4 July 1990 – England's World Cup hopes are ended in a semi-final defeat by West Germany, with Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce both missing penalties.

7 August 1990 – Aldershot are saved from closure by a £200,000 rescue package put together by 19-year-old property developer Spencer Trethewy, which means that they will be able to start the new Football League season.

[7] 1 September 1990 – Newly promoted First Division side Sunderland achieve a shock 2–1 league win over FA Cup holders Manchester United at Roker Park.

[14] 25 September 1990 – Ian Wright and Mark Bright both score hat-tricks for Crystal Palace in their 8–0 home win over Southend United in the League Cup second round first leg at Selhurst Park.

[16] 29 September 1990 – Liverpool's 1–0 win over Sunderland at Roker Park gives them a 100% record after seven games, and they extend their lead to six points after Arsenal are held to a 2–2 draw at Leeds.

[19] 4 October 1990 – Peter Taylor, former managerial partner of Brian Clough, dies suddenly of pulmonary fibrosis whilst on holiday in Costa De Los Pinos, Majorca, at the age of 62.

[21] 7 October 1990 – The pressure mounts on Everton manager Colin Harvey after a 3–1 defeat at Nottingham Forest leaves his side third from bottom in the First Division after just one win and five points from their opening eight games.

[33] 10 November 1990 – Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the First Division to six points with a 4–0 home win over Luton, while Arsenal can only manage a goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Newly promoted Bristol Rovers stand just two points outside the playoff zone in 10th place, sparking hopes that manager Gerry Francis could soon deliver First Division football to the club for the first time ever.

[43] 8 December 1990 – Heavy snow causes many Football League and FA Cup fixtures to be postponed, but a decent amount of matches in the less seriously affected areas go ahead.

[46] 19 December 1990 – Arsenal captain Tony Adams is sentenced to four months in prison for drink-driving after being more than three times over the legal alcohol limit when he crashed his car in Southend-on-Sea on 6 May this year.

[49] 26 December 1990 – The Boxing Day action in the First Division sees leaders Liverpool held to a 1–1 draw by QPR at Loftus Road, allowing Arsenal to cut their lead to four points (with a game in hand) by beating Derby 3–0 at Highbury.

Bristol City beat Portsmouth 4–1 to move to the brink of the playoff zone and boost their chances of a second successive promotion, while the bottom two of Hull and Oxford draw 3–3 at Boothferry Park.

[50] 29 December 1990 – Arsenal cut Liverpool's lead of the First Division to a single point by beating Sheffield United 4–1 at Highbury, although Kenny Dalglish's men still have two games in hand.

[51] 30 December 1990 – The last fixture of 1990 sees Liverpool lose 1–0 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, which boosts Steve Coppell's side's hopes of winning their first ever major trophy in the shape of the league title.

Newcastle United, who began the season among the favourites for promotion, occupy a lowly 16th place and are just four points above the relegation zone that threatens them with Third Division football for the first time.

[55] 5 January 1991 – The FA Cup third round produces a series of thrilling matches, perhaps the most notable being Second Division West Bromwich Albion's 4–2 home defeat to non-league Woking.

[58] 8 January 1991 – Liverpool sign winger Jimmy Carter from Millwall for £800,000, on the same day that they beat Blackburn 3–0 in the FA Cup third round replay at Anfield to keep their hopes of a unique second double firmly on track.

9 January 1991 – In front of a smaller crowd than the one which saw them draw 1–1 at Oakwell three days ago, Leeds beat Barnsley 4–0 in the FA Cup third round replay at Elland Road.

In the only league action of the day, Newcastle's woes continue when they lose 4–2 at Brighton in the Second Division, a result which lifts the South Coast club into the playoff zone.

[64] 17 January 1991 – Sheffield United pay a club record £450,000 for Crystal Palace midfielder Glyn Hodges, who played under Blades manager Dave Bassett several years ago when he was in charge at Wimbledon.

[citation needed] 24 February 1991 – Arsenal return to the top of the First Division on goal difference, beating Crystal Palace 4–0 at Highbury, while Liverpool suffer a shock 3–1 defeat at Luton.

Middlesbrough, Notts County, Brighton and Millwall occupy the playoff zone, with Bristol City continuing to turn up the heat on them in their bid for a second successive promotion.

[84] 28 March 1991 – The 90-day inquest into the Hillsborough disaster records a verdict of accidental death on the 95 Liverpool fans who died as a result of their injuries at the FA Cup semi-final on 15 April 1989.

Sheffield United's incredible revival has continued as they now stand 12th in the table, but Derby County are twelve points adrift of safety, and Sunderland occupy the other relegation place.

[4] Oldham Athletic and West Ham United lead the Second Division level on 70 points, with Brighton, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Bristol City occupying the playoff zone.

[94] 21 April 1991 – Sheffield Wednesday, chasing promotion to the First Division, achieve a 1–0 win over Manchester United in the League Cup final to end a 56-year trophy drought.

25 June 1991 – Blackburn Rovers, now bankrolled by the wealth of local steel baron Jack Walker, pay a club record £700,000 for Barnsley midfielder Steve Agnew.

5 October 1990 – Peter Taylor, 62, most famous for serving as assistant manager to Brian Clough at Hartlepool United, Derby County, Brighton and Nottingham Forest between 1965 and 1982.

28 November 1990 – Ted Catlin, 79, played more than 200 games at left-back for Sheffield Wednesday during the 1930s and picked up an FA Cup winner's medal in 1935, also winning five caps for England.