Beefy Ray Hankin, this week’s new signing for posh, is determined to prove that he can still find the net in English football. Following a barren spell at Middlesbrough, where he managed just two goals in 25 appearances, including one in the F.A. Cup, doubts have begun to surface about his ability to recapture his scoring touch.
Yet it was only a year ago that Middlesbrough paid £85,000 to secure his services. Now, with Posh acquiring him for just £5,000, the club could well have landed one of the bargains of the season. Hankin made his Burnley debut in the penultimate game of the 1972–73 campaign, coming on as a substitute against Luton. Burnley went on to finish that season as Second Division champions.
His first full appearance came during the 1973–74 season, in a 3–2 victory over Tottenham. Hankin went on to feature in 34 league matches, scoring eight goals as Burnley made a tremendous impact in the First Division and finished fifth. He also found the net twice in the League Cup and added another goal in the F.A. Cup.
Hankin was rapidly developing into one of the division’s more feared forwards. The following season, he struck 14 goals in 37 appearances and scored in the League Cup as well. His impressive performances earned him international recognition in October 1974, when he came on as a substitute for England Under-23s in their 3–0 victory over Czechoslovakia at Selhurst Park. In December, he featured in a 3–0 win against Scotland at Aberdeen, followed by another international appearance in January 1975, when England defeated Wales 2–0 at Wrexham.
Burnley were relegated from the First Division the following season, but Hankin remained their leading marksman, scoring 13 goals and adding another in the F.A. Cup. During the 1976–77 campaign, he made only six appearances in the Second Division for Burnley, scoring twice before Leeds United secured his services for £180,000. Unfortunately, his move to Elland Road did not bring the immediate success he might have hoped for, as injury problems limited him to just four appearances for Leeds.
Ray Hankin enjoyed his finest season in 1977–78. He appeared in 33 First Division matches for Leeds and scored an impressive 20 goals, establishing himself among the division’s leading marksmen. Leeds also progressed to the League Cup semi-finals, where Hankin contributed another goal to his tally. The club enjoyed another strong campaign in 1978–79, finishing fifth in the league, while Hankin once again demonstrated his scoring ability by netting 11 goals in all competitions. However, a trip to Wembley remained out of reach, as Leeds were eliminated by Southampton in the League Cup semi-finals.
The following season, Hankin experienced European football when he represented Leeds in the UEFA Cup, scoring against Valletta. After making 16 appearances and scoring three goals for the Yorkshire club, he moved to the North American Soccer League, joining Vancouver Whitecaps in March 1980 for £200,000.
During his spell in Vancouver, Hankin played alongside John Wile, and the Posh manager has remained impressed by the forward ever since. Keen to return to English football, Ray Hankin earned a chance with Arsenal in 1981–82, making two substitute appearances in the League Cup. However, the club never offered him a permanent contract.
Last September, Ray Hankin returned to English football when he signed for Middlesbrough under Bobby Murdoch. Almost immediately after the signing, however, Murdoch was dismissed, and Malcolm Allison took charge. From that point onwards, matters deteriorated further for Hankin. Few strikers escape a difficult spell in front of goal at some point in their careers, and Ray Hankin is certainly no exception.
At just 27 years of age, with his experience and proven goalscoring record, Ray Hankin surely deserves more than to be written off after a single disappointing season. Posh supporters will be hoping that they can witness the revival of a striker who once ranked among England’s most promising goalscorers. Read More: J. Kittu: A Lovable Character
