1989–90_Football_League_Fourth_Division
1989–90 Football League
91st season of the Football League
The 1989–90 season was the 91st completed season of The Football League.
| Season | 1989–90 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Liverpool |
| Relegated | Colchester United |
| New club in League | Maidstone United |
← 1988–89 1990–91 → | |
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.
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,[1] with home and away statistics separated.
| Season | 1989–90 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Liverpool 18th English title |
| Relegated | Sheffield Wednesday Charlton Athletic Millwall |
| European Cup Winners' Cup | Manchester United |
| UEFA Cup | Aston Villa |
| Matches played | 380 |
| Goals scored | 987 (2.6 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Gary Lineker (24 goals)[2] |
| Biggest home win | Liverpool 9–0 Crystal Palace (12 September 1989) |
| Biggest away win | Coventry City 1–6 Liverpool (5 May 1990) |
| Highest scoring | Liverpool 9–0 Crystal Palace (12 September 1989) Southampton 6–3 Luton Town (25 November 1989) |
← 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.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool (C) | 38 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 78 | 37 | +41 | 79 | Disqualified from the European Cup[lower-alpha 1] |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 57 | 38 | +19 | 70 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 63 | |
| 4 | Arsenal | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 54 | 38 | +16 | 62 | |
| 5 | Chelsea | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 60 | |
| 6 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 59 | |
| 7 | Southampton | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 71 | 63 | +8 | 55 | |
| 8 | Wimbledon | 38 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 55 | |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 54 | |
| 10 | Norwich City | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 53 | |
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 50 | |
| 12 | Coventry City | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 39 | 59 | −20 | 49 | |
| 13 | Manchester United | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 48 | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2] |
| 14 | Manchester City | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 48 | |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 42 | 66 | −24 | 48 | |
| 16 | Derby County | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 43 | 40 | +3 | 46 | |
| 17 | Luton Town | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 43 | |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday (R) | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 43 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 19 | Charlton Athletic (R) | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 57 | −26 | 30 | |
| 20 | Millwall (R) | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 39 | 65 | −26 | 26 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
First Division results
| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | CHA | CHE | COV | CRY | DER | EVE | LIV | LUT | MCI | MUN | MIL | NWC | NOT | QPR | SHW | SOU | TOT | WDN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | |
| Aston Villa | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 6–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | |
| Charlton Athletic | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 1–2 | |
| Chelsea | 0–0 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–5 | |
| Coventry City | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–6 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | |
| Crystal Palace | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | |
| Derby County | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| Everton | 3–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| Liverpool | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 9–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| Luton Town | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | |
| Manchester City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | |
| Manchester United | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | |
| Millwall | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | |
| Norwich City | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 0–1 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–3 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 0–1 | |
| Southampton | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 6–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | |
| Wimbledon | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 |
First Division maps
| Season | 1989–90 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Leeds United |
| Promoted | Leeds United Sheffield United Sunderland |
| Relegated | Bournemouth Bradford City Stoke City |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1,526 (2.76 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Micky Quinn (32 goals)[2] |
← 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.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United (C, P) | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 79 | 52 | +27 | 85 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Sheffield United (P) | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 78 | 58 | +20 | 85 | |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 80 | 55 | +25 | 80 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 4 | Swindon Town[lower-alpha 3] (O) | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 79 | 59 | +20 | 74 | |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 74 | 59 | +15 | 74 | |
| 6 | Sunderland[lower-alpha 3] (P) | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 70 | 64 | +6 | 74 | |
| 7 | West Ham United | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 80 | 57 | +23 | 72 | |
| 8 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 70 | 57 | +13 | 71 | |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 66 | +1 | 69 | |
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 60 | +7 | 67 | |
| 11 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 61 | |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 61 | |
| 13 | Leicester City | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 67 | 79 | −12 | 59 | |
| 14 | Hull City | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 58 | |
| 15 | Watford | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 58 | 60 | −2 | 57 | |
| 16 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 58 | 63 | −5 | 55 | |
| 17 | Oxford United | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 57 | 66 | −9 | 54 | |
| 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 56 | 72 | −16 | 54 | |
| 19 | Barnsley | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 49 | 71 | −22 | 54 | |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 67 | 71 | −4 | 51 | |
| 21 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 52 | 63 | −11 | 50 | |
| 22 | Bournemouth (R) | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 57 | 76 | −19 | 48 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 23 | Bradford City (R) | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 44 | 68 | −24 | 41 | |
| 24 | Stoke City (R) | 46 | 6 | 19 | 21 | 35 | 63 | −28 | 37 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Liverpool were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on for 10 years, because of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans. The ban was eventually lifted for the 1991–92 season.
- Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup as the 1989–90 FA Cup winners.
- 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.
Results
| Home \ Away | 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 |
Second Division play-offs
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.
| Semifinals 1st leg – 13 May; 2nd leg – 16 May 1990 | Final at Wembley 28 May 1990 | ||||||||||
| 3rd | Newcastle United | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 6th | Sunderland | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 6th | Sunderland[notes2 1] | 0 | |||||||||
| 4th | Swindon Town | 1 | |||||||||
| 4th | Swindon Town | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
| 5th | Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
- Following 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.).
Second Division maps
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.
| Season | 1989–90 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bristol Rovers (1st title) |
| Promoted | Bristol City, Notts County |
| Relegated | Blackpool, Cardiff City, Northampton, Walsall |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1,414 (2.56 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Bob Taylor (Bristol City), 27[2] |
← 1988–89 1990–91 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 43 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 28 | 21 | +36 | 93 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Bristol City | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 40 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 36 | 24 | +36 | 91 | Promoted |
| 3 | Notts County | 46 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 35 | +20 | 87 | Promoted through play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
| 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 54 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 32 | 27 | +37 | 80 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Bury | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 30 | +21 | 74 | |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 27 | 29 | +11 | 69 | |
| 7 | Birmingham City | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 40 | +1 | 66 | |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 31 | 39 | −1 | 65 | |
| 9 | Rotherham United | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 48 | 28 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 34 | +9 | 64 | |
| 10 | Reading | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 33 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 32 | +4 | 64 | |
| 11 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 38 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 30 | +5 | 63 | |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 29 | +3 | 62 | |
| 13 | Brentford | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 41 | 31 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 25 | 35 | 0 | 61 | |
| 14 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 32 | −4 | 58 | |
| 15 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 34 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 40 | −15 | 55 | |
| 16 | Chester City | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 32 | −12 | 54 | |
| 17 | Swansea City | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 36 | −18 | 54 | |
| 18 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 19 | 42 | −16 | 53 | |
| 19 | Preston North End | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 42 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 23 | 49 | −14 | 52 | |
| 20 | Fulham | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 39 | −11 | 51 | |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 46 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 35 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 35 | −19 | 50 | Relegated |
| 22 | Northampton Town | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 31 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 24 | 37 | −17 | 47 | |
| 23 | Blackpool | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 33 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 20 | 40 | −24 | 46 | |
| 24 | Walsall | 46 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 17 | 42 | −32 | 41 |
- Notts County were promoted through the play-offs.
Third Division results
| Home \ Away | 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 |
Third Division play-offs
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.
| Semifinals 1st leg – 13 May; 2nd leg – 16 May 1990 | Final at Wembley 27 May 1990 | ||||||||||
| 3rd | Notts County | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
| 6th | Bolton Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 3rd | Notts County | 2 | |||||||||
| 4th | Tranmere Rovers | 0 | |||||||||
| 4th | Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 5th | Bury | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
Third Division maps
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.
| Season | 1989–90 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Exeter City (1st title) |
| Promoted | Cambridge United, Grimsby Town, Southend United |
| Relegated to Conference | Colchester United |
| New club in the league | Maidstone United |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1,426 (2.58 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Brett Angell (Stockport County), 23[2] |
← 1988–89 1990–91 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exeter City | 46 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 33 | 34 | +35 | 89 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 29 | 27 | +23 | 79 | Promoted |
| 3 | Southend United | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 34 | +13 | 75 | |
| 4 | Stockport County | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 35 | +6 | 74 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Maidstone United[lower-alpha 1] | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 49 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 28 | 40 | +16 | 73 | |
| 6 | Cambridge United | 46 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 36 | +10 | 73 | Promoted through play-offs[lower-alpha 2] |
| 7 | Chesterfield | 46 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 41 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 31 | +13 | 71 | Participated in play-offs |
| 8 | Carlisle United | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 40 | +1 | 71 | |
| 9 | Peterborough United | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 23 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 23 | +13 | 68 | |
| 10 | Lincoln City | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 21 | 0 | 68 | |
| 11 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 42 | 25 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 29 | +15 | 66 | |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 32 | −3 | 66 | |
| 13 | York City | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 24 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 26 | 29 | +2 | 64 | |
| 14 | Gillingham | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 18 | 27 | −2 | 62 | |
| 15 | Torquay United | 46 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 37 | −13 | 57 | |
| 16 | Burnley | 46 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 37 | −10 | 56 | |
| 17 | Hereford United | 46 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 31 | 32 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 30 | −6 | 55 | |
| 18 | Scarborough | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 45 | −13 | 55 | |
| 19 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 45 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 55 | −22 | 55 | |
| 20 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 31 | −7 | 51 | |
| 21 | Wrexham | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 23 | 39 | −16 | 51 | Welsh Cup runners-up, qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1990–91 First round[lower-alpha 3] |
| 22 | Aldershot | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 43 | −20 | 50 | |
| 23 | Halifax Town | 46 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 31 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 36 | −8 | 49 | |
| 24 | Colchester United | 46 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 25 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 50 | −27 | 43 | Relegated to Conference |
- Cambridge United were promoted through play-offs.
- 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.
Fourth Division results
| Home \ Away | 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 |
Fourth Division play-offs
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.
| Semifinals 1st leg –13 May; 2nd leg –16 May 1990 | Final at Wembley 26 May 1990 | ||||||||||
| 4th | Stockport County | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 7th | Chesterfield | 4 | 2 | 6 | |||||||
| 7th | Chesterfield | 0 | |||||||||
| 6th | Cambridge United | 1 | |||||||||
| 5th | Maidstone United (1897) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 6th | Cambridge United | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
Fourth Division maps
- "England 1989–90". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.