1996 Football League play-offs

Football league season

Football League play-offsSeason| 1995–96

|

Champions| Leicester City
(First Division)
Bradford City
(Second Division)
Plymouth Argyle
(Third Division)
Matches played| 15
Goals scored| 32 (2.13 per match)
Biggest home win| Plymouth 3–1 Colchester
(Third Division)
Biggest away win| Blackpool 0–3 Bradford
(Second Division)
Highest scoring| Crewe 2–2 Notts County
Plymouth 3–1 Colchester
(4 goals)
Highest attendance| 73,573 – Crystal Palace v Leicester
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance| 4,931 – Crewe v Notts County
(Second Division semi-final)
Average attendance| 20,567

← 1995

1997 →

The Football League play-offs for the 1995–96 season were held in May 1996, with the finals taking place at Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were 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 progressed through to the finals, with the winner of these matches gaining promotion for the following season.

## Background[edit]

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.

## First Division[edit]

Main article: 1995–96 Football League First Division

Pos  | Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 75
4 | Stoke City | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 73
5 | Leicester City | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 66 | 60 | 0+6 | 71
6 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 17 | 20 | 9 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 71

### Semi-finals[edit]

First leg

12 May 1996

15:00

Charlton Athletic| 1–2| Crystal Palace

|
|

Newton 1' | Report | Brown 65'
Veart 71'

The Valley, London

Attendance: 14,618

Referee: John Kirkby

* * *

12 May 1996

15:00

Leicester City| 0–0| Stoke City

|
|

|  |

Filbert Street, Leicester

Attendance: 20,325

Referee: William Burns

Second leg

15 May 1996

19:45

Crystal Palace| 1–0| Charlton Athletic

|
|

Houghton 4' | Report |

Selhurst Park, London

Attendance: 22,880

Referee: Terry Heilbron

Crystal Palace won 3–1 on aggregate.

* * *

15 May 1996

19:45

Stoke City| 0–1| Leicester City

|
|

|  | Parker 46'

Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent

Attendance: 21,037

Referee: Gurnam Singh

Leicester City won 1–0 on aggregate.

### Final[edit]

Main article: 1996 Football League First Division play-off final

27 May 1996

15:00

Crystal Palace| 1–2 (a.e.t.)| Leicester City

|
|

Roberts 14' |  | Parker 76' (pen.)
Claridge 120'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 73,573

Referee: David Allison

## Second Division[edit]

Main article: 1995–96 Football League Second Division

Pos  | Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3 | Blackpool | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 82
4 | Notts County | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 63 | 39 | +24 | 78
5 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 77 | 60 | +17 | 73
6 | Bradford City | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 71 | 69 | 0+2 | 73

### Semi-finals[edit]

First leg

12 May 1996

15:00

Bradford City| 0–2| Blackpool

|
|

|  | Bonner 72'
Ellis 78'

Valley Parade, Bradford

Attendance: 14,273

Referee: Terry Heilbron

* * *

12 May 1996

15:00

Crewe Alexandra| 2–2| Notts County

|
|

Little 3'
Rivers 17' |  | Finnan 55'
Martindale 90'

Gresty Road, Crewe

Attendance: 4,931

Referee: David Allison

Second leg

15 May 1996

19:30

Blackpool| 0–3| Bradford City

|
|

|  | Shutt 39'
Hamilton 68'
Stallard 78'

Bloomfield Road, Blackpool

Attendance: 9,593

Referee: William Burns

Bradford City won 3–2 on aggregate.

* * *

15 May 1996

19:45

Notts County| 1–0| Crewe Alexandra

|
|

Martindale 61' |  |

Meadow Lane, Nottingham

Attendance: 9,640

Referee: Kevin Lynch

Notts County won 3–2 on aggregate.

### Final[edit]

Main article: 1996 Football League Second Division play-off final

26 May 1996

15:00

Bradford City| 2–0| Notts County

|
|

Hamilton 8'
Stallard 75' |  |

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 39,972

Referee: Gurnam Singh

## Third Division[edit]

Main article: 1995–96 Football League Third Division

Pos  | Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

4 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 68 | 49 | +19 | 78
5 | Darlington | 46 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 78
6 | Hereford United | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 74
7 | Colchester United | 46 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 61 | 51 | +10 | 72

### Semi-finals[edit]

First leg

12 May 1996

15:00

Hereford United| 1–2| Darlington

|
|

Smith 2' |  | Gregan 27'
Blake 37'

Edgar Street, Hereford

Attendance: 6,622

Referee: Kevin Lynch

* * *

12 May 1996

15:00

Colchester United| 1–0| Plymouth Argyle

|
|

Kinsella 45' |  |

Layer Road, Colchester

Attendance: 6,511

Referee: Mick Pierce

Second leg

15 May 1996

19:45

Plymouth Argyle| 3–1| Colchester United

|
|

Evans 3'
Leadbitter 41'
Williams 85' |  | Kinsella 66'

Home Park, Plymouth

Attendance: 14,525

Referee: John Kirkby

Plymouth Argyle won 3–2 on aggregate.

* * *

15 May 1996

19:45

Darlington| 2–1| Hereford United

|
|

Painter 17'
Appleby 47' (pen.) |  | White 65'

Feethams, Darlington

Attendance: 6,584

Referee: David Allison

Darlington won 4–2 on aggregate.

### Final[edit]

Main article: 1996 Football League Third Division play-off final

25 May 1996

15:00

Darlington| 0–1| Plymouth Argyle

|
|

|  | Mauge 65'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 43,431

Referee: William Burns

## External links[edit]

* Football League website

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

EFL Championship play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
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|

Finals|

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EFL League One play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
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* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
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* 2010
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* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

EFL League Two play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

EFL Championship play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

EFL League One play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

EFL League Two play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

EFL Championship play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

EFL League One play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

EFL League Two play-offs

| Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

|

Finals|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* v
* t
* e

1995–96 in English football

« 1994–95

1996–97 »

National teams|

* UEFA Euro 1996 (Group A)
* Terry Venables

League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, play-offs)

Level 5|

* Football Conference

Levels 6–7|

* Isthmian League (Premier, One)
* Northern Premier League (Premier, One)
* Southern League (Premier, Midland, Southern)

Levels 8–9|

* Isthmian League (Two, Three)
* Combined Counties League (level 8 only)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One)
* Essex Senior League (level 8 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One)
* Kent League (level 8 only)
* Midland Alliance (level 8 only)
* Midland Football Combination (level 9 only)
* North West Counties League (One, Two)
* Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* Northern League (One, Two)
* South Midlands League (Premier, Senior)
* Spartan League (Premier, One)
* Sussex County League (One, Two)
* United Counties League (Premier, One)
* Wessex League (level 8 only)
* West Midlands (Regional) League (level 9 only)
* Western League (Premier, One)

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* Charity Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)

|

Football League cups|

* League Cup (Final)
* Football League Trophy (Final)

European competitions|

* Champions League
* UEFA Cup
* Cup Winners' Cup
* Intertoto Cup

Club seasons

Premier League|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bolton Wanderers
* Chelsea
* Coventry City
* Everton
* Leeds United
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Middlesbrough
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wimbledon

First Division|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* Charlton Athletic
* Crystal Palace
* Derby County
* Grimsby Town
* Huddersfield Town
* Ipswich Town
* Leicester City
* Luton Town
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Oldham Athletic
* Portsmouth
* Port Vale
* Reading
* Sheffield United
* Southend United
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Tranmere Rovers
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Blackpool
* Bournemouth
* Bradford City
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol City
* Bristol Rovers
* Burnley
* Carlisle United
* Chesterfield
* Crewe Alexandra
* Hull City
* Notts County
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Stockport County
* Swansea City
* Swindon Town
* Walsall
* Wrexham
* Wycombe Wanderers
* York City

Third Division|

* Barnet
* Bury
* Cambridge United
* Cardiff City
* Chester City
* Colchester United
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Exeter City
* Fulham
* Gillingham
* Hartlepool United
* Hereford United
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Mansfield Town
* Northampton Town
* Plymouth Argyle
* Preston North End
* Rochdale
* Scarborough
* Scunthorpe United
* Torquay United
* Wigan Athletic

List of transfers
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