1988–89 Aston Villa F.C. season

During the 1988–89 English football season, Aston Villa competed in the Football League First Division, having won promotion back to the top flight under manager, Graham Taylor, at their first attempt.

Aston Villa
1988–89 season
Chairman Doug Ellis
Manager Graham Taylor
StadiumVilla Park
First Division17th
FA CupFourth round
League CupFifth Round

After a slump in performances during the season's final stages, Villa secured their top flight safety in 1988–89 with a draw on the final day of the league season.[1]

Diary of the season

13 July 1988 – Gordon Cowans ends his three-year spell at Bari to rejoin Aston Villa in a £250,000 deal,[2] while Everton strengthen their midfield in a £925,000 move for Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Pat Nevin.[3]

26 August 1988 – Alan Ball prepares Portsmouth's challenge for an immediate return to the First Division by paying Aston Villa £315,000 for striker Warren Aspinall.[4]

27 August 1988 – Millwall begin their life as a First Division side by drawing 2–2 at Aston Villa.

2 October 1988 – Aston Villa sell defender Neale Cooper to Rangers for £300,000.[5]

5 November 1988 – Manchester United's frustrating form continues when they are held to a 1–1 draw at home to Aston Villa, meaning that they have now drawn five out of 10 First Division games this season.[6]

12 November 1988 – Southampton go third win a 3–1 home win over Aston Villa.[7]

26 November 1988 – Coventry go fifth with a 2–1 home win over local rivals Aston Villa.[8]

3 December 1988 – Norwich are still top of the First Division despite a 3–1 defeat at Aston Villa, but Arsenal are three points behind them with two games in hand.[9]

24 December 1988 – Aston Villa sell striker Garry Thompson to Watford for £325,000.[10]

31 December 1988 – Arsenal move to the top the First Division on goal difference from Norwich City after beating Aston Villa 3–0.[11]

15 April 1989 – Villa Park sees Everton beat Norwich City 1–0 in the FA Cup semi-finals, In the other semi-final, English football endures its greatest ever tragedy with the death of 94 Liverpool supporters against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough.[12]

13 May 1989 – Middlesbrough join Newcastle United in being relegated from the First Division after they lose a relegation showdown 1–0 away to Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town beat Norwich City 1–0. The result ensures Wednesday's survival, and West Ham United must now win their last two games to stay up at the expense of Aston Villa.[13]

23 May 1989 – West Ham United are relegated after they lose 5–1 to Liverpool at Anfield.[13]

References
  1. "Aston Villa 1988–1989". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  2. Gordon Cowans: Career statistics. soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2013
  3. Pat Nevin: Career statistics. soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2013
  4. Warren Aspinall: Career statistics. soccerbase. Retrieved 13 June 2013
  5. Neale Cooper: Career statistics. soccerbase. Retrieved 14 June 2013
  6. "1988-11-05". www.englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk.
  7. "1988-11-12". www.englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk.
  8. "1988-11-26". www.englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk.
  9. "1988-12-03". www.englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk.
  10. Garry Thompson: Career statistics. soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2013
  11. "1988-12-31". www.englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk.
  12. "1989: Football fans crushed at Hillsborough". BBC Home: On This Day 1950–2005. 15 April 1989.
  13. Smailes, Gordon (2000). The Breedon Book of Football Records. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 162. ISBN 1859832148.



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