1989-90 In English Football Article Index for
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OVERVIEW


First Division

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. To date, this remains their last league title. Gary Lineker 's arrival at Tottenham Hotspur saw the North London ers occupy third place after a season of improvement.

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.


Second Division

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 .

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.

Bournemouth , Stoke City and Bradford City occupied the Relegation places.


Third Division

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 .

Walsall suffered a second successive relegation and would be joined in the Fourth Division the following season by Blackpool , Cardiff City and Northampton Town .


Fourth Division

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 Conference champions Darlington , who regained their league status just one season after losing it.


FA Cup

Alex Ferguson silenced the critics who slated him for a lack of progress in the league by guiding Manchester United to a 1-0 replay victory over Crystal Palace in the F.A Cup final, which was achieved after a 3-3 draw.


League Cup

Brian Clough 's Nottingham Forest retained their League Cup by beating Oldham Athletic 1-0 at Wembley .


Back in Europe

English clubs were re-admitted to Europe for the 1990-91 season. League runners-up Aston Villa qualified for the UEFA Cup and F.A Cup winners Manchester United were entered for the Cup Winners' Cup , but Liverpool had to serve an extra year and were not allowed to compete in the European Cup .


Biggest rise

Sheffield United finished Second Division runners-up to win their second successive promotion and end a 14-year absence from the First Division.


Biggest fall

Millwall finished bottom of the First Division and went down to the Second Division having led the league for the first two weeks of September.


SUCCESSFUL PLAYERS

  • David Platt 's frequent goalscoring from the Aston Villa midfield was not quite enough to earn his side the championship trophy, but it was enough for him to win the PFA Player Of The Year award.

  • Liverpool's John Barnes scored over 20 goals and helped his team win another league title and himself win the FWA Player Of The Year award.

  • Southampton's highly rated young Guernsey -born striker Matthew Le Tissier was credited with the PFA Young Player Of The Year award for his exciting performances.

  • Manchester United's Mark Hughes had another good season as he helped his side overcome disappointing league form and reach the F.A Cup final where he scored twice in the first game before they won the replay.



SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS

  • Kenny Dalglish brought another championship trophy to Liverpool after fighting off a late challenge from Aston Villa.

  • Alex Ferguson finally guided Manchester United to a major trophy after four seasons of trying when they beat Crystal Palace in the F.A Cup final replay.

  • Graham Taylor took Aston Villa to the brink of championship glory just one season after they had been on the brink of relegation.

  • Dave Bassett took Sheffield United to a second successive promotion to bring top flight football to Bramall Lane for the first time since the 1970s.



DEATHS



SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

  • Liverpool won the league championship for the 18th time.

  • Millwall, who had briefly led the league in September, were relegated at the end of the season in bottom place.

  • Manchester United won their first major trophy under Alex Ferguson by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in the F.A Cup final replay, having drawn the first match 3-3.

  • Leeds United returned to the First Division after an eight-year exile, having won the Second Division title.

  • Darlington regained their league status at the first attempt after winning the Conference. They replaced Colchester United, who were relegated from the Fourth Division to the Conference.

  • Bobby Robson announced that he would be quitting as England manager after the World Cup to become head coach of PSV in Holland.

  • England lost to eventual winners West Germany in the semi finals of the World Cup. They went out on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

  • The F.A appointed Graham Taylor as the new England manager.

  • English clubs were readmitted to European competition after a five-year ban.

  • League champions Liverpool were forbidden to enter the European Cup because they had to serve an extra year of the ban.