1988-89 in English football

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The 1988-89 season was the 109th season of competitive footbal in England.

Contents

Overview

Hillsborough disaster

On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough saw 94 people killed and more than 300 injured. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital shortly after. The final death toll became 96 in March 1993, when Tony Bland died after being in a coma for nearly four years. A subsequent inquiry into the tragedy led to the Taylor Report, in which Lord Justice Taylor of Gosforth ordered that all top division clubs should have all-seater stadiums from the 1994-95 season onwards.

First Division

Arsenal won the league title on goals scored with the last kick of the season, as they beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to claim the championship trophy and deny Kenny Dalglish's men a unique second double; goals from Alan Smith and Michael Thomas gave . Third place in the league was occupied by League Cup winners Nottingham Forest. In their second season back in the top flight, Derby County beat eventual champions Arsenal home and away on their way to achieving an impressive fourth place finish, while Dave Stringer's Norwich made the most of their limited resources by finishing fifth.

Ian Rush returned to Liverpool after a season with Juventus and was once again a prolific goalscorer. Mark Hughes returned to Manchester United after two seasons with Barcelona and his brilliance earned him the PFA Player of the Year award - although he couldn't help his side finish any higher than a disappointing 11th in the First Division.

Newcastle United endured a disastrous season and succumbed to relegation after finishing bottom of the First Division. They were joined by West Ham United, who later sacked long-serving manager John Lyall; he was replaced by the Swindon Town manager Lou Macari. The other relegated side was Middlesbrough.

Second Division

Chelsea returned to the First Division at the first time of asking by totalling 99 points as Second Division champions. Manchester City ended their two-year exile from the top flight by finishing runners-up in the Second Division. The third promotion place went to Steve Coppell's stylish Crystal Palace side.

A disastrous season saw Walsall slip out of the Second Division after just one season. They were then joined by Birmingham City, who fell into the league's third tier for the first time in their history. Shrewsbury Town's luck finally ran out as they occupied the final relegation spot and fell back into the league's third tier after 10 years.

Third Division

The prolific goalscoring of striker Steve Bull and expertise of manager Graham Turner saw Wolves promoted for the second season running as Third Division champions. Dave Bassett's Sheffield United followed Wolves up in second place. The Third Division playoffs were won by John Rudge's hard working Port Vale side.

The Third Division relegation spots were filled by Gillingham, Chesterfield, Southend United and Aldershot.

Fourth Division

22 points from their final 8 games saw Frank Clark's Leyton Orient make a late run into the Fourth Division playoffs and win the final to gain promotion. The automatic promotion places went to Rotherham United, Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra.

At the bottom end of the table, Darlington struggled all season long and not even the arrival of enthusiastic young manager Brian Little could save them from losing their league place - which was gained by Conference champions Maidstone United.

Non-league

Newport County went out of business on 27 February. They were then expelled from the Conference for failing to fulfill their fixtures.

Change in playoff format

The play-off system was slightly altered - the fourth-bottom team in the First Division would no longer be relegated if they lost in the play-offs, as too many teams staying up could have played havoc with the number of teams in the First and Second Divisions.

FA Cup

Liverpool won the FA Cup by beating Everton 3-2 at Wembley. Ian Rush, who had returned to Anfield after a year at Juventus the previous summer, scored twice.

League Cup

Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest ended their nine-year trophy drought by beating holders Luton Town 2-1 to win the League Cup.

Star players

PFA Player of the Year went to Mark Hughes, who had returned to Manchester United after two unhappy seasons with Barcelona in Spain. PFA Young Player of the Year award went to Arsenal's young winger Paul Merson, who helped his side win their first league title for 18 years.

FWA Footballer of the Year was Liverpool captain Steve Nicol, while a special award was credited to the Liverpool players for their compassion shown to families bereaved by the Hillsborough disaster.

Down in the Third Division, 24-year-old Wolves striker Steve Bull scored 53 goals in all competitions and made a scoring debut for the England national football team.

Star managers

George Graham's three years of rebuilding Arsenal paid off as he ended their 18-year title drought with the last kick of the season. He received the Manager of the Year award for his efforts.
Kenny Dalglish compensated for Liverpool's title disappointment with victory over neighbours Everton in the F.A Cup final.
Brian Clough guided Nottingham Forest to a hard-earned League Cup triumph after they had gone nine years without a trophy.
Steve Coppell's five years of outstanding effort at Crystal Palace paid off as he got them promoted to the First Division as playoff winners.
Graham Turner's rejuventated Wolves side reached the Second Division with a second successive championship and promotion triumph.

Deaths

Jackie Milburn, 64, legendary goalscorer for Newcastle United and England during the 1950s. Was a cousin of England World Cup winners Bobby and Jack Charlton. Died of cancer.
Don Revie, 61, manager of the great Leeds United side of the late 1960s and early 1970s who were league champions twice, F.A Cup winners once, League Cup winners once and Fairs Cup winners once. Managed England from 1974 to 1977 but walked out on them to gain a lucrative four-year deal as national coach of the United Arab Emirates. Returned to his homeland in 1985, four years before his death from motor neurone disease.
Gerard Baron, 67, the oldest of the Hillsborough tragedy victims. He was the brother of former Liverpool player Kevin Baron, who played for Liverpool in the 1950 F.A Cup final.
George Robledo, 66, Chilean born striker, formerly of Newcastle United, died of a heart attack. He played for Chile at the 1950 World Cup and won the F.A Cup with Newcastle in both of the two seasons that followed the World Cup. In the second final, he was playing in the same team as his brother Ted Robledo!

Transfers

Tottenham midfielder Chris Waddle was sold to Olympique Marseille of France in a £4.5million deal, in the latest of big money deals which saw players desert English clubs for foreign clubs who were prepared to pay higher wages. Gary Lineker ended his three-year spell at FC Barcelona to join Tottenham. He had played under Tottenham manager Terry Venables during his first season at Barcelona.

Lineker's strike partner Mark Hughes also left Barcelona and returned to his old club Manchester United in a £1.8million deal. Hughes had been a disappointment in his first season at Barcelona but had recaptured his form during a successful season-long loan deal at Bayern Munich.

Honours

Competition	Winner	Runner-up
First Division	Arsenal	Liverpool
Second Division	Chelsea	Manchester City
Third Division	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Sheffield United
Fourth Division	Rotherham United	Tranmere Rovers
FA Cup	Liverpool	Everton
League Cup	Nottingham Forest	Luton Town
Charity Shield	Liverpool	Wimbledon

League table

P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Arsenal 38 22 10 6 73 36 +37 76
2 Liverpool 38 22 10 6 65 28
37
76
3 Nottingham Forest 38 17 13 8 64 43
21
64
4 Norwich City 38 17 11 10 48 45
3
62
5 Derby County 38 17 7 14 40 38
2
58
6 Tottenham Hotspur 38 15 12 11 60 46
14
57
7 Coventry City 38 14 13 11 47 42
5
55
8 Everton 38 14 12 12 50 45
5
54
9 Queen's Park Rangers 38 14 11 13 43 37
6
53
10 Millwall 38 14 11 13 47 52
53
11 Manchester United 38 13 12 13 45 35
10
51
12 Wimbledon 38 14 9 15 50 46
4
51
13 Southampton 38 10 15 13 52 66
45
14 Charlton Athletic 38 10 12 16 44 58
42
15 Sheffield Wednesday 38 10 12 16 34 51
42
16 Luton Town 38 10 11 17 42 52
41
17 Aston Villa 38 9 13 16 45 56
40
18 Middlesbrough 38 9 12 17 44 61
39
19 West Ham United 38 10 8 20 37 62
38
20 Newcastle United 38 7 10 21 32 63
31

37
		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Arsenal	38	22	10	6	73	36	+37	76
2	Liverpool	38	22	10	6	65	28
76
3	Nottingham Forest	38	17	13	8	64	43
64
4	Norwich City	38	17	11	10	48	45
62
5	Derby County	38	17	7	14	40	38
58
6	Tottenham Hotspur	38	15	12	11	60	46
57
7	Coventry City	38	14	13	11	47	42
55
8	Everton	38	14	12	12	50	45
54
9	Queen's Park Rangers	38	14	11	13	43	37
53
10	Millwall	38	14	11	13	47	52
53
11	Manchester United	38	13	12	13	45	35
51
12	Wimbledon	38	14	9	15	50	46
51
13	Southampton	38	10	15	13	52	66
45
14	Charlton Athletic	38	10	12	16	44	58
42
15	Sheffield Wednesday	38	10	12	16	34	51
42
16	Luton Town	38	10	11	17	42	52
41
17	Aston Villa	38	9	13	16	45	56
40
18	Middlesbrough	38	9	12	17	44	61
39
19	West Ham United	38	10	8	20	37	62
38
20	Newcastle United	38	7	10	21	32	63
31

P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Chelsea 46 29 12 5 96 50 +46 99
2 Manchester City 46 23 13 10 77 53
24
82
3 Crystal Palace 46 23 12 11 71 49
22
81
4 Watford 46 22 12 12 74 48
26
78
5 Blackburn Rovers 46 22 11 13 74 59
15
77
6 Swindon Town 46 20 16 10 68 53
15
76
7 Barnsley 46 20 14 12 66 58
8
74
8 Ipswich Town 46 22 7 17 71 61
10
73
9 West Bromwich Albion 46 18 18 10 65 41
24
72
10 Leeds United 46 17 16 13 59 50
9
67
11 Sunderland 46 16 15 15 60 60
0
63
12 Bournemouth 46 18 8 20 53 62
62
13 Stoke City 46 15 14 17 57 72
59
14 Bradford City 46 13 17 16 52 59
56
15 Leicester City 46 13 16 17 56 63
55
16 Oldham Athletic 46 11 21 14 75 72
3
54
17 Oxford United 46 14 12 20 62 70
54
18 Plymouth Argyle 46 14 12 20 55 66
54
19 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 14 9 23 57 66
51
20 Portsmouth 46 13 12 21 53 62
51
21 Hull City 46 11 14 21 52 68
47
22 Shrewsbury Town 46 8 18 20 40 67
42
23 Birmingham City 46 8 11 27 31 76
35
24 Walsall 46 5 16 25 41 80
31

24
		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	46	29	12	5	96	50	+46	99
2	Manchester City	46	23	13	10	77	53
82
3	Crystal Palace	46	23	12	11	71	49
81
4	Watford	46	22	12	12	74	48
78
5	Blackburn Rovers	46	22	11	13	74	59
77
6	Swindon Town	46	20	16	10	68	53
76
7	Barnsley	46	20	14	12	66	58
74
8	Ipswich Town	46	22	7	17	71	61
73
9	West Bromwich Albion	46	18	18	10	65	41
72
10	Leeds United	46	17	16	13	59	50
67
11	Sunderland	46	16	15	15	60	60
63
12	Bournemouth	46	18	8	20	53	62
62
13	Stoke City	46	15	14	17	57	72
59
14	Bradford City	46	13	17	16	52	59
56
15	Leicester City	46	13	16	17	56	63
55
16	Oldham Athletic	46	11	21	14	75	72
54
17	Oxford United	46	14	12	20	62	70
54
18	Plymouth Argyle	46	14	12	20	55	66
54
19	Brighton & Hove Albion	46	14	9	23	57	66
51
20	Portsmouth	46	13	12	21	53	62
51
21	Hull City	46	11	14	21	52	68
47
22	Shrewsbury Town	46	8	18	20	40	67
42
23	Birmingham City	46	8	11	27	31	76
35
24	Walsall	46	5	16	25	41	80
31

P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 26 14 6 96 49 +47 92
2 Sheffield United 46 25 9 12 93 54
39
84
3 Port Vale 46 24 12 10 78 48
30
84
4 Fulham 46 22 9 15 69 67
2
75
5 Bristol Rovers 46 19 17 10 67 51
16
74
6 Preston North End 46 19 15 12 79 60
19
72
7 Brentford 46 18 14 14 66 61
5
68
8 Chester City 46 19 11 16 64 61
3
68
9 Notts County 46 18 13 15 64 54
10
67
10 Bolton Wanderers 46 16 16 14 58 54
4
64
11 Bristol City 46 18 9 19 53 55
63
12 Swansea City 46 15 16 15 51 53
61
13 Bury 46 16 13 17 55 67
61
14 Huddersfield Town 46 17 9 20 63 73
60
15 Mansfield Town 46 14 17 15 48 52
59
16 Cardiff City 46 14 15 17 44 56
57
17 Wigan Athletic 46 14 14 18 55 53
2
56
18 Reading 46 15 11 20 68 72
56
19 Blackpool 46 14 13 19 56 59
55
20 Northampton Town 46 16 6 24 66 76
54
21 Southend United 46 13 15 18 56 75
54
22 Chesterfield 46 14 7 25 51 86
49
23 Gillingham 46 12 4 30 47 81
40
24 Aldershot 46 8 13 25 48 78
37

39
		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	46	26	14	6	96	49	+47	92
2	Sheffield United	46	25	9	12	93	54
84
3	Port Vale	46	24	12	10	78	48
84
4	Fulham	46	22	9	15	69	67
75
5	Bristol Rovers	46	19	17	10	67	51
74
6	Preston North End	46	19	15	12	79	60
72
7	Brentford	46	18	14	14	66	61
68
8	Chester City	46	19	11	16	64	61
68
9	Notts County	46	18	13	15	64	54
67
10	Bolton Wanderers	46	16	16	14	58	54
64
11	Bristol City	46	18	9	19	53	55
63
12	Swansea City	46	15	16	15	51	53
61
13	Bury	46	16	13	17	55	67
61
14	Huddersfield Town	46	17	9	20	63	73
60
15	Mansfield Town	46	14	17	15	48	52
59
16	Cardiff City	46	14	15	17	44	56
57
17	Wigan Athletic	46	14	14	18	55	53
56
18	Reading	46	15	11	20	68	72
56
19	Blackpool	46	14	13	19	56	59
55
20	Northampton Town	46	16	6	24	66	76
54
21	Southend United	46	13	15	18	56	75
54
22	Chesterfield	46	14	7	25	51	86
49
23	Gillingham	46	12	4	30	47	81
40
24	Aldershot	46	8	13	25	48	78
37

P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Rotherham United 46 22 16 8 76 35 +41 82
2 Tranmere Rovers 46 21 17 8 62 43
19
80
3 Crewe Alexandra 46 21 15 10 67 48
19
78
4 Scunthorpe United 46 21 14 11 77 57
20
77
5 Scarborough 46 21 14 11 67 52
15
77
6 Leyton Orient 46 21 12 13 86 50
36
75
7 Wrexham 46 19 14 13 77 63
14
71
8 Cambridge United 46 18 14 14 71 62
9
68
9 Grimsby Town 46 17 15 14 65 59
6
66
10 Lincoln City 46 18 10 18 64 60
4
64
11 York City 46 17 13 16 62 63
64
12 Carlisle United 46 15 15 16 53 52
1
60
13 Exeter City 46 18 6 22 65 68
60
14 Torquay United 46 17 8 21 45 60
59
15 Hereford United 46 14 16 16 66 72
58
16 Burnley 46 14 13 19 52 61
55
17 Peterborough United 46 14 12 20 52 74
54
18 Rochdale 46 13 14 19 56 82
53
19 Hartlepool United 46 14 10 22 50 78
52
20 Stockport County 46 10 21 15 54 52
2
51
21 Halifax Town 46 13 11 22 69 75
50
22 Colchester United 46 12 14 20 60 78
50
23 Doncaster Rovers 46 13 10 23 49 78
49
24 Darlington 46 8 18 20 53 76
42
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

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All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Rotherham United	46	22	16	8	76	35	+41	82
2	Tranmere Rovers	46	21	17	8	62	43
80
3	Crewe Alexandra	46	21	15	10	67	48
78
4	Scunthorpe United	46	21	14	11	77	57
77
5	Scarborough	46	21	14	11	67	52
77
6	Leyton Orient	46	21	12	13	86	50
75
7	Wrexham	46	19	14	13	77	63
71
8	Cambridge United	46	18	14	14	71	62
68
9	Grimsby Town	46	17	15	14	65	59
66
10	Lincoln City	46	18	10	18	64	60
64
11	York City	46	17	13	16	62	63
64
12	Carlisle United	46	15	15	16	53	52
60
13	Exeter City	46	18	6	22	65	68
60
14	Torquay United	46	17	8	21	45	60
59
15	Hereford United	46	14	16	16	66	72
58
16	Burnley	46	14	13	19	52	61
55
17	Peterborough United	46	14	12	20	52	74
54
18	Rochdale	46	13	14	19	56	82
53
19	Hartlepool United	46	14	10	22	50	78
52
20	Stockport County	46	10	21	15	54	52
51
21	Halifax Town	46	13	11	22	69	75
50
22	Colchester United	46	12	14	20	60	78
50
23	Doncaster Rovers	46	13	10	23	49	78
49
24	Darlington	46	8	18	20	53	76
42