From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1989–90 Football League
91st season of the Football League
91st season of the Football League
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| competition | The Football League |
| season | [1989–90](1989-90-in-english-football) |
| winners | Liverpool |
| relegated | Colchester United |
| continentalcup1 | New club in League |
| continentalcup1 qualifiers | Maidstone United |
| prevseason | [1988–89](1988-89-football-league) |
| nextseason | [1990–91](1990-91-football-league) |
The 1989–90 season was the 91st completed season of The Football League.
Liverpool overhauled a greatly improved Aston Villa side to win their 18th league championship trophy and their fifth major trophy in as many seasons under Kenny Dalglish's management. Gary Lineker's arrival at Tottenham Hotspur saw the North Londoners occupy third place after a season of improvement.
In this season, London had eight entrants in the top-flight, the highest number of participants ever.
Luton Town stayed up on goal difference at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday, while Charlton's four-year spell in the First Division came to an end at the beginning of May. Millwall were rooted to the bottom of the division despite briefly topping the league in September.
Leeds United finally returned to the top flight after an eight-year exile, as Howard Wilkinson's side lifted the Second Division championship trophy thanks to a superior goal difference over runners-up Sheffield United, who won their second successive promotion under Dave Bassett.
Swindon Town won the Second Division playoff final but Sunderland were promoted instead after the Swindon board admitted a series of financial irregularities. Swindon were initially demoted to the Third Division and replaced by Tranmere, the division's losing Play-Off finalists, but this decision was later reversed on appeal.
AFC Bournemouth, Stoke City and Bradford City occupied the relegation places. Bournemouth did not return to second tier of English football until the 2013–14 season.
The city of Bristol was celebrating after Rovers were crowned champions and City finished runners-up in the Third Division to gain promotion. The third promotion spot was secured by playoff winners Notts County, who beat Leyland DAF Trophy (i.e. EFL Trophy) winners Tranmere Rovers at Wembley.
Walsall suffered a second successive relegation and would be joined in the Fourth Division the following season by Blackpool, Cardiff City and Northampton Town.
Exeter City were crowned Fourth Division champions and went up to the Third Division along with runners-up Grimsby Town, third-placed Southend United and playoff winners Cambridge United. Newly promoted Maidstone United almost ended their first league season with success, but their promotion hopes were ended by playoff failure.
Colchester United were relegated from the league and replaced by Football Conference champions Darlington, who regained their league status just one season after losing it.
Final league tables and results
The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website, with home and away statistics separated.
First Division
Main article: 1989–90 Football League First Division
18th English title Charlton Athletic Millwall (24 goals) (12 September 1989) (5 May 1990) (12 September 1989) Southampton 6–3 Luton Town (25 November 1989) Liverpool won the First Division title for the 18th time, finishing nine points ahead of their nearest rivals Aston Villa, who had emerged as title contenders just two seasons after being promoted, sealing England's solitary UEFA Cup place after the ban on English clubs in European competitions was lifted after five years, although Liverpool missed out on a European Cup place following UEFA's decision to exclude them from European competitions for at least one more season. Tottenham Hotspur improved on their sixth-place finish in 1989 by finishing third. Defending champions Arsenal slipped to fourth, and newly promoted Chelsea finished fifth.
Manchester United finished a disappointing 13th in the league – their lowest since relegation in 1974 – but compensated for this by winning the FA Cup, equalling the record of seven wins in the competition.
Millwall, who briefly topped the table in mid September, went down in bottom place after winning just two more games all season. Charlton Athletic's four-year spell in the First Division ended in relegation, and the final relegation place went to a Sheffield Wednesday side who went down on goal difference after a late turnaround in form for Luton Town.
First Division results
First Division maps
Arsenal Aston Villa Charlton Chelsea Crystal Palace Coventry Derby County Everton Liverpool Luton Town Manchester City Manchester United Millwall Norwich City Nottingham Forest QPR Sheffield Wednesday Southampton Tottenham Wimbledon
Arsenal Charlton Athletic Chelsea Crystal Palace Millwall Tottenham Queens Park Rangers Wimbledon
Second Division
Sheffield United Sunderland Bradford City Stoke City (32 goals) A tight race for promotion from the Second Division saw the two automatic promotion places decided on the final day of the season, with Leeds United going up as champions after an eight-year exile from the First Division, followed by their Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, who finished runners-up to clinch a second successive promotion and end their 14-year absence from the First Division.
Swindon Town beat Sunderland 1–0 in the playoff final to secure a First Division place for the first time, only for promotion to be withdrawn weeks later for financial irregularities. The Football League promoted Sunderland to the First Division in their place, and demoted them to the Third Division, although they were allowed to remain in the Second Division on appeal. Newcastle United, whose new signing Mick Quinn topped the Football League goal charts with 32 goals, had squandered their chance on an immediate return to the First Division by losing to Sunderland in the playoff semi-finals. Blackburn Rovers, who had last played First Division football in the mid-1960s, lost in the other semi-final.
Two of the teams who just missed out on the playoffs enjoyed memorable cup runs. West Ham United reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, while Oldham Athletic were semi-finalists in the FA Cup and beaten finalists in the League Cup.
Stoke City were relegated to the Third Division after finishing bottom of the Second Division, and were joined in the drop zone by Bradford City and AFC Bournemouth. Middlesbrough, who finished fourth from bottom, narrowly avoided a second successive relegation.
Results
|match_BAR_B&HA=1–0
|match_BLB_B&HA=1–1
|match_BOU_B&HA=0–2
|match_BRA_B&HA=2–0
|name_B&HA=Brighton & Hove Albion |match_B&HA_BAR=1–1 |match_B&HA_BLB=1–2 |match_B&HA_BOU=2–1 |match_B&HA_BRA=2–1 |match_B&HA_HUL=2–0 |match_B&HA_IPS=1–0 |match_B&HA_LEE=2–2 |match_B&HA_LEI=1–0 |match_B&HA_MID=1–0 |match_B&HA_NEW=0–3 |match_B&HA_OLD=1–1 |match_B&HA_OXF=0–1 |match_B&HA_PLY=2–1 |match_B&HA_PTV=2–0 |match_B&HA_POR=0–0 |match_B&HA_SHU=2–2 |match_B&HA_STK=1–4 |match_B&HA_SUN=1–2 |match_B&HA_SWI=1–2 |match_B&HA_WAT=1–0 |match_B&HA_WBA=0–3 |match_B&HA_WHU=3–0 |match_B&HA_WOL=1–1
|match_HUL_B&HA=0–2
|match_IPS_B&HA=2–1
|match_LEE_B&HA=3–0
|match_LEI_B&HA=1–0
|match_MID_B&HA=2–2
|match_NEW_B&HA=2–0
|match_OLD_B&HA=1–1
|match_OXF_B&HA=0–1
|match_PLY_B&HA=2–1
|match_PTV_B&HA=2–1
|match_POR_B&HA=3–0
|match_SHU_B&HA=5–4
|match_STK_B&HA=3–2
|match_SUN_B&HA=2–1
|match_SWI_B&HA=1–2
|match_WAT_B&HA=4–2
|match_WBA_B&HA=3–0
|match_WHU_B&HA=3–1
|match_WOL_B&HA=2–4
[[Football League Championship play-offs|Second Division play-offs]]
Main article: Football League Championship play-offs#1990
The semifinals were decided over two legs. The final consisted of only a single match. The full results can be found at: Football League Division Two play-offs 1990.
1st leg – 13 May; 2nd leg – 16 May 1990 28 May 1990 | RD1-seed1=3rd | RD1-team1= Newcastle United | RD1-score1-1=0 | RD1-score1-2=0 | RD1-score1-agg= 0 | RD1-seed2=6th | RD1-team2=** Sunderland** | RD1-score2-1=0 | RD1-score2-2=2 | RD1-score2-agg= 2 | RD1-seed3=4th | RD1-team3=** Swindon Town** | RD1-score3-1=2 | RD1-score3-2=2 | RD1-score3-agg= 4 | RD1-seed4=5th | RD1-team4= Blackburn Rovers | RD1-score4-1=1 | RD1-score4-2=1 | RD1-score4-agg= 2 | RD2-seed1=6th | RD2-team1= SunderlandFollowing successful prosecutions against Swindon Town and the club chairman, Brian Hillier, after they admitted 36 breaches of League rules — 35 of which are related to illegal payments, Swindon remained in the Second Division and Sunderland took their promotion place (see History of Swindon Town F.C.). | RD2-score1= 0 | RD2-seed2=4th | RD2-team2= Swindon Town | RD2-score2= 1
Second Division maps
Barnsley Bournemouth Bradford City Brighton & Hove Albion Blackburn Rovers Hull Ipswich Town Leeds U. Leicester City Middlesbrough Newcastle Oldham Oxford Plymouth Argyle Portsmouth Port Vale Sheffield United Stoke Sunderland Swindon Watford West Bromwich Albion West Ham Wolverhampton Wanderers
Watford West Ham
Third Division
The two automatic promotion places in the Third Division were clinched by the two Bristol clubs, with Rovers finishing champions and City finishing runners-up, having both been relegated from the Second Division nine years before. The playoffs were won by Notts County.
Walsall finished bottom of the Fourth Division and suffered a second consecutive relegation in their final season at Fellows Park, leaving them in the Fourth Division for their first season at the new Bescot Stadium. Joining them in the bottom four were Blackpool, Cardiff City and Northampton Town.
Notts County Cardiff City Northampton Walsall
Third Division results
[[Football League One play-offs|Third Division play-offs]]
Main article: Football League One play-offs#1990
The semifinals were decided over two legs. The final consisted of only a single match. The full results can be found at: Football League Division Three play-offs 1990.
1st leg – 13 May; 2nd leg – 16 May 1990 27 May 1990 | RD1-seed1=3rd | RD1-team1=** Notts County** | RD1-score1-1=1 | RD1-score1-2=2 | RD1-score1-agg=3 | RD1-seed2=6th | RD1-team2=Bolton Wanderers | RD1-score2-1=1 | RD1-score2-2=0 | RD1-score2-agg= 1 | RD1-seed3=4th | RD1-team3=Tranmere Rovers | RD1-score3-1=0 | RD1-score3-2=2 | RD1-score3-agg=2 | RD1-seed4=5th | RD1-team4= Bury | RD1-score4-1=0 | RD1-score4-2=0 | RD1-score4-agg= 0 | RD2-seed1=3rd | RD2-team1=Notts County | RD2-score1=2 | RD2-seed2=4th | RD2-team2= Tranmere Rovers | RD2-score2= 0
Third Division maps
Birmingham Blackpool Bolton Brentford Bristol City Bristol Rovers Bury Cardiff City Chester Crewe Alexandra Fulham Huddersfield Leyton Orient Mansfield Town Northampton Town Notts County Preston North End Reading Rotherham Shrewsbury Swansea City Tranmere Walsall Wigan Athletic
Brentford Fulham Orient
Fourth Division
Exeter City clinched the Fourth Division title to end their six-year spell in the league's basement division. They were joined by Southend United, relegated the previous season, and by a Grimsby Town side who had spent two seasons in the Fourth Division since their most recent relegation. The final promotion place went to playoff winners Cambridge United, who triumphed 1–0 over Chesterfield in their first professional Wembley final with a goal from promising young striker Dion Dublin. Losing semi-finalists in the playoffs were newly promoted Maidstone United, and a Stockport County side whose striker Brett Angell was the division's top scorer on 23 league goals.
Colchester United, who had managed a remarkable escape from relegation the previous season under inspirational new manager Jock Wallace, were unable to escape the drop this time, going down after 40 years in the Football League and being replaced by a Darlington side who had dropped out of the league 12 months before.
Grimsby Town, Southend United
Fourth Division results
[[EFL League Two|Fourth Division play-offs]]
Main article: Football League Two play-offs#1990
The semifinals were decided over two legs. The final consisted of only a single match. The full results can be found at: Football League Division Four play-offs 1990.
1st leg –13 May; 2nd leg –16 May 1990 26 May 1990 | RD1-seed1=4th | RD1-team1=Stockport County | RD1-score1-1=0 | RD1-score1-2=0 | RD1-score1-agg= 0 | RD1-seed2=7th | RD1-team2=Chesterfield | RD1-score2-1=4 | RD1-score2-2=2 | RD1-score2-agg=6 | RD1-seed3=5th | RD1-team3=Maidstone United (1897) | RD1-score3-1=1 | RD1-score3-2=0 | RD1-score3-agg=1 | RD1-seed4=6th | RD1-team4=Cambridge United | RD1-score4-1=1 | RD1-score4-2=2 | RD1-score4-agg=3 | RD2-seed1=7th | RD2-team1=Chesterfield | RD2-score1= 0 | RD2-seed2=6th | RD2-team2=Cambridge United | RD2-score2=1
Fourth Division maps
Maidstone Aldershot Burnley Cambridge Utd Carlisle United Chesterfield Colchester Doncaster Exeter City Gillingham Grimsby Town Halifax Town Hartlepool Hereford United Lincoln City Peterborough Rochdale Scarborough Scunthorpe United Southend Stockport Torquay Wrexham York City
Attendances
Source:
Barclays League Division One
| # | Football club | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 39,077 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 36,589 |
| 3 | Arsenal FC | 33,713 |
| 4 | Manchester City FC | 27,975 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 26,831 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 26,280 |
| 7 | Aston Villa FC | 25,544 |
| 8 | Chelsea FC | 21,531 |
| 9 | Sheffield Wednesday FC | 20,930 |
| 10 | Nottingham Forest FC | 20,606 |
| 11 | Derby County FC | 17,426 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace FC | 17,105 |
| 13 | Norwich City FC | 16,737 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 16,463 |
| 15 | Coventry City FC | 14,312 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers FC | 13,218 |
| 17 | Millwall FC | 12,413 |
| 18 | Charlton Athletic FC | 10,748 |
| 19 | Luton Town FC | 9,886 |
| 20 | Wimbledon FC | 7,756 |
Barclays League Division Two
| # | Football club | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United FC | 28,568 |
| 2 | Newcastle United FC | 21,590 |
| 3 | West Ham United FC | 20,311 |
| 4 | Sunderland AFC | 17,987 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 17,045 |
| 6 | Sheffield United FC | 16,989 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough FC | 16,971 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town FC | 12,913 |
| 9 | Stoke City FC | 12,449 |
| 10 | Leicester City FC | 11,716 |
| 11 | West Bromwich Albion FC | 11,308 |
| 12 | Watford FC | 10,353 |
| 13 | Oldham Athletic FC | 9,727 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers FC | 9,624 |
| 15 | Swindon Town FC | 9,395 |
| 16 | Barnsley FC | 9,033 |
| 17 | Port Vale FC | 8,978 |
| 18 | Portsmouth FC | 8,959 |
| 19 | Bradford City AFC | 8,777 |
| 20 | Plymouth Argyle FC | 8,749 |
| 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 8,679 |
| 22 | AFC Bournemouth | 7,454 |
| 23 | Hull City AFC | 6,518 |
| 24 | Oxford United FC | 5,820 |
Barclays League Division Three
| # | Football club | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City FC | 11,544 |
| 2 | Birmingham City FC | 8,558 |
| 3 | Tranmere Rovers | 7,449 |
| 4 | Bolton Wanderers FC | 7,286 |
| 5 | Preston North End FC | 6,313 |
| 6 | Bristol Rovers FC | 6,202 |
| 7 | Notts County FC | 6,151 |
| 8 | Brentford FC | 5,662 |
| 9 | Huddersfield Town AFC | 5,630 |
| 10 | Rotherham United FC | 5,612 |
| 11 | Fulham FC | 4,484 |
| 12 | Leyton Orient FC | 4,365 |
| 13 | Swansea City AFC | 4,223 |
| 14 | Walsall FC | 4,077 |
| 15 | Blackpool FC | 4,075 |
| 16 | Reading FC | 4,060 |
| 17 | Crewe Alexandra FC | 4,008 |
| 18 | Cardiff City FC | 3,642 |
| 19 | Shrewsbury Town FC | 3,521 |
| 20 | Bury FC | 3,450 |
| 21 | Northampton Town FC | 3,190 |
| 22 | Mansfield Town FC | 3,129 |
| 23 | Wigan Athletic FC | 2,758 |
| 24 | Chester City FC | 2,506 |
Barclays League Division Four
| # | Football club | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley FC | 6,222 |
| 2 | Grimsby Town FC | 5,984 |
| 3 | Exeter City FC | 4,859 |
| 4 | Peterborough United FC | 4,804 |
| 5 | Carlisle United FC | 4,740 |
| 6 | Chesterfield FC | 4,181 |
| 7 | Lincoln City FC | 4,071 |
| 8 | Stockport County FC | 3,899 |
| 9 | Gillingham FC | 3,887 |
| 10 | Southend United FC | 3,836 |
| 11 | Scunthorpe United FC | 3,524 |
| 12 | Cambridge United FC | 3,359 |
| 13 | Colchester United FC | 3,150 |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers FC | 2,706 |
| 15 | Hereford United FC | 2,676 |
| 16 | York City FC | 2,615 |
| 17 | Hartlepool United FC | 2,503 |
| 18 | Maidstone United FC | 2,427 |
| 19 | Wrexham AFC | 2,368 |
| 20 | Scarborough FC | 2,325 |
| 21 | Torquay United FC | 2,147 |
| 22 | Rochdale AFC | 2,027 |
| 23 | Aldershot Town FC | 2,022 |
| 24 | Halifax Town AFC | 1,895 |
References
References
- "England 1989–90".
- "English League Leading Goalscorers".
- (1990). "Rothmans football yearbook, 1990-91". Queen Anne Press.
- https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1990.htm
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1989–90 Football League — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report