Rip Andy Rankin 1944-2023

A great Watford player. As said above, from a different age when players wages were so low the club rented them club houses. If he hadn’t slipped on the ice fetching in the coal and injuring himself, he would have made many more appearances for us.

Remember his penalty saves . An excellent player and not only one of my favourites, but definitely in the top three goalkeepers I have seen represent Watford.

Very nice report in the Liverpool Echo, that emphasises what a good signing he was.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-hero-andy-rankin-who-27567978

 

Yes indeed,I've battled through the WO site as Lloyd mentions,to read it and it reminded me of that game.

I was too young to go on a school night but my brothers went and took my Mum, who'd never been to a match before.

At the end Paul and Laurence were dancing around their seats and Mum thought every football match was like that!

Extraordinary save.

 

I was listening on the radio. The main commentary was from Villa Park I think. Suddenly this deafening cheer went up and it wasn't possible to hear the commentator. When it calmed down, he explained the Villa fans had just heard the Watford result.

 

It's horrendous if you aren't using an adblocker.

 

Is that a brand of suppository?

 

RIP Andy.
A great keeper and servant for WFC..

 

If it isn't, it should be.

 

Arseblocker, shirley?

 

Good point on the penalties. I remember a stat from 1977 that Sam Ellis had only ever missed one penalty and only 50% of the penalties Andy Rankin had faced had been scored (obviously a few missed the target completely).

 

I remember when Mike Keen (?) signed him, our team was pretty dire apart from Walker in goal who was very decent.

Rankin was our big signing, even though we were completely lacking in so many other areas.

The manager was interviewed in the Wobby (or maybe the Evening Echo) and chortled "nobody expected me to sign a keeper!"

Nobody did. We were not especially happy at the time. But wow what a signing it turned out to be. One of my all-time favourite WFC keepers and maybe, adjusted for football being barely the same game it was then, the best we've had?

 

George Kirby signed him midway through the 71-72 relegation season.

 

I saw that save and I still don't believe it. Neither did Joe Jordan.
Andy was a true unsung hero.

 

Gordon McQueen?

 

Yes I think you are right. I had my doubts when I wrote it.

 

Fortunately the WFC communications supremo eventually caught up.
https://www.watfordfc.com/news/news-andy-rankin-1944-2023

Like you Willis, I'm always disappointed that our club seem to have to play catch up on this sort of thing, might be my age. As far as I can tell this type of news/tribute is a priority for other clubs remembering their 'legends' (and that category should be broad) and it should be for us too. Andy certainly comes into legend category for us and pleased to note that Everton and Huddersfield marked his passing too, rightly so. Pleased to see from the link that a fuller tribute will happen at Sunday's match.

 

Drawer.

 

I loved Gordon (‘is a moron’ we uncharitably chanted) McQueen’s comment about ‘knowing’ it was a goal until ‘this green thing with a hand on the end’ appeared from nowhere and saved it.

 

Of course he was also name checked in Althea and Donna's No.1 hit Uptown Top Rankin

Shoulda see me Andy Rankin dread, oh
Check 'ow we jammin' and ting
Love is all I bring
Inna m'khaki suit and ting

 

And the line:
‘Ow he save and ting
Dat header from M’Queen’

 

Anyone who doubts the girls were huge Hornets and number one fans of Andy can check 1:26 in this video