1988–89 Middlesbrough F.C. season

English football club season

Middlesbrough 1988–89 football season

Middlesbrough
1988–89 season
Chairman	Colin Henderson
Manager	Bruce Rioch
Stadium	Ayresome Park
First Division	18th
FA Cup	Third round
League Cup	Second round
Simod Cup	Fourth round
Top goalscorer	League: Slaven (15) All: Slaven (18)
Highest home attendance	25,197 (vs Liverpool, 11 March 1989)
Lowest home attendance	6,853 (vs Portsmouth, 21 December 1988)
← 1987–88 1989–90 →

During the 1988–89 English football season, Middlesbrough finished third from bottom in the Football League First Division and were relegated after just one season.

After a decent first half of the season, having occupied seventh place in November, they won just one of their last 17 League matches and fell into the relegation places on the final day of the season after losing 1–0 to Sheffield Wednesday.^[1] Bernie Slaven was one of the First Division's top scorers with 15 goals in the League, but Peter Davenport scored just four times after signing from Manchester United.

Middlesbrough were eliminated from both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the round they entered each competition. They were beaten by lower league opposition, Grimsby Town and Tranmere Rovers respectively.^[2]

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
16	Luton Town	38	10	11	17	42	52	−10	41
17	Aston Villa	38	9	13	16	45	56	−11	40
18	Middlesbrough (R)	38	9	12	17	44	61	−17	39	Relegation to the Second Division
19	West Ham United (R)	38	10	8	20	37	62	−25	38
20	Newcastle United (R)	38	7	10	21	32	63	−31	31

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

Football League First Division

Derby County v Middlesbrough

27 August 1988 1	Derby County	1–0	Middlesbrough	Derby
				Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 19,432

Middlesbrough v Norwich City

3 September 1988 2	Middlesbrough	2–3	Norwich City	Middlesbrough
	Mowbray Burke			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 18,595

Manchester United v Middlesbrough

10 September 1988 3	Manchester United	1–0	Middlesbrough	Manchester
				Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 40,442

Middlesbrough v Wimbledon

17 September 1988 4	Middlesbrough	1–0	Wimbledon	Middlesbrough
	Hamilton			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,709

Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough

24 September 1988 5	Tottenham Hotspur	3–2	Middlesbrough	London
			Slaven Mowbray	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 23,427

Coventry City v Middlesbrough

1 October 1988 6	Coventry City	3–4	Middlesbrough	Coventry
			Slaven Burke	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 14,527

Middlesbrough v West Ham United

8 October 1988 7	Middlesbrough	1–0	West Ham United	Middlesbrough
	Pallister			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,608

Middlesbrough v Luton Town

22 October 1988 8	Middlesbrough	2–1	Luton Town	Middlesbrough
	Slaven Cooper			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,792

Newcastle United v Middlesbrough

26 October 1988 9	Newcastle United	3–0	Middlesbrough	Newcastle upon Tyne
				Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 23,927

Middlesbrough v Millwall

29 October 1988 10	Middlesbrough	4–2	Millwall	Middlesbrough
	Slaven Ripley Burke Parkinson			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,788

Liverpool v Middlesbrough

5 November 1988 11	Liverpool	3–0	Middlesbrough	Liverpool
	Rush Aldridge Beardsley			Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,489

Middlesbrough v Queens Park Rangers

12 November 1988 12	Middlesbrough	1–0	Queens Park Rangers	Middlesbrough
	Brennan			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,565

Arsenal v Middlesbrough

19 November 1988 13	Arsenal	3–0	Middlesbrough	London
	Merson Rocastle			Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 32,294

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday

26 November 1988 14	Middlesbrough	0–1	Sheffield Wednesday	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,310

Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough

3 December 1988 15	Nottingham Forest	2–2	Middlesbrough	Nottingham
			Brennan Ripley	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 17,742

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa

10 December 1988 16	Middlesbrough	3–3	Aston Villa	Middlesbrough
	Brennan Hamilton Mowbray			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 18,096

Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic

17 December 1988 17	Middlesbrough	0–0	Charlton Athletic	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,065

Everton v Middlesbrough

26 December 1988 18	Everton	2–1	Middlesbrough	Liverpool
			Glover	Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 32,651

Norwich City v Middlesbrough

31 December 1988 19	Norwich City	0–0	Middlesbrough	Norwich
				Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 16,021

Middlesbrough v Manchester United

2 January 1989 20	Middlesbrough	1–0	Manchester United	Middlesbrough
	Davenport			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,411

Southampton v Middlesbrough

14 January 1989 21	Southampton	1–3	Middlesbrough	Southampton
			Kerr Slaven Burke	Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 13,157

Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur

21 January 1989 22	Middlesbrough	2–2	Tottenham Hotspur	Middlesbrough
	Cooper Ripley			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 23,691

Middlesbrough v Coventry City

4 February 1989 23	Middlesbrough	1–1	Coventry City	Middlesbrough
	Slaven			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,352

Luton Town v Middlesbrough

18 February 1989 24	Luton Town	1–0	Middlesbrough	Luton
				Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,187

Millwall v Middlesbrough

21 February 1989 25	Millwall	2–0	Middlesbrough	London
				Stadium: The Den Attendance: 11,396

Middlesbrough v Newcastle United

26 February 1989 26	Middlesbrough	1–1	Newcastle United	Middlesbrough
	Slaven			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,385

Middlesbrough v Liverpool

11 March 1989 27	Middlesbrough	0–4	Liverpool	Middlesbrough
			Beardsley Houghton Aldridge McMahon	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 25,197

Middlesbrough v Derby County

18 March 1989 28	Middlesbrough	0–1	Derby County	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,580

Wimbledon v Middlesbrough

25 March 1989 29	Wimbledon	1–1	Middlesbrough	London
			Slaven	Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 11,396

Middlesbrough v Everton

27 March 1989 30	Middlesbrough	3–3	Everton	Middlesbrough
	Slaven Parkinson Davenport			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 23,151

Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough

1 April 1989 31	Charlton Athletic	2–0	Middlesbrough	London
				Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 6,696

Middlesbrough v Southampton

8 April 1989 32	Middlesbrough	3–3	Southampton	Middlesbrough
	Hamilton Slaven Burke			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,983

West Ham United v Middlesbrough

11 April 1989 33	West Ham United	1–2	Middlesbrough	London
	Keen		Slaven	Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 16,217

Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough

18 April 1989 34	Queens Park Rangers	0–0	Middlesbrough	London
				Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 10,347

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest

22 April 1989 35	Middlesbrough	3–4	Nottingham Forest	Middlesbrough
	Hamilton Slaven Davenport			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 20,778

Aston Villa v Middlesbrough

29 April 1989 36	Aston Villa	1–1	Middlesbrough	Birmingham
			Davenport	Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 18,590

Middlesbrough v Arsenal

6 May 1989 37	Middlesbrough	0–1	Arsenal	Middlesbrough
			Hayes	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 21,803

Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough

13 May 1989 38	Sheffield Wednesday	1–0	Middlesbrough	Sheffield
				Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 20,582

FA Cup

Middlesbrough v Grimsby Town

7 January 1989 3	Middlesbrough	1–2	Grimsby Town	Middlesbrough
	Slaven			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 19,190

League Cup

Middlesbrough v Tranmere Rovers

28 September 1988 2 (1st leg)	Middlesbrough	0–0	Tranmere Rovers	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 12,084

Tranmere Rovers v Middlesbrough

11 October 1988 2 (2nd leg)	Tranmere Rovers	1–0	Middlesbrough	Birkenhead
				Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 8,617

Simod Cup

Middlesbrough v Oldham Athletic

14 December 1988 1	Middlesbrough	1–0	Oldham Athletic	Middlesbrough
	Glover			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 7,439

Middlesbrough v Portsmouth

21 December 1988 2	Middlesbrough	2–1	Portsmouth	Middlesbrough
	Slaven Glover			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 6,853

Middlesbrough v Coventry City

11 January 1989 3	Middlesbrough	1–0	Coventry City	Middlesbrough
	Davenport			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 9,910

Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace

28 January 1989 4	Middlesbrough	2–3	Crystal Palace	Middlesbrough
	Slaven Cooper			Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 16,314

Squad

Appearances and goals

Appearance and goalscoring records for all the players who were in the Middlesbrough F.C. first team squad during the 1988–89 season.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Division 1		FA Cup		League Cup		Simod Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Stephen Pears	33	0	26	0	1	0	2	0	4	0
	GK	ENG	Kevin Poole	12	0	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Colin Cooper	42	2	35	2	1	0	2	0	4	0
	DF	IRL	Alan Kernaghan	26	0	23	0	0	0	2	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Nicky Mohan	8	0	6	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Tony Mowbray	44	3	37	3	1	0	2	0	4	0
	DF	ENG	Gary Pallister	44	1	37	1	1	0	2	0	4	0
	DF	ENG	Gary Parkinson	41	2	36	2	0	0	2	0	3	0
	MF	ENG	Mark Barham	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Mark Brennan	31	3	25	3	1	0	2	0	3	0
	MF	ENG	Mark Burke	33	5	29	5	1	0	1	0	2	0
	MF	ENG	Gary Gill	10	0	8	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
	MF	ENG	Dean Glover	15	3	12	1	1	0	0	0	2	2
	MF	SCO	Gary Hamilton	43	4	36	4	1	0	2	0	4	0
	MF	ENG	Paul Kerr	24	1	20	1	0	0	2	0	2	0
	MF	ENG	Mark Proctor	10	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Stuart Ripley	42	3	36	3	1	0	2	0	3	0
	FW	ENG	Peter Davenport	28	5	24	4	1	0	0	0	3	1
	FW	ENG	Paul Proudlock	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Trevor Senior	5	0	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	IRL	Bernie Slaven	44	18	37	15	1	1	2	0	4	2

References

^ Vickers, Anthony. "The Middlesbrough FC year that was: Fairytale fades, big money flop & and final day despair". Teesside Live. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
^ Jones, Richard (2002). The Essential History of Middlesbrough. Headline. ISBN 0755311434.

v t e Middlesbrough F.C. seasons
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1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

1988–89 in English football

« 1987–88

1989–90 »

National teams

Bobby Robson
Rous Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup (qualification – UEFA Group 2)

League
competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division, play-offs)
Level 5	Football Conference
Levels 6–7	Isthmian League (Premier, One) Northern Premier League (Premier, One) Southern League (Premier, Midland, Southern)
Levels 8–9	Isthmian League (Two North, Two South) Combined Counties League (level 8 only) Eastern Counties League (Premier, One) Essex Senior League (level 8 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Kent League (level 8 only) Midland Football Combination (level 8 only) North West Counties League (One, Two) Northern Counties East League (Premier, One) Northern League (One, Two) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Spartan League (Premier, One) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (Premier, One) Wessex League (level 8 only) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only) Western League (Premier, One)

Cup
competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final) Charity Shield FA Trophy (Final)
Football League cups	League Cup (Final) Full Members' Cup (Final) Associate Members' Cup (Final) Football League Centenary Trophy

Club seasons
First Division	Arsenal Aston Villa Charlton Athletic Coventry City Derby County Everton Liverpool Luton Town Manchester United Middlesbrough Millwall Newcastle United Norwich City Nottingham Forest Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Southampton Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United Wimbledon
Second Division	Barnsley Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Bournemouth Bradford City Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea Crystal Palace Hull City Ipswich Town Leeds United Leicester City Manchester City Oldham Athletic Oxford United Plymouth Argyle Portsmouth Shrewsbury Town Sunderland Swindon Town Stoke City Walsall Watford West Bromwich Albion
Third Division	Aldershot Blackpool Bolton Wanderers Brentford Bristol City Bristol Rovers Bury Cardiff City Chester City Chesterfield Fulham Gillingham Huddersfield Town Mansfield Town Northampton Town Port Vale Preston North End Notts County Reading Sheffield United Southend United Swansea City Wigan Athletic Wolverhampton Wanderers
Fourth Division	Burnley Cambridge United Carlisle United Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Doncaster Rovers Exeter City Grimsby Town Halifax Town Hartlepool United Hereford United Leyton Orient Lincoln City Peterborough United Rochdale Rotherham United Scarborough Scunthorpe United Stockport County Torquay United Tranmere Rovers Wrexham York City
Others	Newport County