2000 Football League play-offs

The Football League play-offs for the 1999–2000 season were held in May 2000, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London for the final time. 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.

Football League play-offs
Season1999–2000
ChampionsIpswich Town
(First Division)
Gillingham
(Second Division)
Peterborough United
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored49 (3.27 per match)
Biggest home winPeterborough 3–0 Barnet
(Third Division)
Biggest away winBirmingham 0–4 Barnsley
(First Division)
Highest scoringIpswich 5–3 Bolton
(8 goals)
Highest attendance73,427 – Barnsley v Ipswich
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance4,535 – Barnet v Peterborough
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance22,266
← 1999
2001 →

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 are aiming to return to the top flight after 5 years outside the top flight, finished 2 points behind second placed Manchester City, who in turn finished 2 points behind champions Charlton Athletic, who returned to the top flight after being relegated last season. Barnsley who are aiming to return to the top flight after 2 seasons outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 14 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who as well as Barnsley are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation 2 seasons ago, finished 1 point behind Birmingham City in sixth place.

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

Semi-finals
First leg
Birmingham City0–4Barnsley
Report Shipperley  12'
Dyer  48', 60'
Hignett  84'
Attendance: 26,492
Referee: Mark Halsey
Bolton Wanderers2–2Ipswich Town
Holdsworth  5'
Guðjohnsen  26'		 Report Stewart  36', 65'
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 18,814
Referee: Rob Styles
Second leg
Ipswich Town5–3 (a.e.t.)Bolton Wanderers
Magilton  18' (pen.), 49', 90'
Clapham  94' (pen.)
Reuser  110'		 Report Holdsworth  6', 39'
Johnston  50'
Attendance: 21,543
Referee: Barry Knight

Ipswich Town won 7–5 on aggregate.

Barnsley1–2Birmingham City
Dyer  54' Report Rowett  33'
Marcelo  75'
Attendance: 19,050
Referee: Mike Dean

Barnsley won 5–2 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 2000 Football League First Division play-off Final
Barnsley2–4Ipswich Town
Wright  6' (o.g.)
Hignett  78' (pen.)		 Report Mowbray  28'
Naylor  52'
Stewart  58'
Reuser  90'
Attendance: 73,427

Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3Gillingham 462510117948+3185
4Wigan Athletic 46221777238+3483
5Millwall 462313107650+2682
6Stoke City 462313106842+2682

Semi-finals
First leg
Millwall0–0Wigan Athletic
Report
The New Den, London
Attendance: 14,091
Stoke City3–2Gillingham
Gunnlaugsson  1'
Lightbourne  8'
Thorne  67'		 Report Gooden  18'
Hassenthaler  90'
Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
Attendance: 22,124
Referee: Mike Dean
Second leg
Gillingham3–0 (a.e.t.)Stoke City
Ashby  55'
Onuora  102'
Smith  118'		 Report
Attendance: 10,386
Referee: Rob Styles

Gillingham won 5–3 on aggregate.

Wigan Athletic1–0Millwall
Sheridan  61'
Attendance: 10,642
Referee: David Laws

Wigan Athletic won 1–0 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 2000 Football League Second Division play-off Final
Wigan Athletic2–3 (a.e.t.)Gillingham
Haworth  59'
Barlow  99' (pen.)		 Report McGibbon  35' (o.g.)
Butler  114'
Thomson  118'
Attendance: 53,764
Referee: Rob Styles

Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4Darlington 46211696636+3079
5Peterborough United 4622121263540+978
6Barnet 4621121359530+675
7Hartlepool United 46219166049+1172

Semi-finals
First leg
Barnet1–2Peterborough United
Arber  22' Lee  5'
Clarke  68'
Attendance: 4,535
Referee: David Laws
Hartlepool United0–2Darlington
Liddle  35'
Gabbiadini  76' (pen.)
Victoria Park, Hartlepool
Attendance: 6,995
Referee: Barry Knight
Second leg
Darlington1–0Hartlepool United
Strodder  9' (o.g.)
Attendance: 8,238
Referee: Mark Halsey

Darlington won 3–0 on aggregate.

Peterborough United3–0Barnet
Farrell  28', 70', 89'
Attendance: 10,515

Peterborough United won 5–1 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 2000 Football League Third Division play-off Final
Peterborough United1–0Darlington
Clarke  74' Report
Attendance: 33,383
Referee: Mike Dean
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