1999 Football League play-offs

Football league season

Football League play-offsSeason| 1998–99

|

Champions| Watford
(First Division)
Manchester City
(Second Division)
Scunthorpe United
(Third Division)
Matches played| 15
Goals scored| 28 (1.87 per match)
Biggest home win| Scunthorpe 3–1 Swansea
(Third Division)
Biggest away win| None
Highest scoring| Ipswich 4–3 Bolton
(7 goals)
Highest attendance| 76,935 – Gillingham v Manchester City
(Second Division final)
Lowest attendance| 6,762 – Wigan v Manchester City
(Second Division semi-final)
Average attendance| 24,837

← 1998

2000 →

The Football League play-offs for the 1998–99 season were held in May 1999, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and 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 went through to the finals, with the winner of the 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.

In the First Division, Ipswich Town, who were aiming to return to the top flight after a 4-year absence, finished one point behind second placed Bradford City, who in turn finished 18 points behind champions Sunderland, who returned to the top flight after being relegated two seasons previously. Birmingham City, who were aiming to return to the top flight after 13 years outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Watford, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1988, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who were aiming to return to the top flight after relegation the previous season, finished one point behind Watford in sixth place.

## First Division

[edit]

Main article: 1998–99 Football League First Division

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 71 | 42 | +29 | 87
4 | Birmingham City | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 88 | 67 | +21 | 82
5 | Watford | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 77
6 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 69 | 50 | +19 | 76

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

16 May 1999

13:00

Bolton Wanderers| 1–0| Ipswich Town

|
|

Johansen 84' |  |

Reebok Stadium, Bolton

Attendance: 18,295

Referee: Mark Halsey

* * *

16 May 1999

13:00

Watford| 1–0| Birmingham City

|
|

Ngonge 5' |  |

Vicarage Road, Watford

Attendance: 18,535

Referee: Clive Wilkes

Second leg

19 May 1999

19:45

Ipswich Town| 4–3 (a.e.t.)| Bolton Wanderers

|
|

Holland 14', 116'
Dyer 52', 90' |  | Taylor 51', 96'
Frandsen 84'

Portman Road, Ipswich

Attendance: 21,755

Referee: John Kirkby

Ipswich Town 4–4 Bolton Wanderers on aggregate. Bolton Wanderers won on away goals.

* * *

20 May 1999

19:45

Birmingham City| 1–0 (a.e.t.)| Watford

|
|

Adebola 2' | Report |
Penalties
Furlong
Grainger
Rowett
Bradbury
Hughes
Purse
Poole
Holland | 6–7 |  Kennedy
Palmer
Johnson
Bazeley
Mooney
Page
Smart
Hazan

St Andrew's, Birmingham

Attendance: 29,100

Referee: David Pugh

Birmingham City 1–1 Watford on aggregate. Watford won 7–6 on penalties.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1999 Football League First Division play-off final

31 May 1999

15:00

Bolton Wanderers| 0–2| Watford

|
|

| Report | Wright 38'
Smart 89'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 70,343

Referee: Terry Heilbron

## Second Division

[edit]

Main article: 1998–99 Football League Second Division

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3 | Manchester City | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 69 | 33 | +36 | 82
4 | Gillingham | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 75 | 44 | +31 | 80
5 | Preston North End | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 78 | 50 | +28 | 79
6 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 75 | 48 | +27 | 76

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

15 May 1999

14:00

Wigan Athletic| 1–1| Manchester City

|
|

Barlow 1' |  | Dickov 76'

Springfield Park, Wigan

Attendance: 6,762

Referee: Alan Wiley

* * *

16 May 1999

15:00

Preston North End| 1–1| Gillingham

|
|

Eyres 54' |  | Taylor 79'

Deepdale, Preston

Attendance: 18,584

Referee: John Kirkby

Second leg

19 May 1999

19:45

Gillingham| 1–0| Preston North End

|
|

Hessenthaler 2' |  |

Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham

Attendance: 10,105

Referee: Mark Halsey

Gillingham won 2–1 on aggregate.

* * *

19 May 1999

19:45

Manchester City| 1–0| Wigan Athletic

|
|

Goater 27' |  |

Maine Road, Manchester

Attendance: 31,305

Referee: Terry Heilbron

Manchester City won 2–1 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1999 Football League Second Division play-off final

30 May 1999

15:00

Gillingham| 2–2 (a.e.t.)| Manchester City

|
|

Asaba 82'
Taylor 87' | Report | Horlock 90'
Dickov 90+5'
Penalties
Smith
Pennock
Hodge
Butters | 1–3 |  Horlock
Dickov
Cooke
Edghill

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 76,935

Referee: Mark Halsey

## Third Division

[edit]

Main article: 1998–99 Football League Third Division

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

4 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 69 | 58 | +11 | 74
5 | Rotherham United | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 79 | 61 | +18 | 73
6 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 68 | 59 | 0+9 | 72
7 | Swansea City | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 48 | 0+8 | 71

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

16 May 1999

12:30

Leyton Orient| 0–0| Rotherham United

|
|

|  |

Brisbane Road, London

Attendance: 9,419

Referee: Terry Heilbron

* * *

16 May 1999

12:30

Swansea City| 1–0| Scunthorpe United

|
|

Bound 44' |  |

Vetch Field, Swansea

Attendance: 7,828

Referee: David Pugh

Second leg

19 May 1999

19:45

Rotherham United| 0–0 (a.e.t.)| Leyton Orient

|
|

|  |
Penalties
Thompson
Roscoe
Hurst
Williams | 2–4 |  Smith
Ling
Morrison
Lockwood

Millmoor, Rotherham

Attendance: 9,529

Referee: Clive Wilkes

Rotherham United 0–0 Leyton Orient on aggregate. Leyton Orient won 4–2 on penalties.

* * *

19 May 1999

19:45

Scunthorpe United| 3–1 (a.e.t.)| Swansea City

|
|

Dawson 2'
Sheldon 92', 102' |  | Bird 98'

Glanford Park, Scunthorpe

Attendance: 7,089

Referee: Alan Wiley

Scunthorpe United won 3–2 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final

29 May 1999

15:00

Leyton Orient| 0–1| Scunthorpe United

|
|

| Report | Calvo García 6'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 36,985

Referee: Clive Wilkes

## 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
* 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

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

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

1998–99 in English football

« 1997–98

1999–2000 »

National teams|

* UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying (Qualification Group 5)
* Glenn Hoddle
* Howard Wilkinson (caretaker)
* Kevin Keegan

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)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One)
* 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)
* 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)

Lower leagues|

* Combined Counties League
* Essex Senior League
* Spartan South Midlands League

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

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

|

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

First Division|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bradford City
* Bristol City
* Bury
* Crewe Alexandra
* Crystal Palace
* Grimsby Town
* Huddersfield Town
* Ipswich Town
* Norwich City
* Oxford United
* Port Vale
* Portsmouth
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield United
* Stockport County
* Sunderland
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Bournemouth
* Blackpool
* Bristol Rovers
* Burnley
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* Fulham
* Gillingham
* Lincoln City
* Luton Town
* Macclesfield Town
* Manchester City
* Millwall
* Northampton Town
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Preston North End
* Reading
* Stoke City
* Walsall
* Wigan Athletic
* Wrexham
* Wycombe Wanderers
* York City

Third Division|

* Barnet
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Cambridge United
* Cardiff City
* Carlisle United
* Chester City
* Darlington
* Exeter City
* Halifax Town
* Hartlepool United
* Hull City
* Leyton Orient
* Mansfield Town
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Rochdale
* Rotherham United
* Scarborough
* Scunthorpe United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Southend United
* Swansea City
* Torquay United

List of transfers
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template