1987–88 Celtic F.C. season

Celtic
1987–88 season
Chairman	Jack McGinn
Manager	Billy McNeill
Ground	Celtic Park; Glasgow, Scotland
Scottish Premier Division	1st (champions)
Scottish League Cup	Quarter final
UEFA Cup	First round
Scottish Cup	Winners
Top goalscorer	League: ; Andy Walker (26); All: ; Andy Walker (32)
Highest home attendance	61,927 vs Dundee (23 April 1988)
Lowest home attendance	11,381 vs Falkirk (28 October 1987)
Average home league attendance	33,199
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1986–87 1988–89 →

The 1987–88 Scottish Football League was Celtic's 94th season of competitive football, and it marked the club's centenary. Davie Hay was dismissed as manager during the close season following a disappointing 1986-87 campaign, in which the team, despite holding a 9-point lead at the turn of the year, lost the league title to a resurgent Rangers F.C. under Graeme Souness and failed to win any trophies.

The Celtic board opted to bring back Billy McNeill^[2] as manager, despite an acrimonious split in 1983. McNeill returned to the club after four years managing in England with Manchester City F.C. and Aston Villa F.C..

The playing squad underwent significant changes in the summer of 1987, with key players such as Brian McClair, Mo Johnston, Murdo MacLeod, and Alan McInally all departing. Danny McGrain was given a free transfer, and Davie Provan retired due to ill health. Centre-half Mick McCarthy was signed by Davie Hay just days before his departure. Billy McNeill then brought in new signings, including Motherwell striker Andy Walker, Sheffield Wednesday full-back Chris Morris, and Aberdeen midfielder Billy Stark.^[3]

As the season progressed, Celtic continued to search for attacking reinforcements following the loss of strikers Johnston and McClair. After early speculation about a return for fans' favorite Charlie Nicholas, the club eventually signed forwards Frank McAvennie and Joe Miller.

Celtic made a solid start to their league campaign, but in the autumn, they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Borussia Dortmund in the first round and eliminated from the Scottish League Cup at the quarter-final stage by Aberdeen. Despite these setbacks, their league form remained consistent, and they went into the New Year derby match with a three-point lead over second-placed Hearts and a five-point lead over Rangers.^[4] After defeating Rangers, Celtic went on an unbeaten run until a potential league-clinching match against Hearts at Tynecastle in April, where a defeat meant they had to wait until the following week to secure the title.

In front of a packed home crowd at Celtic Park, Celtic clinched the league title with a convincing victory over Dundee. The team also reached the Scottish Cup Final after a dramatic comeback against Hearts in the semi-final, scoring twice in the last four minutes to win 2–1. In the final, Celtic again came from behind to defeat Dundee United, with Frank McAvennie scoring the decisive goal in the last minute, sealing a league and cup double in the club's centenary year.

Pre-season and friendlies

Celtic prepared for their 1987-88 centenary season with a Scandinavian tour, before playing a friendly match at home against ex-Celtic player Charlie Nicholas Arsenal team and then Tommy Burns testimonial match against Liverpool. In November Celtic organised a testimonial for retired former player David Provan, who retired from the game through illness at the age of just 31.

19 July 1987 Friendly

IFK Stromstad

3-0

Celtic

Strömstad, Sweden

21 July 1987 Friendly

Varbergs BoIS

0-0

Celtic

Varberg,Sweden

23 July 1987 Friendly	Tidaholms GIF	1–2	Celtic	Tidaholm, Sweden
		Report	Archdeacon 15' Walker 25'	Attendance: 700

26 July 1987 Friendly	Moss FK	0–2	Celtic	Moss, Norway
		Report	Shepherd 88'	Stadium: Melløs Stadion

28 July 1987 Friendly	IK Oddevold	1–4	Celtic	Uddevalla, Sweden
		Report	Walker 7' Whyte 27' Walker 43' Walker 44'	Stadium: Rimnersvallen

1 August 1987 Friendly	Celtic	1-5	Arsenal	Glasgow, Scotland
	Archdeacon 89'	Report		Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 26,195 Referee: A.Ferguson (Giffnock)

9 August 1987 Tommy Burns Testimonial	Celtic	0–1	Liverpool	Glasgow, Scotland
		Report	Whelan 38'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 43,000 Referee: Kenny Hope (Clarkston)

30 November 1987 Davie Provan Testimonial	Celtic	1–3	Nottingham Forest	Glasgow, Scotland
19:45 BST	McCarthy 23'	Report		Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 42,464 Referee: David Syme (Rutherglen)

Competitions

Scottish Premier Division

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Celtic (C)	44	31	10	3	79	23	+56	72	Qualification for the European Cup first round
2	Heart of Midlothian	44	23	16	5	74	32	+42	62	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3	Rangers	44	26	8	10	85	34	+51	60
4	Aberdeen	44	21	17	6	56	25	+31	59
5	Dundee United	44	16	15	13	54	47	+7	47	Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round

Source: Statto
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Matches

8 August 1987 Premier League	Morton	0 – 4	Celtic	Greenock
15:00		Sunday Mail	McGhee 13' Stark 53' Walker 61' 68'	Stadium: Cappielow Park Attendance: 14,174

12 August 1987 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 0	Hearts	Glasgow
19:30	McGhee 87'	Daily Record		Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 27,825

15 August 1987 Premier League	Celtic	4 – 1	Motherwell	Glasgow
15:00	McGhee 31' Walker 36' 82' Stark 78'	The Sunday Post	Kirk 74'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 24,478

22 August 1987 Premier League	Dunfermline Athletic	2 – 1	Celtic	Dunfermline
15:00	Robertson 2' Ferguson 57'	Sunday Mail	Walker 33' (pen)	Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 17,292

29 August 1987 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 0	Rangers	Glasgow
15:00 GMT	Stark 4'	Sunday Mail		Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 60,178

5 September 1987 Premier League	Dundee United	0 – 0	Celtic	Dundee
15:00 GMT		Sunday Mail		Stadium: Tannadice Park Attendance: 16,403

12 September 1987 Premier League	Falkirk	0 – 1	Celtic	Falkirk
15:00 GMT		Evening Times	Burns 33'	Stadium: Brockville Park Attendance: 14,319

19 September 1987 Premier League	Celtic	2 – 2	Aberdeen	Glasgow
15:00 GMT	Burns 38' Stark 48'	Sunday Mail	P. Nicholas 60' J. Miller 89'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 36,957

26 September 1987 Premier League	St Mirren	0 – 1	Celtic	Paisley
15:00 GMT		Evening Times	Whyte 74'	Stadium: St Mirren Park, Love Street Attendance: 18,011

3 October 1987 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 1	Hibernian	Glasgow
15:00 GMT	Walker 4'	Evening Times	Watson 79'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 29,802

7 October 1987 Premier League	Dundee	1 – 1	Celtic	Dundee
19:30 GMT	Angus 44'	Glasgow Herald	Walker 70' (pen)	Stadium: Dens Park Attendance: 13,238

10 October 1987 Premier League	Celtic	3 – 1	Morton	Glasgow
19:30 GMT	Whyte 2' McAvennie 11' Walker 18'	Evening Times	O'Hara 40'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 20,940

17 October 1987 Premier League	Rangers	2 – 2	Celtic	Glasgow
15:00 GMT	McCoist 65' Gough 90'	Sunday Telegraph	Walker 33' Butcher 35' (og)	Stadium: Ibrox Park Attendance: 43,486

24 October 1987 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 2	Dundee United	Glasgow
15:00 GMT	Shepherd 90'	Evening Times	Clark 79' Ferguson 88'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 28,982

28 October 1987 Premier League	Celtic	3 – 2	Falkirk	Glasgow
19:30 GMT	Archdeacon 31' Stark 48' 80'	Glasgow Herald	Stewart 85' Manley 87'	Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 11,381 Referee: P. Hanley

31 October 1987 Premier League	Aberdeen	0 – 1	Celtic	Aberdeen
15:00 GMT		Sunday Mail	McAvennie 72'	Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium Attendance: 20,562

7 November 1987 Premier League	Hearts	1 – 1	Celtic	Edinburgh
15:00 GMT	Colquhoun 40'	Sunday Post	McGhee 78'	Stadium: Tynecastle Park Attendance: 28,992 Referee: J. McCluskey

14 November 1987 Premier League	Celtic	5 – 0	Dundee	Glasgow
15:00 GMT	Walker 2' 5' Miller 60' McAvennie 67' 89'	Sunday Mail		Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 29,749 Referee: D. Miller

17 November 1987 Premier League	Motherwell	0 – 2	Celtic	Motherwell
19:30 GMT		Glasgow Herald	Walker 33' Whyte 50'	Stadium: Fir Park Attendance: 17,003 Referee: D. Hope

21 November 1987 Premier League	Celtic	4 – 0	Dunfermline Athletic	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 26,534

25 November 1987 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 0	St Mirren	Glasgow
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 24,718

28 November 1987 Premier League	Hibernian	0 – 1	Celtic	Edinburgh
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Easter Road Attendance: 23,055

5 December 1987 Premier League	Morton	0 – 4	Celtic	Greenock
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Cappielow Park Attendance: 12,552

12 December 1987 Premier League	Celtic	2 – 2	Hearts	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 42,004

19 December 1987 Premier League	Celtic	0 – 0	Aberdeen	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 35,711

22 December 1987 Premier League	Falkirk	0 – 2	Celtic	Falkirk
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Brockville Park Attendance: 11,144

26 December 1987 Premier League	Dundee United	1 – 2	Celtic	Dundee
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Tannadice Park Attendance: 18,465

2 January 1988 Premier League	Celtic	2 – 0	Rangers	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 60,106

9 January 1988 Premier League	St Mirren	1 – 1	Celtic	Paisley
15:00 GMT				Stadium: St Mirren Park, Love Street Attendance: 19,030

16 January 1988 Premier League	Celtic	2 – 0	Hibernian	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 34,896

6 February 1988 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 0	Motherwell	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 23,035

13 February 1988 Premier League	Dundee	1 – 2	Celtic	Dundee
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Dens Park Attendance: 17,101

27 February 1988 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 0	Morton	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 21,116

2 March 1988 Premier League	Dunfermline Athletic	0 – 4	Celtic	Dunfermline
19:30 GMT				Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 17,367

5 March 1988 Premier League	Celtic	2 – 0	Falkirk	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 21,711

20 March 1988 Premier League	Rangers	1 – 2	Celtic	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 42,850

26 March 1988 Premier League	Celtic	0 – 0	Dundee United	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 32,934

30 March 1988 Premier League	Aberdeen	0 – 1	Celtic	Aberdeen
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium Attendance: 21,688

2 April 1988 Premier League	Hibernian	0 – 2	Celtic	Edinburgh
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Easter Road Attendance: 19,357

5 April 1988 Premier League	Celtic	2 – 0	St Mirren	Glasgow
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 41,465

16 April 1988 Premier League	Hearts	2 – 1	Celtic	Edinburgh
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Tynecastle Park Attendance: 25,144

23 April 1988 Premier League	Celtic	3 – 0	Dundee	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 61,927

30 April 1988 Premier League	Motherwell	0 – 1	Celtic	Motherwell
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Fir Park Attendance: 13,874

7 May 1988 Premier League	Celtic	1 – 0	Dunfermline Athletic	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 38,482

Scottish Cup

30 January 1988 Third round	Celtic	1 - 0	Stranraer	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 21,625

21 February 1988 Fourth round	Celtic	0 - 0	Hibernian	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 30,537

24 February 1988 Fourth round replay	Hibernian	0 - 1	Celtic	Edinburgh
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Easter Road Attendance: 24,000

12 March 1988 Fifth round	Partick Thistle	0 - 3	Celtic	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Firhill Park Attendance: 46,348

9 April 1988 Semi-final	Celtic	2 - 1	Hearts	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 66,646

14 May 1988 Final	Celtic	2 - 1	Dundee United	Glasgow
15:00 GMT				Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 68,090

Scottish League Cup

19 August 1987 Second round	Celtic	3 - 1	Forfar Athletic	Glasgow
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 13,711

26 August 1987 Third round	Dumbarton	1 - 5	Celtic	Dumbarton
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Boghead Park Attendance: 9,429

1 September 1987 Quarter Finals	Aberdeen	1 - 0	Celtic	Aberdeen
19:30 GMT				Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium Attendance: 21,539

UEFA Cup

15 September 1987 1st round 1st leg	Celtic	2 - 1	Borussia Dortmund	Glasgow
20:00 GMT				Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 41,400

30 September 1987 1st round 2nd leg	Borussia Dortmund	2 - 0 (3 – 2 agg.)	Celtic	Dortmund
20:00 GMT				Stadium: Westfalenstadion Attendance: 54,000

Glasgow Cup

3 November 1987 Glasgow Cup Semi-final	Queen's Park	0 - 2	Celtic	Glasgow
19:30 GMT		Glasgow Herald	Burns 65' Archdeacon 80' (pen)	Stadium: Hampden Park Referee: G. Evans

Competition overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Premier Division	8 August 1987	7 May 1988	Round 1	Winners	44	31	10	3	79	12	+67	070.45
Scottish Cup	30 January 1988	14 May 1988	Third round	Winners	6	5	1	0	9	3	+6	083.33
League Cup	19 August 1987	1 September 1987	Second Round	Quarter Finals	3	2	0	1	8	3	+5	066.67
UEFA Cup	15 September 1987	30 September 1987	First Round	First Round	2	1	0	1	2	3	−1	050.00
Total					55	39	11	5	98	21	+77	070.91

Source: Competitions

Statistics

Appearances and goals

^[5]^[6]

Pos.	Name	League		Scottish Cup		League Cup		UEFA Cup		Other		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Pat Bonner	32	0	5	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	39	0
GK	Allen McKnight	12	0	1	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	17	0
DF	Roy Aitken	43	1	6	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	54	1
DF	Lex Baillie	14	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
DF	Stuart Balmer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
DF	Mick McCarthy	23	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	28	0
DF	Paul McGugan	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
DF	Chris Morris	44	3	6	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	55	3
DF	Anton Rogan	31	1	4	0	3	0	2	0	1	0	41	1
DF	Derek Whyte	41	3	5	0	2	0	2	1	1	0	51	4
MF	Tommy Burns	25	2	5	1	3	1	2	0	1	1	36	5
MF	Peter Grant	37	2	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	44	2
MF	Paul McStay	44	5	6	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	54	5
MF	Steven Murray	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
MF	Tony Shepherd	4	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	7	1
MF	Billy Stark	37	8	5	2	3	3	2	0	0	0	47	13
MF	Owen Archdeacon	9	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	11	2
FW	Frank McAvennie	32	15	6	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	39	18
FW	Dugald McCarrison	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Mark McGhee	21	6	4	1	3	1	1	0	1	0	30	8
FW	Dougie McGuire	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Joe Miller	26	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	32	3
FW	Andy Walker	42	26	4	2	3	3	2	1	0	0	51	32

Goalscorers

R	Pos.	Name	Premier Division	Scottish Cup	League Cup	UEFA CUP	Total
1	FW	Andy Walker	26	2	3	1	32
2	FW	Frank McAvennie	15	3	0	0	18
3	FW	Billy Stark	8	2	3	0	13
4	FW	Mark McGhee	6	1	1	0	8
5	MF	Paul McStay	5	0	0	0	5
6	MF	Tommy Burns	2	1	1	0	4
6	DF	Derek Whyte	3	0	0	1	4
7	FW	Joe Miller	3	0	0	0	3
7	DF	Chris Morris	3	0	0	0	3
8	MF	Peter Grant	2	0	0	0	2
9	DF	Roy Aitken	1	0	0	0	1
	MF	Owen Archdeacon	1	0	0	0	1
	MF	Tony Shepherd	1	0	0	0	1
	DF	Anton Rogan	1	0	0	0	1
Total			77	9	8	2	97

Club

Officials

Position	Name
Chairman	Jack McGinn
Vice-chairman	Kevin Kelly
Secretary	Chris White
Directors	James Farrell Tom Grant Chris White

Management

Position	Name
Manager	Billy McNeill
Assistant manager	Tommy Craig
Reserve Team Manager	Bobby Lennox
Youth Development Officer	Benny Rooney
Chief Scout	John Kelman
Physio	Brian Scott
Masseur	Jimmy Steele
Kitman	Neil Mochan

Kit

Supplier: Umbro / Sponsor: CR Smith

The club introduced a new home shirt to commemorate the clubs centenary year, with a newly commissioned badge to celebrate the milestone, the yellow and green away shirt was the same as the previous season but with the new centenary badge replacing the usual shamrock badge for this season.

Home

Away

Transfers

In

Pos	Player	From	Type	Date	Fee
DF	Mick McCarthy	Manchester City F.C.	Transfer	May 1987	£500,000^[7]
MF	Billy Stark	Aberdeen F.C.	Transfer	July 1987	£75,000
DF	Chris Morris	Sheffield Wednesday F.C.	Transfer	July 1987	£125,000
FW	Andy Walker	Motherwell F.C.	Transfer	July 1987	£350,000
MF	Steven Murray	Nottingham Forest F.C.	Transfer	September 1987	£50,000
MF	Charlie Christie	Inverness Caledonian F.C.	Transfer	September 1987	£20,000
FW	Frank McAvennie	West Ham United F.C.	Transfer	October 1987	£750,000
FW	Joe Miller	Aberdeen F.C.	Transfer	November 1987	£650,000
			TOTAL		£2,575,000

Out

Pos	Player	From	Type	Date	Fee
DF	Danny McGrain	Hamilton Academical F.C.	Transfer	May 1987	Free Transfer
MF	Murdo MacLeod	Borussia Dortmund	Transfer	June 1987	£250,000
GK	Peter Latchford	Clyde F.C.	Transfer	June 1987	Free Transfer
FW	Mo Johnston	FC Nantes	Transfer	July 1987	£330,000
FW	Alan McInally	Aston Villa F.C.	Transfer	July 1987	£250,000
FW	Brian McClair	Manchester United F.C.	Transfer	July 1987	£850,000
FW	David Provan	Retired	Transfer	July 1987	Released
FW	Mark Smith	Dunfermline Athletic F.C.	Transfer	October 1987	£50,000
DF	Paul McGugan	Barnsley F.C.	Transfer	October 1987	£55,000
			TOTAL		£1,785,000

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Average Home League Game Attendances". FitbaStats. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
^ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
^ Keevins, Hugh (4 November 1988). Celtic: A Celebration. John Donald Publishers. ISBN 978-0859762755.
^ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
^ "Results for Season 1987/1988 in All Competitions". FitbaStats. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
^ "Queen's go down fighting". The Glasgow Herald. 4 November 1987. p. 31. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
^ "Evening Times - Búsqueda en el archivo de Google News". news.google.com. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

[att-1] "Average Home League Game Attendances". FitbaStats. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[2] "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

[3] Keevins, Hugh (4 November 1988). Celtic: A Celebration. John Donald Publishers. ISBN 978-0859762755.

[4] "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

[fitba-5] "Results for Season 1987/1988 in All Competitions". FitbaStats. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[glas-6] "Queen's go down fighting". The Glasgow Herald. 4 November 1987. p. 31. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[7] "Evening Times - Búsqueda en el archivo de Google News". news.google.com. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

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