1999 Football League play-offs

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.

Football League play-offs
Season1998–99
ChampionsWatford
(First Division)
Manchester City
(Second Division)
Scunthorpe United
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored28 (1.87 per match)
Biggest home winScunthorpe 3–1 Swansea
(Third Division)
Biggest away winNone
Highest scoringIpswich 4–3 Bolton
(7 goals)
Highest attendance76,935 – Gillingham v Manchester City
(Second Division final)
Lowest attendance6,762 – Wigan v Manchester City
(Second Division semi-final)
Average attendance24,837
← 1998
2000 →

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, 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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Ipswich Town 46251297142+2987
4Birmingham City 462410128867+2182
5Watford 462211136544+2177
6Bolton Wanderers 462113126950+1976

Semi-finals
First leg
Bolton Wanderers1–0Ipswich Town
Johansen  84'
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 18,295
Referee: Mark Halsey
Watford1–0Birmingham City
Ngonge  5'
Attendance: 18,535
Referee: Clive Wilkes
Second leg
Ipswich Town4–3 (a.e.t.)Bolton Wanderers
Holland  14', 116'
Dyer  52', 90'		 Taylor  51', 96'
Frandsen  84'
Attendance: 21,755
Referee: John Kirkby

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

Birmingham City1–0 (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
Attendance: 29,100
Referee: David Pugh

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

Final
Main article: 1999 Football League First Division play-off Final
Bolton Wanderers0–2Watford
Report Wright  38'
Smart  89'
Attendance: 70,343

Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Manchester City 46221686933+3682
4Gillingham 462214107544+3180
5Preston North End 462213117850+2879
6Wigan Athletic 462210147548+2776

Semi-finals
First leg
Wigan Athletic1–1Manchester City
Barlow  1' Dickov  76'
Attendance: 6,762
Referee: Alan Wiley
Preston North End1–1Gillingham
Eyres  54' Taylor  79'
Attendance: 18,584
Referee: John Kirkby
Second leg
Gillingham1–0Preston North End
Hessenthaler  2'
Attendance: 10,105
Referee: Mark Halsey

Gillingham won 2–1 on aggregate.

Manchester City1–0Wigan Athletic
Goater  27'
Attendance: 31,305

Manchester City won 2–1 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 1999 Football League Second Division play-off Final
Gillingham2–2 (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
Attendance: 76,935
Referee: Mark Halsey

Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4Scunthorpe United 46228166958+1174
5Rotherham United 462013137961+1873
6Leyton Orient 4619151268590+972
7Swansea City 4619141356480+871

Semi-finals
First leg
Leyton Orient0–0Rotherham United
Attendance: 9,419
Swansea City1–0Scunthorpe United
Bound  44'
Attendance: 7,828
Referee: David Pugh
Second leg
Rotherham United0–0 (a.e.t.)Leyton Orient
Penalties
Thompson
Roscoe
Hurst
Williams 		2–4 Smith
Ling
Morrison
Lockwood
Attendance: 9,529
Referee: Clive Wilkes

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

Scunthorpe United3–1 (a.e.t.)Swansea City
Dawson  2'
Sheldon  92', 102'		 Bird  98'
Attendance: 7,089
Referee: Alan Wiley

Scunthorpe United won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 1999 Football League Third Division play-off Final
Leyton Orient0–1Scunthorpe United
Report Calvo García  6'
Attendance: 36,985
Referee: Clive Wilkes
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