Season 1987-88
| Cup Competition | ||||||||
| FA Cup Final 1988 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D 1 | Wimbledon | 1 | 0 | Liverpool | D 1 | Wembley Stadium (Empire Stadium), London | 98,203 | |
| Sanchez | ||||||||
| FA Cup Semi-Finals 1988 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Liverpool | 2 | 1 | Nottingham Forest | D 1 | Hillsborough, Sheffield | 51,627 | |
| Aldridge 2 (1p) | Clough | |||||||
| D 1 | Wimbledon | 2 | 1 | Luton Town | D 1 | White Hart Lane, London | 25,963 | |
| Fashanu (p), Wise | Harford | |||||||
| League Cup Final 1988 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Luton Town | 3 | 2 | Arsenal | D 1 | Wembley Stadium (Empire Stadium), London | 95,732 | |
| Stein B 2, Wilson D | Hayes, Smith | |||||||
| League Cup Semi-Finals 1988 1st & 2nd Leg | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Everton | 0 | 1 | Arsenal | D 1 | Goodison Park, Everton | 25,476 | |
| Groves | ||||||||
| D 1 | Oxford United | 1 | 1 | Luton Town | D 1 | Manor Ground, Oxford | 12,943 | |
| Saunders (p) | Stein B | |||||||
| D 1 | Arsenal | 3 | 1 | Everton | D 1 | Highbury, London | 51,148 | agg 4-1 |
| Thomas, Rocastle, Smith | Heath | |||||||
| D 1 | Luton Town | 2 | 0 | Oxford United | D 1 | Kenilworth Road, Luton | 13,010 | agg 3-1 |
| Stein B, Grimes | ||||||||
| Second Divison Play-off Final 1988 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 2 | Middlesbrough | 2 | 0 | Chelsea | D 1 | Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough | 25,531 | 1st Leg |
| Senior, Slaven | ||||||||
| D 1 | Chelsea | 1 | 0 | Middlesbrough | D 2 | Stamford Bridge, London | 40,550 | 2nd Leg agg 1-2. Scenes of crowd disorder at the conclusion of the match |
| Durie | ||||||||
| Third Divison Play-off Final 1988 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 3 | Bristol City | 1 | 3 | Walsall | D 3 | Ashton Gate, Bristol | 25,128 | 1st Leg |
| Christie, Kelly 2 | Walsh | |||||||
| D 3 | Walsall | 0 | 2 | Bristol City | D 3 | Fellows Park, Walsall | 13,941 | 2nd Leg aet agg 3-3 |
| Newman, Shutt | ||||||||
| D 3 | Walsall | 4 | 0 | Bristol City | D 3 | Fellows Park, Walsall | 13,007 | Play-off Replay |
| Kelly 3, Hawker | ||||||||
| Fourth Divison Play-off Final 1988 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 4 | Swansea City | 2 | 1 | Torquay United | D 4 | Recreation Ground, Aldershot | 10,825 | 1st Leg |
| McCarthy, Love | McNicol | |||||||
| D 4 | Torquay United | 3 | 3 | Swansea City | D 4 | Molineux, Wolverhampton | 4,999 | 2nd Leg agg 4-5 |
| McNicol 2, Caldwell | Raynor, McCarthy (p), Davies | |||||||
Final Table for Season 1987-88
| First Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn |  | First Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | 1 | Liverpool | 40 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 15 | 63 | 90 | Final | Rd 3 | |
| 2 | 9 | Manchester United | 40 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 33 | 81 | Rd 5 | Rd 5 | |
| 3 | 5 | Nottingham Forest | 40 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 22 | 28 | 73 | SF | Rd 3 | |
| 4 | -3 | Everton | 40 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 26 | 70 | Rd 5 | SF | |
| 5 | 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 40 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 24 | 10 | 67 | Rd 5 | Rd 3 | |
| 6 | -2 | Arsenal | 40 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 66 | Rd 6 | Final | |
| 7 | -1 | Wimbledon | 40 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 27 | 11 | 57 | Win | Rd 4 | |
| 8 | 9 | Newcastle United | 40 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 2 | 56 | Rd 5 | Rd 3 | |
| 9 | -2 | Luton Town | 40 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 37 | -1 | 53 | SF | Win | |
| 10 | 0 | Coventry City | 40 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 28 | -7 | 53 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| 11 | 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 40 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 30 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 36 | -14 | 53 | Rd 3 | Rd 5 | |
| 12 | 0 | Southampton | 40 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 27 | -4 | 50 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 13 | -10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 40 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 25 | -10 | 47 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| 14 | -9 | Norwich City | 40 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 26 | -12 | 45 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 15 | D 2 | Derby County | 40 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 28 | -10 | 43 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 16 | -1 | West Ham United | 40 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 31 | -12 | 42 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 17 | 2 | Charlton Athletic | 40 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 31 | -14 | 42 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 18 | -4 | Chelsea | 40 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 26 | 51 | -18 | 42 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 19 | D 2 | Portsmouth | 40 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 39 | -30 | 35 | Rd 6 | Rd 2 | |
| 20 | -11 | Watford | 40 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 27 | -24 | 32 | Rd 6 | Rd 4 | |
| 21 | -3 | Oxford United | 40 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 34 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 46 | -36 | 31 | Rd 4 | SF | |
| Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next season First Division will contain 20 clubs. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Second Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | | Second Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | 15 | Millwall | 44 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 27 | 29 | 20 | 82 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 2 | D 1 | Aston Villa | 44 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 20 | 27 | 78 | Rd 4 | Rd 4 | |
| 3 | D 3 | Middlesbrough | 44 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 44 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 20 | 27 | 78 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 4 | 6 | Bradford City | 44 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 49 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 28 | 20 | 77 | Rd 5 | Rd 5 | |
| 5 | 7 | Blackburn Rovers | 44 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 38 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 16 | 77 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 6 | 0 | Crystal Palace | 44 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 38 | 27 | 75 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 7 | -3 | Leeds United | 44 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 10 | 69 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 8 | -3 | Ipswich Town | 44 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 23 | 35 | 9 | 66 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 9 | D 1 | Manchester City | 44 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 50 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 30 | 32 | 20 | 65 | Rd 6 | Rd 5 | |
| 10 | -7 | Oldham Athletic | 44 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 37 | 8 | 65 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 11 | -3 | Stoke City | 44 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 35 | -7 | 62 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 12 | D 3 | Swindon Town | 44 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 43 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 30 | 35 | 13 | 59 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| 13 | D 1 | Leicester City | 44 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 41 | 1 | 59 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 14 | -3 | Barnsley | 44 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 42 | 32 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 30 | -1 | 57 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| 15 | -1 | Hull City | 44 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 32 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 38 | -6 | 57 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 16 | -9 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 41 | -2 | 56 | Rd 5 | Rd 2 | |
| 17 | D 3 | AFC Bournemouth | 44 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 38 | -12 | 49 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 18 | 0 | Shrewsbury Town | 44 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 32 | -12 | 49 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 19 | 0 | Birmingham City | 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 42 | -25 | 48 | Rd 5 | Rd 1 | |
| 20 | -5 | West Bromwich Albion | 44 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 43 | -19 | 47 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 21 | -12 | Sheffield United | 44 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 18 | 46 | -29 | 46 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 22 | -9 | Reading | 44 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 45 | -26 | 42 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 23 | -6 | Huddersfield Town | 44 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 62 | -59 | 28 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next season Second Division will contain 24 clubs. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next season the Second Division play-offs will concern the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th clubs for the final promotion place to the First Division. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Third Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | | Third Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | D 2 | Sunderland | 46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 51 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 26 | 44 | 93 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 2 | D 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 37 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 31 | 22 | 84 | Rd 4 | Rd 1 | |
| 3 | 5 | Walsall | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 28 | 18 | 82 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 4 | 3 | Notts County | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 53 | 24 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 25 | 33 | 81 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 5 | 1 | Bristol City | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 51 | 30 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 32 | 15 | 75 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 6 | D 4 | Northampton Town | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 34 | 33 | 19 | 73 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 7 | -3 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 34 | 38 | 9 | 72 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 8 | 11 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 43 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 12 | 66 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 9 | 9 | Fulham | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 33 | 36 | 9 | 66 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 10 | -1 | Blackpool | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 45 | 27 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 9 | 65 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 11 | 1 | Port Vale | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 22 | 37 | 2 | 65 | Rd 5 | Rd 1 | |
| 12 | -1 | Brentford | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 36 | -6 | 62 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 13 | -8 | Gillingham | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 45 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 40 | 16 | 59 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 14 | 2 | Bury | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 33 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 31 | 1 | 59 | Rd 1 | Rd 4 | |
| 15 | 0 | Chester City | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 30 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 32 | -11 | 58 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 16 | D 4 | Preston North End | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 36 | -11 | 58 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 17 | D 4 | Southend United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 33 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 23 | 50 | -18 | 55 | Rd 1 | Rd 3 | |
| 18 | -1 | Chesterfield | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 42 | -29 | 55 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 19 | -9 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 38 | -11 | 54 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 20 | D 4 | Aldershot | 46 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 42 | -10 | 53 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 21 | -7 | Rotherham United | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 25 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 41 | -16 | 52 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 22 | D 2 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 29 | -10 | 50 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 23 | -3 | York City | 46 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 45 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 21 | 46 | -43 | 33 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 24 | -11 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 36 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 48 | -44 | 33 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next season the Third Division play-offs will concern the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th clubs for the final promotion place to the Second Division. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | | Fourth Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 47 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 24 | 39 | 90 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 2 | 11 | Cardiff City | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 85 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 3 | D 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 30 | 24 | 78 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 4 | 4 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 34 | 31 | 25 | 77 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 5 | 18 | Torquay United | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 32 | 25 | 25 | 77 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 6 | 6 | Swansea City | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 28 | 6 | 70 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 7 | 3 | Peterborough United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 27 | -1 | 70 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | |
| 8 | -1 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 55 | 27 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 36 | 22 | 69 | Rd 4 | Rd 1 | |
| 9 | -4 | Colchester United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 29 | -4 | 67 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 10 | 12 | Burnley | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 26 | 40 | -5 | 67 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 11 | -2 | Wrexham | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 46 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 32 | 11 | 66 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 12 | CfL | Scarborough | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 38 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 29 | 8 | 65 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 13 | D 3 | Darlington | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 32 | 44 | 2 | 65 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 14 | 6 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 33 | 8 | 64 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 15 | -4 | Cambridge United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 28 | -2 | 61 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 16 | 2 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 32 | -7 | 59 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 17 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 34 | 4 | 58 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 18 | -3 | Halifax Town | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 37 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 34 | -5 | 55 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 19 | -3 | Hereford United | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 32 | -18 | 54 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 20 | -1 | Stockport County | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 32 | -14 | 51 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 21 | 0 | Rochdale | 46 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 34 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 42 | -29 | 48 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 22 | -8 | Exeter City | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 39 | -15 | 46 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 23 | D 3 | Carlisle United | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 53 | -29 | 44 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 24 | D 3 | Newport County | 46 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 16 | 69 | -70 | 25 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next season the Fourth Division play-offs will concern the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th clubs for the final promotion place to the Third Division. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tranmere Rovers deducted 2 pts. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Halifax Town deducted 1 pt. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lincoln City is promoted as Conference League Champions | ||||||||||||||||||
