1987 Norwegian First Division
The 1987 1. divisjon was the 43rd completed season of top division football in Norway. The season began on 2 May 1987 and ended on 10 October 1987.
22 rounds were played. Number eleven and twelve were relegated. The winners of the two groups of the 2. divisjon were promoted, as well as the winner of a series of play-off matches between the two second placed teams in the two groups of the 2. divisjon and number ten in the 1. divisjon.
For the first time in the Norwegian top flight, three rather than two points were given for wins. There was also another, more controversial new rule for points: if a match was drawn, two points would be given to the winner of a penalty shootout, and one point to the loser of the shootout. This rule, suggested by Tom A. Schanke and appointed by the Norwegian Football Association in February 1987, was highly controversial and liquidated after the 1987 season. Note that if draws would end as draws with one point to each, as usual, Tromsø IL would have been placed 10th with a possibility of being relegated.
Overview
, coached by Nils Arne Eggen, won the league for the first and, as of the 2024 season, last time. The victory was not settled until the final round of the league, with Moss beating runners-up Molde FK 2-0 at away grounds.Teams and locations
| Team | Location | Stadium | |
| Brann | 31 | Bergen | Brann Stadion |
| Bryne | 12 | Bryne | Bryne Stadion |
| HamKam | 14 | Hamar | Briskeby |
| Kongsvinger | 5 | Kongsvinger | Gjemselund Stadion |
| Lillestrøm | 24 | Lillestrøm | Åråsen Stadion |
| Mjøndalen | 17 | Mjøndalen | Nedre Eiker Stadion |
| Molde | 13 | Molde | Molde Stadion |
| Moss | 13 | Moss | Melløs Stadion |
| Rosenborg | 24 | Trondheim | Lerkendal Stadion |
| Start | 20 | Kristiansand | Kristiansand Stadion |
| Tromsø | 2 | Tromsø | Alfheim Stadion |
| Vålerengen | 32 | Oslo | Bislett Stadion |
League table
Results
Results in brackets indicate the results from penalty shoot-outs whenever games were drawn.Relegation play-offs
The qualification matches were contested between Hamarkameratene, Djerv 1919, and Lyn. Djerv 1919 won and was promoted to the 1. divisjon.;Results
- Lyn – Djerv 1919 0-1
- Hamarkameratene – Lyn 1-1
- Djerv 1919 – Hamarkameratene 3-0