Robert (Bobby) Rankin was born in
Paisley on the 7th April 1905.
He first joined St Mirren from Strathclyde Juniors in October 1926, and made an immediate
impact, scoring a double on his debut, a 4-0 win over Dunfermline on November 30th that year.
By Februay 1927
Bobby was a regular in the first team at inside left.
In 1929 he made his international debut for Scotland against Norway,
scoring once in a 7-3 victory.
He went onto play in a 1-1 draw with Germany before completing his caps with a goal
in a 2-0 win over Holland.
This record makes him the top Saints scorer in international football.
He continued to
be an important part of the Saints team until his departure to Beith in January 1934, following a dispute with the club.
After spells
with Dundee and Clyde, Bobby was to return to St Mirren in July 1937.
He was a regular over the next two
seasons, but had drifted out of the first team by the start of 1939-40.
Nearing the end of his career by now, he was
appointed a director of the club in 1941, whilst still registered as a player!
In 1946 he was appoined manager
after the departure of Willie Fotheringham. At this point he resigned from his boardroom position.
He led the team for
the next nine seasons and was slowly building a side capable of challenging for honours.
At the beginning of season 1953-54 it
was announced that Bobby had been in hospital, but was able to resume his duties for the first match of the season. However,
in January 1954 he was readmitted to hospital and was unable to return to the club for the remainder of the season.
In
the interim Willie Reid had agreed to take temporary charge of team matters. This is fitting tribute to Rankin as Willie was
his first ever signing for Saints back in May 1945.
In June Willie Reid was officially given the position of
assistant manager to cover what was expected to be a long term absence of the manager.
Sadly, on August 25th 1954 Bobby
Rankin died in The Royal Alexandra Infirmary, Paisley. He was only 49 years old.
He had served Saints well for nearly
thirty years as player, director and manager.
He was laid to rest on the 27th August, with players Willie Telfer, Willie
Reid, Jackie Neilson and Willie Johnston carrying his coffin into Woodside Crematorium in Paisley.
It is tribute
to him that Willie Reid became manager and within a year had guided the team that Bobby had began to build to the league
cup final and within five years had won the Scottish Cup with players such as Davie Lapsley, Tommy Gemmell and Jackie Nielson,
who had all been brought to Paisley by Bobby Rankin.
