Andy Rennie (Scottish footballer)
Andrew Rennie (1901–1938) was a Scottish footballer, best known as a player for Luton Town. He is Luton Town's second top goalscorer of all time, with 162 goals between 1925 and 1934,[1] 147 of which came in the league.[1][2]
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Andrew Rennie | ||
Date of birth | 1901 | ||
Place of birth | Baillieston, Scotland | ||
Date of death | 5 September 1938 (aged 36-37) | ||
Place of death | Luton, England | ||
Playing position(s) | Centre-forward | ||
Youth career | |||
Paisley Waverley | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
–1925 | Kilwinning Rangers | ||
1925–1934 | Luton Town | 307 | (147) |
1934–1935 | Newport County | 3 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Playing career
Rennie was a prolific goalscorer in his junior days in Scotland, but on joining Kilwinning Rangers he was moved to centre-back.
Rennie left Kilwinning for English Third Division South team Luton Town in 1925, still as a defender. He remained playing in that position for two years at Luton, until Luton manager John McCartney moved him back to the forward line. It was a shrewd decision by McCartney: Rennie scored in his first game up front, and finished the year as the club's leading scorer, with 24 goals in as many games. Rennie did even better during the 1928–29 season, scoring 43 goals in only 41 matches to be the highest goalscorer for the Third Division South.[3]
Nicknamed "Ratty" due to his short temper, Rennie went on to become Luton's second highest goalscorer of all time – at the time, he was the top goalscorer. His records were broken by Gordon Turner three decades later.[4]
Post-retirement
Rennie died on 5 September 1938 in Luton Hospital following a hernia operation, only four years after leaving Luton and three years after retiring from professional football.[4] He was laid to rest on 8 September 1938 at Luton municipal cemetery, Rothesay Road; he is buried in plot 2040B which is an unmarked grave. The grave is not unmarked and bares a headstone to a loving husband and father, Andrew Rennie, (Andy). I visited it 11-6-19. A true Luton legend. RIP
References
- Bailey, Steve (December 1997). The Definitive Luton Town F.C. Nottingham: Soccerdata. p. 98. ISBN 1-899468-10-2.
- Joyce, Mike. "Andy Rennie". Since 1888. Retrieved 17 October 2009. (registration & fee required)
- "Football League Div 3 Leading Goalscorers 1921–39". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- Hayes, Dean P. (November 2002). Completely Top Hatters!. Dunstable: The Book Castle. pp. 144–145. ISBN 1-903747-27-9.