Michael Rankine

Michael Lee Rankine (born 15 January 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played in the Football League for Scunthorpe United, AFC Bournemouth, Aldershot Town and York City.

Rankine began his career with the Doncaster Rovers youth system, before playing for Armthorpe Welfare and Barrow in non-League football. He moved to League Two club Scunthorpe United in 2004 but after only scoring one goal for them signed for Alfreton Town. He signed for Conference National club Rushden & Diamonds in 2006, where he played for three seasons, before signing for divisional rivals York City in 2009. He played for them in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final before signing for Aldershot Town in 2011. He spent two seasons at Aldershot and during that time had loan spells with Grimsby Town and York. After a season with Hereford United he signed for Gateshead in 2014.

Career Early career Born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Rankine started his career in the youth system of hometown club Doncaster Rovers. He played for Armthorpe Welfare on work experience in 2002 and was released by Doncaster at the end of the 2002–03 season after failing to progress into their first team. He signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Barrow in the summer of 2003. He was unable to play for them in the opening match of 2003–04 after suffering whiplash following a car crash. He made 47 appearances and scored nine goals in 2003–04. The move came having made 11 appearances and scored three goals for Barrow up to that point during 2004–05. He started for Scunthorpe in a 3–1 defeat to eventual Premier League champions Chelsea in the FA Cup third round in January 2005, after which he was given the shirt of striker Didier Drogba. He scored one goal for Scunthorpe in 2004–05, in which he made 24 appearances, He signed a new six-month contract with the club in June 2005.

Rankine rejoined former club Barrow in August 2005 on a one-month loan, and after scoring two goals, the loan was extended for a second month in September. During the second month, he was recalled by Scunthorpe, due to injuries at the club, meaning he finished the loan period with 11 appearances and three goals. but this claim was rejected by Lincoln manager Keith Alexander. Following the expiry of his Scunthorpe contract on 9 December 2005,

Alfreton Town and Rushden & Diamonds After his contract at Scunthorpe expired, he had a period with former club Armthorpe Welfare to help his fitness, before joining Alfreton Town of the Conference North in January 2006. He finished 2005–06 with 22 appearances and three goals for Alfreton, However, Rankine signed for Conference National club Rushden & Diamonds on 24 July 2006 on a one-year contract, having been on trial for three weeks. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Crawley Town on 12 August 2006, which was followed by his first goal in the following match three days later, converting a Glenn Wilson cross in a 3–1 defeat to Grays Athletic. He next scored with two goals in a 3–1 victory over League One club Yeovil Town in the FA Cup first round in November. He scored two goals in the last five minutes against Weymouth on 3 April to help Rushden to a 4–1 victory. He finished 2006–07 with 46 appearances and 10 goals for Rushden. He finished 2007–08 with 52 appearances and 15 goals for Rushden. after having made eight appearances for Rushden up to that point during 2008–09. He scored two goals for Rushden in a 9–0 victory over Weymouth on 20 February 2009, who had been forced to field a youth team. He finished 2008–09 with 38 appearances and eight goals for Rushden. He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Oxford United on 8 August 2009. He played in both legs of York's play-off semi-final victory over Luton Town, which finished 2–0 on aggregate. He finished 2009–10 with 55 appearances and 10 goals for York. His first goals of the season from open play came after scoring twice in a 3–0 victory over Altrincham on 28 August 2010. He agreed to sign for Aldershot on 12 May 2011 on a free transfer.

Rankine signed for Conference Premier club Grimsby Town on 23 November 2012 on a one-month loan. He made his debut a day later as a 66th-minute substitute in Grimsby's 0–0 home draw with Buxton in the FA Trophy first round. He had made six appearances for Grimsby. He made his first appearance since returning later that day, playing in York's 0–0 home draw with Gillingham. He had made eight appearances for York. Shortly afterwards, he signed for Conference Premier club Hereford United on a one-year contract following a trial. He made his debut in Hereford's 1–1 draw at home to Braintree Town in the opening match of 2013–14 on 10 August 2013. However, Hereford were later expelled from the Football Conference and he commented that the situation at the club was "embarrassing" and a "disgrace". He had made 34 appearances and scored seven goals for Hereford in the 2013–14 season. He made his debut on 13 September 2014 as a 61st-minute substitute in a 1–0 win against Dartford, Rankine made 36 appearances and scored five goals in 2014–15

Altrincham Rankine signed for National League club Altrincham on 3 June 2015, leaving Gateshead as he was unhappy with how regularly he was playing there. He made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Forest Green on 8 August 2015 and scored his first goal with a looping header from a James Lawrie cross in the 29th minute of a 2–1 home victory over Tranmere Rovers on 29 August. Rankine finished 2015–16 with 15 goals from 45 appearances

Guiseley Rankine signed for National League club Guiseley on 26 May 2016. He scored two goals from eight appearances He was released at the end of the season.

Style of play Rankine played as a striker and was described as a target man, not being a prolific goalscorer, and he said "I just like to chip away and work as hard as I can and, hopefully, then you get rewarded with goals". He had the "ability to hold the ball up, and cause the defenders problems" and possessed the long throw-in ability. After Rankine signed for Bournemouth, manager Jimmy Quinn said "He's big, he's strong and I'm pleased to get him in". York manager Martin Foyle said that Rankine "will also work hard, close down and give us a presence in the final third. He's a good size, mobile and will certainly run the channels."

Personal life Rankine is the nephew of former player Mark Rankine and cousin of Tottenham Hotspur's Danny Rose. He has one child, a boy. The four appeared at York Magistrates' Court on 14 January 2010 after being charged with affray. Rankine denied a charge of affray and instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after appearing at York Crown Court on 1 September.

Rankine retired from playing football in 2018 and began working as an intermediary, helping players transition from non-League to professional football.

Career statistics