The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England. In the Football League First Division, Arsenal emerged victorious as champions.
Diary of the season
1 July 1990 – England beat Cameroon 3–2 in the World Cup quarter finals, securing qualification to the semi–finals for the first time since the 1966 tournament.
2 July 1990 – – Leeds United prepare for their First Division comeback by signing midfielder Gary McAllister from Leicester City for £1million. – Swindon Town win an appeal against their relegation to the Third Division, but miss out on promotion to the First Division and remain in the Second Division. Their place in the First Division goes to Sunderland.
3 July 1990 – Chelsea pay a club record £1.6million for Wimbledon winger Dennis Wise.
4 July 1990 – England's World Cup hopes are ended in a semi-final defeat by West Germany, with Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce both missing penalties.
5 July 1990 – Chelsea sign Norwich City midfielder Andy Townsend for £1.2million.
7 July 1990 – England lose 2–1 to host nation Italy in the World Cup third place play–off.
16 July 1990 – Graham Taylor, manager of Aston Villa, is appointed as successor to Bobby Robson as the England manager.
18 July 1990 – Derby County sell defender Paul Blades to Norwich City for £700,000.
19 July 1990 – England striker Mark Hateley ends six years overseas and joins Scottish league champions Rangers in a £1million move from AS Monaco. He had played on the continent since his move from Portsmouth to AC Milan in 1984.
20 July 1990 – Manchester City pay a club record £1 million for Watford goalkeeper Tony Coton.
22 July 1990 – Czechoslovak national coach Jozef Vengloš is appointed as the new manager of Aston Villa, and becomes the first foreign manager in the First Division.
31 July 1990 – Aldershot F.C. in the Fourth Division are wound up in the High Court, condemned as "hopelessly insolvent" with debts of nearly £500,000 by the Official Receiver.
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 each having 24 clubs. – Sheffield Wednesday sell striker Dalian Atkinson to Real Sociedad of Spain for £1million, where he will be playing alongside the former Liverpool striker John Aldridge. Long-serving Manchester United defender Mike Duxbury joins Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer.
6 August 1990 – Arsenal sign Swedish winger Anders Limpar from Italian side Cremonese for £1million.
7 August 1990 – Aldershot are saved from closure by a £200,000 rescue package put together by 19-year-old property developer Spencer Trethewy, which means that they will be able to start the new Football League season.Newcastle's Freddy Shepherd, Chelsea's Ken Bates, Leeds' Peter Ridsdale, Palace's Simon Jordan and the Top 10 crazy football chairman – Mirror Football Blog. MirrorFootball.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
15 August 1990 – Crystal Palace sign Wimbledon defender Eric Young for £850,000.
16 August 1990 – Crystal Palace further strengthen their defence with a £400,000 move for Charlton Athletic, their Selhurst Park tenants, for John Humphrey.
18 August 1990 – Liverpool and Manchester United share the Charity Shield after a 1–1 draw at Wembley.
23 August 1990 – Oldham Athletic pay a club record £460,000 for Nottingham Forest striker David Currie. Leeds United are warned that they face expulsion from the Football League if measures aimed by the Football Association at curbing incidents of hooliganism involving the club's fans fail.The Times and The Sunday Times Archive. Newsint-archive.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
24 August 1990 – Everton sign midfielder Mike Milligan from Oldham Athletic for £1million.
25 August 1990 – Liverpool begin their defence of the First Division title with a 3–1 away win against recently promoted Sheffield United.Arsenal begin their challenge for a second league title in three seasons by beating Wimbledon 3–0 at Plough Lane. Leeds United enjoy a fine First Division comeback with a 3–2 away win over Everton. Key games on the opening day of the Second Division campaign include a 4–2 home win over Blackburn Rovers for newly promoted Bristol City and Oxford United's 5–2 home win over Port Vale. In the Fourth Division, Walsall draw 2–2 with Torquay United in their first game at the new Bescot Stadium.
28 August 1990 – Manchester United and Leeds United meet for the first time since April 1982, and battle out a goalless draw at Elland Road in the First Division – a repeat of the last clash between the two sides.
31 August 1990 – The first month of the English league season ends with Arsenal and Liverpool sharing the lead in the First Division after two games. The Second Division leaders are Oldham Athletic.
1 September 1990 – Newly promoted First Division side Sunderland achieve a shock 2–1 league win over FA Cup holders Manchester United at Roker Park. Liverpool's 2–1 home win over Aston Villa leaves them with the only 100% record in the First Division after three games. Leeds go second with a 3–0 home win over Norwich City. Everton's 1–0 defeat to Manchester City at Maine Road leaves with without a point from their opening three games. There are victories in the Second Division for promotion favourites Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham and West Ham.
4 September 1990 – The only league action of the day sees a Mark Robins goal give Manchester United a 1–0 away win over Luton Town.
8 September 1990 – Liverpool extend their winning start to the season to four games with a 2–1 away win over Wimbledon. Mark Robins is the star of the show for Manchester United once again, scoring twice in a 3–1 home win over QPR. Crystal Palace go second with a 3–0 win at Norwich. Paul Gascoigne scores a hat-trick for Tottenham in their 3–0 home win over Derby. Everton claim their first point of the season with a 1–1 draw at home to Arsenal. Oldham have a 100% record after four games, remaining top of the Second Division with a 1–0 win at Charlton.
10 September 1990 – Manager Joe Jordan leaves Bristol City to return to his native Scotland and become manager of Hearts.
12 September 1990 – England beat Hungary 1–0 in a friendly at Wembley, the first game under Graham Taylor's management.
15 September 1990 – Arsenal keep up the pressure on Liverpool with a 4–1 home win over Chelsea, as do Tottenham with a 2–0 win at Leeds. Oldham make it five consecutive wins in the Second Division by beating Oxford 3–0 at Boundary Park.
16 September 1990 – Peter Beardsley scores a hat-trick for Liverpool in their 4–0 league win over Manchester United at Anfield.Peter Beardsley – Liverpool FC. Liverpoolfc.tv. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
18 September 1990 – Oldham drop points for the first time this season with a 1–1 draw at home to Charlton, who claim their first point of the season in the process.
22 September 1990 – Liverpool extend their winning start to the season to six games by winning the Merseyside derby 3–2 at Goodison Park. Arsenal keep up the pressure and hold onto second place with a 2–0 win at Nottingham Forest. Oldham remain top of the Second Division with a 1–0 win over Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park. Swindon Town draw level with the top three by beating local rivals Oxford 4–2 at the Manor Ground.
25 September 1990 – Ian Wright and Mark Bright both score hat-tricks for Crystal Palace in their 8–0 home win over Southend United in the League Cup second round first leg at Selhurst Park.Top 10 hat-tricks – Crystal Palace FC Supporters' Website – The Holmesdale Online. Holmesdale.net. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
26 September 1990 – Paul Gascoigne scores four goals for Tottenham in their 5–0 win over Hartlepool United (managed by former Tottenham defender Cyril Knowles) in the League Cup second round first leg at White Hart Lane.the world famous unofficial home of Spurs on the internet. Topspurs. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
29 September 1990 – Liverpool's 1–0 win over Sunderland at Roker Park gives them a 100% record after seven games, and they extend their lead to six points after Arsenal are held to a 2–2 draw at Leeds. Tottenham and Crystal Palace are level on points with George Graham's men. Manchester United's title hopes are dented when a Stuart Pearce goal gives Nottingham Forest a 1–0 win at Old Trafford. Luton climb to sixth place with a 3–1 win over Norwich at Carrow Road. Sheffield United and Derby occupy the bottom places, both winless after seven games. Oldham remain top of the Second Division despite being held to a goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion.
30 September 1990 – Liverpool, with a 100% record after seven games, are First Division leaders by six points at 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. In the Second Division, Oldham Athletic lead the way with 20 points from their opening eight games. The other two automatic promotion places are occupied by Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County, and the playoff zone is occupied by West Ham United, Bristol City (in contention for a second successive promotion), Swindon Town and Brighton.Oldham Athletic FC News – Latics Mad. Oldhamathletic-mad.co.uk (29 September 1990). Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
1 October 1990 – Notts County go second in the Second Division with a 1–0 win at Port Vale, boosting their hopes of a second successive promotion.
4 October 1990 – Peter Taylor, former managerial partner of Brian Clough, dies suddenly of pulmonary fibrosis whilst on holiday in Costa De Los Pinos, Majorca, at the age of 62.
6 October 1990 – In the biggest Second Division win of the season, West Ham United beat Hull City 7–1 at Upton Park.2nd Division 1990–91. Westhamstats.info. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.Wolves boost their hopes of a third promotion in four seasons by beating Bristol City 4–0 at home, with Steve Bull scoring a hat-trick. In the First Division, Southampton and Chelsea draw 3–3 in a thrilling match at The Dell. Liverpool make it eight consecutive wins by beating Derby 2–0 at Anfield, while Arsenal keep the gap between themselves and the leaders at six points by beating Norwich 2–0 at Highbury.
7 October 1990 – The pressure mounts on Everton manager Colin Harvey after a 3–1 defeat at Nottingham Forest leaves his side third from bottom in the First Division after just one win and five points from their opening eight games.
12 October 1990 – West Ham United strengthen their promotion bid with a £600,000 move for Luton Town defender Tim Breacker. Soccerbase
20 October 1990 – 21 of the 22 players on the pitch brawl in Arsenal's 1–0 league win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. In their ninth league game of the season, Liverpool drop points for the first time when Norwich City hold them to a 1–1 draw at Carrow Road. The gap between first and second place is cut to four points as a result. Tottenham keep up the pressure with a 4–0 home win over Sheffield United, with Paul Walsh scoring a hat-trick. The bottom two clubs are still winless after nine games.
24 October 1990 – Aston Villa beat Italian favourites Inter Milan 2–0 at Villa Park in the UEFA Cup second round first leg. In the Second Division, Newcastle's promotion hopes are hit by a 3–1 home defeat to struggling Charlton.