Does sporting achievement run in the family? Formby Author says it does..

DOES sporting accomplishment run in the family?

A Formby author reckons it does - and he has a football family tree to prove the point.

Gordon Fraser belongs to a family who can boast five consecutive generations of sporting achievement - and he has written about it in a new book “Sporting Genes.”

“The book is about the sporting achievements of four generations of my wife’s family and has a strong local connection,” says Gordon.

“Three of the five subjects played for Everton’s first team, another played for Marine in the 1932 FA Amateur Cup Final, played baseball in the Liverpool league and went on to represent England, and our son, Gavin Fraser, played rugby union for Waterloo’s first XV.”

The five sporting achievers are:

• Bruce Rankin, Gordon’s wife’s grandfather, who played for Everton from 1901-06 and later West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City, Luton Town and Wrexham.

He was part of the squad which travelled to Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary on Everton’s first ever European tour, was a crowd favourite at West Brom, but was suspended sine die for insubordination during a training session at Rhyl in preparation for an FA Cup tie! Within days he was signed by Manchester City.

• Billy Rankin, Bruce’s son, was on Everton’s books at one time and played for Marine in the 1932 FA Amateur Cup Final . He represented England at baseball and later became a baseball referee. He was the backstop at baseball and was known as “the man with the iron hands” as he did not wear protective gloves.

• George Rankin, Bruce’s grandson, represented England at youth level, including in the inaugural International Youth Tournament. He played for Everton from 1948-56, then moved to Southport where he made 144 first team appearances.

• Andy Rankin, another of Bruce’s grandsons, and an Everton goalkeeper in the 1960s and early 70s. He was capped by England at Under-23 level and played more than 100 first team games for Everton - including the famous first ever penalty shoot-out in the European Cup when Everton beat Borussia Moenchangladbach.

Andy Rankin saves Peter Osgood penalty v Chelsea 1971

• Gavin Fraser, Bruce’s great-grandson and our son. He played first team rugby at Waterloo in the 1990s and later moved to London Scottish, London Irish and Glasgow Warriors. He represented Scotland at different levels but never reached the first XV.

Gordon added: “As well as the five consecutive generations of sporting achievements, the family has another claim to be unique in that eight members have pulled on the blue shirt of Everton!

“In addition to the players mentioned, Bruce’s younger brother played several games for Everton Reserves in 1905, Bruce’s son George (Andy Rankin’s father) was on Everton’s books but never played for the first team, George Rankin’s younger brother was on Everton’s books as a youngster but was released as a 17 year old and later played for Southport. While another of Bruce’s grandsons, Billy Wallace, was also on Everton’s books as youngster but left of his own accord.

Tomorrow (Saturday) you have the chance to meet Gordon Fraser in our very own Bubble at Formby Books. He will be there from 10am to sign copies of his book and to chat and he will be joined by Everton legend Howard Kendall, a fellow Formby resident, has agreed to attend the book signing for the new volume.

Please take the time to come along to the shop and the perfect hosts Tony Higginson and Bob Stone will be there with their usual hospitality on Saturday, March 28 at Formby Books, Halsall Lane, near Barclays Bank at 10.00am.

A second signing will take place on 17th April. Pritchards Books of Crosby have organised a Blues Night at the Blues Bar in Crosby from 5.30pm to 7.30pm where Howard Kendall and Neville Southall will also be signing their books.

The third is at the EFC Heritage Society stall at St Luke’s Church on Goodison Road on the afternoon before the last match of the season on May 24.

Story and Photo Source: Liverpool Echo