| Season: | 1986–87 |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chairman: | Frank Teasdale |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 22nd |
| Cup1 Result: | 1st Round |
| Cup2 Result: | 1st Round |
| Cup3 Result: | 1st Round |
| League Topscorer: | Leighton James (10) |
| Season Topscorer: | Leighton James (12) |
| Highest Attendance: | 15,696 v Orient (9 May 1987) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 1,465 v Bolton Wanderers (16 December 1986) |
| Average Attendance: | 3,257[1] |
| Nextseason: | 1987–88 |
The 1986–87 season was Burnley's second season in the fourth tier of English football. They were managed by Brian Miller in the first season of his second spell in charge.
This season was the worst-ever Burnley season, finishing 22nd at Fourth Division (near to be relegated to Football Conference, avoiding relegation by 1 point), and knocked-out in first round in both national cups (FA Cup and League Cup).
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| Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 August 1986 | Torquay United (A) | 1–1 | Parker 80' | 2,144 | |
| 30 August 1986 | Scunthorpe United (H) | 1–0 | James 25' (pen.) | 3,008 | |
| 6 September 1986 | Hereford United (A) | 0–2 | 2,796 | ||
| 13 September 1986 | Hartlepool United (H) | 1–1 | Entwistle 71' | 2,465 | |
| 16 September 1986 | Swansea City (H) | 1–1 | Entwistle 13' | 2,775 | |
| 20 September 1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) | 1–0 | Grewcock 30' | 5,786 | |
| 27 September 1986 | Halifax Town (H) | 3–0 | Parker (2) 47', 69', Hoskin 49' | 3,296 | |
| 30 September 1986 | Tranmere Rovers (A) | 1–2 | Britton 75' | 2,017 | |
| 4 October 1986 | Preston North End (H) | 1–4 | James 88' (pen.) | 5,974 | |
| 11 October 1986 | Aldershot (A) | 0–2 | 2,061 | ||
| 18 October 1986 | Stockport County (H) | 2–0 | Matthewson 19' (o.g.), Regis 85' | 2,410 | |
| 22 October 1986 | Northampton Town (A) | 2–4 | James 60', Hoskin 84' | 5,718 | |
| 25 October 1986 | Exeter City (A) | 0–3 | 3,198 | ||
| 1 November 1986 | Peterborough United (H) | 0–0 | 2,229 | ||
| 4 November 1986 | Colchester United (H) | 2–1 | Grewcock 29', Hoskin 43' | 1,696 | |
| 8 November 1986 | Cambridge United (A) | 1–3 | James 62' (pen.) | 2,572 | |
| 22 November 1986 | Lincoln City (H) | 3–1 | James 11', Rodaway 43', Murphy 61' | 2,177 | |
| 28 November 1986 | Southend United (A) | 1–2 | Gallagher 44' | 3,309 | |
| 13 December 1986 | Orient (A) | 0–2 | 2,413 | ||
| 19 December 1986 | Cardiff City (H) | 1–3 | Hoskin 65' | 1,717 | |
| 26 December 1986 | Wrexham (A) | 2–2 | Parker 64', Murphy 71' | 4,568 | |
| 27 December 1986 | Crewe Alexandra (H) | 4–0 | Murphy 16', Hoskin 47', James 67', Malley 76' | 2,560 | |
| 1 January 1987 | Rochdale (H) | 0–3 | 4,217 | ||
| 3 January 1987 | Lincoln City (A) | 1–2 | Murphy 15' | 2,343 | |
| 24 January 1987 | Hereford United (H) | 0–6 | 1,961 | ||
| 31 January 1987 | Hartlepool United (A) | 2–2 | Malley 10', Grewcock 40' | 1,506 | |
| 6 February 1987 | Swansea City (A) | 2–2 | Murphy 29', Hoskin 58' | 6,015 | |
| 14 February 1987 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) | 2–5 | James 15', Grewcock 22' | 2,947 | |
| 21 February 1987 | Halifax Town (A) | 2–2 | James 62', Grewcock 81' | 1,735 | |
| 28 February 1987 | Tranmere Rovers (H) | 2–2 | Grewcock 33', Rodaway 40' | 2,394 | |
| 4 March 1987 | Peterborough United (A) | 1–1 | Grewcock 60' | 4,304 | |
| 7 March 1987 | Exeter City (H) | 0–0 | 1,792 | ||
| 13 March 1987 | Stockport County (A) | 1–0 | Hoskin 16' | 2,500 | |
| 17 March 1987 | Northampton Town (H) | 2–1 | Hoskin 39', Gallagher 70' | 2,691 | |
| 21 March 1987 | Aldershot (H) | 0–1 | 2,690 | ||
| 28 March 1987 | Preston North End (A) | 1–2 | Parker 75' | 10,716 | |
| 4 April 1987 | Cambridge United (H) | 0–2 | 1,874 | ||
| 10 April 1987 | Colchester United (A) | 0–1 | 2,635 | ||
| 14 April 1987 | Torquay United (H) | 2–2 | Britton 63', James 90' (pen.) | 2,718 | |
| 18 April 1987 | Rochdale (A) | 2–0 | Devaney 13', Gallagher 53' | 5,739 | |
| 20 April 1987 | Wrexham (H) | 0–0 | 4,090 | ||
| 25 April 1987 | Cardiff City (A) | 0–1 | 2,003 | ||
| 28 April 1987 | Scunthorpe United (A) | 1–2 | Malley 4' | 1,770 | |
| 2 May 1987 | Southend United (H) | 2–1 | James 29', Grewcock 50' | 3,991 | |
| 4 May 1987 | Crewe Alexandra (A) | 0–1 | 4,175 | ||
| 9 May 1987 | Orient (H) | 2–1 | Grewcock 45', Britton 48' | 15,696 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 1986 | Round 1 First leg | Rochdale (A) | 1–1 | James 12' | 1,937 | |
| 2 September 1986 | Round 1 Second leg | Rochdale (H) | 1–3 | James 70' (pen.) | 2,605 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 December 1986 | Group Stage | Blackpool (A) | 3–2 | Hoskin 3', Murphy (2) 36', 83' | 1,448 | |
| 16 December 1986 | Group Stage | Bolton Wanderers (H) | 0–2 | 1,465 | ||
| 27 January 1987 | Round 1 | Bolton Wanderers (A) | 1–2 | Parker 56' | 3,698 |