The 1988–89 Northern Premier League season was the 21st in the history of the Northern Premier League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First. It was known as the HFS Loans League for sponsorship reasons.

Premier Division

The Premier Division featured three new teams:

League table

Results

Division One

The Division One featured five new teams:

League table

Promotion and relegation

In the twenty-first season of the Northern Premier League Barrow (as champions) were automatically promoted to the Football Conference. Meanwhile, Worksop Town were relegated; these two sides were replaced by First Division winners Colne Dynamoes and second placed Bishop Auckland. Sutton Town left the First Division at the end of the season and were replaced by newly admitted Emley and Rossendale United.

Cup Results

Challenge Cup: President's Cup: Northern Premier League Shield: Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup.