England. So big was English dominance in club football that without playing in Europe for 3 years already the country ranked 12th. There was to be a big drop for the next season, but there was also the end of banishment coming. Not entirely, though… 2 teams were going to play in the 1990-91 Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Cup, but that was all – Liverpool and Nottingham Forest qualified, but were still excluded from international competitions. The domestic scene was not great either: Liverpool’s domination irritated many observers and aficionados, but there was nothing to be done about it: grumblers could not stop Liverpool from winning on the pitch and there was nobody able to challenge them. The solidifying of English football system with direct relegation and promotion between 4th and, now. 5th level brings closer attention to Non-league football, with its own complexity and variety. In general, 6 competitions stayed at the top there: 2 Cups and 4 championships. The vast realm of semi-professional football is impossible to show in full – too many teams. Like
Altrincham.
The winners should suffice:
FA Vase: Yeading
FA Trophy: Barrow
Southern League: Dover Athletic
Northern Premier League:
Colne Dynamoes.
Isthmian League: Slough Town
Football Conference: the top of the Non-league pyramid – the winner of this championship was promoted to Forth Division.
Darlington won the championship and went up to the professional system. They were just relegated in 1988-89, so climbing back right away.
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