The
Football League play-offs
The English Football League play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the four association football teams finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places in the second, third and fourth tiers of the English football league ...
for the
1988–89 season were held in May 1989, with the two-legged finals taking place at the finalists home stadiums. The play-off semi-finals were also played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the
Football League Second Division
The Football League Second Division was the second level division in the English football league system between 1892 and 1992. Following the foundation of the FA Premier League, the Football League divisions were renumbered and the third ti ...
and
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 and again from 1958 until 1992. When the FA Premier League was formed, the division become the fourth tier level. In 2004, following the f ...
and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the
Football League Fourth Division
The Football League Fourth Division was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season. Whilst the division disappeared in name ...
table. The winners of the semi-finals progressed through to the finals, with the winner of these matches either gaining promotion or avoiding relegation for the
following season.
Background
The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places. For the first three seasons the final was played over two legs but this was changed to a single match at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
from 1990.
Second Division
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Watford 1–1 Blackburn Rovers on aggregate. Blackburn Rovers won on away goals.''
----
''Crystal Palace won 2–1 on aggregate.''
Final
;First leg
;Second leg
''Crystal Palace won 4–3 on aggregate.''
Third Division
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Bristol Rovers won 5–0 on aggregate.''
----
''Port Vale won 4–2 on aggregate.''
Final
;First leg
;Second leg
''Port Vale won 2–1 on aggregate.''
Fourth Division
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Leyton Orient won 2–1 on aggregate.''
----
''Wrexham won 5–1 on aggregate.''
Final
;First leg
;Second leg
''Leyton Orient won 2–1 on aggregate.''
External links
Football League website
{{DEFAULTSORT:1989 Football League Play-Offs
English Football League play-offs