1987–88 Kilmarnock F.C. season explained

Club:	Kilmarnock
Season:	1987–88
Chairman:	Bob Lauchlan
Manager:	Eddie Morrison
League:	Scottish First Division
League Result:	10th
Cup1:	Scottish Cup
Cup1 Result:	3R
Cup2:	Scottish League Cup
Cup2 Result:	2R
League Topscorer:	Colin Harkness 15
Season Topscorer:	Colin Harkness 16
Prevseason:	1986–87
Nextseason:	1988–89
Highest Attendance:	3,230 (v Queen of the South, 2 January)
Lowest Attendance:	1,235 (v Forfar Athletic, 22 August)
Average Attendance:	1,846^[1] (down 1,000)

The 1987–88 season was Kilmarnock's 86th in Scottish League Competitions. After a troublesome season exacerbated by their lack of scoring,^[2] the club staved off relegation, finishing in 10th place, one point ahead East Fife and Dumbarton who were relegated.^[3]

By early March 1988, the team had only ten wins and 41 goals in 34 games and were rated as being in "dire straits" in terms of potential relegation to the Second Division. The team's poor performance was blamed on a "lack of punch up front."^[2]

With one game remaining in the season, the club faced relegation if they did not win the final game.^[4] Kilmarnock keeper Alan McCulloch returned from a suspected broken hand for the final game.^[5] Kilmarnock defeated Partick Thistle 1–0 in the final game to avoid relegation.

Manager Eddie Morrison, interviewed by The Kilmarnock Standard, described the season as "probably one of the most disappointing the club has ever experienced" and added, "The team's performances were, to say the least, erratic, frustrating and at times very disappointing."^[6]

Players

The 1987 - 88 squad for Kilmarnock was as follows:^[7]

• Archie Bell
• Ian Bryson
• Robert Clark
• Jim Cockburn
• Derek Cook
• Scott Cuthbertson
• Frazer Davidson
• Colin Harkness
• Barry Holland
• Hugh Houston
• Lex Lindsay
• Lenny Lowe
• Stephen Marshall
• Paul Martin
• Graham Millar
• Bobby McConville
• Alan McCulloch
• Jim McGuire
• Ian McInnes
• Stuart McLean
• John McVeigh
• Joe Reid
• Alan Robertson

Competitions

Scottish First Division

See main article: 1987–88 Scottish First Division.

Results

Match Day	Date	Opponent	H/A	Score	Kilmarnock Scorer(s)	Attendance
1	8 August	Hamilton Academical	H	0–2^[8]		2,178
2	12 August	East Fife	A	1–2^[9]	Reid(24)	657
3	15 August	Dumbarton	A	3–1^[10]	Harkness(46), McInnes(63), Cuthbertson(81)	824
4	22 August	Forfar Athletic	H	2–2^[11]		1,235
5	29 August	Queen of the South	H	0–2^[12]		1,836
6	5 September	Meadowbank Thistle	A	1–2^[13]	Cook(45)	698
7	12 September	Raith Rovers	H	3–4^[14]		1,436
8	15 September	Clydebank	A	0–2^[15]		857
9	19 September	Airdrieonians	A	2–3^[16]	Bryson(9), Lawrie o.g.(70)	1,513
10	26 September	Clyde	H	2–0^[17]	Harkness(16), Bryson(43)	1,732
11	29 September	Partick Thistle	H	1–1^[18]	Harkness(39)	2,030
12	3 October	Hamilton Academical	A	1–1^[19]	Harkness(35)	1,218
13	6 October	East Fife	H	2–0^[20]	Harkness(37,89)	1,441
14	10 October	Forfar Athletic	A	0–2^[21]		896
15	17 October	Raith Rovers	A	2–0^[22]	Gilmour(31pen), Harkness(47)	2,187
16	20 October	Clydebank	H	1–3^[23]	McGuire(79)	1,733
17	24 October	Dumbarton	H	1–0^[24]	Gilmour(89)	1,571
18	31 October	Meadowbank Thistle	H	2–4^[25]	Harkness(22,88)	1,442
19	3 November	Partick Thistle	A	0–1^[26]		1,407
20	7 November	Queen of the South	A	4–1^[27]		1,479
21	14 November	Airdrieonians	H	1–0^[28]	Reid(14)	1,978
22	21 November	Clyde	A	0–2^[29]		1,145
23	28 November	Hamilton Academical	H	1–0^[30]	Harkness(55)	1,922
24	5 December	East Fife	A	1–2^[31]	Bryson(38)	571
25	12 December	Raith Rovers	H	1–1^[32]	Reid(73)	1,654
26	19 December	Clydebank	A	0–1^[33]		1,015
27	26 December	Meadowbank Thistle	A	3–1^[34]	McFarlane(44), Harkness(78,87)	751
28	2 January	Queen of the South	H	0–0^[35]		3,230
29	9 January	Airdrieonians	A	3–3^[36]		1,588
30	16 January	Clyde	H	3–1^[37]		1,752
31	23 January	Dumbarton	A	0–1^[38]		1,048
32	6 February	Forfar Athletic	H	0–2^[39]		1,281
33	13 February	Partick Thistle	H	0–1^[40]		2,432
34	27 February	Hamilton Academical	A	0–1^[41]		2,048
35	5 March	Raith Rovers	A	2–2^[42]	Davidson(80), Cuthbertson(87)	1,462
36	12 March	Clydebank	H	2–2^[43]	Martin(23), Bourke(46)	1,549
37	19 March	Meadowbank Thistle	H	0–0^[44]		1,662
38	26 March	Queen of the South	A	0–1^[45]		1,650
39	2 April	Forfar Athletic	A	1–1^[46]	Gilmour(85 pen)	713
40	9 April	Dumbarton	H	3–1^[47]	Gilmour(49), McGuire(55), Bryson(63)	2,205
41	16 April	Clyde	A	0–0^[48]		1,120
42	23 April	Airdrieonians	H	4–1^[49]		1,953
43	30 April	East Fife	H	1–3^[50]	Gilmour(?)	2,488
44	7 May	Partick Thistle	A	1–0^[51]	Gilmour(66)	3,103

Scottish League Cup

See main article: article and 1987-88 Scottish League Cup.

Scottish Cup

See main article: 1987–88 Scottish Cup.

Round	Date	Opponent	H/A	Score	Kilmarnock Scorer(s)	Attendance
R3	30 January	Motherwell	A	0–0^[53]		6,488
R3R	3 February	Motherwell	H	1–3^[54]	Harkness(49)	7,591

See also

• List of Kilmarnock F.C. seasons

Offline sources

Book: Rollin, Jack . Jack Rollin (author). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1988–89. 1988. Queen Anne Press. 0-356-15880-2.

Book: Ross, David . David Ross (author). Everygame-The New Official History of Kilmarnock Football Club. 2001. Kilmarnock Football Club. 0-9541653-0-6.

External links

• Kilmarnock at fitbastats.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: Average Home League Game Attendances . www.fitbastats.com . 24 October 2022.
2. News: Alex Milligan . In dire straits . 10 April 2023 . . 4 March 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
3. Web site: Scottish Division One 1987–1988 : Table . statto.com . 10 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141221194445/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/scotland/division-one/1987-1988/table . 21 December 2014.
4. News: Alex Milligan . D Day. Kilmarnock Standard. May 6, 1988. 80. Newspapers.com.
5. News: Killie's lucky break. Daily Record. May 7, 1988. 43. Newspapers.com.
6. News: Kilmarnock Football Club Set For Exciting Season. The Kilmarnock Standard. August 1, 1988. 71. Newspapers.com.
7. News: Tough at the top/1987-88 Squad. The Kilmarnock Standard. 7 August 1987. 62. Newspapers.com.
8. News: Alex Milligan . Pathetic Show From Killie . 22 August 2023 . . 14 August 1987 . 71 . Newspapers.com.
9. News: unknown . Gordon's late show. 23 August 2023 . . 13 August 1987. 42. Newspapers.com.
10. News: Alex Milligan . Dumbarton 1 Kilmarnock 3 . 22 August 2023 . . 21 August 1987 . 73 . Newspapers.com.
11. News: Alex Milligan . Kilmarnock 2 Forfar 2 . 22 August 2023 . . 28 August 1987 . 88 . Newspapers.com.
12. News: John Malkin . Killie are paying the price . 22 August 2023 . . 4 September 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
13. News: Ian Russell . Wylde makes quick exit . 22 August 2023 . . 11 September 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
14. News: John Malkin . Freak Goals Dump Killie . 22 August 2023 . . 18 September 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
15. News: unknown . Clydebank 2 Kilmarnock 0. 23 August 2023 . . 16 September 1987. 37. Newspapers.com.
16. News: Flood goal makes it an afternoon to remember . 10 April 2023 . The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser . 25 September 1987 . 55 . Newspapers.com.
17. News: Alex Milligan . First Home Victory . 23 August 2023 . . 2 October 1987 . 79 . Newspapers.com.
18. News: unknown . Kilmarnock 1 Partick Thistle 1. 23 August 2023 . . 30 September 1987. 41. Newspapers.com.
19. News: Alex Milligan . Action At Hamilton . 23 August 2023 . . 9 October 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
20. News: Alex Milligan . Better Play Wins Points For Killie . 23 August 2023 . . 9 October 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
21. News: Alex Milligan . Killie Flop At Forfar . 23 August 2023 . . 16 October 1987 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
22. News: Alex Milligan . Raith Rovers 0 Kilmarnock 2 . 23 August 2023 . . 23 October 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
23. News: Alex Milligan . Back To Earth . 23 August 2023 . . 23 October 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
24. News: Alex Milligan . Gilmour Special . 23 August 2023 . . 30 October 1987 . 87 . Newspapers.com.
25. News: Alex Milligan . Killie Pay The Penalty . 23 August 2023 . . 6 November 1987 . 87 . Newspapers.com.
26. News: Alex Milligan . Killie Pay The Penalty . 23 August 2023 . . 6 November 1987 . 87 . Newspapers.com.
27. News: Alex Milligan . Late Goals Clinch Game . 23 August 2023 . . 13 November 1987 . 88 . Newspapers.com.
28. News: Alex Dowdalls . Diamonds kicked into touch at Rugby Park . 10 April 2023 . The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser . 20 November 1987 . 54 . Newspapers.com.
29. News: Alex Milligan . Superior Clyde take the points . 23 August 2023 . . 27 November 1987 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
30. News: Alex Milligan . Stronger Play Nets Victory . 23 August 2023 . . 4 December 1987 . 95 . Newspapers.com.
31. News: Alex Milligan . East Fife 2 Kilmarnock 1 . 23 August 2023 . . 11 December 1987 . 88 . Newspapers.com.
32. News: Alex Milligan . Shared points after splendid play . 23 August 2023 . . 18 December 1987 . 64 . Newspapers.com.
33. News: Alex Milligan . Clydebank 1 Kilmarnock 0 . 23 August 2023 . . 25 December 1987 . 39 . Newspapers.com.
34. News: Alex Milligan . 'Loan' Ranger puts Killie on winning trail . 23 August 2023 . . 1 January 1988 . 31 . Newspapers.com.
35. News: Alex Milligan . Little action for Ne'erday crowd . 10 April 2023 . . 8 January 1988 . 56 . Newspapers.com.
36. News: Alex Milligan . Airdrie 3 Kilmarnock 3 . 24 August 2023 . . 15 January 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
37. News: Alex Milligan . Kilmarnock 3 Clyde 1 . 24 August 2023 . . 22 January 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
38. News: Effort to no avail . 10 April 2023 . . 29 January 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
39. News: Alex Milligan . They huff and puff against Forfar . 23 August 2023 . . 12 February 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
40. News: Alex Milligan . Kilmarnock 0 Partick Thistle 1 . 24 August 2023 . . 19 February 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
41. News: Alex Milligan . Old failing costs Killie dearly . 24 August 2023 . . 4 March 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
42. News: Alex Milligan . Storming Finish . 24 August 2023 . . 11 March 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
43. News: Alex Milligan . Rough justice . 24 August 2023 . . 18 March 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
44. News: Alex Milligan . Crossbar Denies Killie Victory . 24 August 2023 . . 25 March 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
45. News: Killie miss goal chances . 10 April 2023 . . 1 April 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
46. News: Alex Milligan . Killie Fight Back . 24 August 2023 . . 8 April 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
47. News: Three Quick Goals Rock Dumbarton. The Kilmarnock Standard. April 15, 1988. 72. Newspapers.com.
48. News: Alex Milligan . A Real Downer . 24 August 2023 . . 22 April 1988 . 88 . Newspapers.com.
49. News: Alex Milligan . Sterling Performance . 24 August 2023 . . 29 April 1988 . 88 . Newspapers.com.
50. News: Alex Milligan . Shocking . 24 August 2023 . . 6 May 1988 . 88 . Newspapers.com.
51. News: Alex Milligan . Saviour Jimmy . 24 August 2023 . . 13 May 1988 . 80 . Newspapers.com.
52. News: Jim Kean . Six-Hit Hearts So Slick. 23 August 2023 . . 20 August 1987. 34. Newspapers.com.
53. News: Well-earned draw . 10 April 2023 . . 5 February 1988 . 72 . Newspapers.com.
54. News: John Docherty . 'Well late show. 23 August 2023 . . 4 February 1988. 42. Newspapers.com.