# 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.

## 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 | Teamvte | 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 | Relegated to Second Division |
| 21 | Oxford United (R) | 40 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 80 | −36 | 31 | Relegated to Second Division |
* 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