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1990-91 in English football
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The 1990-91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.
lass="link1" onMouseover='showByLink("m6079094",this)' onMouseout='hide("m6079094")'href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Arsenal_F.C.">Arsenal took their second league title in three seasons despite a season during which it often looked as though the good points would be outnumbered by the bad points. A player brawl in a league fixture against Manchester United in October saw Arsenal have two points deducted, and a few weeks later captain Tony Adams was given a four-month prison sentence for drink-driving (he ended up serving 8 weeks).
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Encyclopedia
The 1990-91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.
Overview
First Division
Arsenal took their second league title in three seasons despite a season during which it often looked as though the good points would be outnumbered by the bad points. A player brawl in a league fixture against Manchester United in October saw Arsenal have two points deducted, and a few weeks later captain Tony Adams was given a four-month prison sentence for drink-driving (he ended up serving 8 weeks). But Arsenal managed to keep up a great run of form throughout the season and were crowned league champions having lost just one league game all season long.
Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager Kenny Dalglish. Rangers boss Graeme Souness was brought in as his successor but was unable to bring a major trophy to Anfield. Third place in the league went to Crystal Palace, who occupied their highest-ever finish, but were denied qualification for the UEFA Cup due to Liverpool being readmitted to European competition a year earlier than anticipated.
Newly promoted Leeds United had a good season back in the First Division as they finished fourth but never really looked like challenging for the title. They did, however, reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, where they lost to Manchester United.
Down at the bottom end of the table, Derby County went down in bottom place with just five wins all season despite the 17 league goals of Welsh striker Dean Saunders, who was then sold to Liverpool. The final relegation place went to Sunderland on the last day of the season.
On 1 November, Everton had sacked manager Colin Harvey after three-and-a-half years at the helm. Manchester City's Howard Kendall returned to Everton for his second spell as manager, with Harvey returning as assistant.
15 November saw two First Division clubs appoint player-managers. Peter Reid, 34, stepped up to the manager's seat at Manchester City. Terry Butcher, still only 31, was recruited from Glasgow Rangers to take over from John Sillett at Coventry City, making him the youngest manager in the Football League.
Bobby Campbell quit his managerial duties at Chelsea at the end of his fourth season in charge, becoming personal assistant to chairman Ken Bates and handing over managerial duties to Ian Porterfield.
Jimmy Ryan was sacked by Luton Town just after achieving a second successive last-day escape from relegation. He was replaced by David Pleat, who had previously been at Kenilworth Road from 1978 to 1986.
Jozef Venglos left Aston Villa after one season to be succeeded by Sheffield Wednesday's Ron Atkinson, who himself was succeeded by Trevor Francis.
Queen's Park Rangers sacked Don Howe at the end of the season, replacing him with Gerry Francis from Bristol Rovers.
Southampton's Chris Nicholl was dismissed at the end of his sixth season with the club, being replaced by Crystal Palace coach Ian Branfoot.
Second Division
Joe Royle's cavalier Oldham Athletic side dramatically won the Second Division championship - an injury-time penalty completing a 3-2 come-from-behind win against Sheffield Wednesday in their final game, edging them the title from previous leaders West Ham United, who would be promoted as runners-up. Joining them were League Cup winners Sheffield Wednesday, who finished in third place. Neil Warnock guided Notts County to a second successive victory in the promotion playoffs.
Hull City struggled throughout the 1990-91 season and not even the appointment of new manager Terry Dolan could save their Second Division status. They were joined on the last day of the season by West Bromwich Albion, who went down to the Third Division for the first time in their history. Leicester City were saved from suffering the same humiliation by winning their final game of the season. Albion had sacked player-manager Brian Talbot in January following an FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Woking, but his successor Bobby Gould was unable to save Albion from the dreaded drop.
Newly-promoted Bristol Rovers attained their highest league finish in years, finishing 13th. But manager Gerry Francis then resigned to take over at Queen's Park Rangers, handing over the reins to Martin Dobson, who was just weeks into his job as Northwich Victoria manager.
Jim Smith left Newcastle United in March after more than two years at the helm, making a swift return to management with Portsmouth as successor to Frank Burrows, while Ossie Ardiles was the new man in charge on Tyneside after leaving Swindon Town. 33-year-old Glenn Hoddle was named as Swindon's new manager.
Colin Todd departed from Middlesbrough after their failure to succeed in the playoffs, being replaced by Lennie Lawrence who called time on nine years with Charlton Athletic, who appointed Alan Curbishley and Steve Gritt as joint player-managers.
David Pleat was sacked by Leicester City in February, with Gordon Lee taking charge until the end of the season and being replaced by Brian Little.
Third Division
Champions Cambridge United, runners-up Southend United and third-placed Grimsby Town occupied the automatic promotion places and all achieved second successive promotions. The fourth promotion place went to playoff winners Tranmere Rovers, who ended a 53-year absence from the Second Division and made it clear they were prepared to stay there when they signed ex-Liverpool striker John Aldridge.
Going down to the Fourth Division were Crewe Alexandra, Rotherham United and Mansfield Town.
Dave Mackay was sacked by Birmingham City in January, with Lou Macari taking over until the end of the season before replacing Alan Ball at Stoke City. Birmingham then turned to Exeter's Terry Cooper, who replaced him with Alan Ball.
Reading sacked Ian Porterfield after 18 months in charge, and signed Newcastle striker Mark McGhee as player-manager.
Leyton Orient manager Frank Clark stepped up to the role of Managing Director at the end of the season, with Peter Eustace being appointed Head Coach.
Fourth Division
Brian Little's Darlington won the Fourth Division championship to earn a second successive promotion, while the other four promotion places went to Stockport County, Hartlepool United, Peterborough United and Torquay United. Torquay were the eventual winners, beating Blackpool in a penalty shootout, the first time the system had been used in the Football League.
Wrexham finished bottom of the league but they avoided relegation into the Conference.
Brian Little left Darlington just after their promotion success, taking over at Leicester City, leaving Frank Gray to pick up the pieces at the Feethams.
Manager Cyril Knowles departed from Hartlepool on sick leave three months before their promotion, with player-coach Alan Murray overseeing the final stages of the campaign. Murray took over on a permanent basis when Knowles confirmed that he would be unable to return to the club following brain surgery.
FA Cup
Tottenham Hotspur compensated for a slump in form during the second half of the 1990-91 league campaign by beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the F.A Cup final, although their triumph was overshadowed by a knee injury to star midfielder Paul Gascoigne in the opening 15 minutes. In the previous round at Wembley against arch-rivals Arsenal, Gascoigne had scored a tremendous free-kick in a surprise 3-1 win against the champions elect.
League Cup
Ron Atkinson's Sheffield Wednesday earned a shock 1-0 victory over his old club Manchester United thanks to a goal from John Sheridan - a self-confessed Manchester City supporter.
Biggest rise
Oldham Athletic won the Second Division championship to return to the First Division after a 68-year absence.
Biggest fall
West Bromwich Albion fell into the Third Division for the very first time, 11 years after reaching the UEFA Cup quarter finals and 12 years after missing the league championship by just two places.
League Tables
P W D L F A W D L F A Pts
1. * ARSENAL (C) 38 15 4 0 51 10 9 9 1 23 8 83
2. Liverpool 38 14 3 2 42 13 9 4 6 35 27 76
3. Crystal Palace 38 11 6 2 26 17 9 3 7 24 24 69
4. Leeds United 38 12 2 5 46 23 7 5 7 19 24 64
5. Manchester City 38 12 3 4 35 25 5 8 6 29 28 62
6. * Manchester United 38 11 4 4 34 17 5 8 6 24 28 59
7. Wimbledon 38 8 6 5 28 22 6 8 5 25 24 56
8. Nottingham Forest 38 11 4 4 42 21 3 8 8 23 29 54
9. Everton 38 9 5 5 26 15 4 7 8 24 31 51
10. Tottenham Hotspur 38 8 9 2 35 22 3 7 9 16 28 49
11. Chelsea 38 10 6 3 33 25 3 4 12 25 44 49
12. Queen's Park Rangers 38 8 5 6 27 22 4 5 10 17 31 46
13. Sheffield United38 9 3 7 23 23 4 4 11 13 32 46
14. Southampton 38 9 6 4 33 22 3 3 13 25 47 45
15. Norwich City 38 9 3 7 27 32 4 3 12 14 32 45
16. Coventry City 38 10 6 3 30 16 1 5 13 12 33 44
17. Aston Villa 38 7 9 3 29 25 2 5 12 17 33 41
18. Luton Town 38 7 5 7 22 18 3 2 14 20 43 37
19. SUNDERLAND (R) 38 6 6 7 15 16 2 4 13 23 44 34
20. DERBY COUNTY (R)38 3 8 8 25 36 2 1 16 12 39 24
- Arsenal deducted two points; Manchester United deducted one point.
P W D L F A W D L F A Pts
1. OLDHAM ATHLETIC (P) 46 17 5 1 55 21 8 8 7 28 32 88
2. WEST HAM UNITED (P) 46 15 6 2 41 18 9 9 5 19 16 87
3. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (P) 46 12 10 1 43 23 10 6 7 37 28 82
4. NOTTS COUNTY (P)46 14 4 5 45 28 9 7 7 31 27 80
5. Millwall46 11 6 6 43 28 9 7 7 27 23 73
6. Brighton & Hove Albion 46 12 4 7 37 31 9 3 11 26 38 70
7. Middlesbrough 46 12 4 7 36 17 8 5 10 30 30 69
8. Barnsley46 13 7 3 39 16 6 5 12 24 32 69
9. Bristol City 46 14 5 4 44 28 6 2 15 24 43 67
10. Oxford United 46 10 9 4 41 29 4 10 9 28 37 61
11. Newcastle United46 8 10 5 24 22 6 7 10 25 34 59
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 11 6 6 45 35 2 13 8 18 28 58
13. Bristol Rovers 46 11 7 5 29 20 4 6 13 27 39 58
14. Ipswich Town 46 9 8 6 32 28 4 10 9 28 40 57
15. Port Vale 46 10 4 9 32 24 5 8 10 24 40 57
16. Charlton Athletic 46 8 7 8 27 25 5 10 8 30 36 56
17. Portsmouth 46 10 6 7 34 27 4 5 14 24 43 53
18. Plymouth Argyle 46 10 10 3 36 20 2 7 14 18 48 53
19. Blackburn Rovers46 8 6 9 26 27 6 4 13 25 39 52
20. Watford 46 5 8 10 24 32 7 7 9 21 27 51
21. Swindon Town 46 8 6 9 31 30 4 8 11 34 43 50
22. Leicester City 46 12 4 7 41 33 2 4 17 19 50 50
23. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (R)46 7 11 5 26 21 3 7 13 26 40 48
24. HULL CITY (R) 46 6 10 7 35 32 4 5 14 22 53 45
P W D L F A W D L F A Pts
1. CAMBRIDGE UNITED (P) 46 25 11 10 75 45 86
2. SOUTHEND UNITED (P) 46 13 6 4 34 23 13 1 9 33 28 85
3. GRIMSBY TOWN (P)46 16 3 4 42 13 8 8 7 24 21 83
4. Bolton Wanderers46 14 5 4 33 18 10 6 7 31 32 83
5. TRANMERE ROVERS (P) 46 13 5 5 38 21 10 4 9 26 25 78
6. Brentford 46 12 4 7 30 22 9 9 5 29 25 76
7. Bury 46 12 4 8 31 21 9 9 4 28 26 76
8. Bradford City 46 13 3 7 36 22 7 7 9 26 32 70
9. Bournemouth 46 14 6 3 37 20 5 7 11 21 38 70
10. Wigan Athletic 46 14 3 6 40 20 6 6 11 31 34 69
11. Huddersfield Town 46 13 3 7 37 23 5 10 8 20 28 67
12. Birmingham City 46 8 9 6 21 21 8 8 7 24 28 65
13. Leyton Orient 46 15 2 6 35 19 3 8 12 20 39 64
14. Stoke City 46 9 7 7 36 29 7 5 11 19 30 60
15. Reading 46 11 5 7 34 28 6 3 14 19 38 59
16. Exeter City 46 12 6 5 35 16 4 3 16 23 36 57
17. Preston North End 46 11 5 7 33 29 4 6 13 21 38 56
18. Shrewsbury Town 46 8 7 8 29 22 6 3 14 32 46 52
19. Chester City 46 10 3 10 27 27 4 6 13 19 31 51
20. Swansea City 46 8 6 9 31 33 5 3 15 18 39 48
21. Fulham 46 8 8 7 27 22 2 8 13 14 34 46
22. CREWE ALEXANDRA (R) 46 6 9 8 35 35 5 2 16 27 45 44
23. ROTHERHAM UNITED (R) 46 5 10 8 31 38 5 2 16 19 49 42
24. MANSFIELD TOWN (R) 46 5 8 10 23 27 3 6 14 19 36 38
P W D L F A W D L F A Pts
1. DARLINGTON (P) 46 13 8 2 36 14 9 9 5 32 24 83
2. STOCKPORT COUNTY (P) 46 16 6 1 54 19 7 7 9 30 28 82
3. HARTLEPOOL UNITED (P) 46 15 5 3 35 15 9 5 9 32 33 82
4. PETERBOROUGH UNITED (P) 46 13 9 1 38 15 8 8 7 29 30 80
5. Blackpool 46 17 3 3 55 17 6 7 10 23 30 79
6. Burnley 46 17 5 1 46 16 6 5 12 24 35 79
7. TORQUAY UNITED (P) 46 14 7 2 37 13 4 11 8 27 34 72
8. Scunthorpe United 46 17 4 2 51 20 3 7 13 20 42 71
9. Scarborough 46 13 5 5 36 21 6 7 10 23 35 69
10. Northampton 46 14 5 4 34 21 4 8 11 23 37 67
11. Doncaster Rovers46 12 5 6 36 22 5 9 9 20 24 65
12. Rochdale46 10 9 4 29 22 5 8 10 21 31 62
13. Cardiff City 46 10 6 7 26 23 5 9 9 17 31 60
14. Lincoln City 46 10 7 6 32 27 4 10 9 18 34 59
15. Gillingham 46 9 9 5 35 27 3 9 11 22 33 54
16. Walsall 46 7 12 4 25 17 5 5 13 23 34 53
17. Hereford United 46 9 10 4 32 19 4 4 15 21 39 53
18. Chesterfield 46 8 12 3 33 26 5 2 16 14 36 53
19. Maidstone United46 9 5 9 42 34 4 7 12 24 37 51
20. Carlisle United 46 12 3 8 30 30 1 6 16 17 59 48
21. York City 46 8 6 9 21 23 3 7 13 24 34 46
22. Halifax Town 46 9 6 8 34 29 3 4 16 25 50 46
23. Aldershot 46 8 7 8 38 43 2 4 17 23 58 41
24. Wrexham 46 8 7 8 33 34 2 3 18 15 40 40
Successful players
The PFA Player of the Year was Manchester United striker Mark Hughes, whose prolific goalscoring included two goals in United's Cup Winners Cup triumph over Barcelona.
The FWA Player of the Year was experienced Leeds United midfielder Gordon Strachan, who helped his newly promoted side reach a creditable fourth place in the First Division.
The PFA Young Player of the Year was Manchester United's 19-year-old winger Lee Sharpe, who collected a Cup Winners Cup medal in his first season as a regular player.
Welsh striker Dean Saunders scored 24 league goals for Derby County but couldn't save them from relegation and was sold to Liverpool for a British record fee of nearly £3million.
Tottenham's Gary Lineker had another great season and helped his side win the FA Cup to end their seven-year trophy drought.
Midfielder John Sheridan scored Sheffield Wednesday's winning goal in the Football League Cup final to end their 55-year trophy drought, and then helped them win promotion to the First Division.
Despite a succession of injuries, powerful Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini managed 12 goals in 28 games to earn himself a reputation as one of the league's top strikers, but couldn't save his side from relegation.
Halifax Town striker Steve Norris was the Football League's top goalscorer with 32 Fourth Division goals.
Successful managers
George Graham guided Arsenal to their second league title in three years after they lost just one out of 38 league games.
Alex Ferguson took Manchester United to glory in the European Cup Winners Cup in the first season back in Europe for English clubs after the Heysel Disaster.
Terry Venables ended Tottenham's seven-year trophy drought with an F.A Cup triumph at the expense of Nottingham Forest.
Joe Royle won the Second Division championship for Oldham Athletic to end their 68-year absence from the First Division.
Ron Atkinson took Sheffield Wednesday to glory in the League Cup and promotion to the First Division.
Brian Little achieved a second successive promotion with Darlington, who finished top of the Fourth Division a year after they had topped the Conference.
Neil Warnock guided Notts County to a unique second successive playoff triumph as they climbed from the Third Division to the First Division with back-to-back promotions.
John Beck completed back-to-back promotions with Cambridge United, who were Third Division champions and F.A Cup quarter finalists a year after being Fourth Division playoff winners.
Barry Fry took Barnet into the Football League as Conference champions.
John King guided Tranmere Rovers into the Second Division for the first time since the late 1930s.
European qualifiers
League champions Arsenal were England's first post-Heysel entrants for the European Cup.
Runners-up Liverpool and third-placed Crystal Palace would be England's representatives for the UEFA Cup 1991-92.
Holders Manchester United and F.A Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1991-92.
Significant Events
Dalglish cracks under the pressure
Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool manager on 22 February 1991, blaming the pressures of the job on his decision to quit. He was replaced by Graeme Souness of Glasgow Rangers, but Souness was unable to stop Arsenal from beating Liverpool to the league title.
Arsenal and United penalised for brawl
Arsenal were deducted two points and Manchester United were deducted one point after a brawl between players on both sides in an October fixture at Old Trafford. But the blow didn't have much damage on either team, as Arsenal went on to win the league title and Manchester United won the Cup Winners Cup.
Graham's gunners grab title
Despite the two-point deduction imposed for the Old Trafford fracas, and the absence of captain Tony Adams for eight weeks in mid-season while he served a prison sentence for drink-driving, Arsenal cruised to the league title with a seven-point margin over runners-up Liverpool and just one defeat on the way.
Gazza's injury agony sours Tottenham's joy
Paul Gascoigne suffered a serious knee injury in Tottenham's victorious F.A Cup final clash with Nottingham Forest, putting on hold a proposed transfer to Lazio of Italy. He was ruled out for the entire 1991-92 season.
Tottenham's cup triumph capped a great season for London clubs with Arsenal as league champions, Tottenham as F.A Cup winners, West Ham winning promotion to the First Division while Crystal Palace finished third in the top tier - their highest finish ever.
York plunged into mourning by Longhurst tragedy
York City striker David Longhurst, 24, collapsed and died on 8 September in a Fourth Division fixture at Bootham Crescent. The inquest revealed that he suffered from a rare heart condition.
Liverpool readmitted to Europe
Liverpool were re-admitted to European competition, having served an extra year after the ban on English clubs in Europe arising from the Heysel Disaster was lifted one year early - Crystal Palace were the club who lost out through this. They qualified for the UEFA Cup as league runners-up.
Butcher moves into management
On 15 November, a month before his 32nd birthday, Rangers and England defender Terry Butcher was appointed player-manager of Coventry City to replace John Sillett. On the same day, 34-year-old Peter Reid replaced Howard Kendall (who had returned to Everton) as manager of Manchester City.
Wednesday's trophy drought ends after 55 years
Sheffield Wednesday won the League Cup for the first time in their history with a 1-0 win over Manchester United - manager Ron Atkinson's old club. John Sheridan, the scorer of their winning goal, was a self-confessed Manchester United supporter. It was also Wednesday's first major trophy for 55 years.
Aldershot saved by 19-year-old investor
Aldershot were saved from closure in August 1990 after 19-year-old "property developer" Spencer Trethewy signed an affadavit for around £200,000 which saw off a winding-up order; however, other parties paid the money on his behalf, and within three months he was dismissed from the club's board of directors when he failed to repay the sums he had borrowed.
Albion sink to their lowest ebb
West Bromwich Albion were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history, little over a decade after they had almost won the league title. This disappointment came at the end of a season during which they had been knocked out of the F.A Cup by non-league Woking.
Sheringham tops the goalscoring charts
Millwall striker Teddy Sheringham was the leading goalscorer in England with 38 goals in all competitions, but was put on the transfer list after his club failed to navigate the Second Division playoffs. After the season was over, he joined Nottingham Forest in a £2million deal.
Diary of the season
31 July 1990 - Aldershot are wound up in the High Court, condemned as "hopelessly insolvent" with debts of £495,000.
1 August 1990 - The Football League confirms that it will revert to a 22-club First Division for the 1991-92 season, while total league membership will be increased to 94 clubs for the 1992-93 season, with the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions all having 24 clubs each by then.
7 August 1990 - Aldershot are saved from closure by a rescue package put together by 19-year-old property developer Spencer Trethewy.
14 August 1990 - Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, 39, finally retires from playing.
19 August 1990 - Liverpool and Manchester United share the Charity Shield after a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
31 August 1990 - The first month of the English league season ends with Liverpool as leaders after just two games.
8 September 1990 - York City striker David Longhurst, 24, collapses and dies from a heart attack during a Fourth Division fixture at Bootham Crescent.
12 September 1990 - England win 1-0 against Hungary in a friendly at Wembley, the nation's first game under Graham Taylor's management.
30 September 1990 - Liverpool, with a 100% record after seven games, are First Division leaders for the end of September. The bottom two places are occupied by Sheffield United and Derby County, who have both yet to win a league game this season.
5 October 1990 - Peter Taylor, former managerial partner of Brian Clough, dies in the Canary Islands aged 62 after a long illness.
17 October 1990 - England open their Euro 92 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Poland at Wembley.
31 October 1990 - Everton sack manager Colin Harvey after their worst start to a league season leaves them third from bottom in the First Division. Below them are Derby County (one win) and winless Sheffield United, while Liverpool remain top with nine wins from their opening 10 games. Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Manchester United are their nearest contenders. The month also ends with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace undefeated in the league. Three lower division clubs - Oldham Athletic, West Ham United and Torquay United have still yet to lose a league game.
7 November 1990 - Howard Kendall leaves Manchester City to begin his second spell as Everton manager. Colin Harvey, sacked as manager a week earlier, rejoins the club as Kendall's assistant in the manager-coach partnership that previously ran from 1981 to 1987.
14 November 1990 - Coventry City sack manager John Sillett after four-and-a-half years in charge. On the same day, England draw 1-1 with Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road in their second Euro 92 qualifying game.
15 November 1990 - Manchester City appoint 34-year-old midfielder Peter Reid as their new player-manager. Coventry City agree a 350,000 deal with Rangers to appoint 31-year-old centre-back Terry Butcher as their new manager.
17 November 1990 - The first round of the FA Cup sees Scarborough and Reading both eliminated by non-league opposition (Leek Town and Colchester United respectively).
20 November 1990 - Cardiff City become the latest team to fall victim to non-league giant-killers when Hayes defeat them 1-0 in the first round replay.
28 November 1990 - 19-year-old winger Lee Sharpe scores a hat-trick for Manchester United in their 6-2 win at Arsenal in the fourth round of the League Cup final.
29 November 1990 - Cardiff-born Ryan Giggs, said to be the finest prospect in British football since George Best, signs a professional contract with Manchester United on his 17th birthday.
30 November 1990 - Liverpool remain unbeaten and top of the First Division as November draws to a close, four points ahead of an Arsenal side who are also unbeaten. Sheffield United, in contrast, are still looking for their first league win of the season after 14 games, while Derby County have climbed out of the relegation zone at the expense of Queens Park Rangers.
19 December 1990 - Arsenal captain Tony Adams is sentenced to 4 months in prison and banned from driving for 2 years after being found guilty of drink-driving relating to a road accident on 6 May this year.
22 December 1990 - Sheffield United finally win a First Division game at the 18th attempt, but remain bottom of the table.
23 December 1990 - Arsenal create a club record 18-match unbeaten start to the league season by drawing 0-0 at Aston Villa, but fail to overhaul Liverpool at the top of the table.
31 December 1990 - 1990 draws to a close with Arsenal, still unbeaten, as First Division leaders ahead of a Liverpool side whose unbeaten run finally came to an end this month. Newly promoted Leeds United are looking like contenders for the title as they occupy third place and are just seven points off the top of the league, while Sheffield United have managed their first two league wins of the season but are still bottom of the table.
5 January 1991 - Barnet, GM Vauxhall Conference leaders, are eliminated with a 5-0 defeat at home to Portsmouth in the third round. Woking are now the last non-league team in the competition, having achieved a shock 4-2 win at Second Division strugglers West Bromwich Albion.
9 January 1991 - West Bromwich Albion sack manager Brian Talbot after their 4-2 home defeat against non-league Woking in the FA Cup Third Round. Albion are also in danger of being relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history.
15 January 1991 - Chelsea are fined £105,000 by the Football Association for making illegal payments to players.
23 January 1991 - Mark Hughes scores a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2 in the League Cup quarter-final.
27 January 1991 - Woking's FA Cup dream comes to an end in the fourth round when they lose 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park.
30 January 1991 - Liverpool sign 30-year-old Coventry City striker David Speedie for £800,000.
31 January 1991 - Arsenal remain leaders of the First Division despite having been deducted two points (while fifth placed Manchester United have been deducted one) for a 21-player brawl at Old Trafford on 20 October. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are emerging as contenders for a first-ever league title, while Sheffield United remain bottom with just three wins so far this season.
7 February 1991 - Lou Macari, who quit as West Ham United manager last season to concentrate on clearing his name in connection with financial irregularities at Swindon Town, makes his return to football management with Birmingham City. He replaces Dave Mackay as manager of the mid table Third Division club, who were in the First Division just five years ago.
15 February 1991 - Tony Adams is released from prison after serving half of his 4-month prison sentence for drink-driving offences.
16 February 1991 - Manchester City's hopes of winning silverware in Peter Reid's first season in management are ended when they suffer a surprise 1-0 defeat against Notts County in the FA Cup fifth round at Meadow Lane.
21 February 1991 - Wimbledon pay Conference leaders Barnet £250,000 for striker Andy Clarke, breaking the record fee for a non-league player.
22 February 1991 - Kenny Dalglish shocks the football world by announcing his resignation as Liverpool manager. Long-serving coach Ronnie Moran, 54, is appointed caretaker manager but insists that he does not want the job on a permanent basis.
27 February 1991 - Five days after Kenny Dalglish's resignation as manager, Liverpool's hopes of a unique second double come to an end when they lose 1-0 to Everton in the FA Cup fifth round second replay, but Arsenal's "double double" dream is still very much alive thanks to their 1-0 win at Shrewsbury Town.
28 February 1991 - February draws to a close with Arsenal now ahead of Liverpool at the top of the First Division on goal difference, while Crystal Palace have edged closer to them. At the other end of the table, Sheffield United are now six points clear of bottom-placed Derby County but remain in the other relegation place - bracketed together on goal difference with Coventry City, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers.
2 March 1991 - Ryan Giggs makes his professional debut for Manchester United in their 2-0 home defeat against Everton in the First Division.
10 March 1991 - Tottenham Hotspur move closer a record eighth FA Cup triumph by beating Notts County 2-1 in the quarter-final at White Hart Lane. Everton's dream of silverware in Howard Kendall's "comeback season" are ended with a 2-1 defeat at West Ham United. Nottingham Forest move closer to a long-awaited first FA Cup triumph for Brian Clough as they defeat Norwich City 1-0 at Carrow Road. Arsenal move closer to a unique second double by overcoming Cambridge United 2-1 in their opposition's second successive FA Cup quarter-final.
26 March 1991 - Jim Smith resigns after two-and-a-half years as manager of Newcastle United, whose Second Division promotion challenge is collapsing.
27 March 1991 - England draw 1-1 with Republic of Ireland in their third Euro 92 qualifying game at Wembley.
31 March 1991 - March draws to a close with Arsenal now leading Liverpool by two points, and Crystal Palace's title challenge fading fast as they are now seven points behind Arsenal who have played a game less than them. Sheffield United's incredible revival has continued as they now stand 12th in the table having not won in the league until 22 December. Derby County now need something little short of a miracle to avoid relegation, as they are now 12 points adrift of safety, while Sunderland now occupy the other relegation place.
14 April 1991 - Tottenham Hotspur end Arsenal's hopes of a unique double and boost their own hopes of an eighth FA Cup triumph with a 3-1 win in the first FA Cup semi-final to be played at Wembley. The game is most memorable for a goal scored from 40 yards by Paul Gascoigne. Nottingham Forest win the other semi-final, crushing West Ham United 4-0 at Villa Park.
16 April 1991 - Graeme Souness is named as Liverpool's new manager, departing from Glasgow Rangers where he is succeeded by Walter Smith.
21 April 1991 - Sheffield Wednesday, chasing promotion to the First Division, achieve a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Football League Cup Final to end their 56-year trophy drought.
30 April 1991 - April draws to a close with Arsenal looking all set for title glory, while any hope that Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Manchester United or Manchester City might have had of leapfrogging them has now been completely extinguished. Derby County remain bottom and almost certain of relegation, while second-from-bottom Sunderland along with Southampton, Sheffield United, Aston Villa (last season's league runners-up) and Luton Town are still fighting to avoid the drop.
1 May 1991 - England beat Turkey 1-0 in Izmir in the fourth Euro 92 qualifying game, with 24-year-old Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise scoring the first international goal of his career.
4 May 1991 - Barnet seal promotion to the Football League by clinching the Conference title.
6 May 1991 - Arsenal are confirmed First Division champions with a 3-1 home win over Manchester United, with a 2-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest ending Liverpool's hopes of giving Graeme Souness a dream return to the club he is now serving as manager.
15 May 1991 - Manchester United mark a stylish return to European football by English clubs with a 2-1 win over Barcelona in the European Cup Winners' Cup final in Rotterdam. Mark Hughes scores both goals.
18 May 1991 - Paul Gascoigne suffers cruciate knee ligament damage in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest, meaning that he is likely to miss most or even all of next season (and possibly even Euro 92). His proposed £8.5million move to Italian club Lazio is put on hold.
20 May 1991 - Tottenham Hotspur are rumoured to be on the brink of going into receivership with £20million debts.
22 May 1991 - English football is plunged into mourning by the death of former Blackpool and England centre forward Stan Mortensen, who dies four days before what would have been his 70th birthday.
31 May 1991 - Ron Atkinson, whose Sheffield Wednesday side won the League Cup and promotion to the First Division this season, rejects an offer to succeed Jozef Venglos as manager of Aston Villa.
5 June 1991 - Ron Atkinson resigns as manager of Sheffield Wednesday, sparking rumours that he could be about to go back on his word and take over at Aston Villa.
7 June 1991 - Ron Atkinson accepts an improved offer from Aston Villa to become their new manager.
11 June 1991 - Ian Branfoot is named as the new manager of Southampton as successor to Chris Nicholl.
28 June 1991 - 17 of the 22 clubs competing in next season's First Division sign a contract to break away from the Football League if the Football Association's plan to form a new Premier League fails.
National team
The England national football team had a successful season, winning a mini-tournament against the CIS and Argentina, progressing steadily in qualification for the 1992 UEFA European Championship and conducting a tour to South-East Asia and Oceania in which they won all four games.
Asian tour
Deaths
- 9 August 1990 – Joe Mercer, 76, former England player, died on his birthday after suffering a stroke. Was manager of Manchester City when they won four trophies in three seasons starting in 1968.
- 8 September 1990 – David Longhurst, 25, York City striker, collapsed and died of a heart attack on 8 September during a Fourth Division fixture at Bootham Crescent.
- 4 October 1990 – Peter Taylor, 62, long-term assistant manager to Brian Clough who helped him win the league championship with Derby County in 1972. He later returned to Derby as manager but was sacked in 1984 after their relegation to the Third Division.
- 22 December 1990 – Robin Friday, 38, popular centre forward with Reading and Cardiff City during the 1970s, was found dead at his London flat on Christmas Eve 1990. He had suffered a heart attack.
- 22 May 1991 – Stan Mortensen, 69, former Blackpool and England striker who was one of the league's most exciting strikers in the immediate post-war years. Scored a hat-trick in the 1953 FA Cup final, to date the only player to do so.
- 4 June 1991 – Kevin Durham, 29, Barnet striker who died of a heart attack just weeks after helping his club win promotion to the Football League.
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