1986–87 Southampton F.C. season

September 2024 Southampton F.C. 1986–87 Alan Woodford Chris Nicholl The Dell First Division 12th FA Cup Third round League Cup Semi-finals Full Members' Cup Third round Colin Clarke (20) Colin Clarke (22) 20,452 v Liverpool(20 September 1986) 4,518 v Hull City(25 November 1986) 14,948 5–0 v Aston Villa(21 March 1987) 1–5 v Manchester United(13 September 1986)0–4 v Arsenal(15 November 1986) _southampton8586h _southampton8586h _southampton8586h _southampton8586h _southampton8586h FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 _southampton8586a _southampton8586a _southampton8586a _southampton8586a _southampton8586a 99ccff 99ccff 99ccff 00003d 99ccff 1985–86 1987–88 The 1986–87 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 86th season of competitive football and their 17th in the First Division of the Football League. The second season with Chris Nicholl as manager, 1986–87 saw the Saints improve only marginally on their previous campaign, finishing 12th in the First Division table – two places higher than the year before. Outside the league, the South Coast club were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round for the first time in four years, reached the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1978–79, and made it to the third round of the second annual Full Members' Cup tournament. Southampton made two key signings in the summer of 1986, making goalkeeper Tim Flowers' loan move permanent and bringing in Northern Irish striker Colin Clarke. Nicholl also signed three trainees, including midfielder Neil Maddison and striker Alan Shearer, who would go on to be important members of the Saints squad a few years later. Leaving ahead of the 1986–87 season were fringe players Eamonn Collins, Alan Curtis, Stuart McManus, Mark Whitlock and David Puckett, while former top scorer Steve Moran left a few months later. Southampton's league performance was characterised by spells of mixed form, including a run which included just one win in eleven games over the new year period, and a nine-match unbeaten run at the end of the season. The club generally sat in the bottom half of the table throughout. In the FA Cup, Southampton were eliminated in the third round for the first time since 1982–83, losing 1–2 to previous year's runners-up (and First Division runners-up) Everton. The club fared much better in the League Cup, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since finishing as runners-up in 1978–79. The club picked up wins over Fourth Division side Swindon Town, First Division rivals Manchester United and Aston Villa, and Second Division strugglers Shrewsbury Town en route to the semi-finals, where they lost to defending league champions Liverpool. In the Full Members' Cup – which was held in lieu of European competitions due to the banning of English sides following the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985 – Southampton made it to the third round before being eliminated by Norwich City. Southampton used 23 players during the 1986–87 season and had 15 different goalscorers. Their top scorer was new signing Clarke, who scored 20 times in the league and twice in the League Cup. George Lawrence was second highest with eleven goals in all competitions, followed closely by Matt Le Tissier in his debut year for the first team, who scored ten times. Glenn Cockerill was the only Saints player to feature in all 53 games during the 1986–87 season, followed by Jimmy Case and Gerry Forrest on 49 and 47 games, respectively. The average league attendance at The Dell during the campaign was 14,948 – the first time it had dipped below 15,000 since 1962. The highest attendance was 20,452 against Liverpool on 20 September 1986; the lowest was 11,508 against Coventry City on 3 February 1987. Background and transfers thumb|upright|Southampton broke their transfer record with the £400,000 signing of striker Colin Clarke from Bournemouth in July 1986. thumb|upright|Following a successful loan spell at the end of the last season, Tim Flowers was signed on a permanent basis from Wolverhampton Wanderers. thumb|upright|Alan Shearer was one of three trainees signed in the summer of 1986. He would make his first team debut at the end of the next season and go on to score 43 goals in 158 games. Ahead of the 1986–87 season, Southampton made a club record signing of Colin Clarke, paying local Third Division side Bournemouth £400,000 for the Northern Irish striker.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/colin-clarke/ Colin Clarke SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 The only other first team signing in the summer was goalkeeper Tim Flowers, who was signed on a permanent basis for £70,000 after having spent the last two months of the previous season at the club on loan.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tim-flowers/ Tim Flowers SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 In addition to Clarke and Flowers, manager Chris Nicholl also signed trainees Neil Maddison, Alan Shearer and Steve Davis in the summer of 1986, each of whom signed professional deals over the next couple of years.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/neil-maddison/ Neil Maddison SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alan-shearer/ Alan Shearer SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/steve-davis/ Steve Davis SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 Numerous players left the club prior to the start of the season – Eamonn Collins moved to Portsmouth in the Second Division,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/eamonn-collins/ Eamonn Collins SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 Alan Curtis was sent to Fourth Division side Cardiff City,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alan-curtis/ Alan Curtis SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 Stuart McManus departed for Swedish club Örgryte,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/stuart-mcmanus/ Stuart McManus SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 and both Mark Whitlock and David Puckett were sent to Bournemouth as part of the deal which brought Clarke to The Dell.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/mark-whitlock/ Mark Whitlock SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/dave-puckett/ Dave Puckett SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 In September, Steve Moran moved to Leicester City for £300,000.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/steve-moran/ Steve Moran SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 The only players added to the Southampton squad partway through the season were striker Gordon Hobson, who was brought in for £125,000 from Grimsby Town in November to bolster the club's frontline,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/gordon-hobson/ Gordon Hobson SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 and goalkeeper Eric Nixon, who was loaned in for a month from Manchester City in December following injuries to Peter Shilton, Flowers and Phil Kite.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/eric-nixon/ Eric Nixon SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 Kite and Flowers were both loaned out towards the end of the season, to Gillingham and Swindon Town, respectively.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/phil-kite/ Phil Kite SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 Swindon also received striker Craig Maskell on loan at the same time, as he had failed to break into the first team.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/craig-maskell/ Craig Maskell SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 After his 1985-86 season was blighted by a knee injury, Joe Jordan spent most of the first half of the 1986-87 season in the reserves and was sold to Bristol City in February 1987.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/joe-jordan/ Joe Jordan SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 The following month, Mark Dennis was released from the club following disputes with Nicholl and the club's directors; he later joined Queens Park Rangers.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/mark-dennis/ Mark Dennis SaintsPlayers.co.uk 13 September 2024 Players transferred in NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Tim FlowersEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG Wolverhampton WanderersJune 1986£70,000Colin ClarkeNorthern IrelandFW ForwardENG BournemouthJuly 1986£400,000Neil MaddisonEnglandMF Midfieldernone (free agent)July 1986FreeNeil Maddison initially signed as a trainee in July 1986, before turning professional in April 1988.Alan ShearerEnglandFW ForwardENG Wallsend Boys ClubJuly 1986FreeAlan Shearer initially signed as a trainee in July 1986, before turning professional in April 1988.Steve DavisEnglandDF Defendernone (free agent)August 1986FreeSteve Davis initially signed as a trainee in August 1986, before turning professional in July 1987.Matthew BoundEnglandDF Defendernone (free agent)November 1986FreeMatthew Bound initially signed as an associate schoolboy in November 1986, before becoming a trainee in July 1989.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/matthew-bound/ Matthew Bound SaintsPlayers.co.uk 24 September 2024 Gordon HobsonEnglandFW ForwardENG Grimsby TownNovember 1986£125,000Paul TisdaleEnglandMF MidfielderENG Bristol RoversFebruary 1987FreePaul Tisdale initially signed as an associate schoolboy in February 1987, before turning professional in June 1991.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/paul-tisdale/ Paul Tisdale SaintsPlayers.co.uk 3 October 2024 Tommy WiddringtonEnglandMF MidfielderENG Wallsend Boys ClubFebruary 1987FreeTommy Widdrington initially signed as an associate schoolboy in February 1987, before being a trainee in July 1988.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tommy-widdrington/ Tommy Widdrington SaintsPlayers.co.uk 19 September 2024 Players transferred out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Eamonn CollinsRepublic of IrelandMF MidfielderENG PortsmouthMay 1986UnknownAlan CurtisEnglandMF MidfielderWAL Cardiff CityMay 1986UnknownStuart McManusScotlandFW ForwardSWE ÖrgryteJune 1986UnknownMark WhitlockEnglandDF DefenderENG BournemouthJune 1986UnknownDavid PuckettEnglandFW ForwardENG BournemouthJuly 1986UnknownSteve MoranEnglandFW ForwardENG Leicester CitySeptember 1986£300,000Joe JordanScotlandFW ForwardENG Bristol CityFebruary 1987Unknown Players loaned in NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDate fromDate toRef.Eric NixonEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG Manchester CityDecember 1986January 1987 Players loaned out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDate fromDate toRef.Phil KiteEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG GillinghamJanuary 1987End of seasonTim FlowersEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG Swindon TownMarch 1987End of seasonCraig MaskellEnglandMF MidfielderENG Swindon TownMarch 1987End of season Players released NameNationalityPos. Playing positionDateDetailsRef.Mark DennisEnglandDF DefenderMarch 1987Released after disputes with manager Chris Nicholl Notes Pre-season friendlies Ahead of the 1986–87 league season, Southampton played six pre-season friendlies. First, the club beat Conference side Weymouth 3–1 and lost 0–2 at Portuguese side Benfica, before facing three Fourth Division sides – they drew 1–1 with Exeter City, beat Torquay United 2–1, and drew 1–1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers.Holley Chalk 2003 429 A return 4–1 win over Benfica for Nick Holmes' testimonial followed. Friendly 2 August 1986 Weymouth 1–3 Southampton Clarke Cockerill Maskell Weymouth W Friendly 5 August 1986 Benfica 2–0 Southampton Estádio da Luz Lisbon, Portugal L Friendly 9 August 1986 Exeter City 1–1 Southampton Armstrong St James Park Exeter D Friendly 11 August 1986 Torquay United 1–2 Southampton Blake Plainmoor Torquay W Friendly 13 August 1986 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Southampton Maskell Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton D Nick Holmes Testimonial 16 August 1986 Southampton 4–1 Benfica Case Clarke Holmes Wallace The Dell Southampton W First Division 1986–87 Football League thumb|upright|left|Matt Le Tissier made his professional debut for Southampton in 1986–87. Southampton kicked off the 1986–87 season in convincing fashion, thrashing Queens Park Rangers 5–1 at The Dell and immediately going to the top of the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/23-august-1986/ League Division One table after close of play on 23 August 1986 11v11.com 13 September 2024 Three of the hosts' goals were scored by debutant Colin Clarke, who had signed from Bournemouth just a month previously – this was the first time a Southampton player had scored a hat-trick on their debut. A disappointing spell followed as the club lost four out of their next five games, with their only victory a 2–0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur which featured Matt Le Tissier's first starting appearance for the team.Holley Chalk 2003 191 The spell ended with a 1–5 thrashing at the hands of Manchester United, with goalkeeper Tim Flowers making his debut for the first team.Holley Chalk 2003 192 The Saints subsequently made their way back to the top half of the league table again after winning two of three games, including a 2–1 defeat of defending champions Liverpool and a 4–1 win over Newcastle United which saw Clarke score his second hat-trick in only his ninth appearance for the club. The run-up to the new year brought mixed fortunes for the Saints, who picked up just three wins from twelve games between mid-October and late-December: a hard-fought 3–2 away victory against strugglers Leicester City on 25 October, a 3–1 win on the road against recently promoted Charlton Athletic on 22 November, and a 3–1 victory at home to Watford on 29 November, which saw Gordon Hobson score on his Southampton debut.Holley Chalk 2003 193 At the end of 1986, Southampton were just three points above the first automatic relegation spot.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/27-december-1986/ League Division One table after close of play on 27 December 1986 11v11.com 13 September 2024 1987 started much the same for the South Coast side, who dropped another two places in the league standings after failing to win a game in January – losing 1–3 to fellow strugglers Oxford United, drawing 1–1 at home to Manchester United, and losing 1–2 at Queens Park Rangers.Holley Chalk 2003 194 In March, however, the club won three out of their five fixtures, each while keeping a clean sheet, to fight against the threat of relegation. The first of the wins was a 4–0 home victory over Leicester City, featuring Le Tissier's first hat-trick for the club, despite being played in what he would later describe as "probably the worst conditions I have ever played in". The second was a season-record 5–0 thrashing of Aston Villa, who would finish the season at the bottom of the table. The third win saw the Saints host high-flying Luton Town and win 3–0, moving back up to 16th in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/24-march-1987/ League Division One table after close of play on 24 March 1987 11v11.com 13 September 2024 In April, Hobson joined Clarke and Le Tissier as a hat-trick scorer, delivering Southampton's first away hat-trick since 1969 in a 4–2 win over Manchester City at Maine Road.Holley Chalk 2003 195 April saw Southampton embarking on an unbeaten run stretching for the last nine games of the league campaign, during which time they climbed from 17th to 12th in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/28-march-1987/ League Division One table after close of play on 28 March 1987 11v11.com 13 September 2024 https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/9-may-1987/ League Division One table after close of play on 9 May 1987 11v11.com 13 September 2024 The run consisted of six draws and three wins – the Manchester City game, a 3–0 home win over Oxford United, and a 1–0 edging of West Ham United on the penultimate day. The club finished 12th in the First Division table – an improvement of two places on the previous campaign – equal on points with Sheffield Wednesday in 13th, Chelsea in 14th and West Ham in 15th, but with the only positive goal difference of the four sides.Holley Chalk 2003 196 List of match results 1 23 August 1986 Southampton 5–1 Queens Park Rangers Holmes 10Wallace 15Clarke 35 58 68 Allen 70 The Dell Southampton 14,711 W 2 26 August 1986 Luton Town 2–1 Southampton Wilson 4Stein 50 Clarke 72 Kenilworth Road Luton 8,777 L 3 30 August 1986 Norwich City 4–3 Southampton Drinkell 47Gordon 48Williams 69Bruce 82 Wallace 33Blake 42Dennis 80 Carrow Road Norwich 15,250 L 4 2 September 1986 Southampton 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur Clarke 3Wallace 79 The Dell Southampton 17,911 W 5 6 September 1986 Southampton 1–3 Nottingham Forest Clarke 74 Webb 12 77Birtles 78 The Dell Southampton 14,604 L 6 13 September 1986 Manchester United 5–1 Southampton Olsen 23 pen.Davenport 25Stapleton 38 84Whiteside 52 Clarke 23 Old Trafford Manchester 40,135 L 7 20 September 1986 Southampton 2–1 Liverpool Armstrong 11Cockerill 66 McMahon 61 The Dell Southampton 20,452 W 8 27 September 1986 Wimbledon 2–2 Southampton Fashanu 27 89 Lawrence 25Cockerill 72 Plough Lane London 7,147 D 9 4 October 1986 Southampton 4–1 Newcastle United Clarke 16 70 76Dennis 82 A. Thomas 13 The Dell Southampton 14,622 W 10 11 October 1986 Aston Villa 3–1 Southampton Elliott 29 64Evans 49 pen. Wallace 53 Villa Park Birmingham 16,211 L 11 18 October 1986 Southampton 0–2 Everton Steven 79 pen.Wilkinson 81 The Dell Southampton 18,009 L 12 25 October 1986 Leicester City 2–3 Southampton Osman 7McAllister 43 Lawrence 8Clarke 45Wallace 87 Filbert Street Leicester 9,186 W 13 1 November 1986 Southampton 1–1 Manchester City Clarke 17 G. Baker 83 The Dell Southampton 14,352 D 14 8 November 1986 Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 Southampton Marwood 67 pen.Chapman 71 77 Le Tissier 87 Hillsborough Stadium Sheffield 20,802 L 15 15 November 1986 Southampton 0–4 Arsenal Hayes 60 pen.Anderson 61Quinn 64Groves 77 The Dell Southampton 18,728 L 16 22 November 1986 Charlton Athletic 1–3 Southampton Stuart 60 Lawrence 19Clarke 65Case 86 Selhurst Park London 5,930 W 17 29 November 1986 Southampton 3–1 Watford Wright 7Clarke 11Hobson 81 Terry 77 The Dell Southampton 14,537 W 18 6 December 1986 West Ham United 3–1 Southampton Ince 15Devonshire 42Cottee 60 pen. Clarke 19 Boleyn Ground London 18,111 L 19 20 December 1986 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Southampton City Ground Nottingham 15,394 D 20 26 December 1986 Southampton 1–2 Chelsea Clarke 24 McLaughlin 56Bumstead 87 The Dell Southampton 12,709 L 21 27 December 1986 Arsenal 1–0 Southampton Quinn 73 Arsenal Stadium London 38,138 L 22 1 January 1987 Oxford United 3–1 Southampton Aldridge 32 pen.Whitehurst 36Houghton 62 Case 48 Manor Ground Oxford 9,777 L 23 3 January 1987 Southampton 1–1 Manchester United Holmes 4 Olsen 11 The Dell Southampton 20,409 D 24 24 January 1987 Queens Park Rangers 2–1 Southampton Byrne 2Bannister 81 Case 72 Loftus Road London 10,200 L 25 3 February 1987 Southampton 2–0 Coventry City Cockerill 46 66 The Dell Southampton 11,508 W 26 7 February 1987 Southampton 1–2 Norwich City Cockerill 68 Phelan 55Drinkell 79 The Dell Southampton 12,754 L 27 14 February 1987 Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Southampton Gough 8Hodge 61 White Hart Lane London 22,066 L 28 28 February 1987 Liverpool 1–0 Southampton Aldridge 59 Anfield Liverpool 33,133 L 29 7 March 1987 Southampton 4–0 Leicester City Le Tissier 29 62 82Hobson 58 The Dell Southampton 11,611 W 30 14 March 1987 Everton 3–0 Southampton Wright 12 o.g.Power 15Watson 55 Goodison Park Liverpool 26,564 L 31 21 March 1987 Southampton 5–0 Aston Villa Hobson 1Cockerill 3Clarke 19 38Wallace 83 The Dell Southampton 13,686 W 32 24 March 1987 Southampton 3–0 Luton Town Townsend 3Lawrence 13 75 The Dell Southampton 12,117 W 33 28 March 1987 Newcastle United 2–0 Southampton Goddard 23Gascoigne 60 St James' Park Newcastle upon Tyne 22,717 L 34 7 April 1987 Southampton 2–2 Wimbledon Gayle 3 o.g.Lawrence 82 Fairweather 55Joseph 77 The Dell Southampton 12,811 D 35 11 April 1987 Manchester City 2–4 Southampton Stewart 28Moulden 89 Hobson 43 68 81 pen.Wallace 52 Maine Road Manchester 18,193 W 36 18 April 1987 Southampton 3–0 Oxford United Cockerill 70Hobson 72Wallace 83 The Dell Southampton 15,025 W 37 20 April 1987 Chelsea 1–1 Southampton Nevin 39 Clarke 74 Stamford Bridge London 11,512 D 38 22 April 1987 Southampton 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday Chapman 31 Le Tissier 74 The Dell Southampton 13,014 D 39 25 April 1987 Southampton 2–2 Charlton Athletic Bond 68Lawrence 74 Melrose 20Lee 78 The Dell Southampton 13,534 D 40 2 May 1987 Watford 1–1 Southampton Terry 3 Le Tissier 19 Vicarage Road Watford 13,067 D 41 4 May 1987 Southampton 1–0 West Ham United Clarke 49 The Dell Southampton 16,810 W 42 9 May 1987 Coventry City 1–1 Southampton Kilcline 29 Lawrence 38 Highfield Road Coventry 22,619 D Final league table First Division y SOU RSSSF Results by matchday table b Round Ground H / A / A / H / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / H / A / A / H / A / H / H / A / A / H / A / H / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / H / A / H / A Result W / L / L / W / L / L / W / D / W / L / L / W / D / L / L / W / W / L / D / L / L / L / D / L / W / L / L / L / W / L / W / W / L / D / W / W / D / D / D / D / W / D Position 1 / 7 / 15 / 7 / 13 / 16 / 14 / 13 / 9 / 13 / 15 / 13 / 12 / 14 / 15 / 13 / 11 / 14 / 14 / 16 / 16 / 17 / 17 / 18 / 16 / 17 / 17 / 18 / 17 / 17 / 16 / 16 / 17 / 16 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 16 / 13 / 12 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 11v11.comhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/ 11v11 league table generator 11v11.com 13 September 2024 FA Cup 1986–87 FA Cup Southampton entered the 1986–87 FA Cup in the third round drawn away to Everton, who had finished the previous season as runners-up in both the First Division and the FA Cup. Despite facing such high-calibre opponents away from home, the Saints held their own for much of the first half, before Graeme Sharp opened the scoring for the hosts in the 37th minute, converting a "stupendous pass" from Adrian Heath past returning goalkeeper Peter Shilton.Holley Chalk 2003 386 The Toffees came close to doubling their lead on multiple occasions shortly after half-time, but it was the visitors who scored next when Gordon Hobson netted from a Danny Wallace setup. The deadlock lasted only five minutes, however, as Sharp scored his and his team's second with "a header hailed by the press as one of the best seen at Goodison in years". Colin Clarke came close to equalising again for the Saints with two late chances, but Everton ultimately went through to the fourth round, knocking Southampton out at the first hurdle for the first time since 1983. Round 3 10 January 1987 Everton 2–1 Southampton Sharp 37 67 Hobson 62 Goodison Park Liverpool 32,320 L League Cup 1986–87 Football League Cup Southampton entered the 1986–87 League Cup in the second round against Third Division promotion hopefuls Swindon Town. In the first leg at home, the First Division side won 3–0 thanks to a first-half brace from George Lawrence and a last-minute tap-in from Joe Jordan.Holley Chalk 2003 290 In the return leg at the County Ground two weeks later, Southampton held Swindon to a goalless draw to secure their status in the next round, with goalkeeper Peter Shilton keeping the score down. In the third round, the Saints held out for another goalless draw away, this time at Manchester United, before beating them 4–1 in the replay thanks to goals from Lawrence, Danny Wallace and Matt Le Tissier (two) – this was the last game in charge of United for Ron Atkinson, who was sacked just two days later.Holley Chalk 2003 291 In the fourth round, the Saints again faced First Division rivals, this time hosting relegation-threatened Aston Villa. The hosts won the game 2–1, which was marked by three players (two for Villa) being sent off late on. The fifth round saw Southampton hosting again, this time second-tier side Shrewsbury Town, who they edged out 1–0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Colin Clarke. In the two-legged semi-finals, Southampton faced defending First Division champions Liverpool. The first leg, at home, finished goalless, despite the visitors going one man down early in the second half. The second leg, at Anfield, saw Liverpool break the Saints down in the second half, winning 3–0 thanks to goals in the 66th, 74th and 84th minutes. Liverpool went on to lose the final 1–2 to Arsenal.https://fchd.info/cups/leaguecup1986-87.htm 1986–87 Football League Cup (Littlewoods) Football Club History Database 13 September 2024 Round 2 Leg 1 23 September 1986 Southampton 3–0 Swindon Town Lawrence 8 42Jordan 90 The Dell Southampton 10,458 W Round 2 Leg 2 8 October 1986 Swindon Town 0–0 0–3 Southampton County Ground Swindon 9,453 D Round 3 29 October 1986 Manchester United 0–0 Southampton Old Trafford Manchester 23,639 D Round 3 Replay 4 November 1986 Southampton 4–1 Manchester United Lawrence 43Wallace 71Le Tissier 75 84 Davenport 88 The Dell Southampton 17,915 W Round 4 18 November 1986 Southampton 2–1 Aston Villa Case 17Clarke 64 Evans 67 pen. The Dell Southampton 13,402 W Round 5 26 January 1987 Southampton 1–0 Shrewsbury Town Clarke 68 pen. The Dell Southampton 12,940 W Semi-Final Leg 1 11 February 1987 Southampton 0–0 Liverpool The Dell Southampton 22,818 D Semi-Final Leg 2 25 February 1987 Liverpool 3–0 3–0 Southampton Whelan 66Dalglish 74Mølby 84 Anfield Liverpool 38,481 L Full Members' Cup 1986–87 Full Members' Cup In 1986–87, Southampton entered the Full Members' Cup for the first time, facing Second Division club Hull City in the second round at The Dell. The Saints beat the Tigers 2–1 thanks to two goals in quick succession from Matt Le Tissier.Holley Chalk 2003 301 In the third round, Southampton hosted First Division rivals Norwich City, losing 1–2 after extra time courtesy of a 91st-minute goal from Robert Rosario. Round 2 25 November 1986 Southampton 2–1 Hull City Le Tissier 30 32 Parker 59 The Dell Southampton 4,518 W Round 3 9 December 1986 Southampton 1–2 yes Norwich City Case 87 pen. Biggins 48Rosario 91 The Dell Southampton 5,745 L Other matches Southampton played four additional matches during 1986–87. The first two were testimonials in October – a 3–1 win over local non-league side Road-Sea Southampton and a 7–1 thrashing of Salisbury the week after. In November, the Saints beat Western League side Melksham Town 3–0; and in April, they drew 2–2 with Taunton Town, also of the Western League, in a testimonial for Jimmy Greene. Nick Farmer Testimonial 14 October 1986 Road-Sea Southampton 1–3 Southampton Sylvanus Mann Road-Sea Park Southampton W Ricky Haysom Testimonial 21 October 1986 Salisbury 1–7 Southampton Maskell Baker Case Cockerill Gittens Lawrence Salisbury W Friendly 10 November 1986 Melksham Town 0–3 Southampton Lawrence Jordan Conigre Melksham W Jimmy Greene Testimonial 28 April 1987 Taunton Town 2–2 Southampton Maskell Lawrence Wordsworth Drive Taunton D Player details Southampton used 23 different players during the 1986–87 season, 15 of whom scored during the campaign. Midfielder Glenn Cockerill was the only player to feature in all 53 of the club's games, winning the Southampton F.C. Player of the Season award at the end of the season. Colin Clarke finished as the season's top goalscorer in his first season at the club, scoring 20 times in the league and twice in the League Cup run. He was followed by George Lawrence and Matt Le Tissier on eleven and ten goals, respectively, in all competitions. Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupLeague CupFM CupTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsDavid ArmstrongMF MidfielderENG221004000261Steve BakerDF DefenderENG19(7)0005(1)02026(8)0Mark BlakeDF DefenderENG9100000(2)09(2)1Kevin BondDF DefenderENG341105020421Kevan BrownDF DefenderENG0000000000Gary BullFW ForwardENG0000000000Jimmy CaseMF MidfielderENG393008121495Colin ClarkeFW ForwardNIR33201082104322Glenn CockerillMF MidfielderENG427108020537Gerry ForrestDF DefenderENG37(1)010701046(1)0Jon GittensDF DefenderENG140104000190Keith GrangerGK GoalkeeperENG0000000000Ian HamiltonMF MidfielderENG0000000000Gordon HobsonFW ForwardENG207110020238Nick HolmesMF MidfielderENG8(1)210200011(1)2George LawrenceMF MidfielderENG34(2)8006(1)32042(3)11Matt Le TissierMF MidfielderENG12(12)60(1)00(4)21(1)213(18)10Eric NixonGK GoalkeeperENG4000000040Phil ParkinsonMF MidfielderENG0000000000Peter ShiltonGK GoalkeeperENG290108020400Allen TankardDF DefenderENG2000002040Andy TownsendMF MidfielderIRL11(3)1002(1)00013(4)1Danny WallaceFW ForwardENG318107110409Mark WrightDF DefenderENG301107020401Players with appearances who left before the end of the seasonMark DennisDF DefenderENG202106000272Joe JordanFW ForwardSCO2000110(1)03(1)1Players with appearances who ended the season out on loanTim FlowersGK GoalkeeperENG9000000090Craig MaskellFW ForwardENG2(2)00000002(2)0 Most appearances RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupLeague CupFM CupTotalStartsSubsStartsSubsStartsSubsStartsSubsStartsSubsTotal1Glenn CockerillMF Midfielder420108020530532Jimmy CaseMF Midfielder390008020490493Gerry ForrestDF Defender371107010461474George LawrenceMF Midfielder342006120423455Colin ClarkeFW Forward330108010430436Kevin BondDF Defender340105020420427Danny WallaceFW Forward310107010400408Peter ShiltonGK Goalkeeper29010802040040Mark WrightDF Defender3001070204004010Steve BakerDF Defender19700512026834 Top goalscorers RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupLeague CupFM CupTotalGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGPG Goals per game1Colin ClarkeFW Forward203301280122430.512George LawrenceMF Midfielder83600370211450.243Matt Le TissierMF Midfielder62401242210310.324Danny WallaceFW Forward8310117019400.235Gordon HobsonFW Forward7201100028230.356Glenn CockerillMF Midfielder7420108027530.137Jimmy CaseMF Midfielder3390018125490.108Nick HolmesMF Midfielder290102002120.17Mark DennisDF Defender2200106002270.0710Joe JordanFW Forward02001101140.25Mark BlakeDF Defender190000021110.09Andy TownsendMF Midfielder1140003001170.06David ArmstrongMF Midfielder1220004001260.04Mark WrightDF Defender1300107021400.03Kevin BondDF Defender1340105021420.02 References Bibliography Holley Duncan Chalk Gary Bull David 2003 In That Number: A Post-War Chronicle of Southampton FC Hagiology Publishing Bristol, England 0-9534474-3-X External links Southampton F.C. official website Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton