1989–90 Football League

91st season of the Football League May 2022 The Football League 1989–90 Liverpool Colchester United New club in League Maidstone United 1988–89 1990–91 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,https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1989-90.html England 1989–90 2010-02-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20100126045934/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1989-90.html 26 January 2010 RSSSF live with home and away statistics separated. First Division 1989–90 Football League First Division First Division 1989–90 Liverpool18th English title Sheffield WednesdayCharlton AthleticMillwall European Cup Winners' Cup Manchester United UEFA Cup Aston Villa Gary Lineker(24 goals)https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html English League Leading Goalscorers RSSSF 2010-10-31 Liverpool 9–0 Crystal Palace(12 September 1989) Coventry City 1–6 Liverpool(5 May 1990) Liverpool 9–0 Crystal Palace(12 September 1989)Southampton 6–3 Luton Town(25 November 1989) 380 986 1988–89 1990–91 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. Results Results table First Division maps England left 400 Locations of the Football League First Division 1989–1990 teams England 51.56 -0.10 right England 52.54 -1.87 right England 51.47 0.07 right England 51.50 -0.19 right England 51.40 -0.085 right England 52.41 -1.51 right England 52.92 -1.476 right England 53.47 -2.97 right England 53.53 -2.99 right England 51.9 -0.433 right England 53.47 -2.18 right England 53.47 -2.30 right England 51.48 -0.048 right England 52.63 1.30 right England 53.01 -1.137 right England 51.54 -0.26 right England 53.41 -1.50 right England 50.91 -1.39 right England 51.63 -0.063 right England 51.43 -0.19 right 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 Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1989–1990 Greater London 51.558 -0.103 right Greater London 51.486 0.036 right Greater London 51.482 -0.191 right Greater London 51.398 -0.085 right Greater London 51.481 -0.048 right Greater London 51.603 -0.066 right Greater London 51.509 -0.232 right Greater London 51.43 -0.19 right Arsenal Charlton Athletic Chelsea Crystal Palace Millwall Tottenham Queens Park Rangers Wimbledon Second Division Second Division 1989–90 Leeds United Leeds UnitedSheffield UnitedSunderland BournemouthBradford CityStoke City Micky Quinn(32 goals) 552 1526 1988–89 1990–91 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. main WDL Second Division Statto LEE, SHU, NEW, SWI, BLA, SUN, WHU, OLD, IPS, WOL, PVL, POR, LEI, HUL, WAT, PLY, OXF, BHA, BAR, WBA, MID, BOU, BRA, STK PRO PRO PPO PPO PPO PPO REL REL REL complete 13 15 18 49 71 19 17 10 74 59 12 12 22 57 76 9 14 23 44 68 15 9 22 56 72 14 16 16 58 65 19 12 15 67 66 24 13 9 79 52 15 14 17 67 79 13 11 22 52 63 22 14 10 80 55 19 14 13 70 57 15 9 22 57 66 14 13 19 58 63 15 16 15 62 65 15 16 15 62 57 24 13 9 78 58 6 19 21 35 63 20 14 12 70 64 20 14 12 79 59 14 15 17 58 60 12 15 19 67 71 20 12 14 80 57 18 13 15 67 60 C, P P O P R R R Swindon Town were disqualified from promotion after being found guilty of making illegal payments, and the play-off runners-up Sunderland were promoted in their place. SWI Barnsley Blackburn Rovers Bournemouth Bradford City Brighton & Hove Albion Hull City Ipswich Town Leeds United Leicester City Middlesbrough Newcastle United Oldham Athletic Oxford United Plymouth Argyle Portsmouth Port Vale Sheffield United Stoke City Sunderland Swindon Town Watford West Bromwich Albion West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers 5 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored QR green1 Promotion to the First Division yellow1 Qualification for the Second Division play-offs red1 Relegation to the Third Division Results main FBR grey BAR BLB BOU BRA B&HA HUL IPS LEE LEI MID NEW OLD OXF PLY PTV POR SHU STK SUN SWI WAT WBA WHU WOL Barnsley 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–3 0–1 1–2 3–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 Blackburn Rovers 5–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–2 2–4 2–4 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–1 5–4 2–3 Bournemouth 2–1 2–4 1–0 0–2 5–4 3–1 0–1 2–3 2–2 2–1 2–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 Bradford City 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 2–3 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–2 1–1 1–4 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 1–0 0–3 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–4 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–3 3–0 1–1 Hull City 1–2 2–0 1–4 2–1 0–2 4–3 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 3–3 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 3–2 2–3 0–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 Ipswich Town 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 2–2 3–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 3–2 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–3 Leeds United 1–2 1–1 3–0 1–1 3–0 4–3 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–1 2–2 3–2 1–0 Leicester City 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 4–3 2–1 2–2 3–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–5 2–1 2–3 2–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 Middlesbrough 0–1 0–3 2–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–2 0–2 4–1 4–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 2–3 2–0 3–3 0–1 3–0 0–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 4–2 Newcastle United 4–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 5–2 5–4 2–2 2–1 2–3 3–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–4 Oldham Athletic 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 3–2 4–1 3–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–1 3–3 0–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 Oxford United 2–3 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–4 4–2 3–1 2–1 0–1 3–2 0–0 2–1 3–0 3–0 0–1 2–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 2–2 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–2 0–2 0–0 3–0 3–0 0–3 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 Port Vale 2–1 0–0 1–1 3–2 2–1 1–1 5–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 Portsmouth 2–1 1–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 2–2 2–3 3–3 2–3 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–3 2–0 3–2 0–0 3–3 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–3 Sheffield United 1–2 1–2 4–2 1–1 5–4 0–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–3 2–0 4–1 3–1 0–2 3–0 Stoke City 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 Sunderland 4–2 0–1 3–2 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–4 0–1 2–2 2–1 0–0 2–3 1–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 4–3 1–1 Swindon Town 0–0 4–3 2–3 3–1 1–2 1–3 3–0 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 3–0 3–0 3–0 2–2 0–2 6–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 Watford 2–2 3–1 2–2 7–2 4–2 3–1 3–3 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–1 3–1 West Bromwich Albion 7–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–3 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–5 2–2 3–2 0–3 2–3 0–0 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–3 1–2 West Ham United 4–2 1–1 4–1 2–0 3–1 1–2 2–0 0–1 3–1 2–0 0–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–2 2–1 5–0 0–0 5–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–4 1–2 2–1 1–0 5–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 5–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 complete Second Division play-offs 1990 Football League play-offs The semifinals were decided over two legs. The final consisted of only a single match. 2/1 y y Semifinals1st leg – 13 May; 2nd leg – 16 May 1990 Final at Wembley28 May 1990 3rd Newcastle United 0 0 0 6th Sunderland 0 2 2 4th Swindon Town 2 2 4 5th Blackburn Rovers 1 1 2 6th SunderlandFollowing successful prosecutions against Swindon Town and the club chairman, Brian Hillier, after they admitted 36 breaches of League rules—35 of which were related to illegal payments—Swindon remained in the Second Division and Sunderland took their promotion place (see History of Swindon Town F.C.). 0 4th Swindon Town 1 Second Division maps England left 400 Locations of the Football League Second Division 1989–1990 teams England 53.55 -1.48 right England 50.73 -1.84 right England 53.82 -1.73 right England 50.83 -0.15 right England 53.75 -2.48 right England 53.74 -0.33 right England 52.06 1.14 right England 53.78 -1.57 right England 52.62 -1.14 right England 54.57 -1.23 right England 54.98 -1.62 right England 53.54 -2.12 right England 51.72 -1.21 right England 50.39 -4.15 right England 50.80 -1.06 right England 53.06 -2.21 right England 53.37 -1.47 right England 53.00 -2.18 right England 54.91 -1.39 right England 51.56 -1.77 right England 51.65 -0.40 right England 52.52 -1.97 right England 51.54 0.040 right England 52.59 -2.13 right 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 Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1989–1990 Greater London 51.650 -0.401 right Greater London 51.532 0.039 right 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. Football LeagueThird Division 1989–90 Bristol Rovers (1st title) Promoted Bristol CityNotts County Relegated BlackpoolCardiff CityNorthamptonWalsall Bob Taylor (Bristol City), 27 552 1414 1988–89 1990–91 main WDL PR Third Division 5 BRR Bristol Rovers BRI Bristol City NTC Notts County TRA Tranmere Rovers BRY Bury BOL Bolton Wanderers BIR Birmingham City HUD Huddersfield Town ROT Rotherham United REA Reading SHR Shrewsbury Town CRE Crewe Alexandra BRE Brentford LEY Leyton Orient MAN Mansfield Town CHE Chester City SWA Swansea City WIG Wigan Athletic PNE Preston North End FUL Fulham CAR Cardiff City NOR Northampton Town BLP Blackpool WAL Walsall 26 15 5 71 35 27 10 9 76 40 25 12 9 73 53 23 11 12 86 49 21 11 14 70 49 18 15 13 59 48 18 12 16 60 59 17 14 15 61 62 17 13 16 71 62 15 19 12 57 53 16 15 15 59 54 15 17 14 56 53 18 7 21 66 66 16 10 20 52 56 16 7 23 50 65 13 15 18 43 55 14 12 20 45 63 13 14 19 48 64 14 10 22 65 79 12 15 19 55 66 12 14 20 51 70 11 14 21 51 68 10 16 20 49 73 9 14 23 40 72 CP P OP R R R R green1 Promotion to the Second Division P P yellow1 Qualification for the Third Division play-offs PP PP PP PP red1 Relegation to the Fourth Division R R R R complete Rollin Jack Rothmans football yearbook, 1990-91 1990 Queen Anne Press 978-0-356-17911-7 614-615 https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball0000roll/page/614/ 27 November 2025 Third Division results main FBR grey BIR BLP BOL BRE BRI BRR BRY CAR CHR CRE FUL HUD LEY MAN NOR NTC PNE REA ROT SHR SWA TRA WAL WIG Birmingham City 3–1 1–0 0–1 0–4 2–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 3–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 4–1 4–0 1–2 3–1 0–1 4–1 0–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 Blackpool 3–2 2–1 4–0 1–3 0–3 0–1 1–0 1–3 1–3 0–1 2–2 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 1–2 0–1 2–2 0–3 4–3 0–0 Bolton Wanderers 3–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 2–1 3–0 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 Brentford 0–1 5–0 1–2 0–2 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 4–3 2–1 3–2 0–1 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–1 2–4 4–0 3–1 Bristol City 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 4–1 5–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–0 Bristol Rovers 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 4–2 3–2 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 6–1 Bury 0–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–3 0–0 6–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 3–2 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 1–2 0–2 2–2 Cardiff City 0–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–3 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 3–3 1–5 1–1 1–0 2–3 1–3 3–0 3–2 2–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 3–1 1–1 Chester 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–0 1–4 1–0 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 0–2 0–1 3–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 Crewe Alexandra 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–3 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–3 3–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 3–2 Fulham 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–2 2–2 2–5 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 5–2 3–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 4–0 Huddersfield Town 1–2 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–3 4–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 Leyton Orient 1–2 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–3 3–1 0–3 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–1 3–1 4–1 1–1 1–0 0–2 0–1 1–1 1–0 Mansfield Town 5–2 0–3 0–1 2–3 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–2 1–0 1–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 0–2 1–0 Northampton Town 2–2 4–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 Notts County 3–2 0–1 2–1 3–1 0–0 3–1 0–4 2–1 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 4–2 3–2 2–1 0–0 2–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 Preston North End 2–2 2–1 1–4 4–2 2–2 0–1 2–3 4–0 5–0 0–0 1–0 3–3 0–3 4–0 0–0 2–4 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 Reading 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 1–1 6–0 3–2 3–3 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 Rotherham United 5–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 3–2 1–3 4–0 5–0 1–3 2–1 0–0 5–2 0–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–1 4–2 3–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 Shrewsbury Town 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–0 0–1 2–3 3–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 0–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–3 Swansea City 1–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–5 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 3–2 4–2 1–3 0–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–6 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 Tranmere Rovers 5–1 4–2 1–3 2–2 6–0 1–2 2–4 3–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 2–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 3–0 2–1 2–0 Walsall 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–2 1–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–3 1–3 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 Wigan Athletic 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–3 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–2 4–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 3–1 0–3 0–0 2–0 1–3 3–0 complete Third Division play-offs 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. 2/1 y y Semifinals1st leg – 13 May; 2nd leg – 16 May 1990 Final at Wembley27 May 1990 3rd Notts County 1 2 3 6th Bolton Wanderers 1 0 1 4th Tranmere Rovers 0 2 2 5th Bury 0 0 0 3rd Notts County 2 4th Tranmere Rovers 0 Third Division maps England left 400 Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1989–1990 England 52.48 -1.89 right England 53.81 -3.05 right England 53.59 -2.56 right England 51.486 -0.32 right England 51.42 -2.59 right England 51.47 -2.53 right England 53.58 -2.295 right England 51.47 -3.20 right England 53.19 -2.89 right England 53.10 -2.44 right England 51.45 -0.24 right England 53.64 -1.78 right England 51.57 -0.01 right England 53.14 -1.20 right England 52.24 -0.90 right England 52.94 -1.137 right England 53.75 -2.7 right England 51.41 -0.97 right England 53.43 -1.36 right England 52.71 -2.75 right England 51.62 -3.95 right England 53.37 -3.04 right England 52.58 -1.98 right England 53.55 -2.65 right 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 Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1989–1990 Greater London 51.486 -0.31 right Greater London 51.475 -0.222 right Greater London 51.570 -0.058 right 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. Football League, Fourth Division 1989–90 Exeter City (1st title) Promoted Cambridge United,Grimsby Town,Southend United Relegated to Conference Colchester United New club in the league Maidstone United Brett Angell (Stockport County), 23 552 1426 1988–89 1990–91 main WDL Fourth Division PR 5 EXE Exeter City GRI Grimsby Town STD Southend United STP Stockport County MDS Maidstone United CAM Cambridge United CHF Chesterfield CRL Carlisle United PET Peterborough United LIN Lincoln City SCU Scunthorpe United ROC Rochdale YOR York City GIL Gillingham TOR Torquay United BUR Burnley HER Hereford United SCA Scarborough HAR Hartlepool United DON Doncaster Rovers WRE Wrexham ALD Aldershot HAL Halifax Town COL Colchester United 28 5 13 83 48 22 13 11 70 47 22 9 15 61 48 21 11 14 68 62 22 7 17 77 61 21 10 15 76 66 19 14 13 63 50 21 8 17 61 60 17 17 12 59 46 18 14 14 48 48 17 15 14 69 54 20 6 20 52 55 16 16 14 55 53 17 11 18 46 48 15 12 19 53 66 14 14 18 45 55 15 10 21 56 62 15 10 21 60 73 15 10 21 66 88 14 9 23 53 60 13 12 21 51 67 12 14 20 49 69 12 13 21 57 65 11 10 25 48 75 CP P P OP R green1 Promotion to the Third Division P P P yellow1 Qualification for the Fourth Division play-offs PP PP PP PP yellow2 Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round Wrexham were runners-up in the Welsh Cup final, and since winners Hereford United are an English club, Wrexham were awarded the right to participate in the Cup Winners' Cup. WC red1 Relegation to the Football Conference R complete Fourth Division results main FBR grey ALD BUR CAM CRL CHF COL DON EXE GIL GRI HAL HAR HER LIN MDS PET ROC SCA SCU STD STP TOR WRE YOR Aldershot 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 4–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 6–1 0–2 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–5 2–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 Burnley 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 3–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–3 1–1 Cambridge United 2–2 0–1 1–2 0–1 4–0 1–0 3–2 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–1 2–0 3–2 0–3 5–2 5–3 2–1 0–2 5–2 1–1 2–2 Carlisle United 1–3 1–1 3–1 4–3 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 3–2 0–0 0–1 3–1 0–1 3–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 Chesterfield 2–0 0–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–0 2–0 4–3 3–1 2–1 0–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 3–0 0–0 Colchester United 1–0 1–2 1–2 4–0 1–0 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–1 4–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–1 0–3 1–3 0–2 Doncaster Rovers 0–1 2–3 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–4 2–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 4–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 1–2 Exeter City 2–0 2–1 3–2 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 2–0 5–0 3–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 Gillingham 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 3–3 3–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–3 5–0 0–3 0–2 1–0 0–0 Grimsby Town 2–1 4–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 4–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–2 1–0 2–3 1–2 1–2 3–0 2–1 2–0 4–2 0–0 5–1 3–0 Halifax Town 4–2 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–2 3–1 4–2 2–2 Hartlepool United 2–0 3–0 1–2 1–0 3–1 0–2 0–6 0–3 1–2 4–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 4–2 2–2 2–1 4–1 3–2 1–1 5–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 Hereford United 4–1 0–1 0–2 2–2 3–2 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 4–1 2–2 3–0 1–2 1–3 3–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 Lincoln City 0–1 1–0 4–3 1–3 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–5 1–3 1–1 2–1 4–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–0 Maidstone United 5–1 1–2 2–2 5–2 0–1 4–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 3–0 0–1 5–1 2–0 1–0 Peterborough United 1–1 4–1 1–2 3–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 4–3 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 Rochdale 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 5–2 1–0 3–2 1–2 1–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 0–3 0–1 Scarborough 1–0 4–2 1–1 2–1 2–3 2–2 1–2 1–2 0–1 3–1 2–3 4–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–3 Scunthorpe United 3–2 3–0 1–1 2–3 0–1 4–0 4–1 5–4 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 3–3 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 Southend United 5–0 3–2 0–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 0–0 3–2 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 Stockport County 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–4 0–1 6–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–1 3–2 4–2 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 Torquay United 1–2 0–1 3–0 1–2 1–0 4–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–0 4–3 1–1 0–3 2–1 2–1 1–0 3–2 0–3 3–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 Wrexham 2–2 1–0 2–3 1–0 0–2 3–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–2 4–2 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 3–3 0–1 1–1 2–0 York City 2–2 1–3 4–2 0–1 4–0 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 2–1 0–3 1–1 1–0 complete Fourth Division play-offs 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. 2/1 y y Semifinals1st leg –13 May; 2nd leg –16 May 1990 Final at Wembley26 May 1990 4th Stockport County 0 0 0 7th Chesterfield 4 2 6 5th Maidstone United (1897) 1 0 1 6th Cambridge United 1 2 3 7th Chesterfield 0 6th Cambridge United 1 Fourth Division maps England none 400 Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1989–1990 England 51.25 -0.75 right England 53.79 -2.25 right England 52.21 0.12 right England 54.90 -2.91 right England 53.24 -1.43 right England 51.89 0.90 right England 53.52 -1.133 right England 50.72 -3.53 right England 51.38 0.55 right England 53.56 -0.068 right England 53.72 -1.86 right England 54.69 -1.21 right England 52.06 -2.72 right England 53.23 -0.54 right England 51.11 0.86 right England 52.58 -0.25 right England 53.61 -2.16 right England 54.27 -0.42 right England 53.58 -0.65 right England 51.55 0.70 right England 53.41 -2.16 right England 50.48 -3.52 right England 53.03 -2.98 right England 53.96 -1.08 right 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:https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1990.htm Historical attendances European-football-statistics.co.uk 22 July 2026 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 See also 1989–90 in English football References 1989–90 1–4