1988–89 Associate Members' Cup

The 1988–89 Associate Members' Cup (known as the 1988–89 Sherpa Van Trophy) was the sixth staging of the Associate Members' Cup, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in the Third Division and the Fourth Division. The winners were Bolton Wanderers and the runners-up were Torquay United.

1988–89 Associate Members Cup

Sherpa Van Trophy
Tournament details
Country	England  Wales
← 1987–88 1989–90 →

The competition began on 21 November 1988 and ended with the final on 28 May 1989 at Wembley Stadium.

In the first round, there were two sections split into eight groups: North and South. In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists faced each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.

Preliminary round

Northern Section

Group 1 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Scarborough 2 1 1 0 5 1 +4 4 Darlington 2 1 0 1 3 6 −3 3 Carlisle United 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 29 Nov Carlisle United 1–1 Scarborough 6 Dec Darlington 3–2 Carlisle United 14 Dec Scarborough 4–0 Darlington

Group 2 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Burnley 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 6 York City 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Hartlepool United 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 22 Nov York City 0–2 Burnley 29 Nov Burnley 3–0 Hartlepool United 13 Dec Hartlepool United 0–2 York City

Group 3 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Blackpool 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6 Wigan Athletic 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 3 Rochdale 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 22 Nov Wigan Athletic 1–2 Blackpool 6 Dec Blackpool 2–0 Rochdale 13 Dec Rochdale 0–2 Wigan Athletic

Group 4 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Grimsby Town 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Rotherham United 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Doncaster Rovers 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 29 Nov Grimsby Town 1–0 Rotherham United 6 Dec Doncaster Rovers 1–1 Grimsby Town 13 Dec Rotherham United 2–1 Doncaster Rovers

Group 5 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Halifax Town 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6 Huddersfield Town 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 Scunthorpe United 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 6 Dec Scunthorpe United 1–2 Halifax Town 13 Dec Huddersfield Town 1–0 Scunthorpe United 20 Dec Halifax Town 1–1 Huddersfield Town

Group 6 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Preston North End 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 3 Bolton Wanderers 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 Bury 2 1 0 1 1 4 −3 3 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 6 Dec Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Preston North End 13 Dec Preston North End 4–0 Bury 20 Dec Bury 1–0 Bolton Wanderers

Group 7 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Tranmere Rovers 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Crewe Alexandra 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 Stockport County 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 28 Nov Stockport County 1–1 Crewe Alexandra 5 Dec Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Stockport County 13 Dec Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Tranmere Rovers

Group 8 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Wrexham 2 2 0 0 3 2 +1 6 Sheffield United 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Chester City 2 0 0 2 3 4 −1 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 5 Dec Wrexham 1–1 Sheffield United 13 Dec Sheffield United 2–2 Chester City 21 Dec Chester City 1–2 Wrexham

Southern Section

Group 1 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Brentford 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 6 Gillingham 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3 Fulham 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 22 Nov Fulham 0–2 Brentford 29 Nov Brentford 2–0 Gillingham 10 Dec Gillingham 2–1 Fulham

Group 2 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Chesterfield 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Notts County 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 Mansfield Town 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 29 Nov Mansfield Town 1–1 Notts County 6 Dec Notts County 1–1 Chesterfield 10 Dec Chesterfield 2–1 Mansfield Town

Group 3 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Colchester United 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2 6 Southend United 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Lincoln City 2 0 0 2 2 4 −2 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 22 Nov Southend United 2–1 Lincoln City 30 Nov Lincoln City 1–2 Colchester United 20 Dec Colchester United 2–1 Southend United

Group 4 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Bristol Rovers 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Bristol City 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3 Exeter City 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 23 Nov Bristol Rovers 1–0 Bristol City 6 Dec Bristol City 2–0 Exeter City 14 Dec Exeter City 1–1 Bristol Rovers

Group 5 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Torquay United 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 3 Cardiff City 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Swansea City 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 29 Nov Swansea City 1–0 Torquay United 6 Dec Cardiff City 2–0 Swansea City 20 Dec Torquay United 3–1 Cardiff City

Group 6 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 4 Hereford United 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2 Port Vale 2 0 1 1 2 6 −4 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 21 Nov Port Vale 1–1 Hereford United 30 Nov Hereford United 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 13 Dec Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–1 Port Vale

Group 7 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Reading 2 1 1 0 6 3 +3 4 Leyton Orient 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 4 Aldershot 2 0 0 2 3 8 −5 0 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 30 Nov Reading 5–2 Aldershot 6 Dec Leyton Orient 1–1 Reading 10 Jan Aldershot 1–3 Leyton Orient

Group 8 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Northampton Town 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4 Cambridge United 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2 Peterborough United 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 1 Source: ^[citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 22 Nov Northampton Town 1–1 Cambridge United 29 Nov Cambridge United 2–2 Peterborough United 21 Dec Peterborough United 0–2 Northampton Town

First round

Northern Section Date Home team Score Away team 7 January Scarborough 3–1 York City 17 January Blackpool 4–3 Rotherham United 17 January Burnley 1–1 Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra won 4–2 on penalties^[1] 17 January Grimsby Town 1–3 Huddersfield Town 17 January Halifax Town 3–0 Darlington 17 January Preston North End 0–1 Bolton Wanderers 17 January Tranmere Rovers 0–1 Wigan Athletic 17 January Wrexham 2–1 Sheffield United

Southern Section Date Home team Score Away team 17 January Brentford 2–0 Notts County 17 January Chesterfield 4–2 Cambridge United 17 January Colchester United 3–1 Leyton Orient 17 January Northampton Town 2 – 1^[1] Southend United 17 January Torquay United 3–0 Gillingham 18 January Reading 2–3 Hereford United 24 January Bristol Rovers 2–1 Cardiff City 24 January Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Bristol City

Quarter-finals

Northern Section Date Home team Score Away team 21 February Bolton Wanderers 3 – 1^[1] Wrexham 21 February Halifax Town 0–2 Blackpool 21 February Huddersfield Town 1–2 Scarborough 21 February Wigan Athletic 0–1 Crewe Alexandra

Southern Section Date Home team Score Away team 14 February Colchester United 0–1 Hereford United 21 February Chesterfield 0–1 Brentford 21 February Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 – 1^[1] Northampton Town 22 February Bristol Rovers 0–1 Torquay United

Area semi-finals

Northern Section Date Home team Score Away team 21 March Blackpool 1 – 0^[1] Scarborough 21 March Crewe Alexandra 1 – 2^[1] Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section Date Home team Score Away team 21 March Brentford 0–1 Torquay United 22 March Hereford United 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Area finals

Northern Area final

11 April 1989

Bolton Wanderers	1–0	Blackpool

18 April 1989

Blackpool	(1) 1 – 1 (2)	Bolton Wanderers

Southern Area final

12 April 1989

Torquay United	1–2	Wolverhampton Wanderers

18 April 1989

Wolverhampton Wanderers	(2) 0 – 2 (3)	Torquay United

Final

28 May 1989

Bolton Wanderers	4–1	Torquay United
Darby   Crombie   Morgan   Chandler		Edwards

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 46,513

Referee: G.Courtney (Spennymoor)

Notes

General

• statto.com^{[permanent dead link]}

Specific

1. After extra-time.