Notorius
Duran Durans 5th album, "Notorius", is released
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1987 in Great Britain — Page 4
Explore 159 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1987.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1987
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 39 of 159 unique records.
159Unique records
4 of 4Page
34Named events on this page
37Named people on this page
11Places on this page
Other events (month unknown)
OBE
Awarded the OBE
Opposition Treasury Team
Brown joins Labour's senior Treasury team after the general election.
Oxford United to Liverpool Move
John Aldridge joined Liverpool from Oxford United and soon became a major source of goals as the club refreshed its attacking options.
Party Leader
Appointed Party Leader of the SDP
Peerage
Made a life peer
Peerage
Created Baron Joseph
Play Off Relegation Escape
Bolder helps Charlton Athletic survive in the top flight through the 1987 play-off final against Leeds United.
Play Off Replay Decisive Goals
Shirtliff scores twice in extra time against Leeds United during the play-off replay, preserving Charlton Athletic's First Division status.
Player of the Year
Allen is selected after an exceptional goalscoring campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, with his clinical finishing attracting widespread acclaim.
Prick Up Your Ears
Portrays playwright Joe Orton in the biographical drama Prick Up Your Ears.
Privatization
British Airways is privatised in February 1987 through a public share sale that transfers the airline into private ownership.
Privatization
The Government proceeds with the 1987 BP share issue after Lawson decides that the offer should continue despite severe stock-market turbulence.
Privatization
The British Airports Authority is sold for œ1,281 million. Rolls Royce is sold for œ1,363 million. British Airways is sold for œ900 million. Agrees on the eve of the election with Lawson & Walker to privatize electricity
Promotion
Guides Portsmouth to the top flight
Pulp Album Freaks
Releases Pulp's second studio album Freaks.
Relegation from First Division
Aston Villa is relegated five years after becoming European champion.
Retirement
Retires from the House of Commons & enters the Lords
Saunders West Brom Managerial Departure
Saunders's spell as West Bromwich Albion manager comes to an end after the club struggles to establish momentum.
Second Division Play-Off Campaign
Supplies attacking midfield quality as Leeds United narrowly misses promotion after reaching the Second Division play-off final.
Second Division Title Midfield
Geraint Williams contributes to Derby County’s midfield as the club wins the Second Division championship and secures promotion to the top flight in 1987.
Secretary
Appointed Secretary of Energy
Sex Pistols
McLaren kept the Sex Pistols contract rights until Lydon took him to court in the 1980s to win the rights and unpaid revenues from McLaren. Lydon won and gained complete control from McLaren in 1987
Sex Pistols
McLaren kept the Sex Pistols contract rights until Lydon took him to court in the 1980s to win the rights and unpaid revenues from McLaren. Lydon won and gained complete control from McLaren in 1987
Shadow Minister
Appointed Shadow Chancellor
Stringer Takes Over Norwich City
Dave Stringer succeeded Ken Brown as Norwich City manager in 1987 and built a competitive First Division team during the late 1980s.
Talking Heads
Talking Heads, a series of monologues for television which were later performed at the Comedy Theatre in London in 1992. A sextet of poignantly comic pieces, each depicting several stages in the characters decline from an initial state of denial or ignorance of their predicament, through a slow realisation of the hopelessness of their situation, progressing to a bleak or ambiguous conclusion
The House of Blue Light
Records The House of Blue Light with the reunited Mark II line-up.
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Stars on The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Third Division Relegation Under McMenemy
McMenemy's Sunderland suffers relegation to the Third Division for the first time, following a play-off defeat to Gillingham.
This Real Night
This Real Night, a continuation of West's family saga, was published posthumously.
Toby Award Me and My Girl Actor
Robert Lindsay received the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl.
Top Flight Return Defensive Core
Mark Wright plays a leading role in Derby County’s defence as the Rams win the 1986-87 Second Division title and return to the First Division.
Transfer
A tribunal agrees 250,000 pounds deal, becomes Alex Fergusons first signing since taking over as manager of Manchester United
Transfer
Joins Glasgow Rangers
Tribute
Releases Album, "Tribute", dedicated to Randy Rhoads
Trident
Kinnock campaigns against Trident while Labour debates its non nuclear defence policy
Unchain My Heart Album
Releases the studio album Unchain My Heart.
Watford to Anfield Arrival
John Barnes signed for Liverpool from Watford in 1987 and transformed the left flank with his pace, close control and creativity.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.