1986–87 Rangers F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football by Rangers.

Rangers
1986–87 season
ChairmanDavid Holmes
ManagerGraeme Souness
GroundIbrox Stadium
Scottish Premier Division1st (Champions)
Scottish CupThird round
League CupWinners
UEFA CupThird round
Glasgow CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ally McCoist (34)
All:
Ally McCoist (38)

Overview

Rangers played a total of 56 competitive matches during the 1986–87 season. The team finished top of the Scottish Premier Division for the first time in nine seasons. A total of 69 points were gained from 44 games and a lead of six points over second placed Celtic.

The Souness Revolution began with the signing of England internationals, goalkeeper Chris Woods and centre half Terry Butcher. Northern Ireland international Jimmy Nicholl rejoined the club and Colin West was brought in to partner Ally McCoist in attack. In December Graham Roberts arrived from Tottenham Hotspur to strengthen the defence.

There was a disappointing start to the league campaign, losing 2–1 to Hibernian at Easter Road. Graeme Souness was sent off for a tackle on George McCluskey in the centre circle, with both teams displaying a lack of discipline at that moment.[1]

On the penultimate day of the season the Championship was secured at Pittodrie with a 1–1 draw against Aberdeen. A Terry Butcher header was enough to bring the league title back to Ibrox for the first time since 1978.

In the cup competitions, Rangers were knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the third round, losing 1–0 at Ibrox to Hamilton Academical. The goal ended a run of 1196 minutes without conceding – a British record for goalkeeper Chris Woods.

They won the League Cup, defeating Celtic 2–1 with goals from Ian Durrant and Davie Cooper. This was an early success for Graeme Souness and helped pave the way towards the Championship.

The European campaign was moderately successful. Rangers reached the third round of the UEFA Cup after beating Ilves Tampere and Boavista before being knocked out by Borussia Mönchengladbach on the away goals rule.

Transfer

In
Date Player From Fee
16 May 1986 Colin West Watford£200,000[2]
1 July 1986 Chris Woods Norwich City£600,000[3]
1 August 1986 Terry Butcher Ipswich Town£725,000[4]
8 August 1986 Jimmy Nicholl West Bromwich AlbionSwap[5]
14 November 1986 Lindsay Hamilton Stenhousemuir£25,000[6]
22 December 1986 Neil Woods Doncaster Rovers£120,000[7]
23 December 1986 Graham Roberts Tottenham Hotspur£450,000[8]
27 March 1987 Jimmy Phillips Bolton Wanderers£95,000[9]

Out
Date Player From Fee
9 May 1986 Billy DaviesFree[10]
9 May 1986 Derek JohnstoneFree[11]
9 May 1986 Dave MacKinnonFree[12]
9 August 1986 Bobby Williamson West Bromwich AlbionSwap[13]
19 January 1987 Ted McMinn Sevilla£225,000[14]

Results

All results are written with Rangers' score first.

Scottish Premier Division
Main article: 1986–87 Scottish Premier Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
9 August 1986HibernianA1–224,576McCoist (pen.)
13 August 1986FalkirkH1–027,362McCoist (pen.)
16 August 1986Dundee UnitedH2–343,995McCoist (2)
23 August 1986Hamilton AcademicalA2–110,000Fraser, West
31 August 1986CelticH1–043,502Durrant
6 September 1986MotherwellA2–017,013Cooper, McPherson
13 September 1986ClydebankH4–026,433Fleck (3), McMinn
20 September 1986DundeeA0–117,132
27 September 1986AberdeenH2–040,155Souness, McCoist
4 October 1986Heart of MidlothianA1–128,637Cooper
8 October 1986St MirrenA1–016,861Cooper
11 October 1986HibernianH3–038,196McPherson, Fleck, Bell
18 October 1986FalkirkA5–116,800Fleck (3, 1 (pen.)), Cooper, McCoist
29 October 1986Dundee UnitedA0–020,170
1 November 1986CelticA1–160,000McCoist
8 November 1986MotherwellH0–133,966
15 November 1986ClydebankA4–19,906McCoist (2), McPherson, Durrant
19 November 1986DundeeH2–122,992McCoist, McPherson
22 November 1986AberdeenA0–121,733
29 November 1986Heart of MidlothianH3–038,733McCoist, Cooper, Durrant
3 December 1986St MirrenH2–023,110McPherson, Cooper
6 December 1986HibernianA0–018,536
13 December 1986FalkirkH4–024,177Fleck (2), Cooper, Butcher
20 December 1986Hamilton AcademicalA2–010,000Fleck, McCoist
27 December 1986Dundee UnitedH2–042,165McCoist, Fleck
1 January 1987CelticH2–043,206Fleck, McCoist
6 January 1987MotherwellA1–019,658Roberts
10 January 1987ClydebankH5–036,397Fleck (3), McCoist (2, 1 (pen.))
17 January 1987Hamilton AcademicalH2–043,052Durrant, McCoist
24 January 1987AberdeenH0–043,211
7 February 1987Heart of MidlothianA5–229,091Fleck (2), Roberts, McCoist, Black (o.g.)
14 February 1987St MirrenA3–121,399McCoist (3, 1 (pen.))
28 February 1987HibernianH1–138,630McPherson
7 March 1987FalkirkA2–118,000McCoist (2)
14 March 1987Hamilton AcademicalH2–033,486Cooper, McCoist
17 March 1987DundeeA4–018,723McCoist (2), McPherson, Fleck
21 March 1987Dundee UnitedA1–021,275McPherson
28 March 1987MotherwellH1–037,305McCoist
4 April 1987CelticA1–360,800McCoist
14 April 1987DundeeH2–042,427Cooper, McCoist
18 April 1987ClydebankA3–09,950McCoist (2, 1 (pen.)), West
25 April 1987Heart of MidlothianH3–043,205McCoist (3, 1 (pen.))
2 May 1987AberdeenA1–122,568Butcher
9 May 1987St MirrenH1–043,510Fleck

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 1986–87 Scottish League Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
20 August 1986R2StenhousemuirA4–19,052Souness, West, Cooper, McCoist
27 August 1986R3East FifeA0–0*8,835
3 September 1986QFDundeeH3–133,750Fraser, Souness, McMinn
24 September 1986SFDundee UnitedN2–145,249McCoist, McMinn
26 October 1986FCelticN2–174,219Durrant, Cooper (pen.)

*Rangers won the match 5–4 on penalties

Scottish Cup
Main article: 1986–87 Scottish Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
31 January 1987R3Hamilton AcademicalH0–135,462

UEFA Cup
Main article: 1986–87 UEFA Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 September 1986R1 Ilves TampereH4–027,436Fleck (3), McCoist
1 October 1986R1 Ilves TampereA0–22,109
24 October 1986R2 BoavistaH2–138,772McPherson, McCoist
4 November 1986R2 BoavistaA1–023,000Ferguson
26 November 1986R3 Borussia MönchengladbachH1–133,000Durrant
10 December 1986R3 Borussia MonchengladbachA0–036,000

Glasgow Cup
Main article: Glasgow Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
28 April 1987SFClydeN1–14,000Spencer
7 May 1987FCelticA1–015,109

Appearances
Player Position Appearances Goals
Nicky Walker GK 20
Chris Woods GK 480
Terry Butcher DF 492
Hugh Burns DF 50
Ally Dawson DF 100
Dave McPherson DF 478
Stuart Munro DF 480
Jimmy Nicholl DF 390
Scott Nisbet DF 10
Craig Paterson DF 20
Jimmy Phillips DF 60
Graham Roberts DF 192
Dougie Bell MF 121
Davie Cooper MF 4811
Ian Durrant MF 455
Derek Ferguson MF 330
Robert Fleck MF 4419
Cammy Fraser MF 212
Davie Kirkwood MF 10
Dave MacFarlane MF 50
Ted McMinn MF 193
Bobby Russell MF 10
Graeme Souness MF 293
Ally McCoist FW 5036
Colin West FW 123
Neil Woods FW 30

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Rangers (C) 44 31 7 6 85 23 +62 69 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Celtic 44 27 9 8 90 41 +49 63 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Dundee United 44 24 12 8 85 34 +51 60
4 Aberdeen 44 21 16 7 63 29 +34 58
5 Heart of Midlothian 44 21 14 9 64 43 +21 56
Source: Statto
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

See also

References
  1. "Si Ferry Meets... Ally McCoist" – Open Goal, YouTube, published on 16 April 2018
  2. "Europe incentive for West as he joins up at Ibrox". Glasgow Herald. 17 May 1986.
  3. "Big Money: Woods on £140,000 a year at Ibrox". Evening Times. 1 July 1986.
  4. "Terry signs on - as Ibrox skipper". Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1986.
  5. "Second time around for so lucky Nicholl". Glasgow Herald. 8 August 1986.
  6. "Hamilton gets Ibrox chance". Glasgow Herald. 15 November 1986.
  7. "Neil WOODS". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  8. "Roberts strengthens Rangers' big push for glory". Glasgow Herald. 23 December 1986.
  9. "Jimmy PHILLIPS". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  10. "McCoist treble does the trick". Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1986.
  11. "McCoist treble does the trick". Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1986.
  12. "McCoist treble does the trick". Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1986.
  13. "Second time around for so lucky Nicholl". Glasgow Herald. 8 August 1986.
  14. "McMinn set to join Seville: Clubs agree fee for Ibrox rebel". Glasgow Herald. 17 January 1987.
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