1986–87 Football League#Third Division

{{Short description|88th season of the Football League}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = The Football League

| season = 1986–87

| winners = Everton

| promoted =

| relegated = Lincoln City

| prevseason = 1985–86

| nextseason = 1987–88

}}

The 198687 season was the 88th completed season of The Football League.

Play-offs to determine promotion places were introduced in 1987 so that more clubs remained eligible for promotion closer to the end of the season, and at the same time to aid in the reduction over two years of the number of clubs in the First Division from 22 to 20.

At the same time, automatic promotion and relegation between the Fourth Division and the Football Conference was introduced for one club, replacing the annual application for re-election to the League of the bottom four clubs and linking the League to the developing National League System pyramid.

Final league tables and results

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at [https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1986-87.html The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation] website.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1986-87.html |title=England 1986–87 |access-date=2010-02-24| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100127102628/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1986-87.html| archive-date= 27 January 2010|website=RSSSF | url-status= live}}

As of this season, there were no more re-election procedures, but instead, the club finishing last in the Fourth Division was demoted to Conference. The first casualty of this new practice were Lincoln City.

First Division

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = First Division

| season = 1986–87

| winners = Everton
9th English title

| relegated = Leicester City
Manchester City
Aston Villa

| league topscorer = Clive Allen
(33 goals){{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html|title=English League Leading Goalscorers|website=RSSSF|access-date=2010-10-31}}

| biggest home win = {{nowrap|Nottingham Forest 6–0 Aston Villa}}
(20 September 1986)
{{nowrap|Sheffield Wednesday 7–1 Queens Park Rangers}}
(2 May 1987)

| biggest away win = {{nowrap|Chelsea 2–6 Nottingham Forest}}
(20 September 1986)
{{nowrap|Southampton 0–4 Arsenal}}
(15 November 1986)
{{nowrap|Aston Villa 0–4 Arsenal}}
(29 November 1986)
{{nowrap|Chelsea 0–4 Wimbledon}}
(6 December 1986)
{{nowrap|Newcastle United 0–4 Everton}}
(26 December 1986)

| highest scoring = {{nowrap|Chelsea 2–6 Nottingham Forest}}
(20 September 1986)
{{nowrap|West Ham United 5–3 Chelsea}}
(11 October 1986)
{{nowrap|Liverpool 6–2 Norwich City}}
(1 November 1986)
{{nowrap|Sheffield Wednesday 7–1 Queens Park Rangers}}
(2 May 1987)

| matches = 462

| total goals = 1215

| longest wins = 7 matches
Everton

| longest unbeaten = 17 matches
Arsenal

| longest losses = 6 matches
Newcastle United

| highest attendance =

| lowest attendance =

| average attendance =

| prevseason = 1985–86

| nextseason = 1987–88

}}

The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. This remains Everton's last league title. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off competition from runners-up Liverpool and third-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Fourth place went to George Graham's emerging young Arsenal side who also won the League Cup in his first season in charge. Fifth place went to newly-promoted Norwich City, whose manager Ken Brown built a strong squad on a limited budget to achieve a finish which would have been enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup had it not been for the ongoing ban on English clubs in European competitions.

Wimbledon finished sixth in the First Division in only their tenth season as a Football League club. Dave Bassett's men had led the league for the first two weeks of September, but sixth place was still much higher than most pundits{{who|date=August 2023}} had predicted at the start of the season. Luton Town enjoyed their highest league position by finishing seventh.

Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson had been under pressure for months, after his side had finished fourth in the league in 1985–86, 12 points behind the champions, Liverpool. The United board had initially decided to stick with Atkinson as manager for the 1986–87 season, but finally sacked him in November with United fourth from bottom in the league and having suffered a League Cup exit to Southampton. Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson took over, and results began to improve despite no immediate new signings being made, with United finally finishing 11th.

West Ham United, who had come close to winning the title the previous season, slipped to 15th place in 1986–87.

Aston Villa were relegated to the Second Division just five years after they won the European Cup. Chairman Doug Ellis had sensed from the start that 1986-87 would be a tough season for the club, so he axed manager Graham Turner in September and replaced him with Manchester City's Billy McNeill. But McNeill was unable to stop the rot and Villa went down in bottom place. McNeill was subsequently sacked and replaced by Watford's Graham Taylor.

Villa were joined on the way down by Manchester City and Leicester City. In the first season of the relegation/promotion play-offs, Charlton Athletic beat Second Division Leeds United to retain their top flight status.

No European qualification took place due to UEFA voting to ban English clubs from European competitions for a third season following the Heysel disaster in 1985.

=Final table=

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=First Division

|source=[https://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/eng-premier-league-1986-1987-spieltag/42/ World Football]

|team_order=EVE, LIV, TOT, ARS, NOR, WIM, LUT, NFO, WAT, COV, MUN, SOU, SHW, CHE, WHU, QPR, NEW, OXF, CHA, LEI, MCI, AVL

|result1=EXEC |result2=EXUC |result3=EXUC |result4=EXUC |result10=EXCWC |result19=RPO |result20=REL |result21=REL |result22=REL

|update=complete

|win_ARS=20|draw_ARS=10|loss_ARS=12|gf_ARS=58|ga_ARS=35

|win_AVL=8 |draw_AVL=12|loss_AVL=22|gf_AVL=45|ga_AVL=79

|win_CHA=11|draw_CHA=11|loss_CHA=20|gf_CHA=45|ga_CHA=55

|win_CHE=13|draw_CHE=13|loss_CHE=16|gf_CHE=53|ga_CHE=64

|win_COV=17|draw_COV=12|loss_COV=13|gf_COV=50|ga_COV=45

|win_EVE=26|draw_EVE=8 |loss_EVE=8 |gf_EVE=76|ga_EVE=31

|win_LEI=11|draw_LEI=9 |loss_LEI=22|gf_LEI=54|ga_LEI=76

|win_LIV=23|draw_LIV=8 |loss_LIV=11|gf_LIV=72|ga_LIV=42

|win_LUT=18|draw_LUT=12|loss_LUT=12|gf_LUT=47|ga_LUT=45

|win_MCI=8 |draw_MCI=15|loss_MCI=19|gf_MCI=36|ga_MCI=57

|win_MUN=14|draw_MUN=14|loss_MUN=14|gf_MUN=52|ga_MUN=45

|win_NEW=12|draw_NEW=11|loss_NEW=19|gf_NEW=47|ga_NEW=65

|win_NOR=17|draw_NOR=17|loss_NOR=8 |gf_NOR=53|ga_NOR=51

|win_NFO=18|draw_NFO=11|loss_NFO=13|gf_NFO=64|ga_NFO=51

|win_OXF=11|draw_OXF=13|loss_OXF=18|gf_OXF=44|ga_OXF=69

|win_QPR=13|draw_QPR=11|loss_QPR=18|gf_QPR=48|ga_QPR=64

|win_SHW=13|draw_SHW=13|loss_SHW=16|gf_SHW=58|ga_SHW=59

|win_SOU=14|draw_SOU=10|loss_SOU=18|gf_SOU=69|ga_SOU=68

|win_TOT=21|draw_TOT=8 |loss_TOT=13|gf_TOT=68|ga_TOT=43

|win_WAT=18|draw_WAT=9 |loss_WAT=15|gf_WAT=67|ga_WAT=54

|win_WHU=14|draw_WHU=10|loss_WHU=18|gf_WHU=52|ga_WHU=67

|win_WIM=19|draw_WIM=9 |loss_WIM=14|gf_WIM=57|ga_WIM=50

|status_EVE=C

|status_CHA=O

|status_LEI=R

|status_MCI=R

|status_AVL=R

|name_ARS=Arsenal

|name_AVL=Aston Villa

|name_CHA=Charlton Athletic

|name_CHE=Chelsea

|name_COV=Coventry City

|name_EVE=Everton

|name_LEI=Leicester City

|name_LIV=Liverpool

|name_LUT=Luton Town

|name_MCI=Manchester City

|name_MUN=Manchester United

|name_NEW=Newcastle United

|name_NOR=Norwich City

|name_NFO=Nottingham Forest

|name_OXF=Oxford United

|name_QPR=Queens Park Rangers

|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday

|name_SOU=Southampton

|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur

|name_WAT=Watford

|name_WHU=West Ham United

|name_WIM=Wimbledon

|show_limit=5

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored

|res_col_header=QR

|col_EXEC= |text_EXEC=Disqualified from the European Cup

|col_EXUC= |text_EXUC=Disqualified from the UEFA Cup

|col_EXCWC= |text_EXCWC=Disqualified from the European Cup Winners' Cup

|col_RPO=red2 |text_RPO=Qualification for the Second Division play-offs

|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the Second Division

|note_ARS=Arsenal would have qualified as League Cup winners.

|note_COV=Coventry City would have qualified as FA Cup winners.

}}

=First Division results=

{{#invoke:Sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=ARS|team2=AST|team3=CHA|team4=CHE|team5=COV

|team6=EVE|team7=LEI|team8=LIV|team9=LUT|team10=MCI

|team11=MUN|team12=NEW|team13=NWC|team14=NOT|team15=OXF

|team16=QPR|team17=SHW|team18=SOU|team19=TOT|team20=WAT

|team21=WHU|team22=WDN

|name_ARS=Arsenal

|match_ARS_AST=2–1

|match_ARS_CHA=2–1

|match_ARS_CHE=3–1

|match_ARS_COV=0–0

|match_ARS_EVE=0–1

|match_ARS_LEI=4–1

|match_ARS_LIV=0–1

|match_ARS_LUT=3–0

|match_ARS_MCI=3–0

|match_ARS_MUN=1–0

|match_ARS_NEW=0–1

|match_ARS_NWC=1–2

|match_ARS_NOT=0–0

|match_ARS_OXF=0–0

|match_ARS_QPR=3–1

|match_ARS_SHW=2–0

|match_ARS_SOU=1–0

|match_ARS_TOT=0–0

|match_ARS_WAT=3–1

|match_ARS_WHU=0–0

|match_ARS_WDN=3–1

|name_AST=Aston Villa

|match_AST_ARS=0–4

|match_AST_CHA=2–0

|match_AST_CHE=0–0

|match_AST_COV=1–0

|match_AST_EVE=0–1

|match_AST_LEI=2–0

|match_AST_LIV=2–2

|match_AST_LUT=2–1

|match_AST_MCI=0–0

|match_AST_MUN=3–3

|match_AST_NEW=2–0

|match_AST_NWC=1–4

|match_AST_NOT=0–0

|match_AST_OXF=1–2

|match_AST_QPR=0–1

|match_AST_SHW=1–2

|match_AST_SOU=3–1

|match_AST_TOT=0–3

|match_AST_WAT=1–1

|match_AST_WHU=4–0

|match_AST_WDN=0–0

|name_CHA=Charlton Athletic

|match_CHA_ARS=0–2

|match_CHA_AST=3–0

|match_CHA_CHE=0–0

|match_CHA_COV=1–1

|match_CHA_EVE=3–2

|match_CHA_LEI=2–0

|match_CHA_LIV=0–0

|match_CHA_LUT=0–1

|match_CHA_MCI=5–0

|match_CHA_MUN=0–0

|match_CHA_NEW=1–1

|match_CHA_NWC=1–2

|match_CHA_NOT=0–1

|match_CHA_OXF=0–0

|match_CHA_QPR=2–1

|match_CHA_SHW=1–1

|match_CHA_SOU=1–3

|match_CHA_TOT=0–2

|match_CHA_WAT=4–3

|match_CHA_WHU=2–1

|match_CHA_WDN=0–1

|name_CHE=Chelsea

|match_CHE_ARS=1–0

|match_CHE_AST=4–1

|match_CHE_CHA=0–1

|match_CHE_COV=0–0

|match_CHE_EVE=1–2

|match_CHE_LEI=3–1

|match_CHE_LIV=3–3

|match_CHE_LUT=1–3

|match_CHE_MCI=2–1

|match_CHE_MUN=1–1

|match_CHE_NEW=1–3

|match_CHE_NWC=0–0

|match_CHE_NOT=2–6

|match_CHE_OXF=4–0

|match_CHE_QPR=3–1

|match_CHE_SHW=2–0

|match_CHE_SOU=1–1

|match_CHE_TOT=0–2

|match_CHE_WAT=0–0

|match_CHE_WHU=1–0

|match_CHE_WDN=0–4

|name_COV=Coventry City

|match_COV_ARS=2–1

|match_COV_AST=0–1

|match_COV_CHA=2–1

|match_COV_CHE=3–0

|match_COV_EVE=1–1

|match_COV_LEI=1–0

|match_COV_LIV=1–0

|match_COV_LUT=0–1

|match_COV_MCI=2–2

|match_COV_MUN=1–1

|match_COV_NEW=3–0

|match_COV_NWC=2–1

|match_COV_NOT=1–0

|match_COV_OXF=3–0

|match_COV_QPR=4–1

|match_COV_SHW=1–0

|match_COV_SOU=1–1

|match_COV_TOT=4–3

|match_COV_WAT=1–0

|match_COV_WHU=1–3

|match_COV_WDN=1–0

|name_EVE=Everton

|match_EVE_ARS=0–1

|match_EVE_AST=3–0

|match_EVE_CHA=2–1

|match_EVE_CHE=2–2

|match_EVE_COV=3–1

|match_EVE_LEI=5–1

|match_EVE_LIV=0–0

|match_EVE_LUT=3–1

|match_EVE_MCI=0–0

|match_EVE_MUN=3–1

|match_EVE_NEW=3–0

|match_EVE_NWC=4–0

|match_EVE_NOT=2–0

|match_EVE_OXF=3–1

|match_EVE_QPR=0–0

|match_EVE_SHW=2–0

|match_EVE_SOU=3–0

|match_EVE_TOT=1–0

|match_EVE_WAT=3–2

|match_EVE_WHU=4–0

|match_EVE_WDN=3–0

|name_LEI=Leicester City

|match_LEI_ARS=1–1

|match_LEI_AST=1–1

|match_LEI_CHA=1–0

|match_LEI_CHE=2–2

|match_LEI_COV=1–1

|match_LEI_EVE=0–2

|match_LEI_LIV=2–1

|match_LEI_LUT=1–1

|match_LEI_MCI=4–0

|match_LEI_MUN=1–1

|match_LEI_NEW=1–1

|match_LEI_NWC=0–2

|match_LEI_NOT=3–1

|match_LEI_OXF=2–0

|match_LEI_QPR=4–1

|match_LEI_SHW=6–1

|match_LEI_SOU=2–3

|match_LEI_TOT=1–2

|match_LEI_WAT=1–2

|match_LEI_WHU=2–0

|match_LEI_WDN=3–1

|name_LIV=Liverpool

|match_LIV_ARS=2–1

|match_LIV_AST=3–3

|match_LIV_CHA=2–0

|match_LIV_CHE=3–0

|match_LIV_COV=2–0

|match_LIV_EVE=3–1

|match_LIV_LEI=4–3

|match_LIV_LUT=2–0

|match_LIV_MCI=0–0

|match_LIV_MUN=0–1

|match_LIV_NEW=2–0

|match_LIV_NWC=6–2

|match_LIV_NOT=3–0

|match_LIV_OXF=4–0

|match_LIV_QPR=2–1

|match_LIV_SHW=1–1

|match_LIV_SOU=1–0

|match_LIV_TOT=0–1

|match_LIV_WAT=1–0

|match_LIV_WHU=1–0

|match_LIV_WDN=1–2

|name_LUT=Luton Town

|match_LUT_ARS=0–0

|match_LUT_AST=2–1

|match_LUT_CHA=1–0

|match_LUT_CHE=1–0

|match_LUT_COV=2–0

|match_LUT_EVE=1–0

|match_LUT_LEI=1–0

|match_LUT_LIV=4–1

|match_LUT_MCI=1–0

|match_LUT_MUN=2–1

|match_LUT_NEW=0–0

|match_LUT_NWC=0–0

|match_LUT_NOT=4–2

|match_LUT_OXF=2–3

|match_LUT_QPR=1–0

|match_LUT_SHW=0–0

|match_LUT_SOU=2–1

|match_LUT_TOT=3–1

|match_LUT_WAT=0–2

|match_LUT_WHU=2–1

|match_LUT_WDN=0–0

|name_MCI=Manchester City

|match_MCI_ARS=3–0

|match_MCI_AST=3–1

|match_MCI_CHA=2–1

|match_MCI_CHE=1–2

|match_MCI_COV=0–1

|match_MCI_EVE=1–3

|match_MCI_LEI=1–2

|match_MCI_LIV=0–1

|match_MCI_LUT=1–1

|match_MCI_MUN=1–1

|match_MCI_NEW=0–0

|match_MCI_NWC=2–2

|match_MCI_NOT=1–0

|match_MCI_OXF=1–0

|match_MCI_QPR=0–0

|match_MCI_SHW=1–0

|match_MCI_SOU=2–4

|match_MCI_TOT=1–1

|match_MCI_WAT=1–2

|match_MCI_WHU=3–1

|match_MCI_WDN=3–1

|name_MUN=Manchester United

|match_MUN_ARS=2–0

|match_MUN_AST=3–1

|match_MUN_CHA=0–1

|match_MUN_CHE=0–1

|match_MUN_COV=1–1

|match_MUN_EVE=0–0

|match_MUN_LEI=2–0

|match_MUN_LIV=1–0

|match_MUN_LUT=1–0

|match_MUN_MCI=2–0

|match_MUN_NEW=4–1

|match_MUN_NWC=0–1

|match_MUN_NOT=2–0

|match_MUN_OXF=3–2

|match_MUN_QPR=1–0

|match_MUN_SHW=3–1

|match_MUN_SOU=5–1

|match_MUN_TOT=3–3

|match_MUN_WAT=3–1

|match_MUN_WHU=2–3

|match_MUN_WDN=0–1

|name_NEW=Newcastle United

|match_NEW_ARS=1–2

|match_NEW_AST=2–1

|match_NEW_CHA=0–3

|match_NEW_CHE=1–0

|match_NEW_COV=1–2

|match_NEW_EVE=0–4

|match_NEW_LEI=2–0

|match_NEW_LIV=0–2

|match_NEW_LUT=2–2

|match_NEW_MCI=3–1

|match_NEW_MUN=2–1

|match_NEW_NWC=4–1

|match_NEW_NOT=3–2

|match_NEW_OXF=0–0

|match_NEW_QPR=0–2

|match_NEW_SHW=2–3

|match_NEW_SOU=2–0

|match_NEW_TOT=1–1

|match_NEW_WAT=2–2

|match_NEW_WHU=4–0

|match_NEW_WDN=1–0

|name_NWC=Norwich City

|match_NWC_ARS=1–1

|match_NWC_AST=1–1

|match_NWC_CHA=1–1

|match_NWC_CHE=2–2

|match_NWC_COV=1–1

|match_NWC_EVE=0–1

|match_NWC_LEI=2–1

|match_NWC_LIV=2–1

|match_NWC_LUT=0–0

|match_NWC_MCI=1–1

|match_NWC_MUN=0–0

|match_NWC_NEW=2–0

|match_NWC_NOT=2–1

|match_NWC_OXF=2–1

|match_NWC_QPR=1–0

|match_NWC_SHW=1–0

|match_NWC_SOU=4–3

|match_NWC_TOT=2–1

|match_NWC_WAT=1–3

|match_NWC_WHU=1–1

|match_NWC_WDN=0–0

|name_NOT=Nottingham Forest

|match_NOT_ARS=1–0

|match_NOT_AST=6–0

|match_NOT_CHA=4–0

|match_NOT_CHE=0–1

|match_NOT_COV=0–0

|match_NOT_EVE=1–0

|match_NOT_LEI=2–1

|match_NOT_LIV=1–1

|match_NOT_LUT=2–2

|match_NOT_MCI=2–0

|match_NOT_MUN=1–1

|match_NOT_NEW=2–1

|match_NOT_NWC=1–1

|match_NOT_OXF=2–0

|match_NOT_QPR=1–0

|match_NOT_SHW=3–2

|match_NOT_SOU=0–0

|match_NOT_TOT=2–0

|match_NOT_WAT=1–1

|match_NOT_WHU=1–1

|match_NOT_WDN=3–2

|name_OXF=Oxford United

|match_OXF_ARS=0–0

|match_OXF_AST=2–2

|match_OXF_CHA=3–2

|match_OXF_CHE=1–1

|match_OXF_COV=2–0

|match_OXF_EVE=1–1

|match_OXF_LEI=0–0

|match_OXF_LIV=1–3

|match_OXF_LUT=4–2

|match_OXF_MCI=0–0

|match_OXF_MUN=2–0

|match_OXF_NEW=1–1

|match_OXF_NWC=0–1

|match_OXF_NOT=2–1

|match_OXF_QPR=0–1

|match_OXF_SHW=2–1

|match_OXF_SOU=3–1

|match_OXF_TOT=2–4

|match_OXF_WAT=1–3

|match_OXF_WHU=0–0

|match_OXF_WDN=3–1

|name_QPR=Queens Park Rangers

|match_QPR_ARS=1–4

|match_QPR_AST=1–0

|match_QPR_CHA=0–0

|match_QPR_CHE=1–1

|match_QPR_COV=3–1

|match_QPR_EVE=0–1

|match_QPR_LEI=0–1

|match_QPR_LIV=1–3

|match_QPR_LUT=2–2

|match_QPR_MCI=1–0

|match_QPR_MUN=1–1

|match_QPR_NEW=2–1

|match_QPR_NWC=1–1

|match_QPR_NOT=3–1

|match_QPR_OXF=1–1

|match_QPR_SHW=2–2

|match_QPR_SOU=2–1

|match_QPR_TOT=2–0

|match_QPR_WAT=3–2

|match_QPR_WHU=2–3

|match_QPR_WDN=2–1

|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday

|match_SHW_ARS=1–1

|match_SHW_AST=2–1

|match_SHW_CHA=1–1

|match_SHW_CHE=2–0

|match_SHW_COV=2–2

|match_SHW_EVE=2–2

|match_SHW_LEI=2–2

|match_SHW_LIV=0–1

|match_SHW_LUT=1–0

|match_SHW_MCI=2–1

|match_SHW_MUN=1–0

|match_SHW_NEW=2–0

|match_SHW_NWC=1–1

|match_SHW_NOT=2–3

|match_SHW_OXF=6–1

|match_SHW_QPR=7–1

|match_SHW_SOU=3–1

|match_SHW_TOT=0–1

|match_SHW_WAT=0–1

|match_SHW_WHU=2–2

|match_SHW_WDN=0–2

|name_SOU=Southampton

|match_SOU_ARS=0–4

|match_SOU_AST=5–0

|match_SOU_CHA=2–2

|match_SOU_CHE=1–2

|match_SOU_COV=2–0

|match_SOU_EVE=0–2

|match_SOU_LEI=4–0

|match_SOU_LIV=2–1

|match_SOU_LUT=3–0

|match_SOU_MCI=1–1

|match_SOU_MUN=1–1

|match_SOU_NEW=4–1

|match_SOU_NWC=1–2

|match_SOU_NOT=1–3

|match_SOU_OXF=3–0

|match_SOU_QPR=5–1

|match_SOU_SHW=1–1

|match_SOU_TOT=2–0

|match_SOU_WAT=3–1

|match_SOU_WHU=1–0

|match_SOU_WDN=2–2

|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur

|match_TOT_ARS=1–2

|match_TOT_AST=3–0

|match_TOT_CHA=1–0

|match_TOT_CHE=1–3

|match_TOT_COV=1–0

|match_TOT_EVE=2–0

|match_TOT_LEI=5–0

|match_TOT_LIV=1–0

|match_TOT_LUT=0–0

|match_TOT_MCI=1–0

|match_TOT_MUN=4–0

|match_TOT_NEW=1–1

|match_TOT_NWC=3–0

|match_TOT_NOT=2–3

|match_TOT_OXF=3–1

|match_TOT_QPR=1–0

|match_TOT_SHW=1–1

|match_TOT_SOU=2–0

|match_TOT_WAT=2–1

|match_TOT_WHU=4–0

|match_TOT_WDN=1–2

|name_WAT=Watford

|match_WAT_ARS=2–0

|match_WAT_AST=4–2

|match_WAT_CHA=4–1

|match_WAT_CHE=3–1

|match_WAT_COV=2–3

|match_WAT_EVE=2–1

|match_WAT_LEI=5–1

|match_WAT_LIV=2–0

|match_WAT_LUT=2–0

|match_WAT_MCI=1–1

|match_WAT_MUN=1–0

|match_WAT_NEW=1–0

|match_WAT_NWC=1–1

|match_WAT_NOT=1–1

|match_WAT_OXF=3–0

|match_WAT_QPR=0–3

|match_WAT_SHW=0–1

|match_WAT_SOU=1–1

|match_WAT_TOT=1–0

|match_WAT_WHU=2–2

|match_WAT_WDN=0–1

|name_WHU=West Ham United

|match_WHU_ARS=3–1

|match_WHU_AST=1–1

|match_WHU_CHA=1–3

|match_WHU_CHE=5–3

|match_WHU_COV=1–0

|match_WHU_EVE=1–0

|match_WHU_LEI=4–1

|match_WHU_LIV=2–5

|match_WHU_LUT=2–0

|match_WHU_MCI=2–0

|match_WHU_MUN=0–0

|match_WHU_NEW=1–1

|match_WHU_NWC=0–2

|match_WHU_NOT=1–2

|match_WHU_OXF=0–1

|match_WHU_QPR=1–1

|match_WHU_SHW=0–2

|match_WHU_SOU=3–1

|match_WHU_TOT=2–1

|match_WHU_WAT=1–0

|match_WHU_WDN=2–3

|name_WDN=Wimbledon

|match_WDN_ARS=1–2

|match_WDN_AST=3–2

|match_WDN_CHA=2–0

|match_WDN_CHE=2–1

|match_WDN_COV=2–1

|match_WDN_EVE=1–2

|match_WDN_LEI=1–0

|match_WDN_LIV=1–3

|match_WDN_LUT=0–1

|match_WDN_MCI=0–0

|match_WDN_MUN=1–0

|match_WDN_NEW=3–1

|match_WDN_NWC=2–0

|match_WDN_NOT=2–1

|match_WDN_OXF=1–1

|match_WDN_QPR=1–1

|match_WDN_SHW=3–0

|match_WDN_SOU=2–2

|match_WDN_TOT=2–2

|match_WDN_WAT=2–1

|match_WDN_WHU=0–1

|update=complete

|source=

}}

=Managerial changes=

class="wikitable"
Team

! Outgoing manager

! Manner of departure

! Date of vacancy

! Position in table

! Incoming manager

! Date of appointment

Arsenal

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Burtenshaw

| End of caretaker spell

| 14 May 1986

| Rowspan="4" | Pre-season

| {{flagicon|SCO}} George Graham

| 14 May 1986

Tottenham Hotspur

| {{flagicon|WAL}} Peter Shreeves

| Sacked

| 15 May 1986

| {{flagicon|ENG}} David Pleat

| 16 May 1986

Luton Town

| {{flagicon|ENG}} David Pleat

| Signed by Tottenham Hotspur

| 16 May 1986

| {{flagicon|SCO}} John Moore

| 16 May 1986

Leicester City

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Gordon Milne

| Became general manager

| 3 June 1986

| {{flagicon|NIR}} Bryan Hamilton

| 3 June 1986

Aston Villa

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Graham Turner

| Sacked

| 16 September 1986

| 21st

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Billy McNeill

| 22 September 1986

Manchester City

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Billy McNeill

| Signed by Aston Villa

| 22 September 1986

| 15th

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Jimmy Frizzell

| 22 September 1986

Manchester United

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ron Atkinson

| rowspan = "2" | Sacked

| 6 November 1986

| 19th

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Alex Ferguson

| 7 November 1986

Aston Villa

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Billy McNeill

| 6 May 1987

| 22nd

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Ron Wylie (caretaker)

| 6 May 1987

=First Division maps=

{{location map+| Greater London |float=right |width=369 |caption=Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1986–1987 |places=

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.558 |long=-0.103 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.486 |long=0.036 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.482 |long=-0.191 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.603|long=-0.066|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.509 |long=-0.232 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.650 |long=-0.401 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.532 |long=0.039 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.43 | long=-0.19| label=|position=right}}

Arsenal

Charlton Athletic

Chelsea

Tottenham

Queens Park Rangers

Watford

West Ham

Wimbledon

}}

{{location map+|England |float=none |width=400 |caption=Locations of the Football League First Division 1986–1987 teams |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.56 |long=-0.10 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.54 |long=-1.87 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.47 |long=0.07 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.50 |long=-0.19 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.41 |long=-1.51 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.97 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.62 |long=-1.14 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.53 |long=-2.99 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.9 |long=-0.433 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.18 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.30 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.98 |long=-1.62 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.63 |long=1.30 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.01 |long=-1.137|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.72 | long=-1.21 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.54 |long=-0.26 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.41 | long=-1.50 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.91 |long=-1.39 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.63 |long=-0.063 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.65 |long=-0.40 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.54 |long=0.040 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.43 | long=-0.19|label=|position=right}}

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Charlton

Chelsea

Coventry

Everton

Leicester City

Liverpool

Luton Town

Manchester City

Manchester United

Newcastle

Norwich City

Nottingham Forest

Oxford

QPR

Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton

Tottenham

Watford

West Ham

Wimbledon

}}

Second Division

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = Second Division

| season = 1986–87

| winners = Derby County

| promoted = Derby County
Portsmouth

| relegated = Sunderland
Grimsby Town
Brighton & Hove Albion

| league topscorer = Micky Quinn
(22 goals)

| biggest home win =

| biggest away win =

| highest scoring =

| matches = 462

| total goals = 1131

| longest wins =

| longest unbeaten =

| longest losses =

| highest attendance =

| lowest attendance =

| average attendance =

| prevseason = 1985–86

| nextseason = 1987–88

}}

There were just two guaranteed promotion places in the Second Division this season due to the introduction of the playoffs and the phased reorganization of the league. Derby County finished top of the Second Division to clinch a second successive promotion and reclaim the First Division place they had last held in 1980. Portsmouth, absent from the First Division for nearly 30 years and who had missed promotion by a single place in the previous two seasons, finally achieved promotion by finishing second. Oldham Athletic and Ipswich Town failed to progress beyond the semi-finals of the new playoffs, leaving Leeds United to take on Charlton Athletic in a two-legged contest for a First Division place. Charlton won the replay to keep their First Division status and condemn Leeds to a sixth successive season in the Second Division.

Financially troubled Grimsby Town were relegated, along with Brighton & Hove Albion. Sunderland's second relegation in three seasons condemned them to Third Division football for the first time in their history as they went down after losing in the playoffs.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Second Division

|source=

|team_order=DER, POR, OLD, LEE, IPS, CRY, PLY, STK, SHU, BRA, BAR, BLA, REA, HUL, WBA, MIL, HUD, SHR, BIR, SUN, GRI, BHA

|result1=PRO |result2=PRO |result3=PPO |result4=PPO |result5=PPO |result20=RPO |result21=REL |result22=REL

|update=complete

|win_BAR=14|draw_BAR=13|loss_BAR=15|gf_BAR=49|ga_BAR=52

|win_BIR=11|draw_BIR=17|loss_BIR=14|gf_BIR=47|ga_BIR=59

|win_BLA=15|draw_BLA=10|loss_BLA=17|gf_BLA=45|ga_BLA=55

|win_BRA=15|draw_BRA=10|loss_BRA=17|gf_BRA=62|ga_BRA=62

|win_BHA=9 |draw_BHA=12|loss_BHA=21|gf_BHA=37|ga_BHA=54

|win_CRY=19|draw_CRY=5 |loss_CRY=18|gf_CRY=51|ga_CRY=53

|win_DER=25|draw_DER=9 |loss_DER=8 |gf_DER=64|ga_DER=38

|win_GRI=10|draw_GRI=14|loss_GRI=18|gf_GRI=39|ga_GRI=59

|win_HUD=13|draw_HUD=12|loss_HUD=17|gf_HUD=54|ga_HUD=61

|win_HUL=13|draw_HUL=14|loss_HUL=15|gf_HUL=41|ga_HUL=55

|win_IPS=17|draw_IPS=13|loss_IPS=12|gf_IPS=59|ga_IPS=43

|win_LEE=19|draw_LEE=11|loss_LEE=12|gf_LEE=58|ga_LEE=44

|win_MIL=14|draw_MIL=9 |loss_MIL=19|gf_MIL=39|ga_MIL=45

|win_OLD=22|draw_OLD=9 |loss_OLD=11|gf_OLD=65|ga_OLD=44

|win_PLY=16|draw_PLY=13|loss_PLY=13|gf_PLY=62|ga_PLY=57

|win_POR=23|draw_POR=9 |loss_POR=10|gf_POR=53|ga_POR=28

|win_REA=14|draw_REA=11|loss_REA=17|gf_REA=52|ga_REA=59

|win_SHU=15|draw_SHU=13|loss_SHU=14|gf_SHU=50|ga_SHU=49

|win_SHR=15|draw_SHR=6 |loss_SHR=21|gf_SHR=41|ga_SHR=53

|win_STK=16|draw_STK=10|loss_STK=16|gf_STK=63|ga_STK=53

|win_SUN=12|draw_SUN=12|loss_SUN=18|gf_SUN=49|ga_SUN=59

|win_WBA=13|draw_WBA=12|loss_WBA=17|gf_WBA=51|ga_WBA=49

|status_DER=C, P

|status_POR=P

|status_SUN=R

|status_GRI=R

|status_BHA=R

|name_BAR=Barnsley

|name_BIR=Birmingham City

|name_BLA=Blackburn Rovers

|name_BRA=Bradford City

|name_BHA=Brighton & Hove Albion

|name_CRY=Crystal Palace

|name_DER=Derby County

|name_GRI=Grimsby Town

|name_HUD=Huddersfield Town

|name_HUL=Hull City

|name_IPS=Ipswich Town

|name_LEE=Leeds United

|name_MIL=Millwall

|name_OLD=Oldham Athletic

|name_PLY=Plymouth Argyle

|name_POR=Portsmouth

|name_REA=Reading

|name_SHU=Sheffield United

|name_SHR=Shrewsbury Town

|name_STK=Stoke City

|name_SUN=Sunderland

|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion

|show_limit=5

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored

|res_col_header=QR

|col_PRO=green1 |text_PRO=Promotion to the First Division

|col_PPO=yellow1 |text_PPO=Qualification for the Second Division play-offs

|col_RPO=red2 |text_RPO=Qualification for the Third Division play-offs

|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the Third Division

}}

=Second Division play-offs=

{{4TeamBracket-Tennis3 | RD1=Semi-finals
1st leg –14 May; 2nd leg –17 May 1987

| RD2=Finals
1st leg –23 May; 2nd leg –25 May 1987

| score-width=30px

| team-width=200px

| RD1-seed1=19th

| RD1-team1=Charlton Athletic (Div 1)

| RD1-score1-1=0

| RD1-score1-2=2

| RD1-score1-3=2

| RD1-seed2=5th

| RD1-team2=Ipswich Town

| RD1-score2-1=0

| RD1-score2-2=1

| RD1-score2-3=1

| RD1-seed3=3rd

| RD1-team3=Oldham Athletic

| RD1-score3-1=0

| RD1-score3-2=2

| RD1-score3-3=2

| RD1-seed4=4th

| RD1-team4=Leeds United Leeds United won on away goals.

| RD1-score4-1=1

| RD1-score4-2=1

| RD1-score4-3=2

| RD2-seed1=19th

| RD2-team1=Charlton Athletic (Div 1)

| RD2-score1-1=1

| RD2-score1-2=0

| RD2-score1-3=1

| RD2-seed2=4th

| RD2-team2=Leeds United

| RD2-score2-1=0

| RD2-score2-2=1

| RD2-score2-3=1

}}

;Replay

{{football box

|date =29 May 1987

|team1 =Leeds United

|score = 1 –2 {{aet}}

|report=Report/Soccerbase [http://www.soccerbase.com/cup2.sdcompetitionid=150&seasonid=116]

|team2 =Charlton Athletic (Div 1)

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = St. Andrew's, Birmingham

|attendance = 18,000

|referee= }}

=Second Division results=

{{#invoke:Sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BAR|team2=BIR|team3=BLB|team4=BRA|team5=B&HA

|team6=CRY|team7=DER|team8=GRI|team9=HUD|team10=HUL

|team11=IPS|team12=LEE|team13=MIL|team14=OLD|team15=PLY

|team16=POR|team17=REA|team18=SHU|team19=SHR|team20=STK

|team21=SUN|team22=WBA

|name_BAR=Barnsley

|match_BAR_BIR=2–2

|match_BAR_BLB=1–1

|match_BAR_BRA=2–0

|match_BAR_B&HA=3–1

|match_BAR_CRY=2–3

|match_BAR_DER=0–1

|match_BAR_GRI=1–0

|match_BAR_HUD=0–1

|match_BAR_HUL=1–1

|match_BAR_IPS=2–1

|match_BAR_LEE=0–1

|match_BAR_MIL=1–0

|match_BAR_OLD=1–1

|match_BAR_PLY=1–1

|match_BAR_POR=0–2

|match_BAR_REA=2–0

|match_BAR_SHU=2–2

|match_BAR_SHR=2–1

|match_BAR_STK=0–2

|match_BAR_SUN=1–0

|match_BAR_WBA=2–2

|name_BIR=Birmingham City

|match_BIR_BAR=1–1

|match_BIR_BLB=1–1

|match_BIR_BRA=2–1

|match_BIR_B&HA=2–0

|match_BIR_CRY=4–1

|match_BIR_DER=1–1

|match_BIR_GRI=1–0

|match_BIR_HUD=1–1

|match_BIR_HUL=0–0

|match_BIR_IPS=2–2

|match_BIR_LEE=2–1

|match_BIR_MIL=1–1

|match_BIR_OLD=1–3

|match_BIR_PLY=3–2

|match_BIR_POR=0–1

|match_BIR_REA=1–1

|match_BIR_SHU=2–1

|match_BIR_SHR=0–2

|match_BIR_STK=0–0

|match_BIR_SUN=2–0

|match_BIR_WBA=0–1

|name_BLB=Blackburn Rovers

|match_BLB_BAR=4–2

|match_BLB_BIR=1–0

|match_BLB_BRA=2–1

|match_BLB_B&HA=1–1

|match_BLB_CRY=0–2

|match_BLB_DER=3–1

|match_BLB_GRI=2–2

|match_BLB_HUD=1–2

|match_BLB_HUL=0–2

|match_BLB_IPS=0–0

|match_BLB_LEE=2–1

|match_BLB_MIL=1–0

|match_BLB_OLD=1–0

|match_BLB_PLY=1–2

|match_BLB_POR=1–0

|match_BLB_REA=0–0

|match_BLB_SHU=0–2

|match_BLB_SHR=2–1

|match_BLB_STK=2–1

|match_BLB_SUN=6–1

|match_BLB_WBA=0–1

|name_BRA=Bradford City

|match_BRA_BAR=0–0

|match_BRA_BIR=0–0

|match_BRA_BLB=2–0

|match_BRA_B&HA=2–0

|match_BRA_CRY=1–2

|match_BRA_DER=0–1

|match_BRA_GRI=4–2

|match_BRA_HUD=4–3

|match_BRA_HUL=2–0

|match_BRA_IPS=3–4

|match_BRA_LEE=2–0

|match_BRA_MIL=4–0

|match_BRA_OLD=0–3

|match_BRA_PLY=2–2

|match_BRA_POR=1–0

|match_BRA_REA=3–0

|match_BRA_SHU=1–1

|match_BRA_SHR=0–0

|match_BRA_STK=1–4

|match_BRA_SUN=3–2

|match_BRA_WBA=1–3

|name_B&HA=Brighton & Hove Albion

|match_B&HA_BAR=1–1

|match_B&HA_BIR=2–0

|match_B&HA_BLB=0–2

|match_B&HA_BRA=2–2

|match_B&HA_CRY=2–0

|match_B&HA_DER=0–1

|match_B&HA_GRI=0–1

|match_B&HA_HUD=1–1

|match_B&HA_HUL=2–1

|match_B&HA_IPS=1–2

|match_B&HA_LEE=0–1

|match_B&HA_MIL=0–1

|match_B&HA_OLD=1–2

|match_B&HA_PLY=1–1

|match_B&HA_POR=0–0

|match_B&HA_REA=1–1

|match_B&HA_SHU=2–0

|match_B&HA_SHR=3–0

|match_B&HA_STK=1–0

|match_B&HA_SUN=0–3

|match_B&HA_WBA=2–0

|name_CRY=Crystal Palace

|match_CRY_BAR=0–1

|match_CRY_BIR=6–0

|match_CRY_BLB=2–0

|match_CRY_BRA=1–1

|match_CRY_B&HA=2–0

|match_CRY_DER=1–0

|match_CRY_GRI=0–3

|match_CRY_HUD=1–0

|match_CRY_HUL=5–1

|match_CRY_IPS=3–3

|match_CRY_LEE=1–0

|match_CRY_MIL=2–1

|match_CRY_OLD=2–1

|match_CRY_PLY=0–0

|match_CRY_POR=1–0

|match_CRY_REA=1–3

|match_CRY_SHU=1–2

|match_CRY_SHR=2–3

|match_CRY_STK=1–0

|match_CRY_SUN=2–0

|match_CRY_WBA=1–1

|name_DER=Derby County

|match_DER_BAR=3–2

|match_DER_BIR=2–2

|match_DER_BLB=3–2

|match_DER_BRA=1–0

|match_DER_B&HA=4–1

|match_DER_CRY=1–0

|match_DER_GRI=4–0

|match_DER_HUD=2–0

|match_DER_HUL=1–1

|match_DER_IPS=2–1

|match_DER_LEE=2–1

|match_DER_MIL=1–1

|match_DER_OLD=0–1

|match_DER_PLY=4–2

|match_DER_POR=0–0

|match_DER_REA=3–0

|match_DER_SHU=2–0

|match_DER_SHR=3–1

|match_DER_STK=0–0

|match_DER_SUN=3–2

|match_DER_WBA=1–1

|name_GRI=Grimsby Town

|match_GRI_BAR=0–1

|match_GRI_BIR=0–1

|match_GRI_BLB=1–0

|match_GRI_BRA=0–0

|match_GRI_B&HA=1–2

|match_GRI_CRY=0–1

|match_GRI_DER=0–1

|match_GRI_HUD=0–1

|match_GRI_HUL=2–2

|match_GRI_IPS=1–1

|match_GRI_LEE=0–0

|match_GRI_MIL=1–0

|match_GRI_OLD=2–2

|match_GRI_PLY=1–1

|match_GRI_POR=0–2

|match_GRI_REA=3–2

|match_GRI_SHU=1–0

|match_GRI_SHR=0–1

|match_GRI_STK=1–1

|match_GRI_SUN=1–1

|match_GRI_WBA=3–1

|name_HUD=Huddersfield Town

|match_HUD_BAR=2–2

|match_HUD_BIR=2–2

|match_HUD_BLB=1–2

|match_HUD_BRA=5–2

|match_HUD_B&HA=2–1

|match_HUD_CRY=1–2

|match_HUD_DER=2–0

|match_HUD_GRI=0–0

|match_HUD_HUL=1–3

|match_HUD_IPS=1–2

|match_HUD_LEE=1–1

|match_HUD_MIL=3–0

|match_HUD_OLD=5–4

|match_HUD_PLY=1–2

|match_HUD_POR=2–0

|match_HUD_REA=2–0

|match_HUD_SHU=1–1

|match_HUD_SHR=2–1

|match_HUD_STK=2–2

|match_HUD_SUN=0–2

|match_HUD_WBA=2–1

|name_HUL=Hull City

|match_HUL_BAR=3–4

|match_HUL_BIR=3–2

|match_HUL_BLB=0–0

|match_HUL_BRA=2–1

|match_HUL_B&HA=1–0

|match_HUL_CRY=3–0

|match_HUL_DER=1–1

|match_HUL_GRI=1–1

|match_HUL_HUD=0–0

|match_HUL_IPS=2–1

|match_HUL_LEE=0–0

|match_HUL_MIL=2–1

|match_HUL_OLD=1–0

|match_HUL_PLY=0–3

|match_HUL_POR=0–2

|match_HUL_REA=0–2

|match_HUL_SHU=0–0

|match_HUL_SHR=3–0

|match_HUL_STK=0–4

|match_HUL_SUN=1–0

|match_HUL_WBA=2–0

|name_IPS=Ipswich Town

|match_IPS_BAR=1–0

|match_IPS_BIR=3–0

|match_IPS_BLB=3–1

|match_IPS_BRA=1–0

|match_IPS_B&HA=1–0

|match_IPS_CRY=3–0

|match_IPS_DER=0–2

|match_IPS_GRI=1–1

|match_IPS_HUD=3–0

|match_IPS_HUL=0–0

|match_IPS_LEE=2–0

|match_IPS_MIL=0–0

|match_IPS_OLD=0–1

|match_IPS_PLY=3–0

|match_IPS_POR=0–1

|match_IPS_REA=1–1

|match_IPS_SHU=2–2

|match_IPS_SHR=1–0

|match_IPS_STK=2–0

|match_IPS_SUN=1–1

|match_IPS_WBA=1–0

|name_LEE=Leeds United

|match_LEE_BAR=2–2

|match_LEE_BIR=4–0

|match_LEE_BLB=0–0

|match_LEE_BRA=1–0

|match_LEE_B&HA=3–1

|match_LEE_CRY=3–0

|match_LEE_DER=2–0

|match_LEE_GRI=2–0

|match_LEE_HUD=1–1

|match_LEE_HUL=3–0

|match_LEE_IPS=3–2

|match_LEE_MIL=2–0

|match_LEE_OLD=0–2

|match_LEE_PLY=4–0

|match_LEE_POR=3–1

|match_LEE_REA=3–2

|match_LEE_SHU=0–1

|match_LEE_SHR=1–0

|match_LEE_STK=2–1

|match_LEE_SUN=1–1

|match_LEE_WBA=3–2

|name_MIL=Millwall

|match_MIL_BAR=1–0

|match_MIL_BIR=0–2

|match_MIL_BLB=2–2

|match_MIL_BRA=1–2

|match_MIL_B&HA=3–1

|match_MIL_CRY=0–1

|match_MIL_DER=0–1

|match_MIL_GRI=1–0

|match_MIL_HUD=4–0

|match_MIL_HUL=0–1

|match_MIL_IPS=1–0

|match_MIL_LEE=1–0

|match_MIL_OLD=0–0

|match_MIL_PLY=3–1

|match_MIL_POR=1–1

|match_MIL_REA=2–1

|match_MIL_SHU=1–0

|match_MIL_SHR=4–0

|match_MIL_STK=1–1

|match_MIL_SUN=1–1

|match_MIL_WBA=0–1

|name_OLD=Oldham Athletic

|match_OLD_BAR=2–0

|match_OLD_BIR=2–2

|match_OLD_BLB=3–0

|match_OLD_BRA=2–1

|match_OLD_B&HA=1–1

|match_OLD_CRY=1–0

|match_OLD_DER=1–4

|match_OLD_GRI=1–1

|match_OLD_HUD=2–0

|match_OLD_HUL=0–0

|match_OLD_IPS=2–1

|match_OLD_LEE=0–1

|match_OLD_MIL=2–1

|match_OLD_PLY=2–1

|match_OLD_POR=0–0

|match_OLD_REA=4–0

|match_OLD_SHU=3–1

|match_OLD_SHR=3–0

|match_OLD_STK=2–0

|match_OLD_SUN=1–1

|match_OLD_WBA=2–1

|name_PLY=Plymouth Argyle

|match_PLY_BAR=2–0

|match_PLY_BIR=0–0

|match_PLY_BLB=1–1

|match_PLY_BRA=3–2

|match_PLY_B&HA=2–2

|match_PLY_CRY=3–1

|match_PLY_DER=1–1

|match_PLY_GRI=5–0

|match_PLY_HUD=1–1

|match_PLY_HUL=4–0

|match_PLY_IPS=2–0

|match_PLY_LEE=1–1

|match_PLY_MIL=1–0

|match_PLY_OLD=3–2

|match_PLY_POR=2–3

|match_PLY_REA=1–0

|match_PLY_SHU=1–0

|match_PLY_SHR=3–2

|match_PLY_STK=1–3

|match_PLY_SUN=2–4

|match_PLY_WBA=1–0

|name_POR=Portsmouth

|match_POR_BAR=2–1

|match_POR_BIR=2–0

|match_POR_BLB=1–0

|match_POR_BRA=2–1

|match_POR_B&HA=1–0

|match_POR_CRY=2–0

|match_POR_DER=3–1

|match_POR_GRI=2–1

|match_POR_HUD=1–0

|match_POR_HUL=1–0

|match_POR_IPS=1–1

|match_POR_LEE=1–1

|match_POR_MIL=2–0

|match_POR_OLD=3–0

|match_POR_PLY=0–1

|match_POR_REA=1–0

|match_POR_SHU=1–2

|match_POR_SHR=3–0

|match_POR_STK=3–0

|match_POR_SUN=3–1

|match_POR_WBA=2–1

|name_REA=Reading

|match_REA_BAR=0–0

|match_REA_BIR=2–2

|match_REA_BLB=4–0

|match_REA_BRA=0–1

|match_REA_B&HA=2–1

|match_REA_CRY=1–0

|match_REA_DER=2–0

|match_REA_GRI=2–3

|match_REA_HUD=3–2

|match_REA_HUL=1–0

|match_REA_IPS=1–4

|match_REA_LEE=2–1

|match_REA_MIL=0–1

|match_REA_OLD=2–3

|match_REA_PLY=2–0

|match_REA_POR=2–2

|match_REA_SHU=2–0

|match_REA_SHR=3–1

|match_REA_STK=0–1

|match_REA_SUN=1–0

|match_REA_WBA=1–1

|name_SHU=Sheffield United

|match_SHU_BAR=1–0

|match_SHU_BIR=1–1

|match_SHU_BLB=4–1

|match_SHU_BRA=2–2

|match_SHU_B&HA=0–1

|match_SHU_CRY=1–0

|match_SHU_DER=0–1

|match_SHU_GRI=1–2

|match_SHU_HUD=0–0

|match_SHU_HUL=4–2

|match_SHU_IPS=0–0

|match_SHU_LEE=0–0

|match_SHU_MIL=2–1

|match_SHU_OLD=2–0

|match_SHU_PLY=2–1

|match_SHU_POR=1–0

|match_SHU_REA=3–3

|match_SHU_SHR=1–1

|match_SHU_STK=3–1

|match_SHU_SUN=2–1

|match_SHU_WBA=1–1

|name_SHR=Shrewsbury Town

|match_SHR_BAR=1–0

|match_SHR_BIR=1–0

|match_SHR_BLB=0–1

|match_SHR_BRA=0–1

|match_SHR_B&HA=1–0

|match_SHR_CRY=0–0

|match_SHR_DER=0–1

|match_SHR_GRI=4–1

|match_SHR_HUD=1–2

|match_SHR_HUL=3–0

|match_SHR_IPS=2–1

|match_SHR_LEE=0–2

|match_SHR_MIL=1–2

|match_SHR_OLD=2–0

|match_SHR_PLY=1–1

|match_SHR_POR=1–0

|match_SHR_REA=0–0

|match_SHR_SHU=1–0

|match_SHR_STK=4–1

|match_SHR_SUN=0–1

|match_SHR_WBA=1–0

|name_STK=Stoke City

|match_STK_BAR=1–2

|match_STK_BIR=0–2

|match_STK_BLB=1–0

|match_STK_BRA=2–3

|match_STK_B&HA=1–1

|match_STK_CRY=3–1

|match_STK_DER=0–2

|match_STK_GRI=5–1

|match_STK_HUD=2–0

|match_STK_HUL=1–1

|match_STK_IPS=0–0

|match_STK_LEE=7–2

|match_STK_MIL=2–0

|match_STK_OLD=0–2

|match_STK_PLY=1–0

|match_STK_POR=1–1

|match_STK_REA=3–0

|match_STK_SHU=5–2

|match_STK_SHR=1–0

|match_STK_SUN=3–0

|match_STK_WBA=1–1

|name_SUN=Sunderland

|match_SUN_BAR=2–3

|match_SUN_BIR=2–0

|match_SUN_BLB=3–0

|match_SUN_BRA=2–3

|match_SUN_B&HA=1–1

|match_SUN_CRY=1–0

|match_SUN_DER=1–2

|match_SUN_GRI=0–1

|match_SUN_HUD=2–1

|match_SUN_HUL=1–0

|match_SUN_IPS=1–0

|match_SUN_LEE=1–1

|match_SUN_MIL=1–1

|match_SUN_OLD=0–2

|match_SUN_PLY=2–1

|match_SUN_POR=0–0

|match_SUN_REA=1–1

|match_SUN_SHU=1–2

|match_SUN_SHR=1–1

|match_SUN_STK=2–0

|match_SUN_WBA=0–3

|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion

|match_WBA_BAR=0–1

|match_WBA_BIR=3–2

|match_WBA_BLB=0–1

|match_WBA_BRA=2–2

|match_WBA_B&HA=0–0

|match_WBA_CRY=1–2

|match_WBA_DER=2–0

|match_WBA_GRI=1–1

|match_WBA_HUD=1–0

|match_WBA_HUL=1–1

|match_WBA_IPS=3–4

|match_WBA_LEE=3–0

|match_WBA_MIL=0–1

|match_WBA_OLD=2–0

|match_WBA_PLY=0–0

|match_WBA_POR=1–0

|match_WBA_REA=1–2

|match_WBA_SHU=1–0

|match_WBA_SHR=1–2

|match_WBA_STK=4–1

|match_WBA_SUN=2–2

|update=complete

|source=

}}

=Second Division maps=

{{location map+| Greater London |float=right |width=369 |caption=Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1986–1987 |places=

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.398 | long=-0.085 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.481 |long=-0.048 |label=|position=right}}

Crystal Palace

Millwall

}}

{{location map+|England |float=none |width=400 |caption=Locations of the Football League Second Division 1986–1987 teams |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.55 | long=-1.48 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.48 |long=-1.89 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.82 | long=-1.73 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.83 |long=-0.15 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.75 |long=-2.48 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.40 | long=-0.085 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.92 |long=-1.476 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.56 |long=-0.068 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.64 |long=-1.78 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.74 |long=-0.33|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.06 |long=1.14 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.78 |long=-1.57 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.48 |long=-0.048 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.54 | long=-2.12 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.39 |long=-4.15 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.80 |long=-1.06 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.41 |long=-0.97 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.37 | long=-1.47 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.71 | long=-2.75 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.00 |long=-2.18 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.91 |long=-1.39 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.52 |long=-1.97 |label=|position=right}}

Barnsley

Birmingham

Bradford City

Brighton & Hove Albion

Blackburn Rovers

Crystal Palace

Derby County

Grimsby Town

Huddersfield

Hull

Ipswich Town

Leeds U.

Millwall

Oldham

Plymouth Argyle

Portsmouth

Reading

Sheffield United

Shrewsbury

Stoke

Sunderland

West Bromwich Albion

}}

[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]

The three promotion places in this division were gained by three clubs who were among the least fancied promotion contenders at the start of the season. Champions Bournemouth were promoted to the Second Division for the first time in their history thanks to the efforts of hard working manager Harry Redknapp. Runners-up spot went to Bruce Rioch's Middlesbrough, who had begun the season on the verge of extinction and had been forced to play their first home game of the season at Hartlepool's ground because the official receiver had locked them out of Ayresome Park.

The relegation/promotion play-offs between the Third and Fourth Divisions saw Bolton Wanderers go down to the bottom division for the first time. Newport County, Darlington and Carlisle United went down automatically. The Fourth Division would be familiar territory for Newport and Darlington, but Carlisle had not played in the Fourth Division for nearly a quarter of a century and just three years earlier had been in the race for a First Division place. Defeat in the playoffs meant that Bolton Wanderers would be playing Fourth Division football for the first time in their history.

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = Football LeagueThird Division

| season = 1986–87

| winners = Bournemouth (1st title)

| continentalcup1 = Promoted

| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Middlesbrough
Swindon Town

| continentalcup2 = Relegated

| continentalcup2 qualifiers = Bolton Wanderers
Carlisle United
Darlington
Newport County

| league topscorer = Andy Jones (Port Vale), 29

| biggest home win =

| biggest away win =

| highest scoring =

| matches = 552

| total goals = 1471

| longest wins =

| longest unbeaten =

| longest losses =

| highest attendance =

| lowest attendance =

| average attendance =

| prevseason = 1985–86

| nextseason = 1987–88

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDLHA

|section=Third Division

|res_col_header=PR

|show_limit=5

|sortable_table=y

|team1=BOU|name_BOU=Bournemouth

|team2=MID|name_MID=Middlesbrough

|team3=SWI|name_SWI=Swindon Town

|team4=WIG|name_WIG=Wigan Athletic

|team5=GIL|name_GIL=Gillingham

|team6=BRC|name_BRC=Bristol City

|team7=NTC|name_NTC=Notts County

|team8=WAL|name_WAL=Walsall

|team9=BLP|name_BLP=Blackpool

|team10=MAN|name_MAN=Mansfield Town

|team11=BRE|name_BRE=Brentford

|team12=PTV|name_PTV=Port Vale

|team13=DON|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers

|team14=ROT|name_ROT=Rotherham United

|team15=CHE|name_CHE=Chester City

|team16=BRY|name_BRY=Bury

|team17=CHF|name_CHF=Chesterfield

|team18=FUL|name_FUL=Fulham

|team19=BRR|name_BRR=Bristol Rovers

|team20=YOR|name_YOR=York City

|team21=BOL|name_BOL=Bolton Wanderers

|team22=CRL|name_CRL=Carlisle United

|team23=DAR|name_DAR=Darlington

|team24=NPC|name_NPC=Newport County

|hwin_BOU=19|hdraw_BOU=3|hloss_BOU=1|hgf_BOU=44|hga_BOU=14|awin_BOU=10|adraw_BOU=7|aloss_BOU=6|agf_BOU=32|aga_BOU=26

|hwin_MID=16|hdraw_MID=5|hloss_MID=2|hgf_MID=38|hga_MID=11|awin_MID=12|adraw_MID=5|aloss_MID=6|agf_MID=29|aga_MID=19

|hwin_SWI=14|hdraw_SWI=5|hloss_SWI=4|hgf_SWI=37|hga_SWI=19|awin_SWI=11|adraw_SWI=7|aloss_SWI=5|agf_SWI=40|aga_SWI=28

|hwin_WIG=15|hdraw_WIG=5|hloss_WIG=3|hgf_WIG=47|hga_WIG=26|awin_WIG=10|adraw_WIG=5|aloss_WIG=8|agf_WIG=36|aga_WIG=34

|hwin_GIL=16|hdraw_GIL=5|hloss_GIL=2|hgf_GIL=42|hga_GIL=14|awin_GIL=7|adraw_GIL=4|aloss_GIL=12|agf_GIL=23|aga_GIL=34

|hwin_BRC=14|hdraw_BRC=6|hloss_BRC=3|hgf_BRC=42|hga_BRC=15|awin_BRC=7|adraw_BRC=8|aloss_BRC=8|agf_BRC=21|aga_BRC=21

|hwin_NTC=14|hdraw_NTC=6|hloss_NTC=3|hgf_NTC=52|hga_NTC=24|awin_NTC=7|adraw_NTC=7|aloss_NTC=9|agf_NTC=25|aga_NTC=32

|hwin_WAL=16|hdraw_WAL=4|hloss_WAL=3|hgf_WAL=50|hga_WAL=27|awin_WAL=6|adraw_WAL=5|aloss_WAL=12|agf_WAL=30|aga_WAL=40

|hwin_BLP=11|hdraw_BLP=7|hloss_BLP=5|hgf_BLP=35|hga_BLP=20|awin_BLP=5|adraw_BLP=9|aloss_BLP=9|agf_BLP=39|aga_BLP=39

|hwin_MAN=9|hdraw_MAN=9|hloss_MAN=5|hgf_MAN=30|hga_MAN=23|awin_MAN=6|adraw_MAN=7|aloss_MAN=10|agf_MAN=22|aga_MAN=32

|hwin_BRE=9|hdraw_BRE=7|hloss_BRE=7|hgf_BRE=39|hga_BRE=32|awin_BRE=6|adraw_BRE=8|aloss_BRE=9|agf_BRE=25|aga_BRE=34

|hwin_PTV=8|hdraw_PTV=6|hloss_PTV=9|hgf_PTV=43|hga_PTV=36|awin_PTV=7|adraw_PTV=6|aloss_PTV=10|agf_PTV=33|aga_PTV=34

|hwin_DON=11|hdraw_DON=8|hloss_DON=4|hgf_DON=32|hga_DON=19|awin_DON=3|adraw_DON=7|aloss_DON=13|agf_DON=24|aga_DON=43

|hwin_ROT=10|hdraw_ROT=6|hloss_ROT=7|hgf_ROT=29|hga_ROT=23|awin_ROT=5|adraw_ROT=6|aloss_ROT=12|agf_ROT=19|aga_ROT=34

|hwin_CHE=7|hdraw_CHE=9|hloss_CHE=7|hgf_CHE=32|hga_CHE=28|awin_CHE=6|adraw_CHE=8|aloss_CHE=9|agf_CHE=29|aga_CHE=31

|hwin_BRY=9|hdraw_BRY=7|hloss_BRY=7|hgf_BRY=30|hga_BRY=26|awin_BRY=5|adraw_BRY=6|aloss_BRY=12|agf_BRY=24|aga_BRY=34

|hwin_CHF=11|hdraw_CHF=5|hloss_CHF=7|hgf_CHF=36|hga_CHF=33|awin_CHF=2|adraw_CHF=10|aloss_CHF=11|agf_CHF=20|aga_CHF=36

|hwin_FUL=8|hdraw_FUL=8|hloss_FUL=7|hgf_FUL=35|hga_FUL=41|awin_FUL=4|adraw_FUL=9|aloss_FUL=10|agf_FUL=24|aga_FUL=36

|hwin_BRR=7|hdraw_BRR=8|hloss_BRR=8|hgf_BRR=26|hga_BRR=29|awin_BRR=6|adraw_BRR=4|aloss_BRR=13|agf_BRR=23|aga_BRR=46

|hwin_YOR=11|hdraw_YOR=8|hloss_YOR=4|hgf_YOR=34|hga_YOR=29|awin_YOR=1|adraw_YOR=5|aloss_YOR=17|agf_YOR=21|aga_YOR=50

|hwin_BOL=8|hdraw_BOL=5|hloss_BOL=10|hgf_BOL=29|hga_BOL=26|awin_BOL=2|adraw_BOL=10|aloss_BOL=11|agf_BOL=17|aga_BOL=32

|hwin_CRL=7|hdraw_CRL=5|hloss_CRL=11|hgf_CRL=26|hga_CRL=35|awin_CRL=3|adraw_CRL=3|aloss_CRL=17|agf_CRL=13|aga_CRL=43

|hwin_DAR=6|hdraw_DAR=10|hloss_DAR=7|hgf_DAR=25|hga_DAR=28|awin_DAR=1|adraw_DAR=6|aloss_DAR=16|agf_DAR=20|aga_DAR=49

|hwin_NPC=4|hdraw_NPC=9|hloss_NPC=10|hgf_NPC=26|hga_NPC=34|awin_NPC=4|adraw_NPC=4|aloss_NPC=15|agf_NPC=23|aga_NPC=52

|col_CP=#D0F0C0|text_CP=Division Champions, promoted

|result1=CP

|col_P=#FFFF99|text_P=Promoted

|result2=P

|col_PPP=#FBCEB1|text_PPP=Promoted through play-offs

|note_res_PPP=Swindon Town were winners of the play-offs and were thus promoted.

|result3=PPP

|col_PP=#FFE4B5|text_PP=Participated in play-offs

|result4=PP|result5=PP

|col_RPR=#FFE4B5|text_RPR=Relegated in play-offs

|note_res_RPR=Bolton Wanderers lost in the first round of the play-offs and were thus relegated.

|result21=RPR

|col_R=#ffcccc|text_R=Relegated

|result22=R|result23=R|result24=R

|update=complete|source={{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1987/ | website = 11v11 | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 27 March 2021 | title = League Division Three end of season table for 1986–87 season | archive-date = 30 March 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210330111007/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/1987/ | url-status = live }}

}}

=Third Division play-offs=

{{Main|Football League One play-offs#1987}}

Both the semifinals and the finals were decided over two legs.
The full results can be found at: Football League Division Three play-offs 1987.

{{4TeamBracket-Tennis3 | RD1=Semi-finals
1st leg –14 May; 2nd leg –17 May 1987

| RD2=Finals
1st leg –22 May; 2nd leg –25 May 1987

| score-width=30px

| team-width=200px

| RD1-seed1=20th

| RD1-team1=Sunderland (Div 2)

| RD1-score1-1=2

| RD1-score1-2=4

| RD1-score1-3=6

| RD1-seed2=5th

| RD1-team2=Gillingham After the second leg and an extra time the aggregate was 6–6, but Gillingham had scored 3 times at Sunderland, versus
Sunderland 2 times at Gillingham, and thus Gillingham progressed to finals on away goals.

| RD1-score2-1=3

| RD1-score2-2=3

| RD1-score2-3=6

| RD1-seed3=3rd

| RD1-team3=Swindon Town

| RD1-score3-1=3

| RD1-score3-2=0

| RD1-score3-3=3

| RD1-seed4=4th

| RD1-team4=Wigan Athletic

| RD1-score4-1=2

| RD1-score4-2=0

| RD1-score4-3=2

| RD2-seed1=3rd

| RD2-team1=Swindon Town Swindon won the replay 2–0, and were thus promoted to Division 2.

| RD2-score1-1=0

| RD2-score1-2=2

| RD2-score1-3=2

| RD2-seed2=5th

| RD2-team2=Gillingham

| RD2-score2-1=1

| RD2-score2-2=1

| RD2-score2-3=2

}}

;Replay

{{football box

|date =29 May 1987

|team1 = Swindon Town

|score = 2 –0

|report=Report/Soccerbase [http://www.soccerbase.com/cup2.sdcompetitionid=153&seasonid=116]

|team2 = Gillingham

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Selhurst Park, South Norwood, London

|attendance = 18,491

|referee=}}

=Third Division results=

{{#invoke:Sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=BLP|team2=BOL|team3=BOU|team4=BRE|team5=BRC

|team6=BRR|team7=BRY|team8=CRL|team9=CHE|team10=CHF

|team11=DAR|team12=DON|team13=FUL|team14=GIL|team15=MAN

|team16=MID|team17=NPC|team18=NTC|team19=PTV|team20=ROT

|team21=SWI|team22=WAL|team23=WIG|team24=YOR

|name_BLP=Blackpool

|match_BLP_BOL=1-1

|match_BLP_BOU=1-3

|match_BLP_BRE=2-0

|match_BLP_BRC=1-0

|match_BLP_BRR=6-1

|match_BLP_BRY=1-1

|match_BLP_CRL=1-2

|match_BLP_CHE=1-0

|match_BLP_CHF=0-0

|match_BLP_DAR=2-1

|match_BLP_DON=1-1

|match_BLP_FUL=1-0

|match_BLP_GIL=0-1

|match_BLP_MAN=1-2

|match_BLP_MID=0-1

|match_BLP_NPC=1-1

|match_BLP_NTC=3-1

|match_BLP_PTV=2-0

|match_BLP_ROT=1-0

|match_BLP_SWI=1-1

|match_BLP_WAL=1-1

|match_BLP_WIG=5-1

|match_BLP_YOR=2-1

|name_BOL=Bolton Wanderers

|match_BOL_BLP=1-0

|match_BOL_BOU=0-1

|match_BOL_BRE=0-2

|match_BOL_BRC=0-0

|match_BOL_BRR=2-2

|match_BOL_BRY=2-3

|match_BOL_CRL=2-0

|match_BOL_CHE=1-1

|match_BOL_CHF=1-2

|match_BOL_DAR=4-3

|match_BOL_DON=0-1

|match_BOL_FUL=3-2

|match_BOL_GIL=3-0

|match_BOL_MAN=0-1

|match_BOL_MID=0-1

|match_BOL_NPC=0-1

|match_BOL_NTC=1-1

|match_BOL_PTV=3-0

|match_BOL_ROT=0-0

|match_BOL_SWI=1-2

|match_BOL_WAL=1-0

|match_BOL_WIG=1-2

|match_BOL_YOR=3-1

|name_BOU=Bournemouth

|match_BOU_BLP=1-1

|match_BOU_BOL=2-1

|match_BOU_BRE=1-1

|match_BOU_BRC=2-0

|match_BOU_BRR=2-0

|match_BOU_BRY=1-0

|match_BOU_CRL=2-1

|match_BOU_CHE=2-0

|match_BOU_CHF=2-0

|match_BOU_DAR=1-0

|match_BOU_DON=3-2

|match_BOU_FUL=3-2

|match_BOU_GIL=0-2

|match_BOU_MAN=4-1

|match_BOU_MID=3-1

|match_BOU_NPC=2-1

|match_BOU_NTC=3-0

|match_BOU_PTV=0-0

|match_BOU_ROT=2-0

|match_BOU_SWI=1-0

|match_BOU_WAL=1-0

|match_BOU_WIG=3-1

|match_BOU_YOR=3-0

|name_BRE=Brentford

|match_BRE_BLP=1-1

|match_BRE_BOL=1-2

|match_BRE_BOU=1-1

|match_BRE_BRC=1-1

|match_BRE_BRR=1-2

|match_BRE_BRY=0-2

|match_BRE_CRL=3-1

|match_BRE_CHE=3-1

|match_BRE_CHF=2-2

|match_BRE_DAR=5-3

|match_BRE_DON=1-1

|match_BRE_FUL=3-3

|match_BRE_GIL=3-2

|match_BRE_MAN=3-1

|match_BRE_MID=0-1

|match_BRE_NPC=2-0

|match_BRE_NTC=1-0

|match_BRE_PTV=0-2

|match_BRE_ROT=2-0

|match_BRE_SWI=1-1

|match_BRE_WAL=0-1

|match_BRE_WIG=2-3

|match_BRE_YOR=3-1

|name_BRC=Bristol City

|match_BRC_BLP=3-1

|match_BRC_BOL=4-1

|match_BRC_BOU=2-0

|match_BRC_BRE=0-2

|match_BRC_BRR=0-1

|match_BRC_BRY=2-2

|match_BRC_CRL=3-0

|match_BRC_CHE=1-0

|match_BRC_CHF=1-0

|match_BRC_DAR=1-1

|match_BRC_DON=5-0

|match_BRC_FUL=0-0

|match_BRC_GIL=2-0

|match_BRC_MAN=0-0

|match_BRC_MID=2-2

|match_BRC_NPC=4-0

|match_BRC_NTC=3-1

|match_BRC_PTV=1-0

|match_BRC_ROT=0-1

|match_BRC_SWI=1-1

|match_BRC_WAL=2-1

|match_BRC_WIG=2-1

|match_BRC_YOR=3-0

|name_BRR=Bristol Rovers

|match_BRR_BLP=2-2

|match_BRR_BOL=1-0

|match_BRR_BOU=0-3

|match_BRR_BRE=0-1

|match_BRR_BRC=0-0

|match_BRR_BRY=1-1

|match_BRR_CRL=4-0

|match_BRR_CHE=3-2

|match_BRR_CHF=3-2

|match_BRR_DAR=2-1

|match_BRR_DON=2-3

|match_BRR_FUL=0-0

|match_BRR_GIL=0-1

|match_BRR_MAN=0-0

|match_BRR_MID=1-2

|match_BRR_NPC=2-2

|match_BRR_NTC=0-0

|match_BRR_PTV=0-0

|match_BRR_ROT=0-2

|match_BRR_SWI=3-4

|match_BRR_WAL=0-3

|match_BRR_WIG=1-0

|match_BRR_YOR=1-0

|name_BRY=Bury

|match_BRY_BLP=4-1

|match_BRY_BOL=0-0

|match_BRY_BOU=0-1

|match_BRY_BRE=1-1

|match_BRY_BRC=1-2

|match_BRY_BRR=1-0

|match_BRY_CRL=0-0

|match_BRY_CHE=1-1

|match_BRY_CHF=1-1

|match_BRY_DAR=2-0

|match_BRY_DON=2-0

|match_BRY_FUL=2-1

|match_BRY_GIL=1-0

|match_BRY_MAN=1-1

|match_BRY_MID=0-3

|match_BRY_NPC=4-3

|match_BRY_NTC=0-2

|match_BRY_PTV=2-2

|match_BRY_ROT=0-2

|match_BRY_SWI=1-2

|match_BRY_WAL=4-0

|match_BRY_WIG=1-3

|match_BRY_YOR=1-0

|name_CRL=Carlisle United

|match_CRL_BLP=3-1

|match_CRL_BOL=0-0

|match_CRL_BOU=0-0

|match_CRL_BRE=0-0

|match_CRL_BRC=1-2

|match_CRL_BRR=2-0

|match_CRL_BRY=2-1

|match_CRL_CHE=0-2

|match_CRL_CHF=3-0

|match_CRL_DAR=1-0

|match_CRL_DON=1-0

|match_CRL_FUL=1-3

|match_CRL_GIL=2-4

|match_CRL_MAN=1-2

|match_CRL_MID=0-1

|match_CRL_NPC=2-2

|match_CRL_NTC=0-2

|match_CRL_PTV=2-0

|match_CRL_ROT=3-5

|match_CRL_SWI=0-3

|match_CRL_WAL=0-3

|match_CRL_WIG=0-2

|match_CRL_YOR=2-2

|name_CHE=Chester City

|match_CHE_BLP=1-4

|match_CHE_BOL=0-0

|match_CHE_BOU=2-2

|match_CHE_BRE=1-1

|match_CHE_BRC=0-3

|match_CHE_BRR=3-1

|match_CHE_BRY=0-1

|match_CHE_CRL=2-2

|match_CHE_CHF=1-1

|match_CHE_DAR=6-0

|match_CHE_DON=1-0

|match_CHE_FUL=2-2

|match_CHE_GIL=1-1

|match_CHE_MAN=1-1

|match_CHE_MID=1-2

|match_CHE_NPC=2-0

|match_CHE_NTC=1-2

|match_CHE_PTV=1-2

|match_CHE_ROT=1-0

|match_CHE_SWI=2-0

|match_CHE_WAL=0-0

|match_CHE_WIG=1-2

|match_CHE_YOR=2-1

|name_CHF=Chesterfield

|match_CHF_BLP=1-1

|match_CHF_BOL=0-0

|match_CHF_BOU=1-1

|match_CHF_BRE=1-2

|match_CHF_BRC=0-3

|match_CHF_BRR=1-1

|match_CHF_BRY=1-1

|match_CHF_CRL=3-2

|match_CHF_CHE=0-1

|match_CHF_DAR=1-0

|match_CHF_DON=4-1

|match_CHF_FUL=3-1

|match_CHF_GIL=1-0

|match_CHF_MAN=0-1

|match_CHF_MID=2-1

|match_CHF_NPC=3-2

|match_CHF_NTC=1-2

|match_CHF_PTV=2-4

|match_CHF_ROT=2-1

|match_CHF_SWI=1-3

|match_CHF_WAL=3-2

|match_CHF_WIG=4-3

|match_CHF_YOR=1-0

|name_DAR=Darlington

|match_DAR_BLP=1-1

|match_DAR_BOL=0-1

|match_DAR_BOU=0-3

|match_DAR_BRE=1-1

|match_DAR_BRC=0-0

|match_DAR_BRR=1-1

|match_DAR_BRY=4-1

|match_DAR_CRL=0-1

|match_DAR_CHE=1-0

|match_DAR_CHF=1-1

|match_DAR_DON=2-2

|match_DAR_FUL=0-1

|match_DAR_GIL=1-1

|match_DAR_MAN=2-1

|match_DAR_MID=0-1

|match_DAR_NPC=1-3

|match_DAR_NTC=2-1

|match_DAR_PTV=3-2

|match_DAR_ROT=1-1

|match_DAR_SWI=0-0

|match_DAR_WAL=1-3

|match_DAR_WIG=1-0

|match_DAR_YOR=2-2

|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers

|match_DON_BLP=2-2

|match_DON_BOL=3-0

|match_DON_BOU=0-3

|match_DON_BRE=2-0

|match_DON_BRC=1-0

|match_DON_BRR=2-0

|match_DON_BRY=0-0

|match_DON_CRL=2-0

|match_DON_CHE=1-1

|match_DON_CHF=1-1

|match_DON_DAR=0-0

|match_DON_FUL=2-1

|match_DON_GIL=2-0

|match_DON_MAN=1-0

|match_DON_MID=0-2

|match_DON_NPC=0-1

|match_DON_NTC=1-2

|match_DON_PTV=2-1

|match_DON_ROT=3-0

|match_DON_SWI=2-2

|match_DON_WAL=1-1

|match_DON_WIG=1-1

|match_DON_YOR=3-1

|name_FUL=Fulham

|match_FUL_BLP=0-1

|match_FUL_BOL=4-2

|match_FUL_BOU=1-3

|match_FUL_BRE=1-3

|match_FUL_BRC=0-3

|match_FUL_BRR=2-2

|match_FUL_BRY=2-1

|match_FUL_CRL=3-0

|match_FUL_CHE=0-5

|match_FUL_CHF=3-1

|match_FUL_DAR=3-1

|match_FUL_DON=0-0

|match_FUL_GIL=2-2

|match_FUL_MAN=1-1

|match_FUL_MID=2-2

|match_FUL_NPC=2-0

|match_FUL_NTC=3-1

|match_FUL_PTV=0-6

|match_FUL_ROT=1-1

|match_FUL_SWI=0-2

|match_FUL_WAL=2-2

|match_FUL_WIG=2-2

|match_FUL_YOR=1-0

|name_GIL=Gillingham

|match_GIL_BLP=2-1

|match_GIL_BOL=1-0

|match_GIL_BOU=2-1

|match_GIL_BRE=2-0

|match_GIL_BRC=1-1

|match_GIL_BRR=4-1

|match_GIL_BRY=1-0

|match_GIL_CRL=1-0

|match_GIL_CHE=1-2

|match_GIL_CHF=3-0

|match_GIL_DAR=4-1

|match_GIL_DON=2-1

|match_GIL_FUL=4-1

|match_GIL_MAN=2-0

|match_GIL_MID=0-0

|match_GIL_NPC=1-1

|match_GIL_NTC=3-1

|match_GIL_PTV=0-0

|match_GIL_ROT=1-0

|match_GIL_SWI=1-0

|match_GIL_WAL=4-0

|match_GIL_WIG=0-0

|match_GIL_YOR=2-0

|name_MAN=Mansfield Town

|match_MAN_BLP=1-1

|match_MAN_BOL=2-2

|match_MAN_BOU=1-1

|match_MAN_BRE=1-0

|match_MAN_BRC=2-0

|match_MAN_BRR=5-0

|match_MAN_BRY=1-3

|match_MAN_CRL=2-0

|match_MAN_CHE=2-3

|match_MAN_CHF=1-1

|match_MAN_DAR=1-0

|match_MAN_DON=2-1

|match_MAN_FUL=1-1

|match_MAN_GIL=1-0

|match_MAN_MID=1-1

|match_MAN_NPC=1-0

|match_MAN_NTC=1-2

|match_MAN_PTV=0-1

|match_MAN_ROT=0-0

|match_MAN_SWI=0-0

|match_MAN_WAL=2-0

|match_MAN_WIG=1-5

|match_MAN_YOR=1-1

|name_MID=Middlesbrough

|match_MID_BLP=1-3

|match_MID_BOL=0-0

|match_MID_BOU=4-0

|match_MID_BRE=2-0

|match_MID_BRC=1-0

|match_MID_BRR=1-0

|match_MID_BRY=3-1

|match_MID_CRL=1-0

|match_MID_CHE=1-2

|match_MID_CHF=2-0

|match_MID_DAR=1-1

|match_MID_DON=1-0

|match_MID_FUL=3-0

|match_MID_GIL=3-0

|match_MID_MAN=1-0

|match_MID_NPC=2-0

|match_MID_NTC=2-0

|match_MID_PTV=2-2

|match_MID_ROT=0-0

|match_MID_SWI=1-0

|match_MID_WAL=3-1

|match_MID_WIG=0-0

|match_MID_YOR=3-1

|name_NPC=Newport County

|match_NPC_BLP=1-1

|match_NPC_BOL=2-1

|match_NPC_BOU=0-1

|match_NPC_BRE=2-2

|match_NPC_BRC=0-1

|match_NPC_BRR=0-1

|match_NPC_BRY=2-2

|match_NPC_CRL=1-1

|match_NPC_CHE=2-2

|match_NPC_CHF=1-0

|match_NPC_DAR=3-0

|match_NPC_DON=3-2

|match_NPC_FUL=0-0

|match_NPC_GIL=1-2

|match_NPC_MAN=0-3

|match_NPC_MID=0-1

|match_NPC_NTC=1-1

|match_NPC_PTV=0-2

|match_NPC_ROT=1-2

|match_NPC_SWI=2-2

|match_NPC_WAL=2-4

|match_NPC_WIG=1-2

|match_NPC_YOR=1-1

|name_NTC=Notts County

|match_NTC_BLP=3-2

|match_NTC_BOL=0-0

|match_NTC_BOU=1-1

|match_NTC_BRE=1-1

|match_NTC_BRC=2-0

|match_NTC_BRR=3-0

|match_NTC_BRY=1-2

|match_NTC_CRL=2-1

|match_NTC_CHE=1-1

|match_NTC_CHF=2-1

|match_NTC_DAR=2-2

|match_NTC_DON=3-1

|match_NTC_FUL=2-3

|match_NTC_GIL=3-1

|match_NTC_MAN=0-0

|match_NTC_MID=1-0

|match_NTC_NPC=5-2

|match_NTC_PTV=4-1

|match_NTC_ROT=5-0

|match_NTC_SWI=2-3

|match_NTC_WAL=2-1

|match_NTC_WIG=2-0

|match_NTC_YOR=5-1

|name_PTV=Port Vale

|match_PTV_BLP=1-6

|match_PTV_BOL=1-1

|match_PTV_BOU=1-2

|match_PTV_BRE=4-1

|match_PTV_BRC=0-0

|match_PTV_BRR=4-1

|match_PTV_BRY=2-0

|match_PTV_CRL=0-1

|match_PTV_CHE=2-1

|match_PTV_CHF=2-2

|match_PTV_DAR=1-2

|match_PTV_DON=4-2

|match_PTV_FUL=0-1

|match_PTV_GIL=1-2

|match_PTV_MAN=3-2

|match_PTV_MID=0-0

|match_PTV_NPC=6-1

|match_PTV_NTC=1-1

|match_PTV_ROT=1-1

|match_PTV_SWI=3-4

|match_PTV_WAL=4-1

|match_PTV_WIG=0-1

|match_PTV_YOR=2-3

|name_ROT=Rotherham United

|match_ROT_BLP=1-0

|match_ROT_BOL=1-0

|match_ROT_BOU=4-2

|match_ROT_BRE=2-3

|match_ROT_BRC=2-0

|match_ROT_BRR=0-1

|match_ROT_BRY=2-1

|match_ROT_CRL=2-1

|match_ROT_CHE=3-0

|match_ROT_CHF=0-1

|match_ROT_DAR=0-0

|match_ROT_DON=2-0

|match_ROT_FUL=0-0

|match_ROT_GIL=0-1

|match_ROT_MAN=2-2

|match_ROT_MID=1-4

|match_ROT_NPC=3-1

|match_ROT_NTC=1-1

|match_ROT_PTV=1-1

|match_ROT_SWI=1-2

|match_ROT_WAL=1-0

|match_ROT_WIG=0-2

|match_ROT_YOR=0-0

|name_SWI=Swindon Town

|match_SWI_BLP=2-6

|match_SWI_BOL=2-0

|match_SWI_BOU=1-1

|match_SWI_BRE=2-0

|match_SWI_BRC=1-2

|match_SWI_BRR=1-2

|match_SWI_BRY=1-0

|match_SWI_CRL=2-0

|match_SWI_CHE=1-1

|match_SWI_CHF=2-1

|match_SWI_DAR=1-0

|match_SWI_DON=1-1

|match_SWI_FUL=2-0

|match_SWI_GIL=1-1

|match_SWI_MAN=3-0

|match_SWI_MID=1-0

|match_SWI_NPC=3-0

|match_SWI_NTC=1-2

|match_SWI_PTV=1-0

|match_SWI_ROT=2-0

|match_SWI_WAL=0-0

|match_SWI_WIG=3-1

|match_SWI_YOR=3-1

|name_WAL=Walsall

|match_WAL_BLP=2-1

|match_WAL_BOL=3-3

|match_WAL_BOU=2-0

|match_WAL_BRE=5-2

|match_WAL_BRC=1-1

|match_WAL_BRR=0-3

|match_WAL_BRY=3-1

|match_WAL_CRL=3-0

|match_WAL_CHE=2-1

|match_WAL_CHF=2-0

|match_WAL_DAR=4-2

|match_WAL_DON=1-3

|match_WAL_FUL=1-1

|match_WAL_GIL=1-0

|match_WAL_MAN=2-0

|match_WAL_MID=1-0

|match_WAL_NPC=2-0

|match_WAL_NTC=1-1

|match_WAL_PTV=5-2

|match_WAL_ROT=4-1

|match_WAL_SWI=1-0

|match_WAL_WIG=2-3

|match_WAL_YOR=3-2

|name_WIG=Wigan Athletic

|match_WIG_BLP=4-1

|match_WIG_BOL=2-1

|match_WIG_BOU=0-2

|match_WIG_BRE=1-1

|match_WIG_BRC=3-1

|match_WIG_BRR=4-3

|match_WIG_BRY=1-0

|match_WIG_CRL=2-0

|match_WIG_CHE=2-2

|match_WIG_CHF=1-1

|match_WIG_DAR=1-1

|match_WIG_DON=1-1

|match_WIG_FUL=2-0

|match_WIG_GIL=3-1

|match_WIG_MAN=3-0

|match_WIG_MID=0-2

|match_WIG_NPC=1-2

|match_WIG_NTC=1-0

|match_WIG_PTV=2-1

|match_WIG_ROT=2-1

|match_WIG_SWI=3-2

|match_WIG_WAL=5-1

|match_WIG_YOR=3-2

|name_YOR=York City

|match_YOR_BLP=1-1

|match_YOR_BOL=2-1

|match_YOR_BOU=2-0

|match_YOR_BRE=2-1

|match_YOR_BRC=1-1

|match_YOR_BRR=1-0

|match_YOR_BRY=1-0

|match_YOR_CRL=2-0

|match_YOR_CHE=1-1

|match_YOR_CHF=1-1

|match_YOR_DAR=3-1

|match_YOR_DON=1-1

|match_YOR_FUL=1-1

|match_YOR_GIL=2-1

|match_YOR_MAN=1-3

|match_YOR_MID=3-1

|match_YOR_NPC=3-0

|match_YOR_NTC=1-1

|match_YOR_PTV=1-4

|match_YOR_ROT=2-1

|match_YOR_SWI=0-3

|match_YOR_WAL=1-5

|match_YOR_WIG=1-1

|update=complete

|source=[http://www.soccerbase.com] Soccerbase

}}

=Third Division maps=

{{location map+| Greater London |float=right |width=369 |caption=Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1986–1987 |places=

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.486 |long=-0.31 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.475 |long=-0.222 |label=|position=right}}

Brentford

Fulham

}}

{{location map+|England |float=none |width=400 |caption=Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1986–1987 |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.81 | long=-3.05 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.59 |long=-2.56 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.73 | long=-1.84 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.486 |long=-0.32 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.42 | long=-2.59 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.47 |long=-2.53 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.58 |long=-2.295 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.90 | long=-2.91 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.19 | long=-2.89 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.24 | long=-1.43 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.53 | long=-1.55 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.52 |long=-1.133 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.45 |long=-0.24 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.38 |long=0.55 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.14 | long=-1.20 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.57 |long=-1.23 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.59 |long=-3.00 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.94 |long=-1.137 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.06 |long=-2.21 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.43 |long=-1.36|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.56 |long=-1.77 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.58 | long=-1.98 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.55 | long=-2.65 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.96 | long=-1.08 |label=|position=right}}

Blackpool

Bolton

Bournemouth

Brentford

Bristol City

Bristol Rovers

Bury

Carlisle United

Chester

Chesterfield

Darlington

Doncaster

Fulham

Gillingham

Mansfield Town

Middlesbrough

Newport County

Notts County

Port Vale

Rotherham

Swindon

Walsall

Wigan Athletic

York City

}}

[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]

The stars of the Fourth Division during 1986-87 were Graham Carr's runaway champions Northampton Town, with young midfielder Eddie McGoldrick being the key player in his side's season of success. Northampton were confirmed as promoted with nine matches (19.6% of all matches) remaining, the earliest promotion in Football League history to date.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/29/points-tallies-leverkusen-chelsea-knowledge|website=The Guardian|title=The Knowledge: Is Bayer Leverkusen's 40-point increase between seasons a record?|date=29 May 2024|accessdate=31 May 2024}}

Also automatically promoted were Preston North End and Southend United. The fourth promotion place went to Aldershot by winning the promotion/relegation playoffs.

Down at the bottom end of the division, an injury time winner for Torquay United kept them in the Football League after a police dog had bitten one of their players. The introduction of automatic relegation to the Conference saw Lincoln City lose their league status in favour of Conference champions Scarborough.

Burnley – league champions 27 years earlier – plummeted to new depths. They finished third from bottom in the league and only a win on the last day of the season prevented them from going down to the Conference.

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = Football LeagueFourth Division

| season = 1986–87

| winners = Northampton Town (1st title)

| continentalcup1 = Promoted

| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Aldershot
Preston North End
Southend United

| continentalcup2 = Relegated

| continentalcup2 qualifiers = Lincoln City

| continentalcup3 = New club in the league

| continentalcup3 qualifiers =

| league topscorer = Richard Hill (Northampton Town), 29

| biggest home win =

| biggest away win =

| highest scoring =

| matches = 552

| total goals = 1456

| longest wins =

| longest unbeaten =

| longest losses =

| highest attendance =

| lowest attendance =

| average attendance =

| prevseason = 1985–86

| nextseason = 1987–88

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDLHA

|section=Fourth Division

|res_col_header=PR

|show_limit=5

|sortable_table=y

|team1=NOR|name_NOR=Northampton Town

|team2=PNE|name_PNE=Preston North End

|team3=STD|name_STD=Southend United

|team4=WOL|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers

|team5=COL|name_COL=Colchester United

|team6=ALD|name_ALD=Aldershot

|team7=LEY|name_LEY=Leyton Orient

|team8=SCU|name_SCU=Scunthorpe United

|team9=WRE|name_WRE=Wrexham

|team10=PET|name_PET=Peterborough United

|team11=CAM|name_CAM=Cambridge United

|team12=SWA|name_SWA=Swansea City

|team13=CAR|name_CAR=Cardiff City

|team14=EXE|name_EXE=Exeter City

|team15=HAL|name_HAL=Halifax Town

|team16=HER|name_HER=Hereford United

|team17=CRE|name_CRE=Crewe Alexandra

|team18=HAR|name_HAR=Hartlepool United

|team19=STP|name_STP=Stockport County

|team20=TRA|name_TRA=Tranmere Rovers

|team21=ROC|name_ROC=Rochdale

|team22=BUR|name_BUR=Burnley

|team23=TOR|name_TOR=Torquay United

|team24=LIN|name_LIN=Lincoln City

|hwin_NOR=20|hdraw_NOR=2|hloss_NOR=1|hgf_NOR=56|hga_NOR=20|awin_NOR=10|adraw_NOR=7|aloss_NOR=6|agf_NOR=47|aga_NOR=33

|hwin_PNE=16|hdraw_PNE=4|hloss_PNE=3|hgf_PNE=36|hga_PNE=18|awin_PNE=10|adraw_PNE=8|aloss_PNE=5|agf_PNE=36|aga_PNE=29

|hwin_STD=14|hdraw_STD=4|hloss_STD=5|hgf_STD=43|hga_STD=27|awin_STD=11|adraw_STD=1|aloss_STD=11|agf_STD=25|aga_STD=28

|hwin_WOL=12|hdraw_WOL=3|hloss_WOL=8|hgf_WOL=36|hga_WOL=24|awin_WOL=12|adraw_WOL=4|aloss_WOL=7|agf_WOL=33|aga_WOL=26

|hwin_COL=15|hdraw_COL=3|hloss_COL=5|hgf_COL=41|hga_COL=20|awin_COL=6|adraw_COL=4|aloss_COL=13|agf_COL=23|aga_COL=36

|hwin_ALD=13|hdraw_ALD=5|hloss_ALD=5|hgf_ALD=40|hga_ALD=22|awin_ALD=7|adraw_ALD=5|aloss_ALD=11|agf_ALD=24|aga_ALD=35

|hwin_LEY=15|hdraw_LEY=2|hloss_LEY=6|hgf_LEY=40|hga_LEY=25|awin_LEY=5|adraw_LEY=7|aloss_LEY=11|agf_LEY=24|aga_LEY=36

|hwin_SCU=15|hdraw_SCU=3|hloss_SCU=5|hgf_SCU=52|hga_SCU=27|awin_SCU=3|adraw_SCU=9|aloss_SCU=11|agf_SCU=21|aga_SCU=30

|hwin_WRE=8|hdraw_WRE=13|hloss_WRE=2|hgf_WRE=38|hga_WRE=24|awin_WRE=7|adraw_WRE=7|aloss_WRE=9|agf_WRE=32|aga_WRE=27

|hwin_PET=10|hdraw_PET=7|hloss_PET=6|hgf_PET=29|hga_PET=21|awin_PET=7|adraw_PET=7|aloss_PET=9|agf_PET=28|aga_PET=29

|hwin_CAM=12|hdraw_CAM=6|hloss_CAM=5|hgf_CAM=37|hga_CAM=23|awin_CAM=5|adraw_CAM=5|aloss_CAM=13|agf_CAM=23|aga_CAM=39

|hwin_SWA=13|hdraw_SWA=3|hloss_SWA=7|hgf_SWA=31|hga_SWA=21|awin_SWA=4|adraw_SWA=8|aloss_SWA=11|agf_SWA=25|aga_SWA=40

|hwin_CAR=6|hdraw_CAR=12|hloss_CAR=5|hgf_CAR=24|hga_CAR=18|awin_CAR=9|adraw_CAR=4|aloss_CAR=10|agf_CAR=24|aga_CAR=32

|hwin_EXE=11|hdraw_EXE=10|hloss_EXE=2|hgf_EXE=37|hga_EXE=17|awin_EXE=0|adraw_EXE=13|aloss_EXE=10|agf_EXE=16|aga_EXE=32

|hwin_HAL=10|hdraw_HAL=5|hloss_HAL=8|hgf_HAL=32|hga_HAL=32|awin_HAL=5|adraw_HAL=5|aloss_HAL=13|agf_HAL=27|aga_HAL=42

|hwin_HER=10|hdraw_HER=6|hloss_HER=7|hgf_HER=33|hga_HER=23|awin_HER=4|adraw_HER=5|aloss_HER=14|agf_HER=27|aga_HER=38

|hwin_CRE=8|hdraw_CRE=9|hloss_CRE=6|hgf_CRE=38|hga_CRE=35|awin_CRE=5|adraw_CRE=5|aloss_CRE=13|agf_CRE=32|aga_CRE=37

|hwin_HAR=6|hdraw_HAR=11|hloss_HAR=6|hgf_HAR=24|hga_HAR=30|awin_HAR=5|adraw_HAR=7|aloss_HAR=11|agf_HAR=20|aga_HAR=35

|hwin_STP=9|hdraw_STP=6|hloss_STP=8|hgf_STP=25|hga_STP=27|awin_STP=4|adraw_STP=6|aloss_STP=13|agf_STP=15|aga_STP=42

|hwin_TRA=6|hdraw_TRA=10|hloss_TRA=7|hgf_TRA=32|hga_TRA=37|awin_TRA=5|adraw_TRA=7|aloss_TRA=11|agf_TRA=22|aga_TRA=35

|hwin_ROC=8|hdraw_ROC=8|hloss_ROC=7|hgf_ROC=31|hga_ROC=30|awin_ROC=3|adraw_ROC=9|aloss_ROC=11|agf_ROC=23|aga_ROC=43

|hwin_BUR=9|hdraw_BUR=7|hloss_BUR=7|hgf_BUR=31|hga_BUR=35|awin_BUR=3|adraw_BUR=6|aloss_BUR=14|agf_BUR=22|aga_BUR=39

|hwin_TOR=8|hdraw_TOR=8|hloss_TOR=7|hgf_TOR=28|hga_TOR=29|awin_TOR=2|adraw_TOR=10|aloss_TOR=11|agf_TOR=28|aga_TOR=43

|hwin_LIN=8|hdraw_LIN=7|hloss_LIN=8|hgf_LIN=30|hga_LIN=27|awin_LIN=4|adraw_LIN=5|aloss_LIN=14|agf_LIN=15|aga_LIN=38

|col_CP=#D0F0C0|text_CP=Division Champions, promoted

|result1=CP

|col_P=#FFFF99|text_P=Promoted

|result2=P|result3=P

|col_PP=#FFE4B5|text_PP=Participated in play-offs

|result4=PP|result5=PP

|col_PPP=#FBCEB1|text_PPP=Promoted through play-offs

|note_res_PPP=Aldershot were winners of the play-offs and were thus promoted.

|result6=PPP

|col_R=#F08080|text_R=Relegated to Conference

|result24=R

|update=complete|source=

}}

= [[EFL League Two|Fourth Division play-offs]] =

{{Main|Football League Two play-offs#1987}}

Both the semifinals and the finals were decided over two legs, and only the aggregates are given in the schemata below.
The full results can be found at: Football League Division Four play-offs 1987.

{{4TeamBracket-Tennis3 | RD1=Semi-finals
1st leg –14 May; 2nd leg –17 May 1987

| RD2=Finals
1st leg –23 May; 2nd leg –25 May 1987

| score-width=30px

| team-width=200px

| RD1-seed1=21st

| RD1-team1=Bolton Wanderers (Div 3)

| RD1-score1-1=0

| RD1-score1-2=2

| RD1-score1-3=2

| RD1-seed2=6th

| RD1-team2=Aldershot

| RD1-score2-1=1

| RD1-score2-2=2

| RD1-score2-3=3

| RD1-seed3=4th

| RD1-team3=Wolverhampton Wanderers

| RD1-score3-1=2

| RD1-score3-2=0

| RD1-score3-3=2

| RD1-seed4=5th

| RD1-team4=Colchester United

| RD1-score4-1=0

| RD1-score4-2=0

| RD1-score4-3=0

| RD2-seed1=6th

| RD2-team1=Aldershot

| RD2-score1-1=2

| RD2-score1-2=1

| RD2-score1-3=3

| RD2-seed2=4th

| RD2-team2= Wolverhampton Wanderers

| RD2-score2-1=0

| RD2-score2-2=0

| RD2-score2-3=0

}}

=Fourth Division results=

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=ALD|team2=BUR|team3=CAM|team4=CAR|team5=COL

|team6=CRE|team7=EXE|team8=HAL|team9=HAR|team10=HER

|team11=LEY|team12=LIN|team13=NOR|team14=PET|team15=PNE

|team16=ROC|team17=SCU|team18=STD|team19=STP|team20=SWA

|team21=TOR|team22=TRA|team23=WOL|team24=WRE

|name_ALD=Aldershot

|match_ALD_BUR=2-0

|match_ALD_CAM=4-1

|match_ALD_CAR=1-2

|match_ALD_COL=1-0

|match_ALD_CRE=1-0

|match_ALD_EXE=2-1

|match_ALD_HAL=4-1

|match_ALD_HAR=1-1

|match_ALD_HER=1-0

|match_ALD_LEY=1-2

|match_ALD_LIN=4-0

|match_ALD_NOR=3-3

|match_ALD_PET=1-1

|match_ALD_PNE=0-0

|match_ALD_ROC=2-1

|match_ALD_SCU=2-1

|match_ALD_STD=0-1

|match_ALD_STP=3-0

|match_ALD_SWA=4-1

|match_ALD_TOR=1-1

|match_ALD_TRA=0-2

|match_ALD_WOL=1-2

|match_ALD_WRE=1-0

|name_BUR=Burnley

|match_BUR_ALD=0-1

|match_BUR_CAM=0-2

|match_BUR_CAR=1-3

|match_BUR_COL=2-1

|match_BUR_CRE=4-0

|match_BUR_EXE=0-0

|match_BUR_HAL=3-0

|match_BUR_HAR=1-1

|match_BUR_HER=0-6

|match_BUR_LEY=2-1

|match_BUR_LIN=3-1

|match_BUR_NOR=2-1

|match_BUR_PET=0-0

|match_BUR_PNE=1-4

|match_BUR_ROC=0-3

|match_BUR_SCU=1-0

|match_BUR_STD=2-1

|match_BUR_STP=2-0

|match_BUR_SWA=1-1

|match_BUR_TOR=2-2

|match_BUR_TRA=2-2

|match_BUR_WOL=2-5

|match_BUR_WRE=0-0

|name_CAM=Cambridge United

|match_CAM_ALD=0-3

|match_CAM_BUR=3-1

|match_CAM_CAR=2-1

|match_CAM_COL=0-1

|match_CAM_CRE=0-3

|match_CAM_EXE=2-2

|match_CAM_HAL=1-0

|match_CAM_HAR=3-0

|match_CAM_HER=2-1

|match_CAM_LEY=2-0

|match_CAM_LIN=1-1

|match_CAM_NOR=2-3

|match_CAM_PET=1-1

|match_CAM_PNE=2-0

|match_CAM_ROC=3-0

|match_CAM_SCU=1-0

|match_CAM_STD=1-2

|match_CAM_STP=5-0

|match_CAM_SWA=1-0

|match_CAM_TOR=3-3

|match_CAM_TRA=1-1

|match_CAM_WOL=0-0

|match_CAM_WRE=1-0

|name_CAR=Cardiff City

|match_CAR_ALD=2-0

|match_CAR_BUR=1-0

|match_CAR_CAM=3-0

|match_CAR_COL=0-2

|match_CAR_CRE=1-1

|match_CAR_EXE=0-0

|match_CAR_HAL=0-0

|match_CAR_HAR=4-1

|match_CAR_HER=4-0

|match_CAR_LEY=1-1

|match_CAR_LIN=1-1

|match_CAR_NOR=1-1

|match_CAR_PET=0-1

|match_CAR_PNE=1-1

|match_CAR_ROC=0-0

|match_CAR_SCU=1-1

|match_CAR_STD=0-2

|match_CAR_STP=1-1

|match_CAR_SWA=0-0

|match_CAR_TOR=3-1

|match_CAR_TRA=0-2

|match_CAR_WOL=0-2

|match_CAR_WRE=0-0

|name_COL=Colchester United

|match_COL_ALD=0-1

|match_COL_BUR=1-0

|match_COL_CAM=1-2

|match_COL_CAR=3-1

|match_COL_CRE=2-1

|match_COL_EXE=1-1

|match_COL_HAL=3-1

|match_COL_HAR=2-1

|match_COL_HER=2-0

|match_COL_LEY=0-0

|match_COL_LIN=2-0

|match_COL_NOR=3-1

|match_COL_PET=1-3

|match_COL_PNE=0-2

|match_COL_ROC=2-0

|match_COL_SCU=1-0

|match_COL_STD=1-2

|match_COL_STP=5-1

|match_COL_SWA=2-1

|match_COL_TOR=3-0

|match_COL_TRA=1-1

|match_COL_WOL=3-0

|match_COL_WRE=2-1

|name_CRE=Crewe Alexandra

|match_CRE_ALD=1-3

|match_CRE_BUR=1-0

|match_CRE_CAM=0-0

|match_CRE_CAR=1-2

|match_CRE_COL=1-1

|match_CRE_EXE=2-2

|match_CRE_HAL=2-2

|match_CRE_HAR=1-0

|match_CRE_HER=1-2

|match_CRE_LEY=3-2

|match_CRE_LIN=1-2

|match_CRE_NOR=0-5

|match_CRE_PET=1-3

|match_CRE_PNE=2-2

|match_CRE_ROC=5-1

|match_CRE_SCU=2-2

|match_CRE_STD=2-1

|match_CRE_STP=5-0

|match_CRE_SWA=1-1

|match_CRE_TOR=1-0

|match_CRE_TRA=3-2

|match_CRE_WOL=1-1

|match_CRE_WRE=1-1

|name_EXE=Exeter City

|match_EXE_ALD=4-0

|match_EXE_BUR=3-0

|match_EXE_CAM=1-1

|match_EXE_CAR=0-0

|match_EXE_COL=2-0

|match_EXE_CRE=1-0

|match_EXE_HAL=2-2

|match_EXE_HAR=2-0

|match_EXE_HER=1-0

|match_EXE_LEY=1-0

|match_EXE_LIN=2-0

|match_EXE_NOR=1-1

|match_EXE_PET=1-1

|match_EXE_PNE=1-2

|match_EXE_ROC=1-1

|match_EXE_SCU=0-0

|match_EXE_STD=0-0

|match_EXE_STP=4-0

|match_EXE_SWA=2-2

|match_EXE_TOR=2-2

|match_EXE_TRA=1-0

|match_EXE_WOL=1-3

|match_EXE_WRE=4-2

|name_HAL=Halifax Town

|match_HAL_ALD=1-0

|match_HAL_BUR=2-2

|match_HAL_CAM=1-0

|match_HAL_CAR=1-1

|match_HAL_COL=0-0

|match_HAL_CRE=0-3

|match_HAL_EXE=2-0

|match_HAL_HAR=1-0

|match_HAL_HER=2-1

|match_HAL_LEY=4-0

|match_HAL_LIN=1-2

|match_HAL_NOR=3-6

|match_HAL_PET=1-0

|match_HAL_PNE=1-3

|match_HAL_ROC=3-1

|match_HAL_SCU=1-1

|match_HAL_STD=0-1

|match_HAL_STP=0-2

|match_HAL_SWA=1-0

|match_HAL_TOR=2-4

|match_HAL_TRA=0-0

|match_HAL_WOL=3-4

|match_HAL_WRE=2-1

|name_HAR=Hartlepool United

|match_HAR_ALD=1-1

|match_HAR_BUR=2-2

|match_HAR_CAM=2-2

|match_HAR_CAR=1-1

|match_HAR_COL=0-0

|match_HAR_CRE=0-5

|match_HAR_EXE=1-0

|match_HAR_HAL=0-0

|match_HAR_HER=0-0

|match_HAR_LEY=1-3

|match_HAR_LIN=2-1

|match_HAR_NOR=3-3

|match_HAR_PET=1-2

|match_HAR_PNE=2-2

|match_HAR_ROC=1-1

|match_HAR_SCU=0-2

|match_HAR_STD=1-0

|match_HAR_STP=1-0

|match_HAR_SWA=1-1

|match_HAR_TOR=2-1

|match_HAR_TRA=1-1

|match_HAR_WOL=0-1

|match_HAR_WRE=0-1

|name_HER=Hereford United

|match_HER_ALD=1-0

|match_HER_BUR=2-0

|match_HER_CAM=2-3

|match_HER_CAR=0-2

|match_HER_COL=2-3

|match_HER_CRE=2-0

|match_HER_EXE=1-1

|match_HER_HAL=1-0

|match_HER_HAR=4-0

|match_HER_LEY=1-1

|match_HER_LIN=0-0

|match_HER_NOR=3-2

|match_HER_PET=2-0

|match_HER_PNE=2-3

|match_HER_ROC=0-1

|match_HER_SCU=2-2

|match_HER_STD=0-1

|match_HER_STP=1-2

|match_HER_SWA=2-0

|match_HER_TOR=2-2

|match_HER_TRA=1-0

|match_HER_WOL=2-0

|match_HER_WRE=0-0

|name_LEY=Leyton Orient

|match_LEY_ALD=1-3

|match_LEY_BUR=2-0

|match_LEY_CAM=3-0

|match_LEY_CAR=2-0

|match_LEY_COL=1-0

|match_LEY_CRE=1-1

|match_LEY_EXE=2-0

|match_LEY_HAL=1-3

|match_LEY_HAR=2-0

|match_LEY_HER=2-0

|match_LEY_LIN=2-1

|match_LEY_NOR=0-1

|match_LEY_PET=1-0

|match_LEY_PNE=1-2

|match_LEY_ROC=3-0

|match_LEY_SCU=3-1

|match_LEY_STD=1-0

|match_LEY_STP=1-0

|match_LEY_SWA=1-4

|match_LEY_TOR=3-2

|match_LEY_TRA=2-2

|match_LEY_WOL=3-1

|match_LEY_WRE=2-4

|name_LIN=Lincoln City

|match_LIN_ALD=0-2

|match_LIN_BUR=2-1

|match_LIN_CAM=0-3

|match_LIN_CAR=0-1

|match_LIN_COL=3-1

|match_LIN_CRE=2-1

|match_LIN_EXE=1-1

|match_LIN_HAL=0-0

|match_LIN_HAR=1-4

|match_LIN_HER=0-0

|match_LIN_LEY=2-0

|match_LIN_NOR=3-1

|match_LIN_PET=1-2

|match_LIN_PNE=1-1

|match_LIN_ROC=1-1

|match_LIN_SCU=1-2

|match_LIN_STD=1-3

|match_LIN_STP=0-0

|match_LIN_SWA=4-0

|match_LIN_TOR=1-1

|match_LIN_TRA=3-1

|match_LIN_WOL=3-0

|match_LIN_WRE=0-1

|name_NOR=Northampton Town

|match_NOR_ALD=4-2

|match_NOR_BUR=4-2

|match_NOR_CAM=3-0

|match_NOR_CAR=4-1

|match_NOR_COL=3-2

|match_NOR_CRE=2-1

|match_NOR_EXE=4-0

|match_NOR_HAL=1-0

|match_NOR_HAR=1-1

|match_NOR_HER=3-2

|match_NOR_LEY=2-0

|match_NOR_LIN=3-1

|match_NOR_PET=2-1

|match_NOR_PNE=3-1

|match_NOR_ROC=5-0

|match_NOR_SCU=1-0

|match_NOR_STD=2-1

|match_NOR_STP=2-1

|match_NOR_SWA=0-1

|match_NOR_TOR=1-0

|match_NOR_TRA=2-0

|match_NOR_WOL=2-1

|match_NOR_WRE=2-2

|name_PET=Peterborough United

|match_PET_ALD=1-1

|match_PET_BUR=1-1

|match_PET_CAM=2-1

|match_PET_CAR=1-2

|match_PET_COL=2-0

|match_PET_CRE=1-2

|match_PET_EXE=2-2

|match_PET_HAL=2-0

|match_PET_HAR=3-1

|match_PET_HER=2-1

|match_PET_LEY=0-1

|match_PET_LIN=0-1

|match_PET_NOR=0-1

|match_PET_PNE=2-1

|match_PET_ROC=1-1

|match_PET_SCU=1-1

|match_PET_STD=2-0

|match_PET_STP=0-0

|match_PET_SWA=1-1

|match_PET_TOR=2-1

|match_PET_TRA=2-1

|match_PET_WOL=0-1

|match_PET_WRE=1-0

|name_PNE=Preston North End

|match_PNE_ALD=1-2

|match_PNE_BUR=2-1

|match_PNE_CAM=1-0

|match_PNE_CAR=0-1

|match_PNE_COL=1-0

|match_PNE_CRE=2-1

|match_PNE_EXE=2-1

|match_PNE_HAL=3-2

|match_PNE_HAR=0-0

|match_PNE_HER=2-1

|match_PNE_LEY=1-0

|match_PNE_LIN=3-0

|match_PNE_NOR=1-0

|match_PNE_PET=0-0

|match_PNE_ROC=2-4

|match_PNE_SCU=2-1

|match_PNE_STD=2-0

|match_PNE_STP=3-0

|match_PNE_SWA=2-1

|match_PNE_TOR=1-1

|match_PNE_TRA=2-0

|match_PNE_WOL=2-2

|match_PNE_WRE=1-0

|name_ROC=Rochdale

|match_ROC_ALD=3-1

|match_ROC_BUR=0-2

|match_ROC_CAM=2-0

|match_ROC_CAR=0-0

|match_ROC_COL=1-0

|match_ROC_CRE=1-1

|match_ROC_EXE=0-0

|match_ROC_HAL=5-3

|match_ROC_HAR=0-2

|match_ROC_HER=2-0

|match_ROC_LEY=0-0

|match_ROC_LIN=1-1

|match_ROC_NOR=1-2

|match_ROC_PET=3-2

|match_ROC_PNE=0-2

|match_ROC_SCU=1-1

|match_ROC_STD=1-2

|match_ROC_STP=2-1

|match_ROC_SWA=2-0

|match_ROC_TOR=3-3

|match_ROC_TRA=0-1

|match_ROC_WOL=0-3

|match_ROC_WRE=3-3

|name_SCU=Scunthorpe United

|match_SCU_ALD=2-0

|match_SCU_BUR=2-1

|match_SCU_CAM=1-1

|match_SCU_CAR=1-3

|match_SCU_COL=5-2

|match_SCU_CRE=2-1

|match_SCU_EXE=3-1

|match_SCU_HAL=2-1

|match_SCU_HAR=1-2

|match_SCU_HER=3-1

|match_SCU_LEY=0-2

|match_SCU_LIN=2-1

|match_SCU_NOR=2-2

|match_SCU_PET=2-0

|match_SCU_PNE=4-0

|match_SCU_ROC=2-0

|match_SCU_STD=3-0

|match_SCU_STP=1-2

|match_SCU_SWA=3-2

|match_SCU_TOR=2-0

|match_SCU_TRA=6-0

|match_SCU_WOL=0-2

|match_SCU_WRE=3-3

|name_STD=Southend United

|match_STD_ALD=2-0

|match_STD_BUR=2-1

|match_STD_CAM=3-1

|match_STD_CAR=2-0

|match_STD_COL=1-1

|match_STD_CRE=3-1

|match_STD_EXE=2-1

|match_STD_HAL=2-3

|match_STD_HAR=1-1

|match_STD_HER=2-0

|match_STD_LEY=2-1

|match_STD_LIN=1-0

|match_STD_NOR=0-4

|match_STD_PET=2-2

|match_STD_PNE=1-2

|match_STD_ROC=5-3

|match_STD_SCU=3-1

|match_STD_STP=0-0

|match_STD_SWA=1-2

|match_STD_TOR=4-0

|match_STD_TRA=3-0

|match_STD_WOL=1-0

|match_STD_WRE=0-3

|name_STP=Stockport County

|match_STP_ALD=0-0

|match_STP_BUR=0-1

|match_STP_CAM=3-2

|match_STP_CAR=2-0

|match_STP_COL=1-1

|match_STP_CRE=2-1

|match_STP_EXE=0-0

|match_STP_HAL=2-0

|match_STP_HAR=0-2

|match_STP_HER=1-2

|match_STP_LEY=2-2

|match_STP_LIN=1-0

|match_STP_NOR=0-3

|match_STP_PET=3-1

|match_STP_PNE=1-3

|match_STP_ROC=1-1

|match_STP_SCU=1-0

|match_STP_STD=0-2

|match_STP_SWA=3-1

|match_STP_TOR=0-0

|match_STP_TRA=0-2

|match_STP_WOL=0-2

|match_STP_WRE=2-1

|name_SWA=Swansea City

|match_SWA_ALD=2-1

|match_SWA_BUR=2-2

|match_SWA_CAM=2-0

|match_SWA_CAR=2-0

|match_SWA_COL=1-2

|match_SWA_CRE=1-1

|match_SWA_EXE=1-0

|match_SWA_HAL=0-2

|match_SWA_HAR=1-0

|match_SWA_HER=1-3

|match_SWA_LEY=4-1

|match_SWA_LIN=2-0

|match_SWA_NOR=2-1

|match_SWA_PET=0-1

|match_SWA_PNE=1-1

|match_SWA_ROC=1-0

|match_SWA_SCU=1-2

|match_SWA_STD=1-0

|match_SWA_STP=3-0

|match_SWA_TOR=0-1

|match_SWA_TRA=2-0

|match_SWA_WOL=1-0

|match_SWA_WRE=0-3

|name_TOR=Torquay United

|match_TOR_ALD=2-2

|match_TOR_BUR=1-1

|match_TOR_CAM=1-0

|match_TOR_CAR=1-0

|match_TOR_COL=3-1

|match_TOR_CRE=2-2

|match_TOR_EXE=1-1

|match_TOR_HAL=1-0

|match_TOR_HAR=0-1

|match_TOR_HER=1-1

|match_TOR_LEY=2-2

|match_TOR_LIN=0-1

|match_TOR_NOR=0-1

|match_TOR_PET=1-0

|match_TOR_PNE=0-2

|match_TOR_ROC=2-1

|match_TOR_SCU=2-2

|match_TOR_STD=2-1

|match_TOR_STP=0-0

|match_TOR_SWA=3-5

|match_TOR_TRA=0-2

|match_TOR_WOL=1-2

|match_TOR_WRE=2-1

|name_TRA=Tranmere Rovers

|match_TRA_ALD=1-1

|match_TRA_BUR=2-1

|match_TRA_CAM=1-1

|match_TRA_CAR=2-1

|match_TRA_COL=3-4

|match_TRA_CRE=3-2

|match_TRA_EXE=1-0

|match_TRA_HAL=3-4

|match_TRA_HAR=1-1

|match_TRA_HER=3-3

|match_TRA_LEY=1-3

|match_TRA_LIN=2-0

|match_TRA_NOR=1-1

|match_TRA_PET=1-1

|match_TRA_PNE=1-1

|match_TRA_ROC=1-1

|match_TRA_SCU=1-0

|match_TRA_STD=1-3

|match_TRA_STP=0-3

|match_TRA_SWA=1-1

|match_TRA_TOR=2-2

|match_TRA_WOL=0-1

|match_TRA_WRE=0-2

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers

|match_WOL_ALD=3-0

|match_WOL_BUR=0-1

|match_WOL_CAM=1-2

|match_WOL_CAR=0-1

|match_WOL_COL=2-0

|match_WOL_CRE=2-3

|match_WOL_EXE=2-2

|match_WOL_HAL=1-2

|match_WOL_HAR=4-1

|match_WOL_HER=1-0

|match_WOL_LEY=3-1

|match_WOL_LIN=3-0

|match_WOL_NOR=1-1

|match_WOL_PET=0-3

|match_WOL_PNE=1-0

|match_WOL_ROC=0-0

|match_WOL_SCU=1-0

|match_WOL_STD=1-2

|match_WOL_STP=3-1

|match_WOL_SWA=4-0

|match_WOL_TOR=1-0

|match_WOL_TRA=2-1

|match_WOL_WRE=0-3

|name_WRE=Wrexham

|match_WRE_ALD=3-0

|match_WRE_BUR=2-2

|match_WRE_CAM=2-1

|match_WRE_CAR=5-1

|match_WRE_COL=0-1

|match_WRE_CRE=2-1

|match_WRE_EXE=0-0

|match_WRE_HAL=3-1

|match_WRE_HAR=1-1

|match_WRE_HER=2-2

|match_WRE_LEY=1-1

|match_WRE_LIN=1-1

|match_WRE_NOR=1-3

|match_WRE_PET=4-3

|match_WRE_PNE=1-1

|match_WRE_ROC=2-2

|match_WRE_SCU=1-1

|match_WRE_STD=4-0

|match_WRE_STP=0-0

|match_WRE_SWA=0-0

|match_WRE_TOR=2-1

|match_WRE_TRA=1-1

|match_WRE_WOL=0-0

|update=complete

|source=[http://www.soccerbase.com] Soccerbase

}}

=Fourth Division maps=

{{location map| Greater London |float=right |width=369 |caption=Locations of the Football League Fourth Division London teams 1986–1987 |lat=51.570 |long=-0.058 |label=Orient|position=right}}

{{location map+|England |float=none |width=400 |caption=Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1986–1987 |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.25 | long=-0.75 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.79 |long=-2.25 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.21 | long=0.12 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.47 | long=-3.20 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.89 |long=0.90 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.10 | long=-2.44 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.72 |long=-3.53 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.72 | long=-1.86 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.69 | long=-1.21 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.06 | long=-2.72 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.57 |long=-0.01 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.23 | long=-0.54 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.24 |long=-0.90 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.58 | long=-0.25 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.75 |long=-2.7 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.61 | long=-2.16 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.58 | long=-0.65 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.55 |long=0.70 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.41 | long=-2.16 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.62 |long=-3.95 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.48 |long=-3.52 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.37 | long=-3.04 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.59 |long=-2.13 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.03 | long=-2.98 |label=|position=right}}

Aldershot

Burnley

Cambridge Utd

Cardiff City

Colchester

Crewe Alexandra

Exeter City

Halifax Town

Hartlepool

Hereford United

Orient

Lincoln City

Northampton Town

Peterborough

Preston North End

Rochdale

Scunthorpe United

Southend

Stockport

Swansea City

Torquay

Tranmere

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wrexham

}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.

{{The Football League Seasons}}

{{1986–87 in English football}}

{{1986–87 in European Football (UEFA)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1986-87 Football League}}

Category:English Football League seasons