1986–87 Norwich City F.C. season

For the 1986–87 season, Norwich City F.C. competed in Football League Division One, following their promotion from Division Two the previous season. They also completed in the FA Cup and Littlewoods Cup and, for the first time, the Full Members Cup.

Norwich City
1986–87 season
ChairmanRobert Chase
ManagerKen Brown
StadiumCarrow Road
First Division5th
FA CupFourth round
League CupFourth round
Full Members CupSemi-final
Player of the YearKevin Drinkell
Top goalscorerLeague: Kevin Drinkell (16)
All: Kevin Drinkell (21)
Highest home attendance23,489 v Everton
Lowest home attendance13,610 v Oxford United
Average home league attendance17,913
Biggest winAston Villa 1–4 Norwich City (20 September 1986)
Biggest defeatLiverpool 6–2 Norwich City (1 November 1986)

Overview

The previous season had seen Norwich promoted back to the top flight as Second Division champions.[1] Nevertheless, many expected them to struggle, especially since a number of players, including England internationals Chris Woods and Dave Watson, had departed the club just prior to the season. Instead, Norwich would be unbeaten in their first four games and, after experiencing their first defeat against Watford, would be unbeaten in the next six games, topping the table in October. Although they would subsequently suffer a 6–2 defeat to Liverpool, they would remain in the top half for the rest of the season, eventually securing fifth place and finishing the season with a 2–1 win over fourth-placed Arsenal.[2] This was Norwich's highest league finish to that point by some distance, beating the tenth-place finish in 1975–76, and would remain so until they finished fourth in 1988–89. However, there would be no European qualification this season, since the ban on English clubs following the Heysel stadium disaster was still in effect.

In addition to the league, Norwich entered three cup competitions but made relatively early exits from both the FA Cup and the Littlewoods Cup. For the first time, they competed in the Full Members Cup, having instead entered the Football League Super Cup the previous season. Here, they reached the semi-finals, one game away from Wembley, only to be eliminated 2–1 by Charlton Athletic after extra-time.

Squad
Squad at the end of season (9 May 1987)[3]

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 Scotland SCO Bryan Gunn
— GK England ENG Graham Benstead
— GK England ENG Harvey Lim
— GK England ENG Jon Sheffield
— DF England ENG Ian Culverhouse
— DF England ENG Tony Spearing
— DF England ENG Steve Bruce (captain)
— DF England ENG Ian Butterworth
— DF England ENG Shaun Elliott
— DF England ENG Kenny Brown
— DF England ENG Phil Chapple
— DF England ENG Andy Fensome
— MF England ENG Mike Phelan
— MF England ENG Dale Gordon
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Trevor Putney
— MF England ENG Ian Crook
— MF Wales WAL David Williams
— MF England ENG Mark Barham
— MF England ENG Peter Mendham
— MF England ENG Ruel Fox
— MF England ENG Jeremy Goss
— MF England ENG Garry Brooke
— FW England ENG Kevin Drinkell (vice-captain)
— FW England ENG Wayne Biggins
— FW England ENG Robert Rosario
— FW England ENG David Hodgson
— FW England ENG Paul Clayton

Transfers

In
Date Pos Name From Fee Reference
13 June 1986 MR Trevor Putney Ipswich Town Exchange [4][5]
18 June 1986 MF Ian Crook Tottenham Hotspur £80,000 [6][7]
18 July 1986 FW David Hodgson Sunderland Unknown [8]
22 August 1986 DF Shaun Elliott Sunderland £150,000 [6][9]
19 September 1986 DF Ian Butterworth Nottingham Forest £160,000 [6][10]
15 October 1986 GK Bryan Gunn Aberdeen Unknown [6][11]

Out
Date Pos Name To Fee Reference
28 May 1986 FW John Deehan Ipswich Town Exchange [4][12]
1 July 1986 GK Chris Woods Rangers £600,000 [13][4]
18 August 1986 DF Dennis van Wijk Club Brugge Unknown [14]
18 August 1986 DF Paul Haylock Gillingham Free [15][16]
21 August 1986 DF Dave Watson Everton £900,000 [17][18]

Loans in
Date Pos Name From Until Reference
21 November 1986 DF Mark Seagraves Liverpool 6 December 1986 [19]

Final table
Main article: 1986–87 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
3 Tottenham Hotspur 42 21 8 13 68 43 +25 71 Disqualified from the UEFA Cup
4 Arsenal[lower-alpha 1] 42 20 10 12 58 35 +23 70
5 Norwich City 42 17 17 8 53 51 +2 68
6 Wimbledon 42 19 9 14 57 50 +7 66
7 Luton Town 42 18 12 12 47 45 +2 66
Source: [20]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. Arsenal would have qualified as League Cup winners.

References
  1. "Norwich City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. "Norwich City match record: 1987". 11v11. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. "Norwich CITY squad 1986/87". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. Norwich City: The Modern Era p.38
  5. Canary Citizens p.314
  6. Club Directory 1988 p.397
  7. Canary Citizens p.238
  8. Canary Citizens p.269
  9. Canary Citizens p.250
  10. Canary Citizens p.229
  11. Canary Citizens p.263
  12. Canary Citizens p.242
  13. Canary Citizens p.351
  14. Canary Citizens p.340
  15. Canary Citizens p.266
  16. 1988 Club Directory p.245
  17. Canary Citizens p.345
  18. 1988 Club Directory p.227
  19. Canary Citizens p.325
  20. "League Division One end of season table for 1986-87 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

Bibliography
  • Canary Citizens Centenary Edition: Authors Mike Davage, John Eastwood and Kevan Platt ISBN 0711720207
  • The Football League Club Directory 1988: Editor Tony Williams ISBN 1-869833-05-8
  • Norwich City: The Modern Era: Author Rob Hadgraft ISBN 978-1-905328-82-6
  • News of the World Football Annual 1987-88: Editors Bill Bateson and Albert Sewell ISBN 0 85543 100 8
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