Mark Rankine
| Date of birth | 30 September 1969 |
| Place of birth | Doncaster |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 81 kg |
| Height | 1.75 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
Mark Rankine spent four seasons as a virtual ever-present at Wolverhampton Wanderers playing in a variety of positions before signing for Preston North End in September 1996 for £100,000. A hamstring injury hampered his performances and he was transfer listed in the summer of 1997. He forced his way into the first team before a DIY accident suffered in December forced him onto the sidelines. He only missed four matches in the 1998-99 campaign and in the process played his 450th senior match. A similar story in 1999-2000 season saw him record his 400th League match and 500th senior game (FA Cup against Bristol Rovers), and forge a great partnership with Sean Gregan which led the team to the Second Division title. Always giving 100 per cent, he remained a first choice in central midfield throughout 2000-01 indeed no other player has played as often under manager David Moyes. Other milestones included marking his 550th senior appearance with a win at Fulham in October and playing his 200th game for North End on New Year's Day.
Rankine joined Tranmere Rovers in July 2004 on a one-year contract that was extended to June 2006 in July 2005. However, this was cancelled in April 2006.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doncaster Rovers | 04 Jul 1988 | 31 Jan 1992 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 Jan 1992 | 17 Sep 1996 | |
| Preston North End | 17 Sep 1996 | 30 Jun 2003 | |
| Sheffield United | 27 Mar 2003 | 27 May 2003 | L |
| Sheffield United | 15 Jul 2003 | 30 Jun 2004 | |
| Tranmere Rovers | 02 Jul 2004 | 24 Apr 2006 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | FA Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | League Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Preston North End | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Preston North End | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Preston North End | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 1999-00 | Preston North End | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 1999-00 | Preston North End | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Preston North End | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Preston North End | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2000-01 | Preston North End | League Division 1 | 43 | 1 |
4 |
5
|
|
| 2000-01 | Preston North End | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Preston North End | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Preston North End | League Division 1 | 24 | 2 |
4 |
3
|
|
| 2002-03 | Preston North End | League Cup | 1 | 3 |
|||
| 2002-03 | Preston North End | League Division 1 | 11 | 8 |
1
|
||
| 2002-03 | Sheffield United | League Division 1 | 5 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2002-03 | Sheffield United | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 3 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Sheffield United | FA Cup | 2 |
||||
| 2003-04 | Sheffield United | League Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Sheffield United | League Division 1 | 6 | 7 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Tranmere Rovers | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Tranmere Rovers | LDV Vans Trophy | 2 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Tranmere Rovers | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Tranmere Rovers | League One | 41 |
5
|
|||
| 2004-05 | Tranmere Rovers | League One Play-Offs | 2 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Tranmere Rovers | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2005-06 | Tranmere Rovers | LDV Vans Trophy | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2005-06 | Tranmere Rovers | League Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2005-06 | Tranmere Rovers | League One | 20 | 4 |
4
|
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1996 | Preston North End v Tottenham Hotspur | D | 1-1 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 25 Sep 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur v Preston North End | L |
3-0 Agg: 4-1 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 17 Sep 1997 | Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End | L | 6-0 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 30 Sep 1997 | Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers | W |
1-0 Agg: 1-6 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 04 Jan 1999 | Preston North End v Arsenal | L | 2-4 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 12 Oct 1999 | Arsenal v Preston North End | L | 2-1 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 29 Jan 2000 | Everton v Preston North End | L | 2-0 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Grimsby Town v Preston North End | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 19 Aug 2000 | Preston North End v Sheffield United | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Aug 2000 | Bolton Wanderers v Preston North End | L | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Preston North End v Wimbledon | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 02 Sep 2000 | Preston North End v Portsmouth | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 05 Sep 2000 | Preston North End v Shrewsbury Town | W |
4-1 Agg: 4-2 |
League Cup | 1st round 2nd leg |
| 09 Sep 2000 | Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Sep 2000 | Birmingham City v Preston North End | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Sep 2000 | Preston North End v Stockport County | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 19 Sep 2000 | Preston North End v Coventry City | L | 1-3 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End | W | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Sep 2000 | Coventry City v Preston North End | L |
4-1 Agg: 7-2 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 30 Sep 2000 | Preston North End v Crystal Palace | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Oct 2000 | Preston North End v Tranmere Rovers | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Oct 2000 | Huddersfield Town v Preston North End | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Oct 2000 | Fulham v Preston North End | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Oct 2000 | Preston North End v Barnsley | L | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Nov 2000 | Nottingham Forest v Preston North End | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Nov 2000 | Preston North End v Crewe Alexandra | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 18 Nov 2000 | Watford v Preston North End | W | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Nov 2000 | West Bromwich Albion v Preston North End | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 02 Dec 2000 | Preston North End v Fulham | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 Dec 2000 | Preston North End v Burnley | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Dec 2000 | Gillingham v Preston North End | L | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Dec 2000 | Preston North End v Grimsby Town | L | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Dec 2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Preston North End | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Dec 2000 | Sheffield United v Preston North End | L | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Jan 2001 | Preston North End v Bolton Wanderers | L | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Jan 2001 | Preston North End v Stockport County | L | 0-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 10 Jan 2001 | Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End | L | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Jan 2001 | Wimbledon v Preston North End | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 03 Feb 2001 | Portsmouth v Preston North End | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Feb 2001 | Preston North End v Queens Park Rangers | W | 5-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Stockport County v Preston North End | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Feb 2001 | Preston North End v Birmingham City | L | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Preston North End v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 03 Mar 2001 | Crystal Palace v Preston North End | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Mar 2001 | Tranmere Rovers v Preston North End | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Mar 2001 | Preston North End v Wolverhampton Wanderers | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Mar 2001 | Norwich City v Preston North End | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 31 Mar 2001 | Preston North End v Gillingham | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Apr 2001 | Burnley v Preston North End | L | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Apr 2001 | Preston North End v Huddersfield Town | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Apr 2001 | Preston North End v Nottingham Forest | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Apr 2001 | Barnsley v Preston North End | W | 0-4 | League Division 1 | |
| 22 Apr 2001 | Preston North End v Watford | W | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Apr 2001 | Crewe Alexandra v Preston North End | W | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 02 May 2001 | Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 May 2001 | Preston North End v Birmingham City | W |
2-1 Agg: 2-2 (4-2) |
League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 28 May 2001 | Bolton Wanderers v Preston North End | L | 3-0 | League Division 1 Play-Offs | Final |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Gillingham v Preston North End | L | 5-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 18 Aug 2001 | Preston North End v Walsall | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Aug 2001 | Kidderminster Harriers v Preston North End | W | 2-3 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 25 Aug 2001 | Grimsby Town v Preston North End | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Aug 2001 | Preston North End v Wimbledon | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Sep 2001 | Birmingham City v Preston North End | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Sep 2001 | Preston North End v Norwich City | W | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Sep 2001 | Watford v Preston North End | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Oct 2001 | Crewe Alexandra v Preston North End | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Oct 2001 | Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Oct 2001 | Preston North End v Manchester City | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Oct 2001 | Preston North End v Sheffield United | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Oct 2001 | Portsmouth v Preston North End | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 31 Oct 2001 | Coventry City v Preston North End | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 03 Nov 2001 | Preston North End v Stockport County | W | 6-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 08 Nov 2001 | Preston North End v Barnsley | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Nov 2001 | Nottingham Forest v Preston North End | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Nov 2001 | Preston North End v Bradford City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Preston North End v Crystal Palace | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Dec 2001 | Sheffield United v Preston North End | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 15 Dec 2001 | Rotherham United v Preston North End | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 22 Dec 2001 | Preston North End v Grimsby Town | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Dec 2001 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Preston North End | W | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 29 Dec 2001 | Wimbledon v Preston North End | L | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Mar 2002 | Burnley v Preston North End | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Apr 2002 | Barnsley v Preston North End | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Apr 2002 | Preston North End v Nottingham Forest | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Aug 2002 | Preston North End v Crystal Palace | L | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Aug 2002 | Nottingham Forest v Preston North End | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Aug 2002 | Rotherham United v Preston North End | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Aug 2002 | Preston North End v Stoke City | W | 4-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Sep 2002 | Preston North End v Ipswich Town | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 11 Sep 2002 | Preston North End v Scunthorpe United | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 14 Sep 2002 | Preston North End v Sheffield Wednesday | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Derby County v Preston North End | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Sep 2002 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Preston North End | L | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Sep 2002 | Preston North End v Norwich City | L | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Oct 2002 | Macclesfield Town v Preston North End | W | 1-2 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 19 Oct 2002 | Walsall v Preston North End | D | 3-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Oct 2002 | Preston North End v Reading | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 29 Oct 2002 | Portsmouth v Preston North End | L | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 02 Nov 2002 | Preston North End v Burnley | W | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 05 Nov 2002 | Birmingham City v Preston North End | W | 0-2 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 23 Nov 2002 | Preston North End v Brighton and Hove Albion | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Nov 2002 | Coventry City v Preston North End | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Dec 2002 | Aston Villa v Preston North End | L | 5-0 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 07 Dec 2002 | Preston North End v Wimbledon | L | 3-5 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Dec 2002 | Preston North End v Grimsby Town | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Dec 2002 | Sheffield United v Preston North End | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Jan 2003 | Stoke City v Preston North End | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.