# 1987–88 Football League

The 1987–88 season was the 89th completed season of The Football League.

## Final league tables and results

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, with home and away statistics separated.

## First Division

Liverpool won the league title by nine points, and with only two defeats all season. Second in the league were Manchester United.
The automatically relegated sides were Watford, Oxford United and Portsmouth. Chelsea were subsequently relegated as well after losing to Middlesbrough in the playoff final.

### Final table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Liverpool (C) | 40 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 87 | 24 | +63 | 90 | Disqualified from European Cup |
| 2 | Manchester United | 40 | 23 | 12 | 5 | 71 | 38 | +33 | 81 | Disqualified from UEFA Cup |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 40 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 67 | 39 | +28 | 73 | |
| 4 | Everton | 40 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 53 | 27 | +26 | 70 | |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 40 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 48 | 38 | +10 | 67 | |
| 6 | Arsenal | 40 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 58 | 39 | +19 | 66 | |
| 7 | Wimbledon | 40 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 57 | Disqualified from European Cup Winners' Cup |
| 8 | Newcastle United | 40 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 56 | |
| 9 | Luton Town | 40 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 57 | 58 | −1 | 53 | Disqualified from UEFA Cup |
| 10 | Coventry City | 40 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 46 | 53 | −7 | 53 | |
| 11 | Sheffield Wednesday | 40 | 15 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 66 | −14 | 53 | |
| 12 | Southampton | 40 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 49 | 53 | −4 | 50 | |
| 13 | Tottenham Hotspur | 40 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 47 | |
| 14 | Norwich City | 40 | 12 | 9 | 19 | 40 | 52 | −12 | 45 | |
| 15 | Derby County | 40 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 35 | 45 | −10 | 43 | |
| 16 | West Ham United | 40 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 40 | 52 | −12 | 42 | |
| 17 | Charlton Athletic | 40 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 38 | 52 | −14 | 42 | |
| 18 | Chelsea (R) | 40 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 50 | 68 | −18 | 42 | Qualified for Second Division play-offs |
| 19 | Portsmouth (R) | 40 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 66 | −30 | 35 | Relegated to Second Division |
| 20 | Watford (R) | 40 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 27 | 51 | −24 | 32 | Relegated to Second Division |
| 21 | Oxford United (R) | 40 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 80 | −36 | 31 | Relegated to Second Division |
* ↑ Wimbledon would have qualified as FA Cup winners.
* ↑ Luton Town would have qualified as League Cup winners.

### First Division results

| Home \ Away | ARS | CHA | CHE | COV | DER | EVE | LIV | LUT | MUN | NEW | NWC | NOT | OXF | POR | QPR | SHW | SOU | TOT | WAT | WHU | WDN |
| Arsenal | | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Charlton Athletic | 0–3 | | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 |
| Chelsea | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Coventry City | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 |
| Derby County | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Everton | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Liverpool | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Luton Town | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 7–4 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Manchester United | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Newcastle United | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–0 | | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Norwich City | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 |
| Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | | 5–3 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Oxford United | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–4 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–5 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 0–2 | | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–5 |
| Portsmouth | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Southampton | 4–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 |
| Watford | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| West Ham United | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | | 1–2 |
| Wimbledon | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Watford | Graham Taylor | Signed by Aston Villa | 27 May 1987 | Pre-season | Dave Bassett | 18 June 1987 |
| Everton | Howard Kendall | Signed by Athletic Bilbao | 18 June 1987 | Pre-season | Colin Harvey | 18 June 1987 |
| Wimbledon | Dave Bassett | Signed by Watford | 18 June 1987 | Pre-season | Bobby Gould | 25 June 1987 |
| Luton Town | John Moore | Resigned | 20 June 1987 | Pre-season | Ray Harford | 22 June 1987 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | David Pleat | Resigned | 23 October 1987 | 7th | Terry Venables | 28 November 1987 |
| Norwich City | Ken Brown | Sacked | 9 November 1987 | 19th | Dave Stringer | 9 November 1987 |
| Watford | Dave Bassett | Sacked | 11 January 1988 | 21st | Steve Harrison | 15 January 1988 |
| Chelsea | John Hollins | Sacked | 6 March 1988 | 16th | Bobby Campbell | 6 March 1988 |
| Oxford United | Maurice Evans | Resigned | 18 March 1988 | 20th | Mark Lawrenson | 19 March 1988 |

### First Division maps
## Second Division

Millwall lifted the Second Division championship trophy and gained promotion to the First Division for the first time in their history. Runners-up were Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough won promotion via play-offs.
Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United were relegated.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Millwall (C, P) | 44 | 25 | 7 | 12 | 72 | 52 | +20 | 82 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Aston Villa (P) | 44 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 68 | 41 | +27 | 78 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Middlesbrough (O, P) | 44 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 63 | 36 | +27 | 78 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 4 | Bradford City | 44 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 74 | 54 | +20 | 77 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 44 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 68 | 52 | +16 | 77 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 44 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 86 | 59 | +27 | 75 | |
| 7 | Leeds United | 44 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 61 | 51 | +10 | 69 | |
| 8 | Ipswich Town | 44 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 61 | 52 | +9 | 66 | |
| 9 | Manchester City | 44 | 19 | 8 | 17 | 80 | 60 | +20 | 65 | |
| 10 | Oldham Athletic | 44 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 72 | 64 | +8 | 65 | |
| 11 | Stoke City | 44 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 62 | |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 44 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 73 | 60 | +13 | 59 | |
| 13 | Leicester City | 44 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 62 | 61 | +1 | 59 | |
| 14 | Barnsley | 44 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 61 | 62 | −1 | 57 | |
| 15 | Hull City | 44 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 60 | −6 | 57 | |
| 16 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | 16 | 8 | 20 | 65 | 67 | −2 | 56 | |
| 17 | Bournemouth | 44 | 13 | 10 | 21 | 56 | 68 | −12 | 49 | |
| 18 | Shrewsbury Town | 44 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 49 | |
| 19 | Birmingham City | 44 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 41 | 66 | −25 | 48 | |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 44 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 50 | 69 | −19 | 47 | |
| 21 | Sheffield United (R) | 44 | 13 | 7 | 24 | 45 | 74 | −29 | 46 | Qualification for the Third Division play-offs |
| 22 | Reading (R) | 44 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 44 | 70 | −26 | 42 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 44 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 41 | 100 | −59 | 28 | Relegation to the Third Division |

### Second Division play-offs

The team fourth from bottom of the First Division played off for one place in that division with the teams finishing third, fourth and fifth in the Second Division. In the semi-final, Chelsea of the First Division beat fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers 6–1 on aggregate, and third-placed Middlesbrough beat Bradford City 3–2 on aggregate. The final was also played over two legs. Playing at their Ayresome Park ground in front of a crowd of 25,531, Middlesbrough duly won the first leg 2–0 with goals from Bernie Slaven and Trevor Senior. In the second leg at Stamford Bridge, which was marred by violence perpetrated by some of the 40,550 spectators, Chelsea's Gordon Durie scored the only goal. Thus Middlesbrough won 2–1 on aggregate and were promoted to the First Division for 1988–89, while Chelsea were relegated to the Second.
| Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 1D | Chelsea | 2 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| 1D | Chelsea | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1D | Chelsea | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | | | 3 | Middlesbrough | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Bradford City | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | Middlesbrough | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Middlesbrough | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
Source:

### Second Division results

| Home \ Away | AST | BAR | BIR | BLB | BOU | BRA | CRY | HUD | HUL | IPS | LEE | LEI | MCI | MID | MIL | OLD | PLY | REA | SHU | SHR | STK | SWI | WBA |
| Aston Villa | | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Barnsley | 1–3 | | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Birmingham City | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 |
| Bournemouth | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 6–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Bradford City | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| Crystal Palace | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 |
| Huddersfield Town | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| Hull City | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 |
| Ipswich Town | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Leeds United | 1–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 |
| Leicester City | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 4–4 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 |
| Manchester City | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 10–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Middlesbrough | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 6–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 |
| Millwall | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Oldham Athletic | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 2–1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 6–3 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 |
| Reading | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Sheffield United | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–5 | 1–0 | 4–1 | | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Stoke City | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Swindon Town | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 2–0 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | |

## Third Division

Sunderland won the Third Division and went back up to the Second Division. They were joined by runners-up Brighton & Hove Albion and playoff winners Walsall. The automatic relegation places were occupied by Grimsby Town, York City and Doncaster Rovers, with Rotherham United relegated after play-offs.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Sunderland (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 92 | 48 | +44 | 93 | Promotion to the Second Division |
| 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion (P) | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 69 | 47 | +22 | 84 | Promotion to the Second Division |
| 3 | Walsall (O, P) | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 82 | Qualification for the Third Division play-offs |
| 4 | Notts County | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 82 | 49 | +33 | 81 | Qualification for the Third Division play-offs |
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 77 | 62 | +15 | 75 | Qualification for the Third Division play-offs |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 70 | 51 | +19 | 73 | |
| 7 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 70 | 61 | +9 | 72 | |
| 8 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 68 | 56 | +12 | 66 | |
| 9 | Fulham | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 69 | 60 | +9 | 66 | |
| 10 | Blackpool | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 65 | |
| 11 | Port Vale | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 58 | 56 | +2 | 65 | |
| 12 | Brentford | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 53 | 59 | −6 | 62 | |
| 13 | Gillingham | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 77 | 61 | +16 | 59 | |
| 14 | Bury | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 58 | 57 | +1 | 59 | |
| 15 | Chester City | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 58 | |
| 16 | Preston North End | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 48 | 59 | −11 | 58 | |
| 17 | Southend United | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 65 | 83 | −18 | 55 | |
| 18 | Chesterfield | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 41 | 70 | −29 | 55 | |
| 19 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 48 | 59 | −11 | 54 | |
| 20 | Aldershot | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 64 | 74 | −10 | 53 | |
| 21 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 50 | 66 | −16 | 52 | Qualification for the Fourth Division play-offs |
| 22 | Grimsby Town (R) | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 50 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |
| 23 | York City (R) | 46 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 48 | 91 | −43 | 33 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |
| 24 | Doncaster Rovers (R) | 46 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 40 | 84 | −44 | 33 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |

### Third Division play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Final 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 |
| 21st | Sheffield United (Div 2) | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 5th | Bristol City | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| 5th | Bristol City | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3rd | Walsall | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | | | | | 5th | Bristol City | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd | Walsall | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5th | Bristol City | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4th | Notts County | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |

#### Replay
### Third Division results

| Home \ Away | ALD | BLP | BRE | B&HA | BRC | BRR | BRY | CHE | CHF | DON | FUL | GIL | GRI | MAN | NOR | NTC | PTV | PNE | ROT | STD | SUN | WAL | WIG | YOR |
| Aldershot | | 0–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 4–4 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 |
| Blackpool | 3–2 | | 0–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Brentford | 3–0 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Bristol City | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 5–2 | | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 |
| Bristol Rovers | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 |
| Bury | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Chester City | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 4–4 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Chesterfield | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–4 | 2–0 |
| Fulham | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 |
| Gillingham | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 10–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 8–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Grimsby Town | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| Mansfield Town | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| Northampton Town | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Notts County | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 1–2 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 6–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–4 | 3–0 |
| Port Vale | 4–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | | 3–2 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Preston North End | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 |
| Rotherham United | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Southend United | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 |
| Sunderland | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 7–0 | | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 |
| Walsall | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Wigan Athletic | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | | 1–1 |
| York City | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | |

## Fourth Division

Wolves ended their two-year tenure in the Fourth Division by finishing top of the table and winning promotion to the Third Division. They also won the Sherpa Van Trophy final by defeating Burnley at Wembley.
Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff City and Swansea City were also promoted.
Newport County were relegated for the second successive season. They were replaced in the Football League by Lincoln City.
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 47 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 24 | +39 | 90 | Champions - automatically promoted to Third Division |
| 2 | Cardiff City | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 27 | +25 | 85 | Automatically promoted to Third Division; Welsh Cup Winners - qualified for Cup Winners' Cup |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 30 | +24 | 78 | Automatically promoted to Third Division |
| 4 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 34 | 31 | +25 | 77 | Participated in Fourth Division play-offs |
| 5 | Torquay United | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 32 | 25 | +25 | 77 | Participated in Fourth Division play-offs |
| 6 | Swansea City | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 28 | +6 | 70 | Promoted via the Fourth Division play-offs |
| 7 | Peterborough United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 27 | −1 | 70 | |
| 8 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 55 | 27 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 36 | +22 | 69 | |
| 9 | Colchester United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 29 | −4 | 67 | |
| 10 | Burnley | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 26 | 40 | −5 | 67 | |
| 11 | Wrexham | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 46 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 32 | +11 | 66 | |
| 12 | Scarborough | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 38 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 29 | +8 | 65 | |
| 13 | Darlington | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 32 | 44 | +2 | 65 | |
| 14 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 33 | +8 | 64 | |
| 15 | Cambridge United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 28 | −2 | 61 | |
| 16 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 59 | |
| 17 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 34 | +4 | 58 | |
| 18 | Halifax Town | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 37 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 34 | −5 | 55 | |
| 19 | Hereford United | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 32 | −18 | 54 | |
| 20 | Stockport County | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 32 | −14 | 51 | |
| 21 | Rochdale | 46 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 34 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 42 | −29 | 48 | |
| 22 | Exeter City | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 39 | −15 | 46 | |
| 23 | Carlisle United | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 53 | −29 | 44 | |
| 24 | Newport County | 46 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 16 | 69 | −70 | 25 | Automatically relegated to the Football Conference |
* ↑ Swansea City won the play-offs and were thus promoted.
* ↑ Newly promoted from the Football Conference
* ↑ Tranmere Rovers were deducted two points.
* ↑ Halifax Town were deducted one point.

### Fourth Division play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 15 May; 2nd leg – 18 May 1988 | Finals 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Finals 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Finals 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Finals 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 | Finals 1st leg – 25 May; 2nd leg – 28 May 1988 |
| 21st | Rotherham United (Div 3) | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 6th | Swansea City | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| 6th | Swansea City | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6th | Swansea City | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| | | | | | 5th | Torquay United | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 4th | Scunthorpe United | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5th | Torquay United | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 5th | Torquay United | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |

### Fourth Division results

| Home \ Away | BOL | BUR | CAM | CAR | CRL | COL | CRE | DAR | EXE | HAL | HAR | HER | LEY | NPC | PET | ROC | SCA | SCU | STP | SWA | TOR | TRA | WOL | WRE |
| Bolton Wanderers | | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Burnley | 2–1 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 |
| Cambridge United | 2–2 | 2–0 | | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Cardiff City | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Carlisle United | 0–2 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 4–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 |
| Colchester United | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 1–4 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 |
| Darlington | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Exeter City | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Halifax Town | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Hartlepool United | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Hereford United | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | | 0–3 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Leyton Orient | 1–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | | 4–1 | 2–0 | 8–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 |
| Newport County | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | | 0–4 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Peterborough United | 0–4 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Rochdale | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Scarborough | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Scunthorpe United | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Stockport County | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Swansea City | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Torquay United | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 6–1 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 6–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | | 0–2 |
| Wrexham | 0–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 4–2 | |

## Goalscorers

The top goalscorers in each division were:
* Division 1 - John Aldridge (26)
* Division 2 - David Currie (28)
* Division 3 - David Crown (26)
* Division 4 - Steve Bull (34)

## Attendances

| # | Football club | Home games | Average attendance |
| 1 | Liverpool FC | 20 | 39,683 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 20 | 39,105 |
| 3 | Arsenal FC | 20 | 29,903 |
| 4 | Everton FC | 20 | 27,782 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 | 25,921 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | 20 | 21,038 |
| 7 | Chelsea FC | 20 | 20,427 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 20 | 19,822 |
| 9 | Sheffield Wednesday | 20 | 19,797 |
| 10 | Nottingham Forest | 20 | 19,273 |
| 11 | Coventry City | 20 | 17,508 |
| 12 | Derby County | 20 | 17,280 |
| 13 | Portsmouth FC | 20 | 15,909 |
| 14 | Norwich City | 20 | 15,763 |
| 15 | Watford FC | 20 | 14,536 |
| 16 | Southampton FC | 20 | 14,536 |
| 17 | Queens Park Rangers | 20 | 13,141 |
| 18 | Charlton Athletic | 20 | 8,681 |
| 19 | Oxford United | 20 | 8,388 |
| 20 | Luton Town | 20 | 8,157 |
| 21 | Wimbledon FC | 20 | 8,016 |