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Howard Kendall's Everton side secured the First Division Championship for the second time in three years.

Alex Ferguson started the year as the newly appointed manager of Manchester United.

Play-offs were introduced by the Football League for the first time since the 1890s to decide one promotion / relegation place in each division. Charlton maintained their First Division place in a play-off final replay win against Leeds United.

Derby County were the Second Division Champions, Bournemouth won the Third Division and Northampton Town led the Fourth Division.

Coventry City won a dramatic FA Cup Final 3-2 in extra time against Tottenham Hotspur.

Clive Allen of Spurs won PFA and FWA Player of the Year. Ruud Gullit was selected as European Player of the Year.

English clubs remained banned from European competitions.

QPR's artificial pitch, the first in the Football League in 1981, was returned to turf, while the 'plastic pitch' at Preston North End was in its first season. (PNE pitch's final game in 1994 was the last use of them after the Football League ban on artificial pitches issued in 1991.)

Michael Conlon of Conlon Construction says:

1987 was important to the company because: "Our name was changed from Conlon Brothers (Preston) Ltd to the present Conlon Construction Ltd, along with an updated logo which has served us so well for more than 20 years."

1987 had a particular football significance for Michael: "As a PNE fan I was pleased to see Preston promoted to the 3rd Division playing on a newly-laid artificial surface, just one year after the ignominy of seeking re-election to the Football League."