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.
| 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[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 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.
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 |
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