Football League Play-Offs
Encyclopedia
The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion
places within the Football League
. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is available for one the clubs in the next four positions. To determine this club, a series of play-off matches are held.
, the teams finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth are entered for the Championship play-offs
. The team finishing third plays the team that finished sixth, with the first leg being held at the home of the team that finished sixth and the second leg being held at the home of the team that finished third. This is designed to give the team that finished third an advantage. This is the same for the teams that finished fourth and fifth, with the advantage being with the team that finished fourth. The two winning teams then play each other in the final, with the winning team winning promotion to the Premier League. This makes it the most lucrative single game in world football. The format is the same in League One
, but in League Two
and the Conference there are differences. In League Two three teams are automatically promoted, so the teams that finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh enter into the play-offs.
A change to the format of the play-offs was proposed by Crystal Palace chief executive Phil Alexander
in 2003. Alexander recommended expanding the number of teams in each play-off series from four to six, providing more clubs with a chance at promotion. Additionally, the two-legged semi-finals would have been replaced by one-off quarter-final and semi-final games, both of which would give home advantage to the team that finished higher during the league season. The two highest placed clubs in the play-off series would advance directly to the semi-final, while the other four clubs would contest the quarter-final. The proposed changes were narrowly approved by Football League chairmen and were set to be voted upon at the league's annual general meeting
. The motion was withdrawn however, due to objections received from the Premier League and the Football Association.
. If after two legs the scores were still tied, a tie-breaker was played at a neutral venue. This was only used in three occasions:
the 1987 Second Division tie-breaker final was played at Birmingham City
's St. Andrews; the 1987 Third Division final was played at Crystal Palace
's Selhurst Park
;
and the 1988 Third Division final was played at Walsall
's Fellows Park
(though this was not strictly a neutral venue, as Walsall was one of the clubs involved in the finals).
From 1990 to 2000, the finals were played at the old Wembley Stadium, but between 2001 and 2006, they were held at the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff
, due to the re-building work at Wembley. The finals returned to the newly-rebuilt Wembley Stadium
after it was completed in 2007.
For 2011, the League One and League Two play-off finals were held at Old Trafford
, home of Manchester United
, because the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final
would be taking place at Wembley on 28 May. The Conference finals were similarly rescheduled to be played at City of Manchester Stadium
, home of Manchester City
.
did not adopt them until 2002–03. In the Conference only one team is automatically promoted, so the teams that finished second, third, fourth and fifth are entered into the play-offs. The final of the Conference play-off was usually held at one of the Championship's bigger grounds, such as Stoke City
's Britannia Stadium
. However, beginning in 2007, Conference finals were played at Wembley (except for the 2011 final at Manchester City, above).
In recent years most leagues in the National League System
, well below the professional levels, have adopted the play-off system for promotions of additional teams to the champions, although requirements are stricter depending on the league and only the champions of each level/division may be promoted automatically.
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
places within the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is available for one the clubs in the next four positions. To determine this club, a series of play-off matches are held.
Format
In the ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, the teams finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth are entered for the Championship play-offs
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
. The team finishing third plays the team that finished sixth, with the first leg being held at the home of the team that finished sixth and the second leg being held at the home of the team that finished third. This is designed to give the team that finished third an advantage. This is the same for the teams that finished fourth and fifth, with the advantage being with the team that finished fourth. The two winning teams then play each other in the final, with the winning team winning promotion to the Premier League. This makes it the most lucrative single game in world football. The format is the same in League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, but in League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and the Conference there are differences. In League Two three teams are automatically promoted, so the teams that finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh enter into the play-offs.
A change to the format of the play-offs was proposed by Crystal Palace chief executive Phil Alexander
Phil Alexander
Phillip "Phil" Alexander is a retired association footballer and American footballer. He is now the Chief Executive of Crystal Palace.-Association football:...
in 2003. Alexander recommended expanding the number of teams in each play-off series from four to six, providing more clubs with a chance at promotion. Additionally, the two-legged semi-finals would have been replaced by one-off quarter-final and semi-final games, both of which would give home advantage to the team that finished higher during the league season. The two highest placed clubs in the play-off series would advance directly to the semi-final, while the other four clubs would contest the quarter-final. The proposed changes were narrowly approved by Football League chairmen and were set to be voted upon at the league's annual general meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
. The motion was withdrawn however, due to objections received from the Premier League and the Football Association.
Venues
Before 1990 the playoff finals were played over two legs home and away, like the semifinals of the Football League CupFootball League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. If after two legs the scores were still tied, a tie-breaker was played at a neutral venue. This was only used in three occasions:
the 1987 Second Division tie-breaker final was played at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
's St. Andrews; the 1987 Third Division final was played at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
's Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
;
and the 1988 Third Division final was played at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
's Fellows Park
Fellows Park
Fellows Park was a football stadium in Walsall, England. It was the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 till 1990, when the team moved to the Bescot Stadium....
(though this was not strictly a neutral venue, as Walsall was one of the clubs involved in the finals).
From 1990 to 2000, the finals were played at the old Wembley Stadium, but between 2001 and 2006, they were held at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, due to the re-building work at Wembley. The finals returned to the newly-rebuilt Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
after it was completed in 2007.
For 2011, the League One and League Two play-off finals were held at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, home of Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, because the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final
2011 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2011 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match played on 28 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London that decided the winner of the 2010–11 season of the UEFA Champions League. The winners received the European Champion Clubs' Cup...
would be taking place at Wembley on 28 May. The Conference finals were similarly rescheduled to be played at City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
, home of Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
Adoption at lower levels
The play-offs have been a Football League feature since 1986–87, but the Football ConferenceFootball Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
did not adopt them until 2002–03. In the Conference only one team is automatically promoted, so the teams that finished second, third, fourth and fifth are entered into the play-offs. The final of the Conference play-off was usually held at one of the Championship's bigger grounds, such as Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
's Britannia Stadium
Britannia Stadium
The Britannia Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England and the home of Premier League club Stoke City Football Club. With space for 27,598 spectators . The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank...
. However, beginning in 2007, Conference finals were played at Wembley (except for the 2011 final at Manchester City, above).
In recent years most leagues in the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
, well below the professional levels, have adopted the play-off system for promotions of additional teams to the champions, although requirements are stricter depending on the league and only the champions of each level/division may be promoted automatically.
Records
- BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
is the only club to win all three divisional play-offs. They won the Championship finals in 2010, the League One finals in 2007, and the League Two (then Fourth and Third Divisions) in 1992 and 2001. - Dagenham & RedbridgeDagenham & Redbridge F.C.Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
hold the record for the highest winning aggregate in the semi finals. In League Two, only Blackpool & Dagenham have ever been promoted in what is the traditional bogey slot of 7th position.
See also
- Football League Championship play-offsFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
- Football League One play-offsFootball League One play-offsThe Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
- Football League Two play-offsFootball League Two play-offsThe 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...