The Football League play-offs 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 and Football League Third Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Fourth Division 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 from 1990.
Second Division
Team3Crystal Palace462312117149+22814Watford462212127448+26785Blackburn Rovers462211137449+15776Swindon Town462016106853+1576
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
Team3Port Vale462412107848+30844Fulham46229156967+2755Bristol Rovers461917106751+16746Preston North End461915127960+1972
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
Team4Scunthorpe United462114117757+20775Scarborough462114116752+15776Leyton Orient462112138650+36757Wrexham461914137763+1471
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