1997 Football League play-offs

Football league season

Football League play-offsSeason| 1996–97

|

Champions| Crystal Palace
(First Division)
Crewe Alexandra
(Second Division)
Northampton Town
(Third Division)
Matches played| 15
Goals scored| 38 (2.53 per match)
Biggest home win| Swansea 3–0 Chester
(Third Division)
Biggest away win| Bristol City 1–2 Brentford
(Second Division)
Highest scoring| Northampton 3–2 Cardiff
(5 goals)
Highest attendance| 64,383 – Crystal Palace v Sheffield United
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance| 5,104 – Chester v Swansea
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance| 21,403

← 1996

1998 →

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

[edit]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League First Division

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

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

[edit]

First leg

10 May 1997

15:00

Crystal Palace| 3–1| Wolverhampton Wanderers

|
|

Shipperley 68'
Freedman 89', 90' |  | Smith 90'

Selhurst Park, London

Attendance: 21,053

Referee: Neale Barry

* * *

10 May 1997

15:00

Sheffield United| 1–1| Ipswich Town

|
|

Fjørtoft 41' |  | Stockwell 78'

Bramall Lane, Sheffield

Attendance: 22,312

Referee: Roy Pearson

Second leg

14 May 1997

19:45

Ipswich Town| 2–2 (a.e.t.)| Sheffield United

|
|

Scowcroft 32'
Gudmundsson 73' |  | Kachura 9'
Walker 77'

Portman Road, Ipswich

Attendance: 21,467

Referee: Terry Heilbron

Ipswich Town 3–3 Sheffield United on aggregate. Sheffield United won on away goals.

* * *

14 May 1997

19:45

Wolverhampton Wanderers| 2–1| Crystal Palace

|
|

Atkins 30'
Williams 85' |  | Hopkin 66'

Molineux, Wolverhampton

Attendance: 26,403

Referee: Clive Wilkes

Crystal Palace won 4–3 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1997 Football League First Division play-off final

26 May 1997

15:00

Crystal Palace| 1–0| Sheffield United

|
|

Hopkin 90' |  |

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 64,383

Referee: Neale Barry

## Second Division

[edit]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League Second Division

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

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 | 07 | 17 | 56 | 47 | 0+9 | 73

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

11 May 1997

13:00

Bristol City| 1–2| Brentford

|
|

Owers 28' |  | Smith 13'
Taylor 30'

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Attendance: 15,581

* * *

11 May 1997

15:00

Crewe Alexandra| 2–1| Luton Town

|
|

Rivers 53'
Little 68' |  | Oldfield 3'

Gresty Road, Crewe

Attendance: 5,467

Second leg

14 May 1997

19:45

Brentford| 2–1| Bristol City

|
|

Taylor 67'
Bent 79' |  | Barnard 49'

Griffin Park, London

Attendance: 9,496

Referee: John Kirkby

Brentford won 4–2 on aggregate.

* * *

14 May 1997

19:45

Luton Town| 2–2| Crewe Alexandra

|
|

Oldfield 20', 31' |  | Little 32'
Smith 62'

Kenilworth Road, Luton

Attendance: 8,168

Referee: Roy Pearson

Crewe Alexandra won 4–3 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1997 Football League Second Division play-off final

25 May 1997

15:00

Brentford| 0–1| Crewe Alexandra

|
|

|  | Smith 34'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 34,149

Referee: Uriah Rennie

## Third Division

[edit]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League Third Division

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

4 | Northampton Town | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 67 | 44 | +23 | 72
5 | Swansea City | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 62 | 58 | 0+4 | 71
6 | Chester City | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 70
7 | Cardiff City | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 56 | 54 | 0+2 | 69

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

11 May 1997

12:00

Cardiff City| 0–1| Northampton Town

|
|

|  | Parrish 77'

Ninian Park, Cardiff

Attendance: 11,369

* * *

11 May 1997

15:00

Chester City| 0–0| Swansea City

|
|

|  |

Deva Stadium, Chester

Attendance: 5,104

Second leg

14 May 1997

19:30

Swansea City| 3–0| Chester City

|
|

Thomas 39'
Torpey 43'
Heggs 64' |  |

Vetch Field, Swansea

Attendance: 10,027

Swansea City won 3–0 on aggregate.

* * *

14 May 1997

19:45

Northampton Town| 3–2| Cardiff City

|
|

Sampson 23'
Warburton 68'
Gayle 77' |  | Fowler 36'
Haworth 90'

Sixfields, Northampton

Attendance: 7,302

Northampton Town won 4–2 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1997 Football League Third Division play-off final

24 May 1997

15:00

Northampton Town| 1–0| Swansea City

|
|

Frain 90' |  |

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 46,804

Referee: Terry Heilbron

## External links

[edit]

* Football League website

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* EFL League Two play-offs

Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
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Finals|

| Championship|

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|

League One|

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League Two|

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* 1988
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* 2017
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* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* EFL League Two play-offs

Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
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* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

| Championship|

* 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
* 2024

|

League One|

* 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
* 2024

League Two|

* 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
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* 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
* 2024

Finals|

| Championship|

* 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
* 2024

|

League One|

* 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
* 2024

League Two|

* 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
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

1996–97 in English football

« 1995–96

1997–98 »

National teams|

* 1998 FIFA World Cup (UEFA Qualification Group 2
* Glenn Hoddle

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
* Chelsea
* Coventry City
* Derby County
* Everton
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester United
* Middlesbrough
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Sunderland
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wimbledon

First Division|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bradford City
* Charlton Athletic
* Crystal Palace
* Grimsby Town
* Huddersfield Town
* Ipswich Town
* Manchester City
* Norwich City
* Oldham Athletic
* Oxford United
* Portsmouth
* Port Vale
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Sheffield United
* Southend United
* Stoke City
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Blackpool
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Bristol City
* Bristol Rovers
* Burnley
* Bury
* Chesterfield
* Crewe Alexandra
* Gillingham
* Luton Town
* Millwall
* Notts County
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Preston North End
* Rotherham United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Stockport County
* Walsall
* Watford
* Wrexham
* Wycombe Wanderers
* York City

Third Division|

* Barnet
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Cambridge United
* Cardiff City
* Carlisle United
* Chester City
* Colchester United
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Exeter City
* Fulham
* Hartlepool United
* Hereford United
* Hull City
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Mansfield Town
* Northampton Town
* Rochdale
* Scarborough
* Scunthorpe United
* Swansea City
* Torquay United
* Wigan Athletic

* Summer 1996 transfers
* Winter 1996–97 transfers

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