1988–89 Luton Town F.C. season

Luton Town F.C.
1988–89 season
Chairman David Evans
Manager Ray Harford
Stadium Kenilworth Road
First Division 16th
FA Cup Third round
Football League Cup Runners-up
Full Members' Cup Third round
Top goalscorer League:
All: Roy Wegerle and
Danny Wilson (12)

During the 1988–89 English football season, Luton Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, in which they finished 16th to secure an eighth successive season at this level. They were holders of the League Cup for this season and maintained their defence of the trophy to the final, where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest.

Despite being League Cup holders, Luton did not compete in the UEFA Cup this season due to the continuation of the ban on English clubs in European competitions arising from the Heysel disaster of 1985.

Season summary

Luton were unable to build on their top-ten finishes of the two previous seasons and finished the season in 16th, just two points clear of relegation. Luton did manage to reach the League Cup final for the second season running, but were unable to defend the cup as they were beaten 3-1 by Nottingham Forest.

On a positive note, Luton managed to record the biggest home win of the season, when they thrashed Southampton 6-1 in January.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
England GK Alec Chamberlain
England GK Les Sealey
England DF Tim Breacker
England DF John Dreyer
England DF Steve Foster
England DF Steve Williams
England DF Richard Harvey
England DF Marvin Johnson
England DF Rob Johnson
England DF Julian James
Scotland DF Dave Beaumont
England MF Gary Cobb
England MF Ricky Hill
No. Position Player
England MF Darron McDonough[1]
England MF David Oldfield[2]
England MF David Preece
Northern Ireland MF Kingsley Black[3]
Northern Ireland MF Danny Wilson[4]
Republic of Ireland MF Ashley Grimes
England FW Iain Dowie[5]
England FW Mick Harford
England FW Sean Farrell
Northern Ireland FW Paul Gray[6]
South Africa FW Roy Wegerle[7]

Results

Date Opponent Venue Competition Res Score
27 Aug 88 Sheffield Wednesday A 1D L 0-1
3 Sep 88 Wimbledon H 1D D 2-2
10 Sep 88 Southampton A 1D L 1-2
17 Sep 88 Manchester United H 1D L 0-2
24 Sep 88 Everton A 1D W 2-0
27 Sep 88 Burnley H LC2 1st D 1-1
1 Oct 88 Nottingham Forest A 1D D 0-0
8 Oct 88 Liverpool H 1D W 1-0
11 Oct 88 Burnley A LC2 2nd W 1-0
22 Oct 88 Middlesbrough A 1D L 2-1
25 Oct 88 Arsenal H 1D D 1-1
29 Oct 88 Queens Park Rangers H 1D D 0-0
2 Nov 88 Leeds United A LC3 W 2-0
5 Nov 88 Millwall A 1D L 1-3
12 Nov 88 Coventry City A 1D L 0-1
19 Nov 88 West Ham United H 1D W 4-1
26 Nov 88 Norwich City A 1D D 2-2
3 Dec 88 Newcastle United H 1D D 0-0
10 Dec 88 Derby County A 1D W 1-0
17 Dec 88 Aston Villa H 1D D 1-1
26 Dec 88 Tottenham Hotspur A 1D D 0-0
31 Dec 88 Wimbledon A 1D L 0-4
2 Jan 89 Southampton H 1D W 6-1
7 Jan 89 Millwall A FAC3 L 2-3
10 Jan 89 Crystal Palace A FMC3 L 1-4
14 Jan 89 Charlton Athletic A 1D L 0-3
18 Jan 89 Southampton H LC4 D 1-1
21 Jan 89 Everton H 1D W 1-0
25 Jan 89 Southampton A LC4 Replay W 2-1
4 Feb 89 Nottingham Forest H 1D L 2-3
12 Feb 89 West Ham United A LCSF 1st W 3-0
18 Feb 89 Middlesbrough H 1D W 1-0
25 Feb 89 Arsenal A 1D L 0-2
1 Mar 89 West Ham United H LCSF 2nd W 2-0
11 Mar 89 Millwall H 1D L 1-2
14 Mar 89 Liverpool A 1D L 0-5
18 Mar 89 Sheffield Wednesday H 1D L 0-1
21 Mar 89 Queens Park Rangers A 1D D 1-1
25 Mar 89 Manchester United A 1D L 0-2
28 Mar 89 Tottenham Hotspur H 1D L 1-3
1 Apr 89 Aston Villa A 1D L 1-2
9 Apr 89 Nottingham Forest N LCF L 1-3
15 Apr 89 Coventry City H 1D D 2-2
22 Apr 89 Newcastle United A 1D D 0-0
29 Apr 89 Derby County H 1D W 3-0
2 May 89 Charlton Athletic H 1D W 5-2
6 May 89 West Ham United A 1D L 0-1
13 May 89 Norwich City H 1D W 1-0

Key: 1D = First Division FAC = FA Cup LC = League Cup FMC = Full Members Cup

See also

References

  1. McDonough was born in Antwerp, Belgium, but was raised in Greater Manchester, England.
  2. Oldfield was born in Perth, Australia, but qualified to represent England internationally as he was raised there. He would make his debut for the U-21 side in 1988.
  3. Black was born in Luton, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1988.
  4. Wilson was born in Wigan, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1987.
  5. Dowie was born in Hatfield, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally through his father. He made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1990.
  6. Gray was born in Portsmouth, England, but qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally as he was raised there. He would make his international debut for the U-21 side in 1990.
  7. Wegerle was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but gained American citizenship in 1991, qualifying through his wife, and made his international debut for the United States in May 1992.
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