StoryTimelineFull archive

Season story · Division 4

1986–87

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

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

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.

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 +
  1. Chapter 01

    August 1986

    DLW
    3 competitive matches · 1W 1D 1LOpen chapter +
  2. Chapter 02

    September 1986

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

    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.

  3. Chapter 03

    October 1986

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

  5. Chapter 05

    December 1986

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

    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.

  6. Chapter 06

    January 1987

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

    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.

  7. Chapter 07

    February 1987

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

    Ronnie Moore took charge

    Frank Worthington left the role

    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.

  8. Chapter 08

    March 1987

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

    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.

  9. Chapter 09

    April 1987

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

    John King (2nd) took charge

    Ronnie Moore left the role

    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.

  10. Chapter 10

    May 1987

    LDW
    3 competitive matches · 1W 1D 1LOpen chapter +
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