Mark Rankine
Encyclopedia
Simon Mark Rankine is an English
former footballer, who played over 700 games in English football in a 19-year career.
and began his career as a schoolboy at Manchester United
, but was not offered a YTS contract and was released. He joined his hometown club Doncaster Rovers
and progressed through their youth system, being part of the team that reached the 1988 FA Youth Cup final.
He made his senior debut on 15 August 1987 aged 17 in a 1–0 win over Grimsby Town
in the Third Division
. The club slipped down to the fourth tier that season, but Rankine had managed to become a regular part of the first team squad. The following season he was an ever-present, scoring 11 goals in the process. After two further seasons as a mainstay of the Doncaster midfield, he attracted interest from other clubs.
He was eventually sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers
of the Second Division
for £70,000 in January 1992. Rankine made his Wolves debut as a substitute on 1 February 1992 in a 1–0 win over Leicester City
. Although not such an automatic choice as at his previous club, Rankine still featured regularly, amassing 167 appearances in total (though scoring just once) for the club over a four-and-a-half year stay.
By the start of the 1996–97 season he was no longer part of manager Mark McGhee
's plans and was sold to Preston North End
for £100,000 in September 1996. Rankine went on to make more appearcnes for North End than for any of his other clubs over a seven-year association. The club were newly promoted to the third tier at the time of his arrival, and he achieved a further promotion with them in the 1999–2000 season as champions. The following season saw him almost achieve Premier League football, as he scored a late goal which helped them beat Birmingham City
to reach the play-off final
, after doing so he achieved legend status at North End and is looked upon by many now as a club hero. However, they lost 3–0 to Bolton Wanderers
in that final.
After Craig Brown had replaced David Moyes
as Preston manager for the 2002–03 season, Rankine found his place under threat and he finished the campaign on loan at Sheffield United
. This move offered him a second chance at promotion as the Blades reached the play-off final, but Rankine again missed out on top flight football as they lost to his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers (inflicting a second successive 3–0 final defeat on him).
Despite this disappointment, Sheffield United retained Rankine's services, signing him in a permanent deal in July 2003. He remained at Bramall Lane
for just one full season, before his contract expired and he left for Tranmere Rovers
.
His first season with the club saw him again reach the play-offs but they lost their semi-final tie on penalties to Hartlepool United
. He had planned to retire at the end of the campaign but decided to sign a one-year extension in the close season. His second season was more of a struggle, and he opted to have his contract terminated by mutual consent and retire before the season's conclusion after finding it tough to play so regularly now aged 36.
In 2008 he was working as a football agent.
, whose cousin Danny Rose also plays.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer, who played over 700 games in English football in a 19-year career.
Career
Rankine was born in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
and began his career as a schoolboy at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, but was not offered a YTS contract and was released. He joined his hometown club Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and progressed through their youth system, being part of the team that reached the 1988 FA Youth Cup final.
He made his senior debut on 15 August 1987 aged 17 in a 1–0 win over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. The club slipped down to the fourth tier that season, but Rankine had managed to become a regular part of the first team squad. The following season he was an ever-present, scoring 11 goals in the process. After two further seasons as a mainstay of the Doncaster midfield, he attracted interest from other clubs.
He was eventually sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
for £70,000 in January 1992. Rankine made his Wolves debut as a substitute on 1 February 1992 in a 1–0 win over Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. Although not such an automatic choice as at his previous club, Rankine still featured regularly, amassing 167 appearances in total (though scoring just once) for the club over a four-and-a-half year stay.
By the start of the 1996–97 season he was no longer part of manager Mark McGhee
Mark McGhee
Mark Edward McGhee is a former Scottish professional football player. McGhee started his career at Greenock Morton in 1975 and spent spells at clubs including Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Brage and Reading...
's plans and was sold to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
for £100,000 in September 1996. Rankine went on to make more appearcnes for North End than for any of his other clubs over a seven-year association. The club were newly promoted to the third tier at the time of his arrival, and he achieved a further promotion with them in the 1999–2000 season as champions. The following season saw him almost achieve Premier League football, as he scored a late goal which helped them beat Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
to reach the play-off final
2001 Football League First Division play-off Final
The 2001 Football League First Division play-off Final was contested by Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End. Bolton won the match 3–0, taking them back to the Premier League. Bolton have stayed in the top flight since.- Details :...
, after doing so he achieved legend status at North End and is looked upon by many now as a club hero. However, they lost 3–0 to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in that final.
After Craig Brown had replaced David Moyes
David Moyes
David William Moyes is an association football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
as Preston manager for the 2002–03 season, Rankine found his place under threat and he finished the campaign on loan at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. This move offered him a second chance at promotion as the Blades reached the play-off final, but Rankine again missed out on top flight football as they lost to his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers (inflicting a second successive 3–0 final defeat on him).
Despite this disappointment, Sheffield United retained Rankine's services, signing him in a permanent deal in July 2003. He remained at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
for just one full season, before his contract expired and he left for Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
His first season with the club saw him again reach the play-offs but they lost their semi-final tie on penalties to Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. He had planned to retire at the end of the campaign but decided to sign a one-year extension in the close season. His second season was more of a struggle, and he opted to have his contract terminated by mutual consent and retire before the season's conclusion after finding it tough to play so regularly now aged 36.
In 2008 he was working as a football agent.
Personal life
He is the uncle of footballer Michael RankineMichael Rankine
Michael Lee Rankine is an English footballer who plays for Aldershot Town as a striker.Rankine began his career with the Doncaster Rovers youth system, before playing for Armthorpe Welfare and Barrow in non-League football. He moved to Football League team Scunthorpe United in 2004 but after only...
, whose cousin Danny Rose also plays.