1996 Football League play-offs

April 2022 Football League play-offs 1995–96 Leicester City(First Division)Bradford City(Second Division)Plymouth Argyle(Third Division) Plymouth 3–1 Colchester(Third Division) Blackpool 0–3 Bradford(Second Division) Crewe 2–2 Notts CountyPlymouth 3–1 Colchester(4 goals) 15 32 73,573 – Crystal Palace v Leicester(First Division final) 4,931 – Crewe v Notts County(Second Division semi-final) 20,567 1995 1997 The Football League play-offs for the 1995–96 season were held in May 1996, with the finals taking place at Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were 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 progressed through to the finals, with the winner of these matches gaining promotion for the following season. 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. First Division 1995–96 Football League First Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Crystal Palace462015116748+19754Stoke City462013136049+11735Leicester City461914136660+6716Charlton Athletic46172095745+1271 Semi-finals First leg 12 May 1996 15:00 Charlton Athletic 1–2 https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/palace-favourites-to-clinch-wembley-place-1.48637 Crystal Palace Newton 1 Brown 65Veart 71 The Valley, London 14,618 John Kirkby 12 May 1996 15:00 Leicester City 0–0 Stoke City Filbert Street, Leicester 20,325 William Burns Second leg 15 May 1996 19:45 Crystal Palace 1–0 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/palace-reach-wembley-1347658.html Charlton Athletic Houghton 4 Selhurst Park, London 22,880 Terry Heilbron Crystal Palace won 3–1 on aggregate. 15 May 1996 19:45 Stoke City 0–1 Leicester City Parker 46 Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent 21,037 Gurnam Singh Leicester City won 1–0 on aggregate. Final 1996 Football League First Division play-off final 27 May 1996 14:00 Crystal Palace 1–2 yes Leicester City Parker 76 pen.Claridge 120 Roberts 14 Wembley Stadium, London 73,573 David Allison Second Division 1995–96 Football League Second Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Blackpool462313106740+27824Notts County462115106339+24785Crewe Alexandra46227177760+17736Bradford City46227177169+273 Semi-finals First leg 12 May 1996 15:00 Bradford City 0–2 Blackpool Bonner 72Ellis 78 Valley Parade, Bradford 14,273 Terry Heilbron 12 May 1996 15:00 Crewe Alexandra 2–2 Notts County Little 3Rivers 17 Finnan 55Martindale 90 Gresty Road, Crewe 4,931 David Allison Second leg 15 May 1996 19:30 Blackpool 0–3 Bradford City Shutt 39Hamilton 68Stallard 78 Bloomfield Road, Blackpool 9,593 William Burns Bradford City won 3–2 on aggregate. 15 May 1996 19:45 Notts County 1–0 Crewe Alexandra Martindale 61 Meadow Lane, Nottingham 9,640 Kevin Lynch Notts County won 3–2 on aggregate. Final 1996 Football League Second Division play-off final 26 May 1996 15:00 Bradford City 2–0 Notts County Hamilton 8Stallard 75 Wembley Stadium, London 39,972 Gurnam Singh Third Division 1995–96 Football League Third Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Plymouth Argyle462212126849+19785Darlington46201886042+18786Hereford United462014126547+18747Colchester United461818106151+1072 Semi-finals First leg 12 May 1996 15:00 Hereford United 1–2 Darlington Smith 2 Gregan 27Blake 37 Edgar Street, Hereford 6,622 Kevin Lynch 12 May 1996 15:00 Colchester United 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Kinsella 45 Layer Road, Colchester 6,511 Mick Pierce Second leg 15 May 1996 19:45 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Colchester United Evans 3Leadbitter 41Williams 85 Kinsella 66 Home Park, Plymouth 14,525 John Kirkby Plymouth Argyle won 3–2 on aggregate. 15 May 1996 19:45 Darlington 2–1 Hereford United Painter 17Appleby 47 pen. White 65 Feethams, Darlington 6,584 David Allison Darlington won 4–2 on aggregate. Final 1996 Football League Third Division play-off final 25 May 1996 15:00 Darlington Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Mauge 65 Wembley Stadium, London 43,431 William Burns External links Football League website Category:English Football League play-offs