1986–87 Rangers F.C. season explained

Club:Rangers
Season:1986–87
Manager:Graeme Souness
Chairman:David Holmes
Stdtitle:Ground
Stadium:Ibrox Stadium
League:Scottish Premier Division
League Result:1st (Champions)
Cup1:Scottish Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
Cup2 Result:Winners
Cup3 Result:Third round
Cup4 Result:Winners
Season Topscorer:
Ally McCoist (38)
League Topscorer:
Ally McCoist (34)
Prevseason:1985–86
Nextseason:1987–88

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

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

DatePlayerFromFee
16 May 1986£200,000[2]
1 July 1986£600,000[3]
1 August 1986£725,000[4]
8 August 1986Swap[5]
14 November 1986£25,000[6]
22 December 1986£120,000[7]
23 December 1986£450,000[8]
27 March 1987£95,000[9]

Out

DatePlayerFromFee
9 May 1986Free[10]
9 May 1986Free[11]
9 May 1986Free[12]
9 August 1986Swap[13]
19 January 1987£225,000[14]

Results

All results are written with Rangers' score first.

Scottish Premier Division

See main article: 1986–87 Scottish Premier Division.

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

Scottish League Cup

See main article: 1986–87 Scottish League Cup.

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

Scottish Cup

See main article: 1986–87 Scottish Cup.

UEFA Cup

See main article: 1986–87 UEFA Cup.

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

Glasgow Cup

See main article: Glasgow Cup.

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
28 April 1987 SFClydeN1–14,000Spencer
7 May 1987 FCelticA1–015,109

Appearances

PlayerPositionAppearancesGoals
Nicky WalkerGK20
Chris WoodsGK480
Terry ButcherDF492
Hugh BurnsDF50
Ally DawsonDF100
Dave McPhersonDF478
Stuart MunroDF480
Jimmy NichollDF390
Scott NisbetDF10
Craig PatersonDF20
Jimmy PhillipsDF60
Graham RobertsDF192
Dougie BellMF121
Davie CooperMF4811
Ian DurrantMF455
Derek FergusonMF330
Robert FleckMF4419
Cammy FraserMF212
Davie KirkwoodMF10
Dave MacFarlaneMF50
Ted McMinnMF193
Bobby RussellMF10
Graeme SounessMF293
Ally McCoistFW5036
Colin WestFW123
Neil WoodsFW30

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJftaIBp_7o "Si Ferry Meets... Ally McCoist"
  2. News: Europe incentive for West as he joins up at Ibrox . Glasgow Herald. 17 May 1986.
  3. News: Big Money: Woods on £140,000 a year at Ibrox . Evening Times. 1 July 1986.
  4. News: Terry signs on - as Ibrox skipper . Glasgow Herald. 2 August 1986.
  5. News: Second time around for so lucky Nicholl . Glasgow Herald. 8 August 1986.
  6. News: Hamilton gets Ibrox chance . Glasgow Herald. 15 November 1986.
  7. News: Neil WOODS . Sporting Heroes . 22 January 2023 .
  8. News: Roberts strengthens Rangers' big push for glory . Glasgow Herald. 23 December 1986.
  9. News: Jimmy PHILLIPS . Sporting Heroes . 22 January 2023 .
  10. News: McCoist treble does the trick . Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1986.
  11. News: McCoist treble does the trick . Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1986.
  12. News: McCoist treble does the trick . Glasgow Herald. 10 May 1986.
  13. News: Second time around for so lucky Nicholl . Glasgow Herald. 8 August 1986.
  14. News: McMinn set to join Seville: Clubs agree fee for Ibrox rebel . Glasgow Herald. 17 January 1987.

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