Country UK Champions Arsenal FC Matches played 7 | Teams 8 Runners-up Manchester United FC Current champion Arsenal F.C. | |
Dates 29 August 1988 - 9 October 1988 | ||
Mercantile credit centenary trophy final arsenal fc v manchester united fc 9th october 1988 part 1
The Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy was an English football tournament held in the early weeks of the 1988-89 season to celebrate the 100th birthday of The Football League.
Contents
- Mercantile credit centenary trophy final arsenal fc v manchester united fc 9th october 1988 part 1
- Mercantile credit centenary trophy final arsenal fc v manchester united fc 9th october 1988 part 2
- Qualification
- The Competition
- Goalscorers
- References
The competition was played on a knockout basis between the top eight sides from the Football League First Division the previous season, with the final between Arsenal and Manchester United taking place at the birthplace of League Football, Aston Villa's home ground, Villa Park on 9 October 1988. Goals from Paul Davis and Michael Thomas gave Arsenal a 2–1 victory, with Clayton Blackmore the scorer for United.
It was the second competition staged to celebrate the centenary of the Football League, following the Football League Centenary Tournament between 16 clubs at Wembley Stadium in April 1988. Despite most of the country's leading clubs being involved, crowds for the Centenary Trophy were generally disappointing and only the semi–final match between Arsenal and Liverpool attracted more than 25,000.
Mercantile credit centenary trophy final arsenal fc v manchester united fc 9th october 1988 part 2
Qualification
The top 8 finishers from the 1987-1988 edition of the Football League First Division qualified for the tournament, the top 8 was as follows.
The Competition
Quarter–finals
Semi–finals
Final