Football League Two play-offs

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The Football League Two play-offs are a series of play-off matches, contested by the teams finishing from 4th to 7th in the Football League Two table to determine the fourth promotion place to the third tier of English football, League One. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 7th playing 4th and 6th playing 5th, with the return fixtures following. The final is played at Wembley Stadium, although from 2001 to 2006 the final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff while Wembley was being rebuilt. Due to a clash with the Champions League final, the 2011 play-off final was again in a new location, this time at Old Trafford.

The first ever play-off final was contested between Aldershot and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Aldershot ending up as winners over two legs. The most recent final was played in May 2011, when Stevenage FC defeated Torquay United 1–0. The highest crowd for a League Two play-off final was in 2007 when Bristol Rovers beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 at a newly-renovated Wembley, in front of a crowd of 61,589. Whilst the lowest crowd came in 2011 when Stevenage beat Torquay United 1–0, in front of a 11,484 crowd at Old Trafford, Manchester.


Contents

[edit] Format

Name changes
1987–1992 Football League Fourth Division Play-offs
1993–2004 Football League Third Division Play-offs
2005–0000 Football League Two Play-offs

Aside from the branding changes which affected English football in 1992 and 2004, the League Two Play–offs have also changed in format. When they were introduced for the 1986–87 season, the play-offs originally featured a third-tier club as well as the three fourth-tier clubs. This format was continued for the 1987–88 season, but discontinued afterwards to include only the four teams who finished behind the team or teams winning automatic promotion. As before, the semi-final and final were both two-legged. Since the 1989–90 season, the final has been a single game, contested between the winners of the semi-finals (which remain two-legged), held at either Wembley Stadium or the Millennium Stadium. The 2011 final will be held at Old Trafford, Manchester; whether this is a permanent arrangement or a one-off deal remains to be seen.

[edit] Results

[edit] 1987

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
5th Colchester United 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4th 0–2 0–0
6th Aldershot 3–2 Bolton Wanderers 21st Div 3 1–0 2–2 aet
Final
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Aldershot 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 1–0

[edit] 1988

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
5th Torquay United 3–2 Scunthorpe United 4th 2–1 1–1
6th Swansea City Wales 2–1 England Rotherham United 21st Div 3 1–0 1–1
Final
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Swansea City Wales 5–4 England Torquay United 2–1 3–3

[edit] 1989

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Wrexham Wales 5–1 England Scunthorpe United 4th 3–1 2–0
6th Leyton Orient 2–1 Scarborough 5th 2–0 0–1
Final
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Wrexham Wales 1–2 England Leyton Orient 0–0 1–2

[edit] 1990

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Chesterfield 6–0 Stockport County 4th 4–0 2–0
6th Cambridge United 3–1 Maidstone United 5th 1–1 2–0
Final
26 May 1990
Cambridge United 1 – 0 Chesterfield Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 26,404
Dublin Goal

[edit] 1991

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
8th Scunthorpe United 2–3 Blackpool 5th 1–1 1–2
7th Torquay United 2–1 Burnley 6th 2–0 1–0
Final
31 May 1991
Torquay United 2 – 2 (a.e.t.)
(5 – 4 pens)
Blackpool Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 21,615
Saunders Goal
Edwards Goal
Groves Goal
Curran (og) Goal

[edit] 1992

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Barnet 1–2 Blackpool 4th 1–0 0–2
6th Crewe Alexandra 2–4 Scunthorpe United 5th 2–2 2–0
Final
23 May 1992
Blackpool 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 3 pens)
Scunthorpe United Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 22,741
Bamber Goal Daws Goal

[edit] 1993

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Bury 0–1 York City 4th 0–0 0–1
6th Crewe Alexandra 9–3 Walsall 5th 5–1 4–2
Final
29 May 1993
York City 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
(5 – 3 pens)
Crewe Alexandra Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 22,416
Referee: Allan Gunn (Sussex)
Swann Goal 104' (Details) McKearney (pen) Goal 119'

[edit] 1994

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Carlisle United 1–4 Wycombe Wanderers 4th 0–2 1–2
6th Torquay United 3–4 Preston North End 5th 2–0 1–4
Final
28 May 1994
Wycombe Wanderers 4 – 2 Preston North End Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 40,109
Thompson Goal
Garner Goal goal'
Carroll Goal
(Details) Bryson Goal
Raynor Goal

[edit] 1995

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Preston North End 0–2 Bury 4th 0–1 0–1
6th Mansfield Town 3–6 Chesterfield 5th 1–1 2–5 aet
Final
27 May 1995
Chesterfield 2 – 0 Bury Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 22,814
Lormor Goal
Robinson Goal
(Details)

[edit] 1996

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Colchester United 2–3 Plymouth Argyle 4th 1–0 1–3
6th Hereford United 2–4 Darlington 5th 1–2 1–2
Final
25 May 1996
Plymouth Argyle 1 – 0 Darlington Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 43,431
Referee: William Burns (North Yorkshire)
Mauge Goal 65' (Details)

[edit] 1997

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Cardiff City Wales 2–4 England Northampton Town 4th 0–1 2–3
6th Chester City 0–3 Wales Swansea City 5th 0–0 0–3
Final
24 May 1997
Northampton Town 1 – 0 Swansea City Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 46,804
Frain Goal 90' (Details)

[edit] 1998

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Barnet 2–3 Colchester United 4th 1–0 1–3
6th Scarborough 2–7 Torquay United 5th 1–3 1–4
Final
24 May 1998
Colchester United 1 – 0 Torquay United Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 19,486
Referee: M Fletcher (Worcestershire)
Gregory (pen) Goal 22' (Details)

[edit] 1999

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Swansea City Wales 2–3 England Scunthorpe United 4th 1–0 1–3
6th Leyton Orient 0–0 (4-2 pens) Rotherham United 5th 0–0 0–0 aet
Final
29 May 1999
Scunthorpe United 1 – 0 Leyton Orient Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 36,985
Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucestershire)
Calvo-Garcia Goal 6' (Details)

[edit] 2000

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Hartlepool United 0–3 Darlington 4th 0–2 0–1
6th Barnet 1–5 Peterborough United 5th 1–2 0–3
Final
26 May 2000
Peterborough United 1 – 0 Darlington Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 33,383
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Clarke Goal 74' (Details)

[edit] 2001

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Blackpool 5–1 Hartlepool United 4th 2–0 3–1
6th Hull City 1–2 Leyton Orient 5th 1–0 0–2
Final
26 May 2001
Blackpool 4 – 2 Leyton Orient Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 23,600
Referee: D Pugh (Wirral)
Hudges Goal 35'
Reid Goal 45'
Simpson Goal 77'
Ormerod Goal 88'
(Details) Tate Goal 1'
Houghton Goal 37'

[edit] 2002

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Hartlepool United 2–2 (4–5 pens) Cheltenham Town 4th 1–1 1–1 aet
6th Rushden & Diamonds 4–3 Rochdale 5th 2–2 2–1
Final
6 May 2002
Cheltenham Town 3 – 1 Rushden & Diamonds Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 24,368
Referee: A Leake (Lancashire)
Devaney Goal 27'
Alsop Goal 49'
Finnigan Goal 80'
(Details) Hall Goal 28'

[edit] 2003

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Bury 1–3 Bournemouth 4th 0–0 1–3
6th Lincoln City 6–3 Scunthorpe Utd 5th 5–3 1–0
Final
24 May 2003
Bournemouth 5 – 2 Lincoln City Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 32,148
Referee: A Kaye (West Yorkshire)
S Fletcher Goal 29'
C Fletcher Goal 45'77'
Purches Goal 56'
O'Connor Goal 60'
(Details) Futcher Goal 35'
Bailey Goal 75'

[edit] 2004

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Lincoln City 3–4 Huddersfield Town 4th 1–2 2–2
6th Northampton Town 3–3 (4–5 pens) Mansfield Town 5th 0–2 3–1 aet
Final
31 May 2004
Huddersfield Town 0 – 0 (a.e.t.)
(4 - 1 pens)
Mansfield Town Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 37,298
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
(Details)

[edit] 2005

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Northampton Town 0–1 Southend United 4th 0–0 0–1
6th Lincoln City 2–1 Macclesfield Town 5th 1–0 1–1
Final
28 May 2005
Southend United 2 – 0 (a.e.t.) Lincoln City Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 19,653
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Eastwood Goal 105'
Jupp Goal 110'
(Details)

[edit] 2006

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Lincoln City 1–3 Grimsby Town 4th 0–1 1–2
6th Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Cheltenham Town 5th 1–2 0–0
Final
28 May 2006
Cheltenham Town 1 – 0 Grimsby Town Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 29,196
Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)
Guinan Goal 63' (Details)

[edit] 2007

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Shrewsbury Town 2–1 MK Dons 4th 0–0 2–1
6th Bristol Rovers 7–4 Lincoln City 5th 2–1 5–3
Final
26 May 2007
Bristol Rovers 3 – 1 Shrewsbury Town Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 61,589
Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)
Walker Goal 21'35'
Igoe Goal 90'
(Details) Drummond Goal 3'

[edit] 2008

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Stockport County 4th 1–1 0–1
6th Darlington 3–3 (4–5 pens) Rochdale 5th 2–1 1–2 aet
Final
26 May 2008
Rochdale 2 – 3 Stockport County Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 35,715
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
McArdle Goal 24'
Rundle Goal 77'
(Details) Stanton (og) Goal 34'
Pilkington Goal 49'
Dickinson Goal 67'

[edit] 2009

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Shrewsbury Town 1–1 (4–3 pens) Bury 4th 0–1 1–0
6th Rochdale 1–2 Gillingham 5th 0–0 1–2
Final
23 May 2009
Gillingham 1 – 0 Shrewsbury Town Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 53,706
Referee: C Oliver (Northumberland)
Jackson Goal 90' (Details)

[edit] 2010

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Dagenham & Redbridge 7-2 Morecambe 4th 6–0 1–2
6th Aldershot Town 0–3 Rotherham United 5th 0–1 0–2
Final
30 May 2010
15:00 BST
Rotherham United 2 – 3 Dagenham & Redbridge Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 32,054
Referee: James Linington
Taylor Goal 39' Goal 61' Report Benson Goal 38'
Green Goal 56'
Nurse Goal 70'

[edit] 2011

Semi-finals
Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
7th Torquay United 2–0 Shrewsbury Town 4th 2–0 0–0
6th Stevenage 3–0 Accrington Stanley 5th 2–0 1–0
Final
28 May 2011
15:15 BST
Stevenage 1 – 0 Torquay United Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 11,484
Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)
Mousinho Goal 41' Report

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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