1998 Football League play-offs

The Football League play-offs for the 1997–98 season were held in May 1998, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were 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
Season1997–98
ChampionsCharlton Athletic
(First Division)
Grimsby Town
(Second Division)
Colchester United
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored41 (2.73 per match)
Biggest home winTorquay 4–1 Scarborough
(Third Division)
Biggest away winScarborough 1–3 Torquay
(Third Division)
Highest scoringCharlton 4–4 Sunderland
(8 goals)
Highest attendance77,739 – Charlton v Sunderland
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance3,858 – Barnet v Colchester
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance21,402
← 1997
1999 →

Background

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, Sunderland, who are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation last season, finished 1 point behind second placed Middlesbrough, who in turn finished 3 points behind champions Nottingham Forest, who returned to the top flight after being relegated last season. Charlton Athletic, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 8 years outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Ipswich Town, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 3 seasons outside the top division, finished in fifth place. Sheffield United, who are aiming to return to the top flight after a 4-year absence, finished 9 points behind Ipswich Town in sixth place. This means Sunderland and Sheffield United will play each other with Ipswich and Charlton playing each other just like in the 1987 playoffs only then Charlton were the First Division and Ipswich were in the Second Division.

First Division
Main article: 1997–98 Football League First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Sunderland 46261288650+3690
4Charlton Athletic 462610108049+3188
5Ipswich Town 46231497743+3483
6Sheffield United 461917106954+1574

Semi-finals
First leg
Ipswich Town0–1Charlton Athletic
Report Clapham 12' (o.g.)
Attendance: 21,681
Referee: Mick Fletcher
Sheffield United2–1Sunderland
Marcelo 57'
Borbokis 76'		 Report Ball 17'
Attendance: 23,800
Referee: Clive Wilkes
Second leg
Charlton Athletic1–0Ipswich Town
Newton 36'
Attendance: 15,585

Charlton Athletic won 2–0 on aggregate.

Sunderland2–0Sheffield United
Marker 21' (o.g.)
Phillips 38'
Attendance: 40,092
Referee: Mick Pierce

Sunderland won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 1998 Football League First Division play-off final
Charlton Athletic4–4 (a.e.t.)Sunderland
Mendonca 23', 71', 103'
Rufus 85'		 Report Quinn 50', 73'
Phillips 58'
Summerbee 99'
Penalties
Mendonca soccer ball with check mark
Brown soccer ball with check mark
Jones soccer ball with check mark
Kinsella soccer ball with check mark
Bowen soccer ball with check mark
Robinson soccer ball with check mark
Newton soccer ball with check mark		 7–6 soccer ball with check mark Summerbee
soccer ball with check mark Johnston
soccer ball with check mark Ball
soccer ball with check mark Makin
soccer ball with check mark Rae
soccer ball with check mark Quinn
soccer ball with red X Gray
Attendance: 77,739

Second Division
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Grimsby Town 461915125537+1872
4Northampton Town 461817115237+1571
5Bristol Rovers 4620101670640+670
6Fulham 462010166043+1770

Semi-finals
First leg
Fulham1–1Grimsby Town
Beardsley 45' (pen.) Smith 53'
Attendance: 13,954
Referee: Terry Heilbron
Bristol Rovers3–1Northampton Town
Beadle 30' (pen.)
Bennett 37'
Hayles 46'		 Gayle 74'
Attendance: 9,173
Referee: Rob Harris
Second leg
Grimsby Town1–0Fulham
Donovan 81'
Attendance: 8,689
Referee: Clive Wilkes

Grimsby Town won 2–1 on aggregate.

Northampton Town3–0Bristol Rovers
Heggs 34'
Clarkson 61'
Warburton 77'
Attendance: 7,501
Referee: Mick Fletcher

Northampton Town won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 1998 Football League Second Division play-off final
Grimsby Town1–0Northampton Town
Donovan 19'
Attendance: 62,988
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Third Division
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4Colchester United 462111147260+1274
5Torquay United 4621111468590+974
6Scarborough 4619151267580+972
7Barnet 461913146151+1070

Semi-finals
First leg
Barnet1–0Colchester United
Heald 48'
Attendance: 3,858
Scarborough1–3Torquay United
Rockett 40' Jack 22'
Gittens 50'
McFarlane 72'
Attendance: 5,246
Referee: Mike Pierce
Second leg
Colchester United3–1 (a.e.t.)Barnet
Gregory 12' (pen.), 95'
Greene 65'		 Goodhind 41'
Attendance: 5,863
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Colchester United won 3–2 on aggregate.

Torquay United4–1Scarborough
Jack 6', 7'
McCall 38'
Gibbs 55'		 Rockett 22'
Attendance: 5,386
Referee: Rob Harris

Torquay United won 7–2 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 1998 Football League Third Division play-off final
Colchester United1–0Torquay United
Gregory 22' (pen.)
Attendance: 19,486
Referee: Mick Fletcher
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