1986–87 Football League

Last updated

The Football League
Season 1986–87
Champions Everton
Relegated Lincoln City
1987–88 →

The 1986–87 season was the 88th completed season of The Football League.

Contents

Play-offs to determine promotion places were introduced in 1987 so that more clubs remained eligible for promotion closer to the end of the season, and at the same time to aid in the reduction over two years of the number of clubs in the First Division from 22 to 20.

At the same time, automatic promotion and relegation between the Fourth Division and the Football Conference was introduced for one club, replacing the annual application for re-election to the League of the bottom four clubs and linking the League to the developing National League System pyramid.

Final league tables and results

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website. [1]

As of this season, there were no more re-election procedures, but instead, the club finishing last in the Fourth Division was demoted to Conference. The first casualty of this new practice were Lincoln City.

First Division

First Division
Season1986–87
Champions Everton
9th English title
Relegated Leicester City
Manchester City
Aston Villa
Matches462
Goals1,215 (2.63 per match)
Top goalscorer Clive Allen
(33 goals) [2]
Biggest home win Nottingham Forest 6–0 Aston Villa
(20 September 1986)
Sheffield Wednesday 7–1 Queens Park Rangers
(2 May 1987)
Biggest away win Chelsea 2–6 Nottingham Forest
(20 September 1986)
Southampton 0–4 Arsenal
(15 November 1986)
Aston Villa 0–4 Arsenal
(29 November 1986)
Chelsea 0–4 Wimbledon
(6 December 1986)
Newcastle United 0–4 Everton
(26 December 1986)
Highest scoring Chelsea 2–6 Nottingham Forest
(20 September 1986)
West Ham United 5–3 Chelsea
(11 October 1986)
Liverpool 6–2 Norwich City
(1 November 1986)
Sheffield Wednesday 7–1 Queens Park Rangers
(2 May 1987)
Longest winning run7 matches
Everton
Longest unbeaten run17 matches
Arsenal
Longest losing run6 matches
Newcastle United
1987–88 →

The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. This remains Everton's last league title. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off competition from runners-up Liverpool and third-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Fourth place went to George Graham's emerging young Arsenal side who also won the League Cup in his first season in charge. Fifth place went to newly-promoted Norwich City, whose manager Ken Brown built a strong squad on a limited budget to achieve a finish which would have been enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup had it not been for the ongoing ban on English clubs in European competitions.

Wimbledon finished sixth in the First Division in only their tenth season as a Football League club. Dave Bassett's men had led the league for the first two weeks of September, but sixth place was still much higher than most pundits[ who? ] had predicted at the start of the season. Luton Town enjoyed their highest league position by finishing seventh.

Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson had been under pressure for months, after his side had finished fourth in the league in 1985–86, 12 points behind the champions, Liverpool. The Manchester United board had initially decided to stick with Atkinson as manager for the 1986–87 season, but finally sacked him in November with Manchester United fourth from bottom in the league and having suffered a League Cup exit to Southampton. Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson took over, and results began to improve despite no immediate new signings being made, with Manchester United finally finishing 11th.

West Ham United, who had come close to winning the title the previous season, slipped to 15th place in 1986–87.

Aston Villa were relegated to the Second Division just five years after they won the European Cup. Chairman Doug Ellis had sensed from the start that 1986-87 would be a tough season for the club, so he axed manager Graham Turner in September and replaced him with Manchester City's Billy McNeill. But McNeill was unable to stop the rot and Villa went down in bottom place. McNeill was subsequently sacked and replaced by Watford's Graham Taylor.

Villa were joined on the way down by Manchester City and Leicester City. In the first season of the relegation/promotion play-offs, Charlton Athletic beat Second Division Leeds United to retain their top flight status.

No European qualification took place due to UEFA voting to ban English clubs from European competitions for a third season following the Heysel disaster in 1985.

Final table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Everton (C)4226887631+4586Disqualified from the European Cup
2 Liverpool 42238117242+3077Disqualified from the UEFA Cup
3 Tottenham Hotspur 42218136843+2571
4 Arsenal [a] 422010125835+2370
5 Norwich City 42171785351+268
6 Wimbledon 42199145750+766
7 Luton Town 421812124745+266
8 Nottingham Forest 421811136451+1365
9 Watford 42189156754+1363
10 Coventry City [b] 421712135045+563Disqualified from the European Cup Winners' Cup
11 Manchester United 421414145245+756
12 Southampton 421410186968+152
13 Sheffield Wednesday 421313165859−152
14 Chelsea 421313165364−1152
15 West Ham United 421410185267−1552
16 Queens Park Rangers 421311184864−1650
17 Newcastle United 421211194765−1847
18 Oxford United 421113184469−2546
19 Charlton Athletic (O)421111204555−1044Qualification for the Second Division play-offs
20 Leicester City (R)42119225476−2242Relegation to the Second Division
21 Manchester City (R)42815193657−2139
22 Aston Villa (R)42812224579−3436
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ↑ Arsenal would have qualified as League Cup winners.
  2. ↑ Coventry City would have qualified as FA Cup winners.

First Division results

Home \ Away ARS AST CHA CHE COV EVE LEI LIV LUT MCI MUN NEW NWC NOT OXF QPR SHW SOU TOT WAT WHU WDN
Arsenal 2–12–1 3–1 0–00–14–10–13–03–0 1–0 0–11–20–00–03–12–01–0 0–0 3–10–03–1
Aston Villa 0–42–00–01–00–12–02–22–10–03–32–01–40–01–20–11–23–10–31–14–00–0
Charlton Athletic 0–23–00–01–13–22–00–00–15–00–01–11–20–10–02–11–11–30–24–32–10–1
Chelsea 1–0 4–10–10–01–23–13–31–32–11–11–30–02–64–03–12–01–10–20–01–00–4
Coventry City 2–10–12–13–01–1 1–0 1–00–12–21–13–02–11–03–04–11–01–14–31–01–31–0
Everton 0–13–02–12–23–15–1 0–0 3–10–03–13–04–02–03–10–02–03–01–03–24–03–0
Leicester City 1–11–11–02–2 1–1 0–22–11–14–01–11–10–2 3–1 2–04–16–12–31–21–22–03–1
Liverpool 2–13–32–03–02–0 3–1 4–32–0 0–0 0–1 2–06–23–04–02–11–11–00–11–01–01–2
Luton Town 0–02–11–01–02–01–01–04–11–02–10–00–04–22–31–00–02–13–1 0–2 2–10–0
Manchester City 3–03–12–11–20–11–31–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–02–21–01–00–01–02–41–11–23–13–1
Manchester United 2–0 3–10–10–11–10–02–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 4–10–12–03–21–03–15–13–33–12–30–1
Newcastle United 1–22–10–31–01–20–42–00–22–23–12–14–13–20–00–22–32–01–12–24–01–0
Norwich City 1–11–11–12–21–10–12–12–10–01–10–02–02–12–11–01–04–32–11–31–10–0
Nottingham Forest 1–06–04–00–10–01–0 2–1 1–12–22–01–12–11–12–01–03–20–02–01–11–13–2
Oxford United 0–02–23–21–12–01–10–01–34–20–02–01–10–12–10–12–13–12–41–30–03–1
Queens Park Rangers 1–41–00–01–13–10–10–11–32–21–01–12–11–13–11–12–22–12–03–22–32–1
Sheffield Wednesday 1–12–11–12–02–22–22–20–11–02–11–02–01–12–36–17–13–10–10–12–20–2
Southampton 0–45–02–21–22–00–24–02–13–01–11–14–11–21–33–05–11–12–03–11–02–2
Tottenham Hotspur 1–2 3–01–01–31–02–05–01–00–01–04–01–13–02–33–11–01–12–02–14–01–2
Watford 2–04–24–13–12–32–15–12–0 2–0 1–11–01–01–11–13–00–30–11–11–02–20–1
West Ham United 3–11–11–35–31–01–04–12–52–02–00–01–10–21–20–11–10–23–12–11–02–3
Wimbledon 1–23–22–02–12–11–21–01–30–10–01–03–12–02–11–11–13–02–22–22–10–1
Source: [ citation needed ]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Arsenal Flag of England.svg Steve Burtenshaw End of caretaker spell14 May 1986Pre-season Flag of Scotland.svg George Graham 14 May 1986
Tottenham Hotspur Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Peter Shreeves Sacked15 May 1986 Flag of England.svg David Pleat 16 May 1986
Luton Town Flag of England.svg David Pleat Signed by Tottenham Hotspur16 May 1986 Flag of Scotland.svg John Moore 16 May 1986
Leicester City Flag of England.svg Gordon Milne Became general manager3 June 1986 Ulster Banner.svg Bryan Hamilton 3 June 1986
Aston Villa Flag of England.svg Graham Turner Sacked16 September 198621st Flag of Scotland.svg Billy McNeill 22 September 1986
Manchester City Flag of Scotland.svg Billy McNeill Signed by Aston Villa22 September 198615th Flag of Scotland.svg Jimmy Frizzell 22 September 1986
Manchester United Flag of England.svg Ron Atkinson Sacked6 November 198619th Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Ferguson 7 November 1986
Aston Villa Flag of Scotland.svg Billy McNeill 6 May 198722nd Flag of Scotland.svg Ron Wylie (caretaker)6 May 1987

First Division maps

Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1986–1987

Second Division

Second Division
Season1986–87
Champions Derby County
Promoted Derby County
Portsmouth
Relegated Sunderland
Grimsby Town
Brighton & Hove Albion
Matches462
Goals1,131 (2.45 per match)
Top goalscorer Micky Quinn
(22 goals) [2]
1987–88 →

There were just two guaranteed promotion places in the Second Division this season due to the introduction of the playoffs and the phased reorganization of the league. Derby County finished top of the Second Division to clinch a second successive promotion and reclaim the First Division place they had last held in 1980. Portsmouth, absent from the First Division for nearly 30 years and who had missed promotion by a single place in the previous two seasons, finally achieved promotion by finishing second. Oldham Athletic and Ipswich Town failed to progress beyond the semi-finals of the new playoffs, leaving Leeds United to take on Charlton Athletic in a two-legged contest for a First Division place. Charlton won the replay to keep their First Division status and condemn Leeds to a sixth successive season in the Second Division.

Financially troubled Grimsby Town were relegated, along with Brighton & Hove Albion. Sunderland's second relegation in three seasons condemned them to Third Division football for the first time in their history as they went down after losing in the playoffs.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Derby County (C, P)4225986438+2684Promotion to the First Division
2 Portsmouth (P)42239105328+2578
3 Oldham Athletic 42229116544+2175Qualification for the Second Division play-offs
4 Leeds United 421911125844+1468
5 Ipswich Town 421713125943+1664
6 Crystal Palace 42195185153−262
7 Plymouth Argyle 421613136257+561
8 Stoke City 421610166353+1058
9 Sheffield United 421513145049+158
10 Bradford City 421510176262055
11 Barnsley 421413154952−355
12 Blackburn Rovers 421510174555−1055
13 Reading 421411175259−753
14 Hull City 421314154155−1453
15 West Bromwich Albion 421312175149+251
16 Millwall 42149193945−651
17 Huddersfield Town 421312175461−751
18 Shrewsbury Town 42156214153−1251
19 Birmingham City 421117144759−1250
20 Sunderland (R)421212184959−1048Qualification for the Third Division play-offs
21 Grimsby Town (R)421014183959−2044Relegation to the Third Division
22 Brighton & Hove Albion (R)42912213754−1739
Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Second Division play-offs

Semi-finals
1st leg –14 May; 2nd leg –17 May 1987 		Finals
1st leg –23 May; 2nd leg –25 May 1987
          
19th Charlton Athletic (Div 1) 0 2 2
5th Ipswich Town 0 1 1
19th Charlton Athletic (Div 1) 1 0 1
4th Leeds United 0 1 1
3rd Oldham Athletic 0 2 2
4th Leeds United [notes2 1] 1 1 2
Replay
Leeds United 1 –2 (a.e.t.) Charlton Athletic (Div 1)
Report/Soccerbase
St. Andrew's, Birmingham
Attendance: 18,000

Second Division results

Home \ Away BAR BIR BLB BRA B&HA CRY DER GRI HUD HUL IPS LEE MIL OLD PLY POR REA SHU SHR STK SUN WBA
Barnsley 2–21–12–03–12–30–11–00–11–12–10–11–01–11–10–22–02–22–10–21–02–2
Birmingham City 1–11–12–12–04–11–11–01–10–02–22–11–11–33–20–11–12–10–20–02–00–1
Blackburn Rovers 4–21–02–11–10–23–12–21–20–20–02–11–01–01–21–00–00–22–12–16–10–1
Bradford City 0–00–02–02–01–20–14–24–32–03–42–04–00–32–21–03–01–10–01–43–21–3
Brighton & Hove Albion 1–12–00–22–22–00–10–11–12–11–20–10–11–21–10–01–12–03–01–00–32–0
Crystal Palace 0–16–02–01–12–01–00–31–05–13–31–02–12–10–01–01–31–22–31–02–01–1
Derby County 3–22–23–21–04–11–04–02–01–12–12–11–10–14–20–03–02–03–10–03–21–1
Grimsby Town 0–10–11–00–01–20–10–10–12–21–10–01–02–21–10–23–21–00–11–11–13–1
Huddersfield Town 2–22–21–25–22–11–22–00–01–31–21–13–05–41–22–02–01–12–12–20–22–1
Hull City 3–43–20–02–11–03–01–11–10–02–10–02–11–00–30–20–20–03–00–41–02–0
Ipswich Town 1–03–03–11–01–03–00–21–13–00–02–00–00–13–00–11–12–21–02–01–11–0
Leeds United 2–24–00–01–03–13–02–02–01–13–03–22–00–24–03–13–20–11–02–11–13–2
Millwall 1–00–22–21–23–10–10–11–04–00–11–01–00–03–11–12–11–04–01–11–10–1
Oldham Athletic 2–02–23–02–11–11–01–41–12–00–02–10–12–12–10–04–03–13–02–01–12–1
Plymouth Argyle 2–00–01–13–22–23–11–15–01–14–02–01–11–03–22–31–01–03–21–32–41–0
Portsmouth 2–12–01–02–11–02–03–12–11–01–01–11–12–03–00–11–01–23–03–03–12–1
Reading 0–02–24–00–12–11–02–02–33–21–01–42–10–12–32–02–22–03–10–11–01–1
Sheffield United 1–01–14–12–20–11–00–11–20–04–20–00–02–12–02–11–03–31–13–12–11–1
Shrewsbury Town 1–01–00–10–11–00–00–14–11–23–02–10–21–22–01–11–00–01–04–10–11–0
Stoke City 1–20–21–02–31–13–10–25–12–01–10–07–22–00–21–01–13–05–21–03–01–1
Sunderland 2–32–03–02–31–11–01–20–12–11–01–01–11–10–22–10–01–11–21–12–00–3
West Bromwich Albion 0–13–20–12–20–01–22–01–11–01–13–43–00–12–00–01–01–21–01–24–12–2
Source: [ citation needed ]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Division maps

Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1986–1987

Third Division

The three promotion places in this division were gained by three clubs who were among the least fancied promotion contenders at the start of the season. Champions Bournemouth were promoted to the Second Division for the first time in their history thanks to the efforts of hard working manager Harry Redknapp. Runners-up spot went to Bruce Rioch's Middlesbrough, who had begun the season on the verge of extinction and had been forced to play their first home game of the season at Hartlepool's ground because the official receiver had locked them out of Ayresome Park.

The relegation/promotion play-offs between the Third and Fourth Divisions saw Bolton Wanderers go down to the bottom division for the first time. Newport County, Darlington and Carlisle United went down automatically. The Fourth Division would be familiar territory for Newport and Darlington, but Carlisle had not played in the Fourth Division for nearly a quarter of a century and just three years earlier had been in the race for a First Division place. Defeat in the playoffs meant that Bolton Wanderers would be playing Fourth Division football for the first time in their history.

Football League Third Division
Season1986–87
Champions Bournemouth (1st title)
Promoted Middlesbrough
Swindon Town
Relegated Bolton Wanderers
Carlisle United
Darlington
Newport County
Matches552
Goals1,471 (2.66 per match)
Top goalscorer Andy Jones (Port Vale), 29 [2]
1987–88 →

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1 Bournemouth (C, P)46291077640+3697Promotion to the Second Division
2 Middlesbrough (P)46281086730+3794
3 Swindon Town (O, P)46251297747+3087Qualification for the Third Division play-offs
4 Wigan Athletic 462510118360+2385
5 Gillingham 46239146548+1778
6 Bristol City 462114116336+2777
7 Notts County 462113127756+2176
8 Walsall 46229158067+1375
9 Blackpool 461616147459+1564
10 Mansfield Town 461516155255−361
11 Brentford 461515166466−260
12 Port Vale 461512197670+657
13 Doncaster Rovers 461415175662−657
14 Rotherham United 461512194857−957
15 Chester City 461317166159+256
16 Bury 461413195460−655
17 Chesterfield 461315185669−1354
18 Fulham 461217175977−1853
19 Bristol Rovers 461312214975−2651
20 York City 461213215579−2449
21 Bolton Wanderers (R)461015214658−1245Qualification for the Fourth Division play-offs
22 Carlisle United (R)46108283978−3938Relegation to the Fourth Division
23 Darlington (R)46716234577−3237
24 Newport County (R)46813254986−3737
Source: [3]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Third Division play-offs

Both the semifinals and the finals were decided over two legs.
The full results can be found at: Football League Division Three play-offs 1987.

Semi-finals
1st leg –14 May; 2nd leg –17 May 1987 		Finals
1st leg –22 May; 2nd leg –25 May 1987
          
20th Sunderland (Div 2) 2 4 6
5th Gillingham [notes4 1] 3 3 6
3rd Swindon Town [notes4 2] 0 2 2
5th Gillingham 1 1 2
3rd Swindon Town 3 0 3
4th Wigan Athletic 2 0 2
Replay
Swindon Town 2 –0 Gillingham
Report/Soccerbase
Selhurst Park, South Norwood, London
Attendance: 18,491
  1. ↑ After the second leg and an extra time the aggregate was 6–6, but Gillingham had scored 3 times at Sunderland, versus
    Sunderland 2 times at Gillingham, and thus Gillingham progressed to finals on away goals.
  2. ↑ Swindon won the replay 2–0, and were thus promoted to Division 2.

Third Division results

Home \ Away BLP BOL BOU BRE BRC BRR BRY CRL CHE CHF DAR DON FUL GIL MAN MID NPC NTC PTV ROT SWI WAL WIG YOR
Blackpool 1–1 1–32–01–06–11–11–21–00–02–11–11–00–11–20–11–13–12–01–01–11–15–12–1
Bolton Wanderers 1–0 0–10–20–02–2 2–3 2–01–11–24–30–13–23–00–10–10–11–13–00–01–21–0 1–2 3–1
Bournemouth 1–12–11–12–02–01–02–12–02–01–03–23–20–24–13–12–13–00–02–01–01–03–13–0
Brentford 1–11–21–11–11–20–23–13–12–25–31–1 3–3 3–23–10–12–01–00–22–01–10–12–33–1
Bristol City 3–14–12–00–2 0–1 2–23–01–01–01–15–00–02–00–02–2 4–0 3–11–00–1 1–1 2–12–13–0
Bristol Rovers 2–21–00–30–1 0–0 1–14–03–23–22–12–30–00–10–01–22–2 0–0 0–00–2 3–4 0–31–01–0
Bury 4–1 0–0 0–11–11–21–00–01–11–12–02–02–11–01–10–34–30–22–20–21–24–01–31–0
Carlisle United 3–10–00–00–01–22–02–10–23–0 1–0 1–01–32–41–20–12–20–22–03–50–30–30–22–2
Chester City 1–40–02–21–10–33–10–12–21–16–01–02–21–11–11–22–01–21–21–02–00–01–22–1
Chesterfield 1–10–01–11–20–31–11–13–20–11–0 4–1 3–11–0 0–1 2–13–2 1–2 2–4 2–1 1–33–24–31–0
Darlington 1–10–10–31–10–01–14–1 0–1 1–01–12–20–11–12–10–11–32–13–21–10–01–31–02–2
Doncaster Rovers 2–23–00–32–01–02–00–02–01–1 1–1 0–02–12–0 1–0 0–20–11–22–1 3–0 2–21–11–13–1
Fulham 0–14–21–3 1–3 0–32–22–13–00–53–13–10–02–21–12–22–03–10–61–10–22–22–21–0
Gillingham 2–11–02–12–01–14–11–01–01–23–04–12–14–12–00–01–13–10–01–01–04–00–02–0
Mansfield Town 1–12–21–11–02–05–01–32–02–3 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–11–01–11–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–02–01–51–1
Middlesbrough 1–30–04–02–01–01–03–11–01–22–01–11–03–03–01–02–02–02–20–01–03–10–03–1
Newport County 1–12–10–12–2 0–1 0–1 2–21–12–21–03–03–20–01–20–30–11–10–21–22–22–41–21–1
Notts County 3–20–01–11–12–03–01–22–11–1 2–1 2–23–12–33–1 0–0 1–05–24–15–02–32–12–05–1
Port Vale 1–61–11–24–10–04–12–00–12–12–21–24–20–11–23–20–06–11–11–13–4 4–1 0–12–3
Rotherham United 1–01–04–22–32–00–12–12–13–0 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–00–12–21–43–11–11–11–21–00–20–0
Swindon Town 2–62–01–12–0 1–2 1–2 1–02–01–12–11–01–12–01–13–01–03–01–21–02–00–03–13–1
Walsall 2–13–32–05–21–10–33–13–02–12–04–21–31–11–02–01–02–01–1 5–2 4–11–02–33–2
Wigan Athletic 4–1 2–1 0–21–13–14–31–02–02–21–11–11–12–03–13–00–21–21–02–12–13–25–13–2
York City 1–12–12–02–11–11–01–02–01–11–13–11–11–12–11–33–13–01–11–42–10–31–51–1
Source: Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division maps

Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1986–1987

Fourth Division

The stars of the Fourth Division during 1986-87 were Graham Carr's runaway champions Northampton Town, with young midfielder Eddie McGoldrick being the key player in his side's season of success. Northampton were confirmed as promoted with nine matches (19.6% of all matches) remaining, the earliest promotion in Football League history to date. [4]

Also automatically promoted were Preston North End and Southend United. The fourth promotion place went to Aldershot by winning the promotion/relegation playoffs.

Down at the bottom end of the division, an injury time winner for Torquay United kept them in the Football League after a police dog had bitten one of their players. The introduction of automatic relegation to the Conference saw Lincoln City lose their league status in favour of Conference champions Scarborough.

Burnley – league champions 27 years earlier – plummeted to new depths. They finished third from bottom in the league and only a win on the last day of the season prevented them from going down to the Conference.

Football League Fourth Division
Season1986–87
Champions Northampton Town (1st title)
Promoted Aldershot
Preston North End
Southend United
Relegated Lincoln City
Matches552
Goals1,456 (2.64 per match)
Top goalscorer Richard Hill (Northampton Town), 29 [2]
1987–88 →

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1 Northampton Town (C, P)46309710353+5099Promotion to the Third Division
2 Preston North End (P)46261287247+2590
3 Southend United (P)46255166855+1380
4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46247156950+1979Qualification for the Fourth Division play-offs
5 Colchester United 46217186456+870
6 Aldershot (O, P)462010166457+770
7 Leyton Orient 46209176461+369
8 Scunthorpe United 461812167357+1666
9 Wrexham 461520117051+1965
10 Peterborough United 461714155750+765
11 Cambridge United 461711186062−262
12 Swansea City 461711185661−562
13 Cardiff City 461516154850−261
14 Exeter City 461123125349+456
15 Halifax Town 461510215974−1555
16 Hereford United 461411216061−153
17 Crewe Alexandra 461314197072−253
18 Hartlepool United 461118174465−2151
19 Stockport County 461312214069−2951
20 Tranmere Rovers 461117185472−1850
21 Rochdale 461117185473−1950
22 Burnley 461213215374−2149
23 Torquay United 461018185672−1648
24 Lincoln City (R)461212224565−2048Relegation to the Football Conference
Source: [ citation needed ]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Fourth Division play-offs

Both the semifinals and the finals were decided over two legs, and only the aggregates are given in the schemata below.
The full results can be found at: Football League Division Four play-offs 1987.

Semi-finals
1st leg –14 May; 2nd leg –17 May 1987 		Finals
1st leg –23 May; 2nd leg –25 May 1987
          
21st Bolton Wanderers (Div 3) 0 2 2
6th Aldershot 1 2 3
6th Aldershot 2 1 3
4th Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 0 0
4th Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 0 2
5th Colchester United 0 0 0

Fourth Division results

Home \ Away ALD BUR CAM CAR COL CRE EXE HAL HAR HER LEY LIN NOR PET PNE ROC SCU STD STP SWA TOR TRA WOL WRE
Aldershot 2–04–11–21–01–02–14–11–11–01–24–03–31–10–02–12–10–13–04–11–10–21–21–0
Burnley 0–10–21–32–14–00–0 3–0 1–10–62–13–12–10–0 1–4 0–3 1–02–1 2–0 1–12–22–22–50–0
Cambridge United 0–33–12–1 0–1 0–32–21–03–02–12–01–1 2–3 1–1 2–03–01–01–25–01–03–31–10–01–0
Cardiff City 2–01–03–00–21–10–00–04–14–01–11–11–10–11–10–01–10–21–1 0–0 3–10–20–20–0
Colchester United 0–11–0 1–2 3–12–11–13–12–12–00–02–03–11–30–22–01–0 1–2 5–12–13–01–13–02–1
Crewe Alexandra 1–31–00–01–21–12–22–21–01–23–21–20–51–32–25–12–22–1 5–0 1–11–0 3–2 1–1 1–1
Exeter City 4–03–01–10–02–01–02–22–01–01–02–01–11–11–21–10–00–04–02–2 2–2 1–01–34–2
Halifax Town 1–0 2–2 1–01–10–00–32–01–02–14–01–23–61–01–3 3–1 1–10–10–21–02–40–03–42–1
Hartlepool United 1–12–22–21–10–00–51–00–00–01–32–13–31–22–21–10–21–01–01–12–11–10–10–1
Hereford United 1–02–02–30–22–32–01–11–04–01–10–03–22–02–30–12–20–11–22–02–21–02–00–0
Leyton Orient 1–32–03–02–01–01–12–01–32–02–02–10–11–01–23–03–1 1–0 1–01–43–22–23–12–4
Lincoln City 0–22–10–30–13–12–11–10–01–40–02–03–11–21–11–11–21–30–04–01–13–13–00–1
Northampton Town 4–24–2 3–0 4–13–22–14–01–01–13–22–03–1 2–1 3–15–01–02–12–10–11–02–02–12–2
Peterborough United 1–11–1 2–1 1–22–01–22–22–03–12–10–10–1 0–1 2–11–11–12–00–01–12–12–10–11–0
Preston North End 1–2 2–1 1–00–11–02–12–13–20–02–11–03–01–00–02–42–12–03–02–11–12–02–21–0
Rochdale 3–1 0–2 2–00–01–01–10–0 5–3 0–22–00–01–11–23–20–21–11–2 2–1 2–03–30–10–33–3
Scunthorpe United 2–02–11–11–35–22–13–12–11–23–10–22–12–22–04–02–03–01–23–22–06–00–23–3
Southend United 2–02–13–12–0 1–1 3–12–12–31–12–0 2–1 1–00–42–21–25–33–10–01–24–03–01–00–3
Stockport County 0–0 0–1 3–22–01–1 2–1 0–02–00–21–22–21–00–33–11–3 1–1 1–00–23–10–00–20–22–1
Swansea City 2–12–22–0 2–0 1–21–11–00–21–01–34–12–02–10–11–11–01–21–03–00–12–01–00–3
Torquay United 2–21–11–01–03–12–2 1–1 1–00–11–12–20–10–11–00–22–12–22–10–03–50–21–22–1
Tranmere Rovers 1–12–11–12–13–43–21–03–41–13–31–32–01–11–11–11–11–01–30–31–12–20–1 0–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–00–11–20–12–02–32–21–24–11–03–13–01–10–31–00–01–01–23–14–01–02–10–3
Wrexham 3–02–22–15–10–12–10–03–11–12–21–11–11–34–31–12–21–14–00–00–02–1 1–1 0–0
Source: Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fourth Division maps

Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Fourth Division London teams 1986–1987

See also

References

  1. ↑ "England 1986–87". RSSSF . Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF . Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "League Division Three end of season table for 1986–87 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "The Knowledge: Is Bayer Leverkusen's 40-point increase between seasons a record?". The Guardian. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.