1986/87
League:
Level
Today League Division 1
Position:
18th
FA Cup:
Third Round
League Cup:
Third Round
Chairman:
Robert Maxwell
Manager:
Maurice Evans
Top Scorer:
John Aldridge (21)
Notable Players:
John Aldridge, Tommy Caton, Ray Houghton, Peter Hucker, David Leworthy, Dean Saunders, Malcolm Shotton, Neil Slatter, Billy Whitehurst.
Kit Manufacturer
Sponsor
Home Kit & Away Variations
Long
sleeves
The Umbro kits remained relatively unchanged from the previous season, with the most notable difference being the addition of the word "Computers" to the larger sponsor's logo. This change was permitted after the 'reduced size' requirements for televised games were finally scrapped.
Additionally, the iconic club crest no longer included any text.
The 1986 shirt numbers also featured a small Umbro diamond at the base of the numerals.
Away Kit
Long
sleeves
The white change strip featured in more matches during this campaign.
The 1986/87 versions of these shirts featured the newly styled sponsor's logo along with the same plain club crest that appeared on the yellow shirts.
Third Kit
Long
sleeves
In mid-April, a sky-blue kit made a surprise debut at Southampton.
As this was introduced so late in the season, and there was no colour clash, it is presumed to have been a kit intended for possible use the following season.
However, this Umbro 'World Cup' shirt was only ever worn for the one match.
Both Newcastle United and England had the same strip as third kits, but with white Umbro motifs.
Goalkeeper Jersey
Match By Match
Watford
Away
L 3-0
Chelsea
Home
D 1-1
West Ham
Home
D 0-0
Everton
Away
L 3-1
Aston Villa
Away
W 1-2
Man City
Home
D 0-0
Arsenal
Away
D 0-0
Gillingham
Home
W 6-0
LC1
Charlton
Home
W 3-2
Sheffield W
Away
L 6-1
Gillingham
Away
D 1-1
LC1
Coventry
Home
W 2-0
Liverpool
Away
L 4-0
N Forest
Home
W 2-1
Sheffield U
Home
W 3-1
LC2
Newcastle
Away
D 0-0
Man Utd
Home
W 2-0
QPR
Away
D 1-1
West Ham
Away
L 1-0
LC3
Tottenham
Home
L 2-4
Norwich
Away
L 2-1
Luton
Home
W 4-2
Leicester
Away
L 2-0
Aston Villa
Home
D 2-2
Wimbledon
Away
D 1-1
QPR
Home
L 0-1
Southampton
Home
W 3-1
Man City
Away
L 1-0
Aldershot
Away
L 3-0
FAC3
Blackburn
Away
L 4-3
FMC
Watford
Home
L 1-3
West Ham
Away
W 0-1
Chelsea
Away
L 4-0
Everton
Home
D 1-1
Arsenal
Home
D 0-0
N Forest
Away
L 2-0
Liverpool
Home
L 1-3
Coventry
Away
L 3-0
Charlton
Away
D 0-0
Sheffield W
Home
W 2-1
Man Utd
Away
L 3-2
Newcastle
Home
D 1-1
Southmpton
Away
L 3-0
Wimbledon
Home
W 3-1
Tottenham
Away
L 3-1
Norwich
Home
L 0-1
Luton
Away
W 2-3
Leicester
Home
D 0-0
Prototype
The 1986 matchday programmes included a Club Shop advert featuring John Aldridge in an Umbro 'Valencia' shirt, which was promoted as the away kit.
However, the away shirt from the previous season had only been worn once, and the 'Valencia' shirt closely mirrored the 1983/84 Spall design, featuring the same shadow stripes.
It appears common sense was applied, and the previous seasons' shirt was given a reprieve.