Rangers F.C. 2–2 Celtic F.C. (1987)

On 17 October 1987, Rangers faced Celtic in a Scottish Premier Division fixture at Ibrox Stadium, during the 1987–88 season. The match finished 2–2, but is best remembered for the sending off of three players and the subsequent Court case that took place as a result.[3]

Rangers 2–2 Celtic

Event	1987–88 Scottish Premier Division
Rangers Celtic 2 2
Date	17 October 1987
Venue	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Referee	Jim Duncan[1]
Attendance	43,486[1]
Weather	Sunny[2]

An altercation after 17 minutes between Celtic's Frank McAvennie and Rangers goalkeeper Chris Woods resulted in both being red carded.[4] Rangers defenders Terry Butcher and Graham Roberts were also involved, with Butcher receiving a yellow card for dissent.[4] Roberts took over as Rangers goalkeeper for the rest of the match. On 33 minutes Andy Walker scored to put Celtic ahead, and two minutes later an own goal by Butcher doubled Celtic's lead.[5] Rangers went down to nine men in the second half when Butcher was sent off for a foul on Celtic goalkeeper Allen McKnight.[4] Despite their disadvantage, Rangers rallied and pulled a goal back through Ally McCoist.[2][5] An unlikely comeback was completed by Rangers when Richard Gough equalised in the final minute.[5][6] Amidst the celebrating Rangers supporters, Graham Roberts was seen to wave towards the fans, as if he was "conducting" their singing; songs which included sectarian chants.[6][7] Three days later, the Procurator Fiscal ordered a Police enquiry into the events of the match.[8]

The Rangers trio of Woods, Butcher and Roberts, and Celtic's McAvennie, were later charged with breach of the peace and appeared at Court.[9][10][11] After a trial lasting several days, Butcher and Woods were convicted and fined, Roberts was found not proven and McAvennie was found not guilty.[12]

Details

17 October 1987

15:00 GMT

Rangers	2–2	Celtic
McCoist  65' Gough  90'	Report	Walker  33' Butcher  35' (o.g.)

Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

Attendance: 43,486

Referee: Jim Duncan

Rangers

Celtic

GK 1 Chris Woods  19' RB 2 Richard Gough LB 3 Jimmy Phillips CB 4 Graham Roberts MF 5 Derek Ferguson CB 6 Terry Butcher  19'  62' MF 7 Trevor Francis  76' CF 8 Mark Falco  45' CF 9 Ally McCoist MF 10 Ian Durrant MF 11 John McGregor Substitutes: MF 12 Avi Cohen  45' LW 14 Davie Cooper  76' Manager: Graeme Souness

GK 1 Allen McKnight RB 2 Chris Morris LB 3 Derek Whyte  74' CB 4 Roy Aitken CB 5 Mick McCarthy CM 6 Peter Grant RM 7 Billy Stark CM 8 Paul McStay CF 9 Frank McAvennie  19' CF 10 Andy Walker LM 11 Tommy Burns  78' Substitutes: LB 12 Anton Rogan  74' LW 13 Owen Archdeacon  78' Manager: Billy McNeill

See also

• Old Firm

References

1. "2-2 vs Celtic in Scottish League (17/10/1987)". FitbaStats. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
2. Ferrier, Bob (18 October 1987). "Old Firm knockabout". Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
3. "Celtic Vs Rangers". Clash Of The Titans. 1999. BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
4. Reynolds, Jim (19 October 1987). "Three off but it could have been more". The Glasgow Herald. p. 11. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
5. Reynolds, Jim (19 October 1987). "Celtic stand accused of the cardinal sin". The Glasgow Herald. p. 14. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
6. Murray, Scott. "Rangers 2 Celtic 2". The Blizzard (16). Retrieved 6 April 2015.
7. Davidson, Alan (20 October 1987). "You're out of tune". Evening Times. p. 38. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
8. Steele, David (21 October 1987). "Fiscal calls for Police inquiry into Ibrox match". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
9. McCallum, Andrew (13 April 1988). "Old Firm fans' hatred had "never been worse"". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
10. McCallum, Andrew (14 April 1988). ""Eruption" after punch by Roberts". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
11. McCallum, Andrew (15 April 1988). "Old Firm referee says Police should stay out of it". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
12. McCallum, Andrew (16 April 1988). "Rangers players to appeal after fines". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.