1997 Football League play-offs explained

The Football League play-offs for the 1996–97 season were held in May 1997, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs and will be contested by the teams who finish 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 will go through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season.

First Division

	Team
3	Wolverhampton Wanderers	46	22	10	14	68	51	+17	76
4	Ipswich Town	46	20	14	12	68	50	+18	74
5	Sheffield United	46	20	13	13	75	52	+23	73
6	Crystal Palace	46	19	14	13	78	48	+30	71

Semi-finals

First leg----

Second legIpswich Town 3–3 Sheffield United on aggregate. Sheffield United won on away goals.----Crystal Palace won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final

See main article: 1997 Football League First Division play-off final.

Second Division

	Team
3	Luton Town	46	21	15	10	59	41	+18	78
4	Brentford	46	20	14	12	56	43	+13	74
5	Bristol City	46	21	10	15	69	51	+18	73
6	Crewe Alexandra	46	22	7	17	56	47	+9	73

Semi-finals

First leg----

Second legBrentford won 4–2 on aggregate.----Crewe Alexandra won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final

See main article: 1997 Football League Second Division play-off final.

Third Division

	Team
4	Northampton Town	46	20	12	14	67	44	+23	72
5	Swansea City	46	21	8	17	62	58	+4	71
6	Chester City	46	18	16	12	55	43	+12	70
7	Cardiff City	46	20	9	17	56	54	+2	69

Semi-finals

First leg----

Second legSwansea City won 3–0 on aggregate.----Northampton Town won 4–2 on aggregate.

Final

See main article: 1997 Football League Third Division play-off final.

External links

• Football League website