The 1989 Football League Cup final was a football match played on 9 April 1989 between Nottingham Forest and the League Cup holders Luton Town at Wembley Stadium. Nottingham Forest claimed a third title with a 3–1 victory. Luton opened the scoring in the first half with a header from Mick Harford, while Forest's Lee Chapman had a goal disallowed at the other end. In the second half Forest took control and equalised with a penalty by Nigel Clough. Soon after, Tommy Gaynor provided a cross for Neil Webb to control and slot into the Luton net. Clough completed the scoring with a low drilled shot from just outside the penalty area. It was Forest's third victory in this competition. As of 2026, this was the last time Luton have appeared in either major domestic cup final.
Match details
GK 1 Steve SuttonRB 2 Brian LawsLB 3 Stuart Pearce (c)CB 4 Des WalkerCB 5 Terry WilsonLM 6 Steve HodgeRM 7 Tommy GaynorCM 8 Neil WebbCF 9 Nigel CloughCF 10 Lee ChapmanCM 11 Garry ParkerSubstitutes:DF 12 Steve ChettleFW 14 Lee GloverManager: Brian Clough GK 1 Les SealeyRB 2 Tim BreackerLB 3 Ashley Grimes CM 4 David PreeceCB 5 Steve Foster (c)CB 6 Dave BeaumontRM 7 Danny WilsonCF 8 Roy WegerleCF 9 Mick HarfordCM 10 Ricky HillLM 11 Kingsley BlackSubstitutes:DF 12 Darron McDonough FW 14 Raphael MeadeManager: Ray Harford
Road to Wembley Luton
Luton 1–1 Burnley (R Johnson) 2nd Round 1st Leg
Burnley 0–1 Luton (R Hill) 2nd Round 2nd Leg
Leeds 0–2 Luton (D Wilson, K Black) 3rd Round
Luton 3–1 Manchester City (R Wegerle 2, Oldfield) 4th Round
Luton 1–1 Southampton (M Harford) 5th Round
Southampton 1–2 Luton (M Harford, R Hill) 5th Round Replay
West Ham United 0–3 Luton (M Harford, R Wegerle, D Wilson) Semi-final 1st Leg
Luton 2–0 West Ham United (M Harford, R Wegerle) Semi-final 2nd Leg
References Match report at the Sporting Chronicle