1989–90 Associate Members' Cup

The 1989–90 Associate Members' Cup, known as the 1989–90 Leyland DAF Cup, was the ninth staging of a secondary football league tournament, and the seventh 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 Tranmere Rovers and the runners-up were Bristol Rovers.

1989–90 Associate Members Cup

Leyland DAF Cup
Tournament details
Country	England Wales
← 1988–89 1990–91 →

The competition began on 7 November 1989 and ended with the final on 20 May 1990 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 Halifax Town 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 3 Lincoln City 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Chesterfield 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Halifax Town 3–0 Lincoln City 29 Nov Lincoln City 3–0 Chesterfield 12 Dec Chesterfield 2–1 Halifax Town

Group 2 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Doncaster Rovers 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Huddersfield Town 2 0 2 0 5 5 0 2 Grimsby Town 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Huddersfield Town 2–2 Doncaster Rovers 28 Nov Doncaster Rovers 1–0 Grimsby Town 12 Dec Grimsby Town 3–3 Huddersfield Town

Group 3 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Blackpool 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3 3 Bury 2 1 0 1 4 5 −1 3 Wrexham 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Wrexham 1–0 Blackpool 28 Nov Blackpool 4–0 Bury 9 Dec Bury 4–1 Wrexham

Group 4 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Tranmere Rovers 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2 6 Chester City 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1 Rochdale 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Chester City 28 Nov Chester City 0–0 Rochdale 12 Dec Rochdale 0–1 Tranmere Rovers 20 Dec Rochdale 1–2 Chester City (play-off)

Group 5 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Preston North End 2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 6 Stockport County 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3 Burnley 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Preston North End 3–0 Burnley 28 Nov Burnley 0–2 Stockport County 13 Dec Stockport County 2–4 Preston North End

Group 6 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Carlisle United 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Scunthorpe United 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Scarborough 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Scunthorpe United 1–0 Scarborough 29 Nov Scarborough 0–1 Carlisle United 22 Dec Carlisle United 1–1 Scunthorpe United

Group 7 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Rotherham United 2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 6 York City 2 1 0 1 8 4 +4 3 Hartlepool United 2 0 0 2 2 11 −9 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov York City 7–1 Hartlepool United 28 Nov Hartlepool United 1–4 Rotherham United 12 Dec Rotherham United 3–1 York City

Group 8 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Bolton Wanderers 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3 Wigan Athletic 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 Crewe Alexandra 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 28 Nov Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Crewe Alexandra 5 Dec Wigan Athletic 1–0 Bolton Wanderers 19 Dec Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Wigan Athletic

Southern Section

Group 1 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Shrewsbury Town 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 6 Walsall 2 1 0 1 5 4 +1 3 Cardiff City 2 0 0 2 3 9 −6 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Cardiff City 3–5 Walsall 28 Nov Walsall 0–1 Shrewsbury Town 19 Dec Shrewsbury Town 4–0 Cardiff City

Group 2 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Bristol Rovers 2 1 0 1 3 1 +2 3 Exeter City 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3 Torquay United 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Torquay United 1–0 Bristol Rovers 15 Jan Exeter City 2–0 Torquay United 17 Jan Bristol Rovers 3–0 Exeter City

Group 3 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Notts County 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Peterborough United 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Fulham 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 8 Nov Peterborough United 1–0 Fulham 28 Nov Fulham 0–1 Notts County 12 Dec Notts County 2–2 Peterborough United

Group 4 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Aldershot 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 3 Hereford United 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Birmingham City 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 3 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 8 Nov Hereford United 3–2 Aldershot 28 Nov Aldershot 3–0 Birmingham City 12 Dec Birmingham City 1–0 Hereford United

Group 5 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Southend United 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 4 Gillingham 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3 Cambridge United 2 0 1 1 3 5 −2 1 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Southend United 1–0 Gillingham 28 Nov Gillingham 2–0 Cambridge United 12 Dec Cambridge United 3–3 Southend United

Group 6 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Bristol City 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Reading 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Swansea City 2 0 0 2 2 4 −2 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 5 Nov Bristol City 2–1 Swansea City 15 Jan Reading 1–1 Bristol City 17 Jan Swansea City 1–2 Reading

Group 7 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Maidstone United 2 2 0 0 6 3 +3 6 Northampton Town 2 1 0 1 5 4 +1 3 Colchester United 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4 0 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Colchester United 0–3 Northampton Town 28 Nov Northampton Town 2–4 Maidstone United 10 Jan Maidstone United 2–1 Colchester United

Group 8 Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Brentford 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 3 Leyton Orient 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3 Mansfield Town 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3 Source: [citation needed] Date Team 1  Score  Team 2 7 Nov Brentford 3–0 Leyton Orient 28 Nov Leyton Orient 2–0 Mansfield Town 9 Dec Mansfield Town 2–1 Brentford 9 Jan Mansfield Town 2–1 Leyton Orient (play-off)

First round

Northern Section Date Home team Score Away team 9 January Bolton Wanderers 2–1 Lincoln City 9 January Carlisle United 1 – 2[1] Stockport County 9 January Doncaster Rovers 2–0 Bury 9 January Halifax Town 1–1 York City Halifax Town won 7–6 on penalties[1] 9 January Preston North End 1–2 Wigan Athletic 9 January Rotherham United 3–0 Huddersfield Town 9 January Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Scunthorpe United 16 January Blackpool 0–1 Chester City

Southern Section Date Home team Score Away team 9 January Aldershot 1–4 Walsall 10 January Peterborough United 0–1 Hereford United 17 January Maidstone United 2–1 Mansfield Town 17 January Southend United 2–1 Northampton Town 23 January Brentford 2–1 Reading 23 January Bristol City 0–1 Notts County 23 January Shrewsbury Town 0–1 Exeter City 24 January Bristol Rovers 1–0 Gillingham

Quarter-finals

Northern Section Date Home team Score Away team 30 January Halifax Town 3 – 1[1] Stockport County 30 January Wigan Athletic 1 – 2[1] Doncaster Rovers 31 January Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Rotherham United 6 February Tranmere Rovers 3–0 Chester City

Southern Section Date Home team Score Away team 30 January Walsall 4–1 Southend United 6 February Brentford 2–2 Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers won 4–3 on penalties[1] 21 February Hereford United 1–1 Notts County Notts County won 4–3 on penalties[1] 21 February Maidstone United 2–0 Exeter City

Area semi-finals

Northern Section Date Home team Score Away team 20 February Doncaster Rovers 3–0 Halifax Town 20 February Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section Date Home team Score Away team 14 March Bristol Rovers 0–0 Walsall Bristol Rovers won 3–2 on penalties[1] 14 March Maidstone United 0 – 1[1] Notts County

Area finals

Northern Area final

12 March 1990

Tranmere Rovers	2–0	Doncaster Rovers
	Report

Prenton Park, Birkenhead

Attendance: 10,004

3 April 1990

Doncaster Rovers	(1) 1 – 1 (3)	Tranmere Rovers
	Report

Belle Vue, Doncaster

Attendance: 6,670

Southern Area final

28 March 1990

Bristol Rovers	1–0	Notts County
	Report

Memorial Stadium, Bristol

Attendance: 6,480

2 April 1990

Notts County	(0) 0 – 0 (1)	Bristol Rovers
	Report

Meadow Lane, Nottingham

Attendance: 10,857

Final

20 May 1990

Tranmere Rovers	2–1	Bristol Rovers
Muir 9' Steel 71'		White 55'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 48,402

Referee: V.Callow (Solihull)