Football League Third Division 1990/91
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Cambridge United | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 75 | 45 | +25 | 86 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Southend United | 46 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 85 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Grimsby Town | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 66 | 34 | +32 | 83 | ▲Promoted |
| 4th | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 83 | ♦Playoffs |
| 5th | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 78 | ♦▲PO Winners |
| 6th | Brentford | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 76 | ♦Playoffs |
| 7th | Bury | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 76 | ♦Playoffs |
| 8th | Bradford City | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 62 | 54 | +8 | 70 | - |
| 9th | AFC Bournemouth | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 70 | - |
| 10th | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 61 | 54 | +7 | 69 | - |
| 11th | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 57 | 51 | +6 | 67 | - |
| 12th | Birmingham City | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 45 | 49 | -4 | 65 | - |
| 13th | Leyton Orient | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 58 | -3 | 64 | - |
| 14th | Stoke City | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 55 | 59 | -4 | 60 | - |
| 15th | Reading | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 53 | 66 | -13 | 59 | - |
| 16th | Exeter City | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 57 | - |
| 17th | Preston North End | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 54 | 67 | -13 | 56 | - |
| 18th | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 61 | 68 | -7 | 52 | - |
| 19th | Chester City | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 46 | 58 | -14 | 51 | - |
| 20th | Swansea City | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 49 | 72 | -23 | 48 | - |
| 21st | Fulham | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 41 | 56 | -15 | 46 | - |
| 22nd | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 62 | 80 | -18 | 44 | ▼Relegated |
| 23rd | Rotherham United | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 50 | 87 | -37 | 42 | ▼Relegated |
| 24th | Mansfield Town | 46 | 8 | 14 | 24 | 42 | 63 | -21 | 38 | ▼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 19 | Brentford | 2-2 | Tranmere Rovers |
| Sun May 19 | Bury | 1-1 | Bolton Wanderers |
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Semi Finals 2nd Leg |
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| Wed May 22 | Tranmere Rovers | 1-0 | Brentford |
| Tranmere Rovers Won 3-2 on aggregate | |||
| Wed May 22 | Bolton Wanderers | 1-0 | Bury |
| Bolton Wanderers Won 2-1 on aggregate | |||
| Final | |||
| Sun June 1 | Tranmere Rovers | 1-0 | Bolton Wanderers |
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End of Season Notes |
| ▼West Bromwich Albion were Relegated from the Second Division |
| ▼Hull City Relegated from the Second Division |
| ▲Cambridge United were Promoted to the Second Division |
| ▲Southend United were Promoted to the Second Division |
| ▲Grimsby Town were Promoted to the Second Division |
| ♦ Bolton Wanderers Qualified for Playoffs |
| ♦ Tranmere Rovers Qualified for Playoffs |
| ♦ Brentford Qualified for Playoffs |
| ♦ Bury Qualified for Playoffs |
| ▲Tranmere Rovers were Promoted to the Second Division via the Playoffs |
| ▼Crewe Alexandra were Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▼Rotherham United were Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▼Mansfield Town were Relegated to the Fourth Division |
| ▲Darlington were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Stockport County were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Hartlepool United were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Peterborough United were Promoted from the Fourth Division |
| ▲Torquay United were Promoted from the Fourth Division via the Playoffs |