1986–87 Football League Trophy

The 1986–87 Football League Trophy, known as the 1986–87 Freight Rover Trophy, was the fourth staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in the Third Division and the Fourth Division. The winners were Mansfield Town and the runners-up were Bristol City.

The competition began on 24 November 1986 and ended with the final on 24 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium.

In the first round, there were two sections split into eight groups: North and South. In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists face each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.

Preliminary round

Northern Section

Group 1

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Chesterfield 42 1 1 0 2 1 +1
Middlesbrough 32 1 0 1 4 2 +2
Doncaster Rovers 12 0 1 1 0 3 -3

24 NovMiddlesbrough 3–0 Doncaster Rovers
2 DecChesterfield 2–1 Middlesbrough
9 DecDoncaster Rovers 0–0 Chesterfield

Group 4

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Lincoln City 42 1 1 0 1 0 +1
Scunthorpe United 32 1 0 1 1 1 0
Hartlepool United 12 0 1 1 0 1 -1

25 NovLincoln City 1–0 Scunthorpe United
2 DecScunthorpe United 1–0 Hartlepool United
6 DecHartlepool United 0–0 Lincoln City

Group 7

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Carlisle United 62 2 0 0 4 2 +2
Bury 32 1 0 1 5 4 +1
Stockport County 02 0 0 2 1 4 -3

6 DecBury 3–1 Stockport County
8 DecStockport County 0–1 Carlisle United
16 DecCarlisle United 3–2 Bury

Group 2

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Chester City 42 1 1 0 3 2 +1
Preston North End 42 1 1 0 2 1 +1
Crewe Alexandra 02 0 0 2 1 3 -2

2 DecCrewe Alexandra 1–2 Chester City
16 DecChester City 1–1 Preston North End
5 JanPreston North End 1–0 Crewe Alexandra

Group 5

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Wrexham 42 1 1 0 8 3 +5
Wigan Athletic 42 1 1 0 5 4 +1
Tranmere Rovers 02 0 0 2 3 9 -6

25 NovWrexham 6–1 Tranmere Rovers
16 DecWigan Athletic 2–2 Wrexham
3 FebTranmere Rovers 2–3 Wigan Athletic

Group 8

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Bolton Wanderers 62 2 0 0 3 0 +3
Burnley 32 1 0 1 3 4 -1
Blackpool 02 0 0 2 2 4 -2

2 DecBolton Wanderers 1–0 Blackpool
9 DecBlackpool 2–3 Burnley
16 DecBurnley 0–2 Bolton Wanderers

Group 3

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Mansfield Town 22 0 2 0 3 3 0
Halifax Town 22 0 2 0 2 2 0
Rotherham United 22 0 2 0 1 1 0

2 DecMansfield Town 2–2 Halifax Town
5 DecHalifax Town 0–0 Rotherham United
9 DecRotherham United 1–1 Mansfield Town

Group 6

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
York City 42 1 1 0 5 2 +3
Rochdale 22 0 2 0 3 3 0
Darlington 12 0 1 1 3 6 -3

25 NovYork City 4–1 Darlington
2 DecDarlington 2–2 Rochdale
6 JanRochdale 1–1 York City

Southern Section

Group 1

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Aldershot 42 1 1 0 7 5 +2
Colchester United 32 1 0 1 4 5 -1
Peterborough United 12 0 1 1 4 5 -1

25 NovColchester United 2–1 Peterborough United
3 DecPeterborough United 3–3 Aldershot
9 DecAldershot 4–2 Colchester United

Group 4

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Wolverhampton Wanderers 62 2 0 0 5 3 +2
Bournemouth 32 1 0 1 4 4 0
Cardiff City 02 0 0 2 0 2 -2

2 DecCardiff City 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
16 DecWolverhampton Wanderers 4–3 Bournemouth
6 JanBournemouth 1–0 Cardiff City

Group 7

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Brentford 62 2 0 0 9 3 +6
Swindon Town 32 1 0 1 5 4 +1
Leyton Orient 02 0 0 2 1 8 -7

9 DecSwindon Town 3–0 Leyton Orient
15 DecLeyton Orient 1–5 Brentford
6 JanBrentford 4–2 Swindon Town

Group 2

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Gillingham 62 2 0 0 6 0 +6
Northampton Town 32 1 0 1 3 1 +2
Notts County 02 0 0 2 0 8 -8

25 NovNotts County 0–5 Gillingham
16 DecGillingham 1–0 Northampton Town
5 JanNorthampton Town 3–0 Notts County

Group 5

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Swansea City 42 1 1 0 3 0 +3
Walsall 32 1 0 1 1 3 -2
Torquay United 12 0 1 1 0 1 -1

2 DecTorquay United 0–0 Swansea City
9 DecSwansea City 3–0 Walsall
16 DecWalsall 1–0 Torquay United

Group 8

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Hereford United 32 1 0 1 4 1 +3
Port Vale 32 1 0 1 2 2 0
Newport County 32 1 0 1 2 5 -3

10 DecHereford United 4–0 Newport County
22 DecPort Vale 1–0 Hereford United
6 JanNewport County 2–1 Port Vale

Group 3

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Southend United 62 2 0 0 7 5 +2
Fulham 32 1 0 1 5 2 +3
Cambridge United 02 0 0 2 4 9 -5

2 DecCambridge United 0–4 Fulham
16 DecSouthend United 5–4 Cambridge United
6 JanFulham 1–2 Southend United

Group 6

Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
Bristol City 42 1 1 0 4 1 +3
Exeter City 22 0 2 0 2 2 0
Bristol Rovers 12 0 1 1 1 4 -3

26 NovExeter City 1–1 Bristol City
16 DecBristol City 3–0 Bristol Rovers
7 JanBristol Rovers 1–1 Exeter City

First Round

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
20 JanuaryCarlisle United1 – 2Preston North End
20 JanuaryChester City1 – 1Lincoln City
Chester City won on penalties[1]
20 JanuaryHalifax Town1 – 2Middlesbrough
27 JanuaryBolton Wanderers2 – 1Burnley
27 JanuaryRochdale3 – 0Chesterfield
27 JanuaryScunthorpe United1 – 2Wrexham
27 JanuaryYork City0 – 1Mansfield Town
10 FebruaryBury1 – 1Wigan Athletic
Bury won on penalties[1]

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
20 JanuaryExeter City0 – 1Port Vale
26 JanuaryAldershot2 – 0Swansea City
26 JanuaryBrentford4 – 2Walsall
26 JanuaryFulham3 – 2Northampton Town
26 JanuaryGillingham2 – 0Colchester United
26 JanuaryWolverhampton Wanderers0 – 1Hereford United
27 JanuaryBristol City1 – 0Southend United
29 JanuarySwindon Town2 – 2Bournemouth
Swindon Town won on penalties[1]

Quarter-finals

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
10 FebruaryBolton Wanderers1 – 2Chester City
17 FebruaryRochdale0 – 0Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough won on penalties[1]
17 FebruaryWrexham2 – 1Preston North End
24 FebruaryBury1 – 2Mansfield Town

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
10 FebruaryAldershot1 – 1Fulham
Aldershot won on penalties[1]
10 FebruaryBristol City3 – 0Brentford
10 FebruaryPort Vale3 – 3Gillingham
Gillingham won on penalties[1]
10 FebruarySwindon Town4 – 2Hereford United

Area semi-finals

Northern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
10 MarchMiddlesbrough0 – 1Mansfield Town
23 MarchWrexham1 – 3[1]Chester City

Southern Section

Date Home team Score Away team
10 MarchBristol City2 – 0Gillingham
10 MarchSwindon Town2 – 3Aldershot

Area finals

Northern Area final

15 April 1987
Chester City (1) 1 – 0 (2) Mansfield Town

Southern Area final

8 April 1987
Aldershot 1 – 2 Bristol City

14 April 1987
Bristol City (4) 2 – 0 (1) Aldershot

Final

Notes

General
Specific
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 After extra-time.