1987–88 in Scottish football

91st competitive football season in Scotland

1987–88 in Scottish football

Premier Division champions
Celtic
Division One champions
Hamilton Academical
Division Two champions
Ayr United
Scottish Cup winners
Celtic
League Cup winners
Rangers
Junior Cup winners
Auchinleck Talbot
Teams in Europe
Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Rangers, St Mirren
Scotland national team
UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying, Rous Cup
← 1986–87 1988–89 →

The 1987–88 season was the 91st season of competitive football in Scotland. [1]

## Notable events

[edit]

Billy McNeill's second spell back in charge of Celtic began in style as they finished the season by winning the double of the league title and Scottish Cup. The cup triumph was sealed with two late goals from Frank McAvennie, signed in early October from West Ham United, as they had trailed 1–0 to Dundee United.

Rangers, further strengthened with the signing of Englishmen Ray Wilkins and Mark Walters in midfield, had consolation for their failure to repeat title glory in the shape of a League Cup win. They could only finish third in the league, with Hearts finishing second – 10 points adrift of champions Celtic.

The Old Firm league fixture at Ibrox in October 1987, which ended in a 2-2 draw, saw three players red carded.[2] Charges were later brought against four of the players (three from Rangers, one from Celtic) by the Procurator Fiscal.[3] The resulting Court case ended up with Terry Butcher and Chris Woods being convicted of a breach of the peace. Graham Roberts was found Not proven, whilst Frank McAvennie was acquitted.[4]

Rangers enjoyed the longest run in Europe out of all the Scottish clubs, reaching the European Cup quarter finals where they were edged out by Steaua Bucharest.

A reduction of the Premier Division from 12 clubs to 10 saw three clubs (Falkirk, Dunfirmline Athletic and Morton) relegated. The only promotion place went to Division One champions Hamilton Academical.

## Scottish Premier Division

[edit]

Main article: 1987–88 Scottish Premier Division

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Celtic (C) | 44  | 31  | 10  | 3  | 79  | 23  | +56  | 72  | Qualification for the European Cup first round
2  | Heart of Midlothian | 44  | 23  | 16  | 5  | 74  | 32  | +42  | 62  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3  | Rangers | 44  | 26  | 8  | 10  | 85  | 34  | +51  | 60
4  | Aberdeen | 44  | 21  | 17  | 6  | 56  | 25  | +31  | 59
5  | Dundee United | 44  | 16  | 15  | 13  | 54  | 47  | +7  | 47  | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
6  | Hibernian | 44  | 12  | 19  | 13  | 41  | 42  | −1  | 43  |
7  | Dundee | 44  | 17  | 7  | 20  | 70  | 64  | +6  | 41
8  | Motherwell | 44  | 13  | 10  | 21  | 37  | 56  | −19  | 36
9  | St Mirren | 44  | 10  | 15  | 19  | 41  | 64  | −23  | 35
10  | Falkirk (R) | 44  | 10  | 11  | 23  | 41  | 75  | −34  | 31  | Relegation to the 1988–89 Scottish First Division
11  | Dunfermline Athletic (R) | 44  | 8  | 10  | 26  | 41  | 84  | −43  | 26
12  | Morton (R) | 44  | 3  | 10  | 31  | 27  | 100  | −73  | 16

Source: Statto
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Champions: Celtic
Relegated: Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, Morton

## Scottish League Division One

[edit]

Main article: 1987–88 Scottish First Division

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Hamilton Academical (C, P) | 44  | 22  | 12  | 10  | 67  | 39  | +28  | 56  | Promotion to the Premier Division
2  | Meadowbank Thistle | 44  | 20  | 12  | 12  | 71  | 37  | +34  | 52  |
3  | Clydebank | 44  | 21  | 7  | 16  | 59  | 61  | −2  | 49
4  | Forfar Athletic | 44  | 16  | 16  | 12  | 67  | 58  | +9  | 48
5  | Raith Rovers | 44  | 19  | 7  | 18  | 81  | 76  | +5  | 45
6  | Airdrieonians | 44  | 16  | 13  | 15  | 65  | 68  | −3  | 45
7  | Queen of the South | 44  | 14  | 15  | 15  | 56  | 67  | −11  | 43
8  | Partick Thistle | 44  | 16  | 9  | 19  | 60  | 64  | −4  | 41
9  | Clyde | 44  | 16  | 6  | 22  | 73  | 75  | −2  | 38
10  | Kilmarnock | 44  | 13  | 11  | 20  | 55  | 60  | −5  | 37
11  | East Fife (R) | 44  | 13  | 10  | 21  | 61  | 76  | −15  | 36  | Relegation to the Second Division
12  | Dumbarton (R) | 44  | 12  | 12  | 20  | 51  | 70  | −19  | 36

Source: RSSSF[dead link‍] and statto[5]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Promoted: Hamilton Academical
Relegated: East Fife, Dumbarton

## Scottish League Division Two

[edit]

Main article: 1987–88 Scottish Second Division

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Ayr United (C, P) | 39  | 27  | 7  | 5  | 95  | 31  | +64  | 61  | Promotion to the First Division
2  | St Johnstone (P) | 39  | 26  | 9  | 4  | 75  | 23  | +52  | 61
3  | Queen's Park | 39  | 21  | 9  | 9  | 64  | 44  | +20  | 51  |
4  | Brechin City | 39  | 20  | 8  | 11  | 56  | 40  | +16  | 48
5  | Stirling Albion | 39  | 18  | 10  | 11  | 60  | 51  | +9  | 46
6  | East Stirlingshire | 39  | 15  | 13  | 11  | 52  | 48  | +4  | 43
7  | Alloa Athletic | 39  | 16  | 8  | 15  | 50  | 46  | +4  | 40
8  | Montrose | 39  | 12  | 11  | 16  | 45  | 51  | −6  | 35
9  | Arbroath | 39  | 10  | 14  | 15  | 54  | 66  | −12  | 34
10  | Stenhousemuir | 39  | 12  | 9  | 18  | 49  | 58  | −9  | 33
11  | Cowdenbeath | 39  | 9  | 13  | 17  | 50  | 67  | −17  | 31
12  | Albion Rovers | 39  | 10  | 11  | 18  | 45  | 75  | −30  | 31
13  | Berwick Rangers | 39  | 6  | 4  | 29  | 33  | 78  | −45  | 16
14  | Stranraer | 39  | 4  | 8  | 27  | 34  | 84  | −50  | 16

Source: "1987-1988 Second Division - SPFL Archive". SPFL. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Promoted: Ayr United, St Johnstone

## Other honours

[edit]

### Cup honours

[edit]

Competition  | Winner  | Score  | Runner-up

|
|
|

Scottish Cup 1987–88 | Celtic | 2–1  | Dundee United
League Cup 1987–88 | Rangers | 3 – 3 (a.e.t.)
(5 – 3 pen.)  | Aberdeen
Youth Cup | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–1  | Dundee
Junior Cup | Auchinleck Talbot | 1–0  | Petershill

### Non-league honours

[edit]

#### Senior

[edit]

Competition  | Winner

|

Highland League 1987–88 | Inverness Caledonian
East of Scotland League | Whitehill Welfare
South of Scotland League | Newton Stewart

### Individual honours

[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Club

|
|

Footballer of the Year |  Paul McStay | Celtic
Players' Player of the Year |  Paul McStay | Celtic
Young Player of the Year |  John Collins | Hibernian

## Scottish clubs in Europe

[edit]

Results for Scotland's participants in European competition for the 1987–88 season

### Rangers

[edit]

Date  | Venue  | Opponents  | Score  | Competition  | Rangers scorer(s)

|
|
|
|
|

European Cup
16 September 1987  | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv (A)  | Dynamo Kyiv | 0–1  | EC1 |
30 September 1987  | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)  | Dynamo Kyiv | 2–0  | EC1 | Mark Falco, Ally McCoist
21 October 1987  | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)  | Górnik Zabrze | 3–1  | EC2 | Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant, Mark Falco
4 November 1987  | Ernest Pohl Stadium, Zabrze (A)  | Górnik Zabrze | 1–1  | EC2 | Ally McCoist (pen.)
2 March 1988  | Steaua Stadium, Bucharest (A)  | Steaua Bucharest | 0–2  | ECQF |
16 March 1988  | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)  | Steaua Bucharest | 2–1  | ECQF | Richard Gough, Ally McCoist (pen.)

### St Mirren

[edit]

Date  | Venue  | Opponents  | Score  | Competition  | St Mirren scorer(s)

|
|
|
|
|

| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
16 September 1987  | Love Street, Paisley (H)  | Tromsø IL | 1–0  | CWC1 | Kenny McDowall
29 September 1987  | Alfheim Stadium, Tromsø (A)  | Tromsø IL | 0–0  | CWC1 |
21 October 1987  | Achter de Kazerne, Mechelen (A)  | KV Mechelen | 0–0  | CWC2 |
4 November 1987  | Love Street, Paisley (H)  | KV Mechelen | 0–2  | CWC2 |

### Aberdeen

[edit]

Date  | Venue  | Opponents  | Score  | Competition  | Aberdeen Scorer(s)

|
|
|
|
|

UEFA Cup
15 September 1987  | Dalymount Park, Dublin (A)  | Bohemians | 0–0  | UC1 |
30 September 1987  | Pittodrie, Aberdeen (H)  | Bohemians | 1–0  | UC1 | Jim Bett (pen.)
21 October 1987  | Pittodrie, Aberdeen (H)  | Feyenoord Rotterdam | 2–1  | UC2 | Willie Falconer, Willie Miller
4 November 1987  | Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam (A)  | Feyenoord Rotterdam | 0–1  | UC2 |

### Celtic

[edit]

Date  | Venue  | Opponents  | Score  | Competition  | Celtic scorer(s)

|
|
|
|
|

UEFA Cup
15 September 1987  | Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)  | Borussia Dortmund | 2–1  | UC1 | Andy Walker, Derek Whyte
30 September 1987  | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund (A)  | Borussia Dortmund | 0–2  | UC1 |

### Dundee United

[edit]

Date  | Venue  | Opponents  | Score  | Competition  | Dundee United scorer(s)

|
|
|
|
|

UEFA Cup
16 September 1987  | The Showgrounds Coleraine (A)  | Coleraine | 1–0  | UC1 | Paul Sturrock
30 September 1987  | Tannadice, Dundee (H)  | Coleraine | 3–1  | UC1 | Kevin Gallacher, Paul Sturrock, John Clark
21 October 1987  | Tannadice, Dundee (H)  | FC Vítkovice | 1–2  | UC2 | Iain Ferguson
4 November 1987  | Bazaly, Ostrava (A)[6] | FC Vítkovice | 1–1  | UC2 | own goal

## Scotland national team

[edit]

Main article: Scotland national football team 1980–99 results

Date  | Venue  | Opponents  | Score[7] | Competition  | Scotland scorer(s)

|
|
|
|
|

9 September 1987  | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  |  Hungary | 2–0  | Friendly | Ally McCoist (2)
14 October 1987  | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  |  Belgium | 2–0  | ECQG7 | Ally McCoist, Paul McStay
11 November 1987  | Vasil Levski, Sofia (A)  |  Bulgaria | 1–0  | ECQG7 | Gary Mackay
2 December 1987  | Stade de la Frontière, Esch (A)  |  Luxembourg | 0–0  | ECQG7 |
17 February 1988  | Malaz Stadium, Riyadh (A)  |  Saudi Arabia | 2–2  | Friendly | Maurice Johnston, John Collins
22 March 1988  | Ta'Qali Stadium, Valletta (A)  |  Malta | 1–1  | Friendly | Graeme Sharp
27 April 1988  | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid (A)  |  Spain | 0–0  | Friendly |
17 May 1988  | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  |  Colombia | 0–0  | Rous Cup |
21 May 1988  | Wembley Stadium, London (A)  |  England | 0–1  | Rous Cup |

Key:

* (H) = Home match
* (A) = Away match
* ECQG7 = European Championship qualifying – Group 7

## See also

[edit]

* 1987–88 Aberdeen F.C. season
* 1987–88 Dundee United F.C. season
* 1987–88 Rangers F.C. season
* Dubai Champions Cup

## Notes and references

[edit]

1. ^ "1987/88 - the Scottish Football League". Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
2. ^ Reynolds, Jim (19 October 1987). "Three off but it could have been more". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 11. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
3. ^ McCallum, Andrew (13 April 1988). "Old Firm fans' hatred had "never been worse"". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
4. ^ McCallum, Andrew (16 April 1988). "Rangers players to appeal after fines". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
5. ^ "Scottish Division One 1987-1988 Season Summary". statto.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
6. ^ "Match programme". Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
7. ^ Scotland's score is shown first.

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* v
* t
* e

1987–88 in Scottish football

« 1986–87

1988–89 »

Domestic leagues|

* Football League
* Premier Division
* First Division
* Second Division
* Highland League

Domestic cups|

* Scottish Cup
* Final
* League Cup
* Final
* Junior Cup
* Tennent's Sixes

European competitions|

* European Cup
* European Cup Winners' Cup
* UEFA Cup

Related to national team|

* Results
* Euro 1988 qualifying (Group 7)
* Rous Cup

Club seasons

Premier Division|

* Aberdeen
* Celtic
* Dundee
* Dundee United
* Dunfermline Athletic
* Falkirk
* Heart of Midlothian
* Hibernian
* Morton
* Motherwell
* Rangers
* St. Mirren

First Division|

* Airdrieonians
* Clyde
* Clydebank
* Dumbarton
* East Fife
* Forfar Athletic
* Hamilton Academical
* Kilmarnock
* Meadowbank Thistle
* Partick Thistle
* Queen of the South
* Raith Rovers

Second Division|

* Albion Rovers
* Alloa Athletic
* Arbroath
* Ayr United
* Brechin City
* Berwick Rangers
* Cowdenbeath
* East Stirlingshire
* Montrose
* Queen's Park
* St. Johnstone
* Stenhousemuir
* Stirling Albion
* Stranraer

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points