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Season story · Division 4

1986–87

11 league wins, 54–72 league goals and a campaign told match by match.

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Manager: Frank Worthington, Ronnie Moore, John King (2nd)27 recorded transfers
Division
Football League Division Four
Final league position
20th
League matches
46
League wins
11
League draws
17
League defeats
18
League goals
54–72
Average Prenton Park gate
2,126

The journey

Four moments from the campaign

23 Aug → 8 May

  1. 23 Aug

    Opening chapter

    Preston North End · 1-1

    View match

  2. 29 Aug

    Biggest victory

    Stockport County · 0-2

    View match

  3. 28 Apr

    The biggest crowd

    Preston North End · 2-0

    View match

  4. 8 May

    Final word

    Exeter City · 1-0

    View match

Top scorer

Ian Muir

25 goals

Biggest crowd

12,258

Preston North End

Season form

DWDWLLLWLLDLDDLLDW

Season recognition

Captains & awards

Club captains

No captain recorded.

Player awards

Tranmere Rovers Supporters Associaton Player of the Season

Steve Mungall

TranmereWeb award

Player of the Season

Awarded to the highest-scoring player in the TranmereWeb fantasy rankings for 1986/87.

Ian Muir, TranmereWeb 1986 Player of the Season

Season timeline

The campaign, month by month

Follow the rhythm of the season through every result, change in the dugout and recorded player movement.

Months
10
Competitive matches
52
Wins
12
Open the complete results archive

May · Opening chapter

Pre-season

Sat 23 · Archive news

Rovers netted a £123,000 lifeline when Colin Clarke's £400,000 move to Southamption saw Tranmere earn a third of Bournemouth's profit, thanks to a clause in his tribunal move from Tranmere 12 months earlier.

Sat 23 · Archive news

Reserve Coach Dave Philpotts left to join Ray Mathias at Wigan Athletic. He's joined by Nigel Adkins who took advantage of freedom of contract to move for a £3,000 fee.

Sat 23 · Archive news

Roy Lorenson returns to the club as Reserve Coach.

Sat 23 · Archive news

Player of the season Dave Burgess signed for Grimsby Town with a tribunal set fee of £10,000 plus a further £4,000 after 20 games and 50% of any future transfer fee.

17 recorded moves. Exact dates are not held in the archive.View moves +

Arrivals · 11

Adrian ThorpeFrom Bradford City · LoanAlan HayFrom York City · Free TransferAndy ThorpeFrom Stockport County · Free TransferDarrell GriersonFrom TraineeEric McManusFrom Brasford City · Free TransferGraham BellFrom Bolton Wanderers · Free TransferMike CarmodyFrom Emley · Free TransferRonnie MooreFrom Rochdale · Free TransferShaun GarnettFrom Trainee · TraineeSteve BullockFrom Oldham Athletic · Free TransferTony ThomasFrom Trainee

Departures · 6

David BurgessTo Grimsby Town · £15,000Nigel AdkinsTo Wigan Athletic · £3000Billy RodawayTo Burnley · Free TransferGraham BellTo Hyde United · Free TransferMark HilditchTo Altrincham · Free TransferSteve EdwardsTo Oswestry · Free Transfer

  1. Chapter 01

    August 1986

    DLW
    3 competitive matches · 1W 1D 1LOpen chapter +
    Sat 23DPreston North EndPrenton Park · League1-1Tue 26LStockport CountyEdgeley Park · League Cup2-1Fri 29WStockport CountyEdgeley Park · League0-2

  2. Chapter 02

    September 1986

    DLWLDWW
    7 competitive matches · 3W 2D 2LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Gary Williams arrived from Djurgaardens1986-09-23Billy O'Rourke loaned in from Blackpool1986-09-12Eric McManus departed for Boston United1986-09-12

    Tue 2 · Archive news

    New Board Member

    Arthur Brew rejoined the board after resigning due to a dispute 5 years earlier. A lifelong fan and owner of the Brew Overall Company in Liverpool.

    Tue 2 · Archive news

    Alan Hay carried off agaonst Stockport - by X-Rays reveal no fracture just bruising and a burst blood vessel.

    Sat 20 · Archive news

    After only a handul of apperances, goalkeeper Eric McManus's contract is terminated by mutual consent.

    Sat 20 · Archive news

    New Board Member

    Roy Humpage joins the board, owner of Stavordale Garage in Moreton.

    Tue 2DStockport CountyPrenton Park · League Cup3-3Fri 5LColchester UnitedPrenton Park · League3-4Sat 13WCardiff CityNinian Park · League0-2Wed 17LNorthampton TownCounty Ground · League2-0Sat 20DCambridge UnitedPrenton Park · League1-1Sat 27WAldershotRecreation Ground · League0-2Tue 30WBurnleyPrenton Park · League2-1

  3. Chapter 03

    October 1986

    DLDWL
    5 competitive matches · 1W 2D 2LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Ray train departed for Walsall1986-10-01
    Fri 3DTorquay UnitedPrenton Park · League2-2Sat 11LWolverhampton WanderersMolyneux · League2-1Fri 17DHalifax TownThe Shay · League0-0Tue 21WScunthorpe UnitedPrenton Park · League1-0Fri 24LSouthend UnitedPrenton Park · League1-3

  4. Chapter 04

    November 1986

    LLDWWLD
    7 competitive matches · 2W 2D 3LOpen chapter +

    Sat 22 · Archive news

    New Board Member

    George Higham, a Managing Director of High Technology Services (UK) Ltd in Eatham joins the board. Dr Michael Azurdia takes over as Honorary Club Medical Officer.

    Sat 1LLincoln CitySincil Bank · League3-1Wed 5LPeterborough UnitedLondon Road · League2-1Sat 8DSwansea CityPrenton Park · League1-1Sat 15WSpennymoor UnitedUnknown · FA Cup2-3Sat 22WCrewe AlexandraPrenton Park · League3-2Tue 25LWrexhamRacecourse Ground · Freight Rover Trophy6-1Sat 29DLeyton OrientBrisbane Road · League2-2

  5. Chapter 05

    December 1986

    LLWL
    4 competitive matches · 1W 0D 3LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Tim Dalton loaned in from Bradford City1986-12-12

    Fri 19 · Archive news

    Chairman Bruce Osterman warns Wirral Borough Council that the club will fold unless planning permission is granted for the Hadwise Supermarket Development on the Prenton Park site. A crunch planning meeting is scheduled for 8th January.

    Sat 6LBolton WanderersBurnden Park · FA Cup2-0Sat 13LExeter CitySt James Park · League1-0Fri 26WRochdaleSpotland · League0-1Sat 27LWrexhamPrenton Park · League0-2

  6. Chapter 06

    January 1987

    DLDDL
    5 competitive matches · 0W 3D 2LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Simon Farnsworth loaned in from Bolton Wanderers1987-01-07

    Thu 8 · Archive news

    The crucial planning enquiry meeting lasts just 20 minutes, as Wirral Councillors reject the propsal to sell Prenton Park for retail development. Bruce Osterman declares his intention to liquidate the club.

    Thu 1DHereford UnitedPrenton Park · League3-3Sat 3LCrewe AlexandraGresty Road · League3-2Sat 10DHartlepool UnitedPrenton Park · League1-1Fri 23DColchester UnitedLayer Road · League1-1Sat 31LScunthorpe UnitedOld Show Ground · League6-0

  7. Chapter 07

    February 1987

    LDDDWD
    6 competitive matches · 1W 4D 1LOpen chapter +

    Ronnie Moore took charge

    Frank Worthington left the role

    Squad movement

    Frank Worthington departed for Preston North End1987-02-11

    Fri 6 · Archive news

    Chairman Bruce Osterman rejects an offer from a local consortium to buy the club. Club Secretary Norman WIlson said "We will continue until the money finally runs out" The Supporters Association pay to hire. a mobile generator (needed for the floodlights) so night time games can take place.

    Mon 9 · Archive news

    George Higham and other Directors petition for an Administrative Order to keep the club running and remove the imediate threat of liquidation. Frank W Taylor is named as Administrator and takes efective control. The club's debts are listed as £575,000. Osterman says he feels "Betrayed, like Jesus at the Lat Supper", as he is stripped of control of the club. Several club staff including Frank Worthington and Roy Lorenson are released.

    Tue 3LWigan AthleticPrenton Park · Freight Rover Trophy2-3Fri 6DNorthampton TownPrenton Park · League1-1Sat 14DCambridge UnitedAbbey Stadium · League1-1Sat 21DAldershotPrenton Park · League1-1Tue 24WCardiff CityPrenton Park · League2-1Sat 28DBurnleyTurf Moor · League2-2

  8. Chapter 08

    March 1987

    WLLLW
    5 competitive matches · 2W 0D 3LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Neil Horwood loaned in from Grimsby Town1987-03-25Billy O'Rourke arrived from Blackpool1987-03-01

    Tue 3 · Archive news

    Enter Mr "X"

    A Wirral businessman known as M "X" holds talks with two major creditors Wirral Borough Council and the Hadwise Development Company. They look to complete the aquisition of Bruce Osterman's shares in the next two weeks.

    Sat 21 · Archive news

    New Chairman Take Over

    Peter Johson completes a deal to aquire the majority shareholding in the club. He is the Managing Director of Park Foods and Hampers company in Bidston. Local businessman Frank Corfe also joins as Vice Chairman.

    Tue 3WLincoln CityPrenton Park · League2-0Fri 6LSouthend UnitedRoots Hall · League3-0Fri 13LHalifax TownPrenton Park · League3-4Sat 21LWolverhampton WanderersPrenton Park · League0-1Sat 28WTorquay UnitedPlainmoor · League0-2

  9. Chapter 09

    April 1987

    LLDLDDL
    7 competitive matches · 0W 3D 4LOpen chapter +

    John King (2nd) took charge

    Ronnie Moore left the role

    Squad movement

    Chris Camden arrived from Avenue1987-04-30

    Mon 13 · Archive news

    Ronnie Moore fails to reach an agreement on a new contract and steps down as manager.

    Tue 14 · Archive news

    Return of the King

    John King is appointed new manager, having recently took Caernarfon Town to the FA Cup 3rd Round.

    Fri 3LSwansea CityVetch Field · League2-0Tue 7LStockport CountyPrenton Park · League0-3Sat 11DPeterborough UnitedPrenton Park · League1-1Sat 18LHereford UnitedEdgar Street · League1-0Mon 20DRochdalePrenton Park · League1-1Fri 24DHartlepool UnitedVictoria Park · League1-1Tue 28LPreston North EndDeepdale · League2-0

  10. Chapter 10

    May 1987

    LDW
    3 competitive matches · 1W 1D 1LOpen chapter +
    Fri 1LLeyton OrientPrenton Park · League1-3Mon 4DWrexhamRacecourse Ground · League1-1Fri 8WExeter CityPrenton Park · League1-0
Division
Division 4
FA Cup:
Round: 2
Lg Cup:
Round: 1

Summary

Full Player Records

Selection summary

Competitive record

52 matches played

VenuePldWonDrawsLost
Home256118
Away276714
Total52121822

Match list

Results

52 matches

DateOppositionResult
1-1
2-1
0-2
3-3
3-4
0-2
2-0
1-1
0-2
2-1
2-2
2-1
0-0
1-0
1-3
3-1
2-1
1-1
2-3
3-2
6-1
2-2
2-0
1-0
0-1
0-2
3-3
3-2
1-1
1-1
6-0
2-3
1-1
1-1
1-1
2-1
2-2
2-0
3-0
3-4
0-1
0-2
2-0
0-3
1-1
1-0
1-1
1-1
2-0
1-3
1-1
1-0