John Rankin has revealed he has been taking plenty of pelters from his team-mates after having to wear women’s boots during games.
The Dundee United midfielder was struggling to find fair-weather footwear to fit his size six and a half feet and had to order two pairs of ladies’ ones.
White with pink stripes, there was no hiding the fact that they were designed to be worn by the fairer sex and Rankin was soon on the receiving end of more than his fair share of boot banter, especially when another small-footed friend left on loan for Kilmarnock recently.
However, the 30-year-old insists he does not care what he wears on his feet during matches as long as United continue to do well.
Rankin said: “I’m an awkward size being a six and a half. Everybody says how can you be a six and a half and it is really baby sizes. So I was struggling to get a pair of boots and had to order women’s ones.
“The worst thing is, I didn’t just order one pair I ordered two pairs because I didn’t know when I would be able to get a six and a half again.
“So because the women’s boots were available, I decided to get two lots. They are pink and white so it’s easy to see that they are women’s.
“There is nothing to do though and I will just have to grin and bear it until the rain comes, the ground gets a wee bit softer and I can get back to normal boots.
“But you know what, I am going to stitch Michael Gardyne up as well as he is the same size as me. The two of us have women’s boots but now he has gone to Kilmarnock he has put the heat on me!
“I never wore them in training to start with as I thought I was going to take pelters. So I brought them out of the box for the first time in the Hibs game and right enough I took a fair bit of stick.
“Michael was helping me as he was wearing them as well but he was away soon after and I was taking the pelters myself.
“The boys can’t really say too much as some of them are wearing yellow, pink or whatever colour boots but mine just happened to have the women’s tag so I am getting a wee bit of heat for that but I am honestly not bothered.
“As long as we are getting results I don’t really mind if I have to wear women’s boots, my boots or anyone else’s!”
Despite wearing female boots, Rankin has barely put a foot wrong so far this season, sparking up a promising central midfield partnership with former Partick player Paul Paton.
And Rankin admitted that they are not afraid to do the less glamorous work to let the attacking flair of the likes of Ryan Gauld, Stuart Armstrong, Nadir Ciftci and David Goodwillie come to the fore.
Rankin said: “I am really enjoying playing with Paul. He obviously came to the club in the summer and we are trying to build a partnership.
“It seems to have been gelling together quite quickly with the way we have been playing.
“He is quite vocal and a joy to play with. When you are enjoying playing football and results are going your way, then it is certainly easier to gel together.
“Pates is also great at doing the jobs that no-one else likes. The two of us know the front four are a joy to watch and someone needs to be there to tidy up.
“If they continue to keep playing the way they are and creating chances, then it will be a successful season for us.”
Two key components of United’s squad, teenagers Ryan Gauld and John Souttar, have again been the subject of transfer speculation in recent days.
Rankin, though, preferred to talk about the man who has overseen the youngsters’ development, head of the club’s youth system Stevie Campbell.
He said: “Stevie does a great job with the kids at the club. They are sometimes doing three sessions a day but the good thing about Stevie is that the ball is the most important thing.
“They don’t miss a ball session and work with it in the morning and the afternoon.
“He also understands the importance of their strength and conditioning work as well. So he also has them in the gym.
“They do the three sessions a day Monday and Thursday, they have a game on the Tuesday and then they are at the college on Wednesday.
“We don’t see a lot of them on Friday as we are doing our own work for the game on the Saturday. So as I said, Stevie does great work with the kids and there are certainly more to come through.
“I don’t want to mention any names as I wouldn’t want to put pressure on the boys but the ones who have come through already have set a great example.”