2000 Football League play-offs

The Football League play-offs for the 1999–2000 season were held in May 2000, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London for the final time. 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.

Football League play-offs
Season1999–2000
ChampionsIpswich Town
(First Division)
Gillingham
(Second Division)
Peterborough United
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored49 (3.27 per match)
Biggest home winPeterborough 3–0 Barnet
(Third Division)
Biggest away winBirmingham 0–4 Barnsley
(First Division)
Highest scoringIpswich 5–3 Bolton
(8 goals)
Highest attendance73,427 – Barnsley v Ipswich
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance4,535 – Barnet v Peterborough
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance22,266
1999
2001

Background

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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 are aiming to return to the top flight after 5 years outside the top flight, finished 2 points behind second placed Manchester City, who in turn finished 2 points behind champions Charlton Athletic, who returned to the top flight after being relegated last season. Barnsley who are aiming to return to the top flight after 2 seasons outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 14 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who as well as Barnsley are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation 2 seasons ago, finished 1 point behind Birmingham City in sixth place.

First Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Ipswich Town 46 25 12 9 71 42 +29 87
4 Barnsley 46 24 10 12 88 67 +21 82
5 Birmingham City 46 22 11 13 65 44 +21 77
6 Bolton Wanderers 46 21 13 12 69 50 +19 76

Semi-finals

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First leg
Birmingham City0–4Barnsley
Report Shipperley   12'
Dyer   48', 60'
Hignett   84'
Attendance: 26,492
Referee: Mark Halsey

Bolton Wanderers2–2Ipswich Town
Holdsworth   5'
Guðjohnsen   26'
Report Stewart   36', 65'
Attendance: 18,814
Referee: Rob Styles
Second leg
Ipswich Town5–3 (a.e.t.)Bolton Wanderers
Magilton   18' (pen.), 49', 90'
Clapham   94' (pen.)
Reuser   110'
Report Holdsworth   6', 39'
Johnston   50'
Attendance: 21,543
Referee: Barry Knight

Ipswich Town won 7–5 on aggregate.


Barnsley1–2Birmingham City
Dyer   54' Report Rowett   33'
Marcelo   75'
Attendance: 19,050
Referee: Mike Dean

Barnsley won 5–2 on aggregate.

Final

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Barnsley2–4Ipswich Town
Wright   6' (o.g.)
Hignett   78' (pen.)
Report Mowbray   28'
Naylor   52'
Stewart   58'
Reuser   90'
Attendance: 73,427
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Second Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Gillingham 46 25 10 11 79 48 +31 85
4 Wigan Athletic 46 22 17 7 72 38 +34 83
5 Millwall 46 23 13 10 76 50 +26 82
6 Stoke City 46 23 13 10 68 42 +26 82

Semi-finals

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First leg
Millwall0–0Wigan Athletic
Report
Attendance: 14,091
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Stoke City3–2Gillingham
Gunnlaugsson   1'
Lightbourne   8'
Thorne   67'
Report Gooden   18'
Hassenthaler   90'
Attendance: 22,124
Referee: Mike Dean
Second leg
Gillingham3–0 (a.e.t.)Stoke City
Ashby   55'
Onuora   102'
Smith   118'
Report
Attendance: 10,386
Referee: Rob Styles

Gillingham won 5–3 on aggregate.


Wigan Athletic1–0Millwall
Sheridan   61'
Attendance: 10,642
Referee: David Laws

Wigan Athletic won 1–0 on aggregate.

Final

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Wigan Athletic2–3 (a.e.t.)Gillingham
Haworth   59'
Barlow   99' (pen.)
Report McGibbon   35' (o.g.)
Butler   114'
Thomson   118'
Attendance: 53,764
Referee: Rob Styles

Third Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4 Darlington 46 21 16 9 66 36 +30 79
5 Peterborough United 46 22 12 12 63 54 0+9 78
6 Barnet 46 21 12 13 59 53 0+6 75
7 Hartlepool United 46 21 9 16 60 49 +11 72

Semi-finals

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First leg
Barnet1–2Peterborough United
Arber   22' Lee   5'
Clarke   68'
Attendance: 4,535
Referee: David Laws

Hartlepool United0–2Darlington
Liddle   35'
Gabbiadini   76' (pen.)
Attendance: 6,995
Referee: Barry Knight
Second leg
Darlington1–0Hartlepool United
Strodder   9' (o.g.)
Attendance: 8,238
Referee: Mark Halsey

Darlington won 3–0 on aggregate.


Peterborough United3–0Barnet
Farrell   28', 70', 89'
Attendance: 10,515
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Peterborough United won 5–1 on aggregate.

Final

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Peterborough United1–0Darlington
Clarke   74' Report
Attendance: 33,383
Referee: Mike Dean
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