1988–89 Associate Members' Cup

The 1988–89 Associate Members' Cup (known as the 1988–89 Sherpa Van Trophy) was the eight staging of a secondary football league tournament, and 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.

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 (North and South) split into eight groups. Each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out rounds until each has a finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists face each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.

Preliminary round Northern Section

Southern Section

First round

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team7 JanuaryScarborough3–1York City17 JanuaryBlackpool4–3Rotherham United17 JanuaryBurnley1–1Crewe AlexandraCrewe Alexandra won 4–2 on penaltiesAfter extra-time.17 JanuaryGrimsby Town1–3Huddersfield Town17 JanuaryHalifax Town3–0Darlington17 JanuaryPreston North End0–1Bolton Wanderers17 JanuaryTranmere Rovers0–1Wigan Athletic17 JanuaryWrexham2–1Sheffield United

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team17 JanuaryBrentford2–0Notts County17 JanuaryChesterfield4–2Cambridge United17 JanuaryColchester United3–1Leyton Orient17 JanuaryNorthampton Town2 – 1Southend United17 JanuaryTorquay United3–0Gillingham18 JanuaryReading2–3Hereford United24 JanuaryBristol Rovers2–1Cardiff City24 JanuaryWolverhampton Wanderers3–0Bristol City

Quarter-finals

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team21 FebruaryBolton Wanderers3 – 1Wrexham21 FebruaryHalifax Town0–2Blackpool21 FebruaryHuddersfield Town1–2Scarborough21 FebruaryWigan Athletic0–1Crewe Alexandra

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team14 FebruaryColchester United0–1Hereford United21 FebruaryChesterfield0–1Brentford21 FebruaryWolverhampton Wanderers3 – 1Northampton Town22 FebruaryBristol Rovers0–1Torquay United

Area semi-finals

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team21 MarchBlackpool1 – 0Scarborough21 MarchCrewe Alexandra1 – 2Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team21 MarchBrentford0–1Torquay United22 MarchHereford United0–2Wolverhampton Wanderers

Area finals Northern Area final

Southern Area final

Final

Notes General statto.com

Specific