Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy

The Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy was an English football tournament held in the early weeks of 1988-89 to celebrate the 100th birthday of The Football League.

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 at neutral 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.

The Competition

Qualifiers Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers, Wimbledon

Quarter–finals

Liverpool 4 Nottingham Forest 1 (Attendance: 20,141)

Manchester United 1 Everton 0 (16,439)

Newcastle United 1 Wimbledon 0 (17,141)

Queens Park Rangers 0 Arsenal 2 (10,019)

Semi–finals

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1 (29,135)

Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 0 (14,968)

Final

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 1 (22,182 at Villa Park)

References

• Rollin, Jack (1989). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1989–1990. Queen Anne Press. pp. 604. ISBN 0-356-17910-9.