1999 Football League play-offs explained

Season:	1998–99
Winners:	Watford (First Division) Manchester City (Second Division) Scunthorpe United (Third Division)
Biggest Home Win:	Scunthorpe 3–1 Swansea (Third Division)
Biggest Away Win:	None
Highest Scoring:	Ipswich 4–3 Bolton (7 goals)
Matches:	15
Total Goals:	28
Highest Attendance:	76,935 – Gillingham v Manchester City (Second Division final)
Lowest Attendance:	6,762 – Wigan v Manchester City (Second Division semi-final)
Average Attendance:	24,837
Nextseason:	2000

The Football League play-offs for the 1998–99 season were held in May 1999, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals went through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season.

Background

The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.

In the First Division, Ipswich Town, who were aiming to return to the top flight after a 4-year absence, finished one point behind second placed Bradford City, who in turn finished 18 points behind champions Sunderland, who returned to the top flight after being relegated two seasons previously. Birmingham City, who were aiming to return to the top flight after 13 years outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Watford, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1988, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who were aiming to return to the top flight after relegation the previous season, finished one point behind Watford in sixth place.

First Division

	Team
3	Ipswich Town	46	25	12	9	71	42	+29	87
4	Birmingham City	46	24	10	12	88	67	+21	82
5	Watford	46	22	11	13	65	44	+21	77
6	Bolton Wanderers	46	21	13	12	69	50	+19	76

Semi-finals

First leg----

Second legIpswich Town 4–4 Bolton Wanderers on aggregate. Bolton Wanderers won on away goals.----Birmingham City 1–1 Watford on aggregate. Watford won 7–6 on penalties.

Final

See main article: 1999 Football League First Division play-off final.

Second Division

	Team
3	Manchester City	46	22	16	8	69	33	+36	82
4	Gillingham	46	22	14	10	75	44	+31	80
5	Preston North End	46	22	13	11	78	50	+28	79
6	Wigan Athletic	46	22	10	14	75	48	+27	76

Semi-finals

First leg----

Second legGillingham won 2–1 on aggregate.----Manchester City won 2–1 on aggregate.

Final

See main article: 1999 Football League Second Division play-off final.

Third Division

	Team
4	Scunthorpe United	46	22	8	16	69	58	+11	74
5	Rotherham United	46	20	13	13	79	61	+18	73
6	Leyton Orient	46	19	15	12	68	59	+9	72
7	Swansea City	46	19	14	13	56	48	+8	71

Semi-finals

First leg----

Second legRotherham United 0–0 Leyton Orient on aggregate. Leyton Orient won 4–2 on penalties.----Scunthorpe United won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

See main article: 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final.

External links

• Football League website