| Season: | 1988–89 |
| Manager: | Brian Miller (until January 1989) Frank Casper (from January 1989) |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chairman: | Frank Teasdale |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 16th |
| Cup1 Result: | 2nd Round |
| Cup2 Result: | 1st Round |
| Cup3 Result: | 1st Round |
| League Topscorer: | Brendan O'Connell (13) |
| Season Topscorer: | Brendan O'Connell (18) |
| Highest Attendance: | 14,036 v Luton Town (11 October 1988) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 3,478 v Hartlepool United (29 November 1988) |
| Average Attendance: | 7,267[1] |
| Nextseason: | 1989–90 |
The 1988–89 season was Burnley's fourth season in the fourth tier of English football. They also competed in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy. They were initially managed by Brian Miller until Frank Casper took charge in January 1989.
The league campaign started well with three wins on the bounce including a 6–0 home win against York City. After October Burnley's league form dropped. A couple wins in January and few later on left Burnley at the end of the season in 16th place. In the FA Cup Burnley played at home against Chester City of Division Three, but lost 2–0. In the League Cup, first they knocked out Rochdale over two legs, but then lost to Luton Town in the next round over the two legs.
See main article: 1988–89 Football League.
| Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 August 1988 | Rochdale (H) | 2–1 | Comstive 15', Farrell 46' | 7,511 | |
| 3 September 1988 | Halifax Town (A) | 2–1 | Comstive 33', O'Connell 76' | 4,071 | |
| 10 September 1988 | York City (H) | 6–0 | Atkinson 17', Britton 24', Comstive (2) 47' (pen.), 87', Oghani 56', O'Connell 70' | 7,258 | |
| 16 September 1988 | Stockport County (A) | 0–0 | 6,676 | ||
| 20 September 1988 | Torquay United (A) | 0–2 | 3,021 | ||
| 24 September 1988 | Colchester United (H) | 2–0 | Rowell 43', O'Connell 53' | 7,177 | |
| 1 October 1988 | Darlington (A) | 1–1 | O'Connell 84' | 3,409 | |
| 4 October 1988 | Rotherham United (H) | 1–0 | Oghani 74' | 9,290 | |
| 8 October 1988 | Exeter City (H) | 3–0 | Oghani 32', Zelem 71', O'Connell 88' | 7,894 | |
| 15 October 1988 | Peterborough United (A) | 0–3 | 5,023 | ||
| 22 October 1988 | Leyton Orient (H) | 2–2 | Comstive 21' (pen.), O'Connell 70' | 8,503 | |
| 25 October 1988 | Carlisle United (A) | 0–0 | 4,543 | ||
| 29 October 1988 | Cambridge United (H) | 2–0 | Oghani 9', O'Connell 83' | 8,669 | |
| 5 November 1988 | Scunthorpe United (A) | 1–2 | O'Connell 81' | 6,358 | |
| 8 November 1988 | Lincoln City (H) | 1–4 | Comstive 30' (pen.) | 8,445 | |
| 12 November 1988 | Scarborough (A) | 0–1 | 5,258 | ||
| 26 November 1988 | Doncaster Rovers (A) | 0–1 | 2,724 | ||
| 3 December 1988 | Hartlepool United (H) | 0–0 | 6,289 | ||
| 17 December 1988 | Hereford United (A) | 0–0 | 2,442 | ||
| 26 December 1988 | Wrexham (H) | 1–3 | O'Connell 39' | 9,174 | |
| 31 December 1988 | Grimsby Town (H) | 1–0 | Oghani 88' | 7,367 | |
| 2 January 1989 | Tranmere Rovers (A) | 1–2 | Britton 79' | 7,974 | |
| 14 January 1989 | Halifax Town (H) | 2–1 | Oghani (2) 9', 67' | 8,298 | |
| 21 January 1989 | Rochdale (A) | 1–2 | Farrell 40' | 5,812 | |
| 28 January 1989 | Stockport County (H) | 1–0 | Britton 64' | 8,942 | |
| 4 February 1989 | Torquay United (H) | 1–0 | O'Connell 79' | 6,626 | |
| 10 February 1989 | Colchester United (A) | 2–2 | White (2) 13', 15' (pen.) | 3,831 | |
| 18 February 1989 | Exeter City (A) | 0–3 | 3,672 | ||
| 25 February 1989 | Peterborough United (H) | 1–1 | Measham 73' | 6,853 | |
| 4 March 1989 | Leyton Orient (A) | 0–3 | 3,944 | ||
| 11 March 1989 | Scunthorpe United (H) | 0–1 | 6,813 | ||
| 14 March 1989 | Cambridge United (A) | 1–2 | White 63' | 2,555 | |
| 18 March 1989 | York City (A) | 0–0 | 3,164 | ||
| 21 March 1989 | Carlisle United (H) | 0–0 | 5,283 | ||
| 25 March 1989 | Tranmere Rovers (H) | 2–2 | Comstive (2) 56', 90' | 6,839 | |
| 27 March 1989 | Wrexham (A) | 2–4 | Grewcock 5', McGrory 68' | 3,956 | |
| 1 April 1989 | Hereford United (H) | 3–3 | James (2) 12' (pen.), 72' (pen.), Monington 85' | 5,534 | |
| 4 April 1989 | Crewe Alexandra (H) | 1–0 | Hardy 33' | 5,677 | |
| 8 April 1989 | Grimsby Town (A) | 0–1 | 4,856 | ||
| 15 April 1989 | Darlington (H) | 0–1 | 5,577 | ||
| 22 April 1989 | Rotherham United (A) | 1–3 | Farrell 31' | 5,726 | |
| 29 April 1989 | Doncaster Rovers (H) | 3–0 | O'Connell (2) 7', 85', Comstive 88' | 4,211 | |
| 1 May 1989 | Lincoln City (A) | 3–2 | White (2) 26', 73', O'Connell 40' | 3,594 | |
| 6 May 1989 | Hartlepool United (A) | 2–2 | Farrell 8', James 75' (pen.) | 2,038 | |
| 9 May 1989 | Crewe Alexandra (A) | 0–4 | 3,597 | ||
| 13 May 1989 | Scarborough (H) | 0–1 | 6,206 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 August 1988 | Round 1 First leg | Rochdale (A) | 3–3 | O'Connell 19', Comstive 54' (pen.), Oghani 80' | 3,669 | |
| 6 September 1988 | Round 1 Second leg | Rochdale (H) | 2–1 | O'Connell (2) 16', 53' | 6,674 | |
| 27 September 1988 | Round 2 First leg | Luton Town (A) | 1–1 | Comstive 42' (pen.) | 6,282 | |
| 11 October 1988 | Round 2 Second leg | Luton Town (H) | 0–1 | 14,036 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 November 1988 | Group Stage | York City (A) | 2–0 | O'Connell 8', Comstive 60' (pen.) | 1,648 | |
| 29 November 1988 | Group Stage | Hartlepool United (H) | 3–0 | Davis 8', White 57', O'Connell 76' | 3,478 | |
| 17 January 1989 | Round 1 | Crewe Alexandra (H) | 1–1 (2 – 4p) | Macowat 57' (o.g.) | 6,392 |
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