouring street) . When I was in his company he nevwr really spoke about Town he wanted to talk about his time at Everton . Decent bloke though. Is he the first player from the Buxton era to pass away ? RIP Mick Kennedy passed away a few years ago.
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 21:19:25 GMT 1
One of my first away games on the football special was Rotherham in 1980. About 10 mins from the end they got a penalty in front of us in that loud away end they had at Millmoor. Rankin saved it. Everyone behind the goal with a long loud chorus of One Andy Rankin, there's only one Andy Rankin... Match ended 0 0 but still felt like a win.
RIP Andy Rankin. I loved him and I loved that team.
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Post by mids on Aug 21, 2023 21:23:52 GMT 1
RIP. First Town keeper I saw, as far as I remember. Major part of a great team that gave so many the continued special bond we still have with HTFC. Sad news.
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Post by jakeg on Aug 21, 2023 21:25:03 GMT 1
I hate it when my first footballing heroes pass away....my footballing memories start from the 79/80 season so Andy was my first keeper. That's different memories than all that comes after....all the players of that era....despite me only being 10....have a special place in my heart
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Post by turbo2 on Aug 21, 2023 21:39:45 GMT 1
RIP
Was only reading an article about him last week. I never realised he started his career at Everton.
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Post by wazzahtfc on Aug 21, 2023 21:43:02 GMT 1
Along with Alan Starling , Andy Rankin was the keeper I remember in my first season watching Town.
As a 9 year old one of my first heroes , and a very good keeper in our Div 4 winning team .
Very sad news . RIP Andy Rankin
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Post by Porrohman on Aug 21, 2023 21:46:23 GMT 1
Remember him making his debut at The Shay, along with Stevie Kindon (I think). RIP Andy.
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 21:53:17 GMT 1
RIP Was only reading an article about him last week. I never realised he started his career at Everton. I remember him at Watford and being impressed when we signed him.
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 21:54:25 GMT 1
Charlton away in 1981 is still one of my finest memories in over 50 years of watching Town. RIP Great day.
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 21, 2023 21:56:07 GMT 1
My Dad tells a tale of seeing him driving a forklift in Denby Dale a few years ago. He was delivering there and recognised this older fella on the forklift but couldn't place him. Then he recognised the AR initials on his top and said "Are you Andy Rankin?" and he said "I used to be". They had a chat about Town before he drove off on the forklift singing "Andy Rankin super goalie na na na na na".
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 22:09:03 GMT 1
My Dad tells a tale of seeing him driving a forklift in Denby Dale a few years ago. He was delivering there and recognised this older fella on the forklift but couldn't place him. Then he recognised the AR initials on his top and said "Are you Andy Rankin?" and he said "I used to be". They had a chat about Town before he drove off on the forklift singing "Andy Rankin super goalie na na na na na". I read on wiki he was a forklift truck driver in Hudds. Its fekin tragic really. When you think what Pritchard and the other mercenaries screwed out of HTFC.
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Post by griffa on Aug 21, 2023 22:12:38 GMT 1
Andy Rankin was one of my school boy heroes, he played in a great Everton team, they had 2 great keepers Gordon West & Andy Rankin, loved it when he signed for Town, during the Mick Buxton era - RIP Andy Rankin.
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Post by Torquayterrier on Aug 21, 2023 22:16:37 GMT 1
Sad news, saw him play quite a lot before moving from Yorkshire in 82. I recall him looking maybe a bit older than he actually was but was pretty athletic for keepers of that era, some 'great for the camera' saves plucking them out of the air. RIP Mr Rankin.
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Post by ilsonterrier on Aug 21, 2023 22:19:16 GMT 1
Really sad to hear this as he was the first goalie I saw for Town, in 79/80.
RIP
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Post by Chips Longhorn on Aug 21, 2023 22:23:45 GMT 1
Sad news . He was a really competent keeper for us . Lived on Larch Ave Thongsbridge (or on neighbouring street) . When I was in his company he nevwr really spoke about Town he wanted to talk about his time at Everton . Decent bloke though. Is he the first player from the Buxton era to pass away ? RIP Mick Kennedy passed away a few years ago. He didn't win a promotion :-)
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Post by Bassingham Terrier on Aug 21, 2023 22:24:05 GMT 1
Good keeper. Don't think he wore gloves. Conceded one then went off injured as we lost 0-3 at home to Shrewsbury on 3rd Jan 1981. Kindon and Lillis then went in nets and each conceded a goal. Quite a game.
RIP Andy
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 22:45:55 GMT 1
Good keeper. Don't think he wore gloves. Conceded one then went off injured as we lost 0-3 at home to Shrewsbury on 3rd Jan 1981. Kindon and Lillis then went in nets and each conceded a goal. Quite a game. RIP Andy Remember that game well. A other cup match I left devastated.
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Post by Chips Longhorn on Aug 21, 2023 22:49:18 GMT 1
Good keeper. Don't think he wore gloves. Conceded one then went off injured as we lost 0-3 at home to Shrewsbury on 3rd Jan 1981. Kindon and Lillis then went in nets and each conceded a goal. Quite a game. RIP Andy Remember that game well. A other cup match I left devastated. Shrewsbury in the division above !
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 22:52:51 GMT 1
Remember that game well. A other cup match I left devastated. Shrewsbury in the division above ! They were. 14k in the ground, way above the average 8k home gate around the time with small away support. I'm not googling but I suspect Chic Bates was playing for them.
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Post by gledholt terrier on Aug 21, 2023 22:54:05 GMT 1
RIP Andy.
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 21, 2023 22:57:12 GMT 1
Shrewsbury in the division above ! They were. 14k in the ground, way above the average 8k home gate around the time with small away support. I'm not googling but I suspect Chic Bates was playing for them. Rankin collided with Bates when he fractured his skull in that match.
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Post by 28901 on Aug 21, 2023 23:12:49 GMT 1
They were. 14k in the ground, way above the average 8k home gate around the time with small away support. I'm not googling but I suspect Chic Bates was playing for them. Rankin collided with Bates when he fractured his skull in that match. Well there you go. Theres an interview with Andy on the Watford site, he mentions the skull. Hes got a few things slightly wrong about his time here. He says Freeman was already here but he came in on loan late that season, maybe after the Rankin injury?
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