Isaiah Rankin

Career

Arsenal

Rankin started his career playing for Arsenal as a youngster, and he was promoted to the first team squad in the summer of 1996. Rankin went on to feature once for The Gunners, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw with rivals Tottenham Hotspur in December 1997. Arsenal went on to win the Premier League that season but Rankin didn't feature enough times (once) for a medal. While with the club he had a brief loan spell with Colchester United. In 1998, he was transfer listed by the club, and shortly afterwards he was to leave Highbury with Yorkshire his destination. Manager Arsène Wenger said he sold Rankin "Because he had in front of him too many players who were in to play in the top team. He was impatient. I thought that he wouldn't naturally make it this season, and he needed some first-team games. He was one of the players where, if you keep him, he drops; if he drops, his value goes down and he isn't happy and he hasn't improved. If you are sure he won't play for you this season, you give him a chance to make a career somewhere else. I'm happy for him." He was featured in a YouTube video of Arsenal's channel for guessing the former Arsenal player.

Bradford City

Rankin was signed by Bradford City for £1.3 million helping them earn promotion to the Premier League in his first season. Rankin was not considered a first team regular during Bradford's two-year stay in the top flight and featured in only ten of their Premiership matches during that time. However, he was on the pitch when Bradford memorably secured safety on the last day of the 1999–2000 season with a win against Liverpool. Rankin was loaned out twice by Bradford, firstly to Birmingham City and then Bolton Wanderers, before finally leaving the club permanently to join Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.

Barnsley

Rankin joined Barnsley for £350,000 on 19 January 2001, and would go on to play in three different seasons for the Oakwell club. During the 2003–04 season, with Barnsley rooted in the middle of the Division Two table, he was made available for transfer after losing his place in the team. Barnsley attempted to sign Grimsby Town striker Michael Boulding, who had wanted to leave the club following the dismissal of Town's manager Paul Groves. Barnsley offered Town £50,000 for Boulding with the option of taking Rankin on a one-month loan as part of the deal. The offer was accepted by caretaker manager Graham Rodger and Rankin signed for The Mariners initially for a one-month loan period.

Grimsby Town

Rankin scored two goals in his first six games. In a match against his parent club Barnsley at Blundell Park, Rankin scored a goal in a 6–1 victory for Grimsby, but controversially upset Barnsley manager Gudjon Thordarson for what he called an unprofessional goal celebration. Thordarson stated that Rankin would never play for Barnsley again, and the player had his contract terminated with immediate effect, which allowed him to sign for Grimsby on a permanent basis until the end of the season. Grimsby appointed Nicky Law as manager but he could not prevent the club's relegation, despite Rankin's goal in a 1–0 win against Brentford on the second-last game of the season. Following the club's relegation, Rankin was out of contract and decided not to stay at Blundell Park in favour to stay playing his football in League One.

Brentford

Brentford came in for the striker, and signed him on a two-year deal. Rankin joined the club along with fellow Grimsby player Jamie Lawrence. During his spell at the Griffin Park club, his goal against Southampton in the 2004–05 FA Cup Fifth Round was nominated on Match of the Day's 'Goal of the Month' competition, but did not win the top prize. Rankin was released by Brentford in May 2006 after two years.

Return to Grimsby Town

Rankin re-joined Grimsby Town in July 2006 but despite much expectations, he made a slow start to the new spell, despite scoring on his second debut in the 3–2 win over Boston United, a game in which he and Peter Bore helped Grimsby come back from 2–0 down. With favoured goalscoring partner Michael Reddy injured, Rankin struggled with fitness problems and by the end of the season the pair had only scored three goals between them. Rodger was sacked as manager and Alan Buckley came in to take his place. With the loan signing of Martin Paterson a favoured starter it meant when fit Rankin would often have to settle for a place on the bench. Buckley made Rankin available for loan and in March 2007 he was loaned out to Macclesfield Town for the remainder of the season. He made only four appearances and failed to score. Rankin remained at Blundell Park for the beginning of the 2007–08 season but his contract was eventually terminated by mutual consent during the January 2008 transfer window.

Stevenage Borough

Upon his release from Grimsby, he signed with Conference club Stevenage Borough on a short-term deal until the end of the 2007–08 season. He was one of several players released at the end of the season.

Crawley Town

His next club was Crawley Town, with whom he signed in July 2008 having featured in a number of pre-season friendlies whilst on trial with the West Sussex club. In January 2009, Crawley were deducted four league points and fined after failing to register Rankin with the Conference at the start of the 2008–09 campaign, despite the fact that the Football Association received his papers. Following the conclusion of the season, Crawley decided against offering Rankin a new deal, and he was released from the club. Rankin made 18 league appearances for Crawley, scoring three times.

Forest Green Rovers

Following his release from Crawley, Rankin remained out of the game up until December 2009, when he signed for fellow Conference National team Forest Green Rovers on a non-contract basis. He was given the number 33 shirt. Rankin scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 Boxing Day victory over Salisbury City, and his second in a 1–0 win over Gateshead at the New Lawn on 16 January 2010. He netted Forest Green's only goal in their 2–1 loss to Notts County at Meadow Lane in the third round of the FA Cup. He was released at the end of the season having scored three goals in 19 league appearances.

Ashford Town

In September 2010, Rankin signed for Southern Football League Division One Central side Ashford Town, in Middlesex, a team managed by his former Bradford City, Grimsby Town and Brentford teammate Jamie Lawrence.

Hendon

Rankin joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Hendon on 16 August 2011. In July 2012, he signed a new one-year contract. Rankin made 76 appearances and scored 15 goals before departing at the end of the 2013–14 season and subsequently retired from competitive football.

Career statistics

Honours

Arsenal

• FA Youth Cup: 1993–94

Bradford City

• Football League First Division second-place promotion: 1998–99

References

References

1. {{Hugman
2. {{Soccerbase
3. Moore, Glenn. (29 December 1997). "Klinsmann returns to find Spurs in disarray". The Independent.
4. The professor Arsene Wenger by Myles Palmer page 135
5. (14 May 2000). "Bradford celebrate great escape". BBC News.
6. (12 February 2004). "Barnsley seal Boulding deal". BBC Sport.
7. (29 February 2004). "Thordarson fumes at Rankin". BBC Sport.
8. (25 March 2004). "Mariners seal Rankin deal". BBC Sport.
9. (1 May 2004). "Grimsby 1–0 Brentford". BBC.
10. (27 May 2004). "Brentford {{!}} News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} BEES SIGN TWO".
11. "Brentford {{!}} News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} BEES CAPTURE LAWRENCE".
12. (30 June 2006). "Transfers – June 2006".
13. (5 August 2006). "Grimsby 3–2 Boston Utd". BBC Sport.
14. (22 March 2007). "Rankin joins Macclesfield on loan". BBC Sport.
15. (31 January 2008). "Rankin departs". Grimsby Town F.C..
16. (1 February 2008). "Stevenage complete triple signing". BBC Sport.
17. (5 May 2008). "Borough release five". Stevenage F.C.}} {{Dead link.
18. (23 July 2008). "Crawley Town can confirm that former Arsenal and Bradford City striker Isaiah Rankin has signed for the club". Crawley Town F.C..
19. (12 January 2009). "Crawley handed four-point penalty". BBC Sport.
20. (18 May 2009). "Boss gives player update". Crawley Town F.C..
21. (20 January 2010). "Notts County 2–1 Forest Green". BBC Sport.
22. Batham, Jon. (18 September 2010). "Ashford swoop for former Bradford and Brentford striker". Staines News.
23. (16 August 2011). "Former Arsenal strike among four signings". Greensnet.
24. (17 July 2012). "Hendon announce glamour tie with Premier League newboys". Barnet & Whetstone Press.
25. "Greensnet – Official Hendon FC: Former Staff – Isaiah Rankin".
26. "Played For Both: Colchester United".
27. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 1997
28. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 1998
29. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 1999
30. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2000
31. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2001
32. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2002
33. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2003
34. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2004
35. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2005
36. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2006
37. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2007
38. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2008
39. {{soccerbase season. 10491. 2009
40. "Isaiah Rankin Profile".
41. "The FA Youth Cup".
42. "Tier Two (Championship) Honours".