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Season story · Division 4

1987–88

19 league wins, 61–53 league goals and a campaign told match by match.

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Manager: John King (2nd)28 recorded transfers
Division
Football League Division Four
Final league position
14th
League matches
46
League wins
19
League draws
9
League defeats
18
League goals
61–53
Average Prenton Park gate
3,322

The journey

Four moments from the campaign

15 Aug → 7 May

  1. 15 Aug

    Opening chapter

    Scunthorpe United · 3-0

    View match

  2. 9 Oct

    Biggest victory

    Rochdale · 6-1

    View match

  3. 2 Jan

    The biggest crowd

    Burnley · 1-1

    View match

  4. 7 May

    Final word

    Colchester United · 0-0

    View match

Top scorer

Ian Muir

29 goals

Biggest crowd

7,401

Burnley

Season form

WWLLWLWDDWLWWDDWWD

Season recognition

Captains & awards

Club captains

No captain recorded.

Player awards

Tranmere Rovers Supporters Associaton Player of the Season

Ian Muir

TranmereWeb award

Player of the Season

Awarded to the highest-scoring player in the TranmereWeb fantasy rankings for 1987/88.

Ian Muir, TranmereWeb 1987 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
20
Open the complete results archive

May · Opening chapter

Pre-season

Fri 21 · Archive news

Kenny Jones joined the club as trainer, having been part of John King's team at Caernarfon Town and Northwich Victoria.

Tue 25 · Archive news

Chris Camden had already signed a contract with South Liverpool for the new season, and were demanding a fee for his transfer so did not cotinue his time with the club.

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

Arrivals · 6

Dave HigginsFrom Caernarfon Town · Free TransferEddie MurrayFrom Stork FC · Free TransferJohn AspinallFrom Bangor City · Free TransferKenny IronsFrom TraineeMark McCarrickFrom Runcorn · Free TransferSteve CravenFrom Caernarfon Town · Free Transfer

Departures · 6

Doug AndersonTo Plymouth Argyle · £15,000Alan HayTo ReleasedChris CamdenTo ReleasedMike CarmodyTo Released · Free TransferMike HollifieldTo Billingham Synthonia · Free TransferSteve BullockTo Stockport County · Free Transfer

  1. Chapter 01

    August 1987

    LLLWWW
    6 competitive matches · 3W 0D 3LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Ken McKenna arrived from Telford United1987-08-01Dave Martindale arrived from Caernarfon Town1987-08-01
    Sat 15LScunthorpe UnitedOld Show Ground · League3-0Tue 18LRochdaleSpotland · League Cup3-1Fri 21LHereford UnitedPrenton Park · League0-1Tue 25WRochdalePrenton Park · League Cup1-0Fri 28WStockport CountyEdgeley Park · League1-2Mon 31WExeter CityPrenton Park · League2-1

  2. Chapter 02

    September 1987

    LLDLL
    5 competitive matches · 0W 1D 4LOpen chapter +

    Fri 11 · Archive news

    Les Helm leaves the club as physio but is replaced by Alec McClelland on a part time basis.

    Sat 5LScarboroughUnknown · League2-0Fri 11LBurnleyPrenton Park · League0-1Tue 15DCrewe AlexandraGresty Road · League0-0Fri 18LHalifax TownThe Shay · League2-1Fri 25LCardiff CityPrenton Park · League0-1

  3. Chapter 03

    October 1987

    DWDLLLLL
    8 competitive matches · 1W 2D 5LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Jim Harvey arrived from Bristol City1987-10-01

    Fri 30 · Archive news

    Ronnie Moore is appointed player coach.

    Sat 3DDarlingtonFeethams · League0-0Fri 9WRochdalePrenton Park · League6-1Tue 13DRochdaleSpotland · Freight Rover Trophy0-0Sat 17LWolverhampton WanderersMolyneux · League3-0Tue 20LSwansea CityPrenton Park · League1-2Sat 24LCarlisle UnitedBrunton Park · League3-2Tue 27LBurnleyPrenton Park · Freight Rover Trophy1-2Fri 30LCambridge UnitedPrenton Park · League0-1

  4. Chapter 04

    November 1987

    LWDLWW
    6 competitive matches · 3W 1D 2LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Jim Steel arrived from Wrexham1987-11-19John Smith arrived from Trainee1987-11-14Alec Chamberlain loaned in from Everton1987-11-01

    Fri 6 · Archive news

    Warwick Rimmer named as Reserve Team Manager and Youth Development Officer.

    Wed 11 · Archive news

    Rovers lose their appeal against a 2 point deduction due to the cancellation of the Bolton Wanderers fixture at late notice.

    Thu 19 · Archive news

    Tranmere finally sign Jim Steel after a protracted transfer from Wrexham.

    Tue 3LTorquay UnitedPlainmoor · League1-0Fri 6WWrexhamPrenton Park · League1-0Sat 14DPort ValePrenton Park · FA Cup2-2Mon 16LPort ValeVale Park · FA Cup3-1Sat 21WHartlepool UnitedVictoria Park · League1-2Fri 27WNewport CountyPrenton Park · League4-0

  5. Chapter 05

    December 1987

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

    Squad movement

    Darrell Grierson departed for Released1987-12-05
    Sat 12LLeyton OrientBrisbane Road · League3-1Tue 15WBolton WanderersPrenton Park · League2-0Fri 18LColchester UnitedPrenton Park · League0-2Sat 26LCardiff CityNinian Park · League3-0Mon 28WPeterborough UnitedPrenton Park · League3-1

  6. Chapter 06

    January 1988

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

    Squad movement

    Andy Thorpe loaned out to Stockport County1988-01-15Steve Craven loaned out to Caernarfon Town1988-01-15Tony Hall arrived from Billingham Town1988-01-01
    Fri 1WStockport CountyPrenton Park · League4-0Sat 2DBurnleyTurf Moor · League1-1Sat 9DHereford UnitedEdgar Street · League1-1Fri 15WHalifax TownPrenton Park · League2-0Sat 30WExeter CitySt James Park · League0-1

  7. Chapter 07

    February 1988

    WLLW
    4 competitive matches · 2W 0D 2LOpen chapter +

    Fri 26 · Archive news

    Tranmere qualify for the Football League Centenary tournament at Wembley in April.

    Sat 6WScarboroughPrenton Park · League1-0Sat 13LPeterborough UnitedLondon Road · League2-1Sat 20LScunthorpe UnitedPrenton Park · League1-3Fri 26WDarlingtonPrenton Park · League2-1

  8. Chapter 08

    March 1988

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

    Squad movement

    Eric Nixon loaned in from Manchester City1988-03-24Eddie Bishop arrived from Runcorn1988-03-14Ken McKenna loaned out to Stafford Rangers1988-03-01
    Tue 1LBolton WanderersBurnden Park · League2-0Fri 4WWolverhampton WanderersPrenton Park · League3-0Sat 12DRochdaleSpotland · League0-0Sat 19DCambridge UnitedAbbey Stadium · League1-1Fri 25WCarlisle UnitedPrenton Park · League3-0

  9. Chapter 09

    April 1988

    LWWDDW
    6 competitive matches · 3W 2D 1LOpen chapter +

    Sat 16 · Archive news

    Tranmere play at Wembley for the first time in their history, in the Mercantile Credit Football League centenary Tournament. They beat First Division Wimbledon and Newcastle, before losing on penalties to eventual winners Nottingham Forest.

    Sat 2LWrexhamRacecourse Ground · League3-0Mon 4WHartlepool UnitedPrenton Park · League3-1Sat 9WSwansea CityVetch Field · League1-2Fri 22DTorquay UnitedPrenton Park · League1-1Mon 25DCrewe AlexandraPrenton Park · League2-2Sat 30WNewport CountySomerton Park · League0-3

  10. Chapter 10

    May 1988

    WD
    2 competitive matches · 1W 1D 0LOpen chapter +

    Squad movement

    Andy Thorpe departed for Stockport County1988-05-02Andy Gorton loaned in from Oldham Athletic1988-05-01
    Mon 2WLeyton OrientPrenton Park · League2-1Sat 7DColchester UnitedLayer Road · League0-0
Division
Division 4
FA Cup:
Round: 1
Lg Cup:
Round: 1

Summary

Full Player Records

Selection summary

Competitive record

52 matches played

VenuePldWonDrawsLost
Away265813
Home261538
Total52201121

Match list

Results

52 matches

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

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