The 1987–88 Scottish Football League was Celtic's 94th season of competitive football, and it marked the club's centenary. Davie Hay was dismissed as manager during the close season following a disappointing 1986-87 campaign, in which the team, despite holding a 9-point lead at the turn of the year, lost the league title to a resurgent Rangers under Graeme Souness and failed to win any trophies.
The Celtic board opted to bring back Billy McNeill as manager, despite an acrimonious split in 1983. McNeill returned to the club after four years managing in England with Manchester and Aston Villa.
The playing squad underwent significant changes in the summer of 1987, with key players such as Brian McClair, Mo Johnston, Murdo MacLeod, and Alan McInally all departing. Danny McGrain was given a free transfer, and Davie Provan retired due to ill health. Centre-half Mick McCarthy was signed by Davie Hay just days before his departure. Billy McNeill then brought in new signings, including Motherwell striker Andy Walker, Sheffield Wednesday full-back Chris Morris, and Aberdeen midfielder Billy Stark.
As the season progressed, Celtic continued to search for attacking reinforcements following the loss of strikers Johnston and McClair. After early speculation about a return for fans' favorite Charlie Nicholas, the club eventually signed forwards Frank McAvennie and Joe Miller.
Celtic made a solid start to their league campaign, but in the autumn, they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Borussia Dortmund in the first round and eliminated from the Scottish League Cup at the quarter-final stage by Aberdeen. Despite these setbacks, their league form remained consistent, and they went into the New Year derby match with a three-point lead over second-placed Hearts and a five-point lead over Rangers. After defeating Rangers, Celtic went on an unbeaten run until a potential league-clinching match against Hearts at Tynecastle in April, where a defeat meant they had to wait until the following week to secure the title.
In front of a packed home crowd at Celtic Park, Celtic clinched the league title with a convincing victory over Dundee. The team also reached the Scottish Cup Final after a dramatic comeback against Hearts in the semi-final, scoring twice in the last four minutes to win 2–1. In the final, Celtic again came from behind to defeat Dundee United, with Frank McAvennie scoring the decisive goal in the last minute, sealing a league and cup double in the club's centenary year.
Pre-season and friendlies Celtic prepared for their 1987-88 centenary season with a Scandinavian tour, before playing a friendly match at home against ex-Celtic player Charlie Nicholas Arsenal team and then Tommy Burns testimonial match against Liverpool. In November Celtic organised a testimonial for retired former player David Provan, who retired from the game through illness at the age of just 31.
Competitions
Scottish Premier Division
League table
Matches
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Cup
UEFA Cup
Glasgow Cup
Competition overview
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Pos.NameLeagueScottish CupLeague CupUEFA CupOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK32050100010390GK12010202000170DF43160302000541DF14030000000170DF000000001010DFMick McCarthy23030001010280DF200020000040DF44360302000553DF31140302010411DF41350202110514MF25251312011365MF37230202000442MF44560202000545MF000000001010MF410010101071MF378523320004713MF9100001011112FW3215630000103918FW100000000010FW21641311010308FW100000100020FW26360000000323FW4226423321005132
Goalscorers Pos.NationNamePremier DivisionScottish CupLeague CupUEFA CUPTotal1FWAndy Walker 26231322FWFrank McAvennie15300183FWBilly Stark8230134FWMark McGhee611085MFPaul McStay500056MFTommy Burns21104DFDerek Whyte300147FWJoe Miller30003DFChris Morris300038MFPeter Grant200029DFRoy Aitken10001MFOwen Archdeacon10001MFTony Shepherd10001DFAnton Rogan10001Total7798297
Club
Officials PositionNameChairmanJack McGinnVice-chairmanKevin KellySecretaryChris WhiteDirectorsJames Farrell Tom Grant
Chris White
Management PositionNameManagerBilly McNeillAssistant managerTommy CraigReserve Team ManagerBobby LennoxYouth Development OfficerBenny RooneyChief ScoutJohn KelmanPhysioBrian ScottMasseurJimmy SteeleKitmanNeil Mochan
Kit
Supplier: Umbro / Sponsor: CR Smith
The club introduced a new home shirt to commemorate the clubs centenary year, with a newly commissioned badge to celebrate the milestone, the yellow and green away shirt was the same as the previous season but with the new centenary badge replacing the usual shamrock badge for this season.
Transfers
In Player From Date DF Mick McCarthy Manchester City Transfer May 1987 £500,000 MF Billy Stark Aberdeen Transfer July 1987 £75,000 DF Chris Morris Sheffield Wednesday Transfer July 1987 £125,000 FW Andy Walker Motherwell Transfer July 1987 £350,000 GK Andy Murdoch Johnstone Burgh Transfer September 1987 Free MF Steven Murray Nottingham Forest Transfer September 1987 £50,000 MF Charlie Christie Inverness Caledonian Transfer September 1987 £20,000 FW Frank McAvennie West Ham United Transfer October 1987 £750,000 FW Joe Miller Aberdeen Transfer November 1987 £650,000TOTAL£2,575,000
Out Player From Date DF Danny McGrain Hamilton Academical Transfer May 1987 Free Transfer MF Murdo MacLeod Borussia Dortmund Transfer June 1987 £250,000 GK Peter Latchford Clyde Transfer June 1987 Free Transfer FW Mo Johnston FC Nantes Transfer July 1987 £330,000 FW Alan McInally Aston Villa Transfer July 1987 £250,000 FW Brian McClair Manchester United Transfer July 1987 £850,000 FW David Provan Retired Transfer July 1987 Released FW Mark Smith Dunfermline Athletic Transfer October 1987 £50,000 DF Paul McGugan Barnsley Transfer October 1987 £55,000TOTAL£1,785,000
See also List of Celtic F.C. seasons
References