The Football League play-offs for the 1988âÂÂ89 season were held in May 1989, with the two-legged finals taking place at the finalists home stadiums. The play-off semi-finals were also played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League Second Division and Football League Third Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Fourth Division table. The winners of the semi-finals progressed through to the finals, with the winner of these matches either gaining promotion or avoiding relegation for the following season.
The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places. For the first three seasons the final was played over two legs but this was changed to a single match at Wembley Stadium from 1990.
Watford 1âÂÂ1 Blackburn Rovers on aggregate. Blackburn Rovers won on away goals.
Crystal Palace won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Crystal Palace won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Bristol Rovers won 5âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Port Vale won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Port Vale won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Leyton Orient won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Wrexham won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Leyton Orient won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.