Football League Third Division 1989/90
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 71 | 35 | +36 | 93 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Bristol City | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 76 | 40 | +36 | 91 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Notts County | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 73 | 53 | +20 | 87 | ♦▲PO Winners |
| 4th | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 86 | 49 | +37 | 80 | ♦Playoffs |
| 5th | Bury | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 70 | 49 | +21 | 74 | ♦Playoffs |
| 6th | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 69 | ♦Playoffs |
| 7th | Birmingham City | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 60 | 59 | +1 | 66 | - |
| 8th | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 61 | 62 | -1 | 65 | - |
| 9th | Rotherham United | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 64 | - |
| 10th | Reading | 46 | 15 | 19 | 12 | 57 | 53 | +4 | 64 | - |
| 11th | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 59 | 54 | +5 | 63 | - |
| 12th | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 56 | 54 | +2 | 62 | - |
| 13th | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 66 | 66 | 0 | 61 | - |
| 14th | Leyton Orient | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 52 | 56 | -4 | 58 | - |
| 15th | Mansfield Town | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 50 | 65 | -15 | 55 | - |
| 16th | Chester City | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 43 | 55 | -12 | 54 | - |
| 17th | Swansea City | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 45 | 63 | -18 | 54 | - |
| 18th | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 46 | 64 | -16 | 53 | - |
| 19th | Preston North End | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 65 | 79 | -14 | 52 | - |
| 20th | Fulham | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 55 | 66 | -11 | 51 | - |
| 21st | Cardiff City | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 51 | 70 | -19 | 50 | ▼Relegated |
| 22nd | Northampton Town | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 51 | 68 | -17 | 47 | ▼Relegated |
| 23rd | Blackpool | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 49 | 73 | -24 | 46 | ▼Relegated |
| 24th | Walsall | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 40 | 72 | -30 | 41 | ▼Relegated |
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Football League Third Division - The Playoffs |
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Semi Finals 1st Leg |
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| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| Sun May 13 | Bolton Wanderers | 1-1 | Notts County |
| Sun May 13 | Bury | 0-0 | Tranmere Rovers |
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Semi Finals 2nd Leg |
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| Wed May 16 | Notts County | 2-0 | Bolton Wanderers |
| Notts County Won 3-1 on aggregate | |||
| Wed May 16 | Tranmere Rovers | 2-0 | Bury |
| Tranmere Rovers Won 2-0 on aggregate | |||
| Final | |||
| Sun May 27 | Notts County | 2-0 | Tranmere Rovers |
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End of Season Notes |
| ▼Bournemouth were Relegated from the Second Division |
| ▼Bradford City were Relegated from the Second Division |
| ▼Stoke City Relegated from the Second Division |
| ▲Bristol Rovers were Promoted to the Second Division |
| ▲Bristol City were Promoted to the Second Division |
| ♦ Notts County Qualified for Playoffs |
| ♦ Tranmere Rovers Qualified for Playoffs |
| ♦ Bury Qualified for Playoffs |
| ♦ Bolton Wanderers Qualified for Playoffs |
| ▲Notts County were Promoted to the Second Division via the Playoffs |
| ▼Cardiff City were Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▼Northampton Town were Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▼Blackpool were Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▼Walsall Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▲Exeter City were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Grimsby Town were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Southend United were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Cambridge United were Promoted from the Fourth Division via the Playoffs |