1987–88 Portsmouth F.C. season

During the 1987–88 English football season, Portsmouth F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, following promotion from the Second Division the previous season.

Portsmouth F.C.

1987–88 season
Chairman	John Deacon
Manager	Alan Ball
Stadium	Fratton Park
First Division	19th (relegated)
FA Cup	Quarter-finals
League Cup	Second round
Full Members Cup	First round
Top goalscorer	League: ? All: Micky Quinn (11)

Kit

Admiral became Portsmouth's kit manufacturers for the season. For the first time in their history Portsmouth's kits wore sponsorship, South Coast Fiat (a Fiat dealership chain in the local area) sponsoring the kit.

Squad

Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ENG	Andy Gosney
—	GK	ENG	Alan Knight
—	GK	ENG	Paul Musselwhite
—	DF	ENG	Billy Gilbert
—	DF	ENG	Paul Hardyman
—	DF	ENG	Lee Sandford
—	DF	ENG	Kenny Swain
—	DF	IRL	Liam Daish
—	DF	JAM	Noel Blake
—	MF	ENG	Kevin Ball
—	MF	ENG	Kevin Dillon

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ENG	Mike Fillery
—	MF	ENG	Vince Hilaire
—	MF	ENG	Clive Whitehead
—	MF	WAL	Barry Horne
—	MF	IRL	Mark Kelly
—	MF	USA	John Kerr
—	FW	ENG	Paul Mariner
—	FW	ENG	Micky Quinn
—	FW	ENG	Terry Connor
—	FW	NIR	Ian Stewart
—			Lee Darby
—			Andy Perry

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	ENG	Malcolm Shotton (to Huddersfield Town)
—	DF	ENG	Kenny Swain (on loan to West Bromwich Albion)
—	MF	IRL	Mick Kennedy (to Bradford City)

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	USA	John Kerr (on loan to Peterborough United)
—	FW	ENG	Ian Baird (to Leeds United)

Reserves

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	WAL	Kit Symons

Transfers

In

• Barry Horne - Wrexham, £60,000, 17 July 1987
• Ian Baird - Leeds United, £285,000, 12 August 1987
• John Kerr - Harrow Borough
• Ian Stewart - Newcastle United

Out

• Brett Angell - released (later joined Cheltenham Town)
• Mick Kennedy - Bradford City
• Ian Baird - Leeds United, £120,000, March 1988
• Kenny Swain - West Bromwich Albion, loan
• John Kerr - Peterborough United, loan

Results

First Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
17	Charlton Athletic	40	9	15	16	38	52	−14	42
18	Chelsea (R)	40	9	15	16	50	68	−18	42	Qualified for Second Division play-offs
19	Portsmouth (R)	40	7	14	19	36	66	−30	35	Relegated to Second Division
20	Watford (R)	40	7	11	22	27	51	−24	32
21	Oxford United (R)	40	6	13	21	44	80	−36	31

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

• 22 August 1987 Portsmouth 2-2 Southampton
• 26 September 1987 Portsmouth 2-1 Wimbledon
• 3 January 1988 Southampton 0-2 Portsmouth
• 19 April 1988 Wimbledon 2-2 Portsmouth