The Dubai Champions Cup (originally called the Dubai Super Cup) was an annual association football match contested between the champions of the English and Scottish leagues. The competition took place for three consecutive seasons from 1986–87 to 1988–89 in the United Arab Emirates port of Dubai,[1] during the time when English football clubs were banned from taking part in UEFA club competitions as a result of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.[2]

Dubai Champions Cup
Dubai Super Cup
Tournament details
Host countryUnited Arab Emirates
CityDubai
TeamsTwo:
England Football League champions
Scotland Scottish Football League champions

History

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The first match took place on 9 December 1986 at the Al Wasl Stadium between English champions Liverpool and Scottish champions Celtic. The match finished 1–1, with Liverpool winning 4–2 on a penalty shoot-out.[3][4]

English champions Everton and Scottish champions Rangers played the match the following year in December 1987. Rangers came from two goals behind to level the match after 90 minutes at 2–2. This was despite referee Keith Cooper disallowing six goals for the Ibrox club during the game. Rangers went on to win 8–7 on penalty kicks.[5][6][7]

The final match took place on 4 April 1989 at the Al-Nasar Stadium. The competition was now renamed the Dubai Champions Cup and featured the same sides that took part in 1986; Liverpool and Celtic. Once again the match finished level after 90 minutes, 1–1; this time Celtic won 4–2 on penalty kicks.[8][9][10]

1986–87

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Celtic  1–1  Liverpool
Archdeacon   50' Hansen   89'
Penalties
2–4
Attendance: 15,000
GK   Pat Bonner
DF   Danny McGrain
DF   Roy Aitken
DF   Pierce O'Leary
DF   Derek Whyte
MF   Peter Grant
MF   Tony Shepherd
MF   Paul McStay
FW   Alan McInally
FW   Mark McGhee
FW   Owen Archdeacon
Substitutes:
DF   Willie McStay
FW   Mo Johnston
Manager:
  Davie Hay
GK   Bruce Grobbelaar
DF   Gary Gillespie
DF   Barry Venison
DF   Alan Hansen
DF   Jim Beglin
MF   Steve Nicol
DF   Mark Lawrenson
MF   Steve McMahon
MF   Ronnie Whelan
FW   Paul Walsh
FW   Ian Rush
Substitutes:
FW   Kenny Dalglish
Player/Manager:
  Kenny Dalglish

1987–88

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Rangers  2–2  Everton
Fleck   80'
McCoist   87'
Sheedy   24'
Watson   65'
Penalties
8–7
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Keith Cooper
GK   Chris Woods
DF   Scott Nisbet
DF   Jimmy Phillips
DF   Graham Roberts
MF   Ray Wilkins
DF   Richard Gough
MF   Trevor Francis
FW   Robert Fleck
FW   Ally McCoist
MF   Ian Durrant
MF   Derek Ferguson
Substitutes:
GK   Nicky Walker
DF   Stuart Munro
DF   Jimmy Nicholl
MF   Dave MacFarlane
MF   Graeme Souness
MF   Davie Kirkwood
Player/Manager:
  Graeme Souness
GK   Neville Southall
DF   Gary Stevens
DF   Neil Pointon
DF   Kevin Ratcliffe
DF   Dave Watson
MF   Peter Reid
MF   Trevor Steven
FW   Adrian Heath
FW   Graeme Sharp
MF   Ian Snodin
MF   Kevin Sheedy
Substitutes:
MF   Ian Wilson
MF   Neil Adams
GK   Bobby Mimms
Manager:
  Colin Harvey

1988–89

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Celtic  1–1  Liverpool
McGhee   12' Aldridge   74'
Penalties
4–2
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Neil Midgley
GK   Pat Bonner
DF   Chris Morris
DF   Anton Rogan
DF   Steve McCahill
DF   Mick McCarthy
MF   Peter Grant
MF   Joe Miller
MF   Paul McStay
FW   Tommy Coyne
FW   Mark McGhee
MF   Steve Fulton
Substitutes:
GK   Ian Andrews
DF   Lex Baillie
MF   Billy Stark
FW   Andy Walker
Manager:
  Billy McNeill
GK   Bruce Grobbelaar
DF   Gary Ablett
DF   David Burrows
DF   Steve Nicol
MF   Ronnie Whelan
DF   Gary Gillespie
FW   Peter Beardsley
MF   Barry Venison
FW   Ray Houghton
MF   John Barnes
MF   Steve McMahon
Substitutes:
MF   Mike Marsh
FW   John Aldridge
DF   Steve Staunton
FW   Kenny Dalglish
DF   Alex Watson
Player/Manager:
  Kenny Dalglish

References

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  1. ^ Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1992). A Celtic A - Z. Greenfield Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 095195010X.
  2. ^ Bloomfield, Craig (18 October 2011). "Celtic's Hillsborough tribute, rare footage of Rangers v Everton and more Old Firm matches with English clubs". talkSport. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  3. ^ Cameron, Alex (10 December 1986). "Celts in a spot". Daily Record. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Celtic rise to challenge but lose on penalties". The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1986. p. 24. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  5. ^ Hilton, Nick (7 December 2012). "Battle of Britain". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  6. ^ Reynolds, Jim (9 December 1987). "Rangers strike 16 times for gold". The Glasgow Herald. p. 24. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  7. ^ Wilson, Fraser (20 March 2018). "The day Rangers defeated Everton in Dubai despite having SIX goals disallowed to become unofficial champions of Britain". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  8. ^ McNee, Gerry (7 April 1989). "Stark spot-on in the desert". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Stark finds a sweet spot for Celtic's desert kings". The Glasgow Herald. 5 April 1989. p. 28. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  10. ^ Young, Graeme (17 March 2018). "When Celtic faced Liverpool in the Middle East and became British champions". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 December 2021.