2017 English Football League play-offs explained

Matches:15
Total Goals:34
Highest Attendance:76,682
Lowest Attendance:3,882
Average Attendance:17,205
Nextseason:2018
Season:2016–17

The English Football League play-offs for the 2016–17 season (referred to as the Sky Bet Play-Offs for sponsorship reasons) were held in May 2017 with all finals being staged at Wembley Stadium in London.

The play-offs begin in each league with two semi-finals which are played over two legs. The teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Championship and League One and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th-placed teams in League Two compete. The winners of the semi-finals advance to the finals, with the winners gaining promotion for the following season.

Background

The English 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. The fixtures are determined by final league position – in the Championship and League One this is 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th, while in League Two it is 4th v 7th and 5th v 6th.

Championship

See main article: 2016–17 EFL Championship.

Championship Semi-finals

Final league position - Championship
Team
3Reading46267136864+485
4Sheffield Wednesday46249136045+1581
5Huddersfield Town46256155658–281
6Fulham462214108557+2880
First leg

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Second legReading won 2–1 on aggregate.

Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Huddersfield Town on aggregate. Huddersfield Town won 4–3 on penalties.----

Championship final

See main article: 2017 EFL Championship play-off final.

League One

See main article: 2016–17 EFL League One.

League One Semi-finals

Final league position - League One
Team
3Scunthorpe United462410128054+2682
4Fleetwood Town462313106443+2182
5Bradford City46201976243+1979
6Millwall462013136657+973
First leg----
  • Second legMillwall won 3–2 on aggregate.Bradford City won 1–0 on aggregate.----
  • League One Final

    See main article: 2017 EFL League One play-off final.

    League Two

    See main article: 2016–17 EFL League Two.

    League Two Semi-finals

    Final league position - League Two
    Team
    4Luton Town46201797043+2777
    5Exeter City46218177556+1971
    6Carlisle United461817116968+171
    7Blackpool461816126946+2370
    First leg----
  • Second legBlackpool won 6–5 on aggregate.Exeter City won 6–5 on aggregate.----
  • League Two Final

    See main article: 2017 EFL League Two play-off final.