2002 Football League First Division play-off final

Association football match in Cardiff, UK December 2017 October 2020 2002 Football League First Division play-off final File:Principality Stadium May 3, 2016.jpg The match took place at the Millennium Stadium. Aerial image of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff Norwich City 1 Birmingham City 1 After extra timeBirmingham City won 4–2 on penalties 12 May 2002 Millennium Stadium Cardiff, Wales Graham Barber (Tring) 71,597 2001 2003 The 2002 Football League First Division play-off final was an association football match between Birmingham City and Norwich City held on 12 May 2002 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It was held to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League First Division, the second tier of English football, to the Premiership. The top two teams of the 2001–02 Football League First Division season gained automatic promotion to the Premiership, while those ranked from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-off semi-finals. Birmingham ended in fifth position while Norwich finished sixth. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2002–03 season in the Premiership, in a match that was estimated to be worth up to £30million to the successful team. The game ended goalless in regular time sending the match into extra time. Seconds into the first half, Iwan Roberts put Norwich ahead with a header from an Alex Notman cross. Eleven minutes later, Birmingham's Geoff Horsfield scored the equaliser. Stern John nodded the ball across the Norwich penalty area allowing Horsfield to head the ball in, making it 1–1. No further goals were scored, leading to a penalty shootout. Philip Mulryne's spot kick was saved by Birmingham City's goalkeeper Nico Vaesen, while Daryl Sutch's strike missed. Birmingham scored all their penalties and Darren Carter took the winning spot-kick, ending the game at 4–2. Norwich City ended the following season in eighth place in the 2002–03 Football League First Division, five points below the play-offs. Birmingham City's next season saw them finish in thirteenth place in the 2002–03 Premiership, six points above the relegation zone. Route to the final 2001–02 Football League main WDL Q right auto Football League First Division final table, leading positions MCI Manchester City WBA West Bromwich Albion WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers MIL Millwall BIR Birmingham City NWC Norwich City 31 6 9 108 52 27 8 11 61 29 25 11 10 76 43 22 11 13 69 48 21 13 12 70 49 22 9 15 60 51 complete https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/2001-2002/regular-season Soccerway 23 June 2020 Championship – 2001/2002 – Regular season https://web.archive.org/web/20130328213108/http://int.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/2001-2002/regular-season/ 28 March 2013 live Perform Group Birmingham City finished the regular 2001–02 season in fifth place in the Football League First Division, the second tier of the English football league system, one place ahead of Norwich City. Both teams therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premiership and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Birmingham City finished 13 points behind West Bromwich Albion (who were promoted in second place) and 23 behind league winners Manchester City. Norwich City ended the season one point behind Birmingham City, and level with Burnley but with superior goal difference. Birmingham secured their place in the semi-finals with a win on the final day of the regular season. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053342/the-guardian/ The Guardian 24 June 2020 11 May 2002 38 Adrian Milledge How Blues' Bruce quickly exceeded the Gold standard https://web.archive.org/web/20200626112029/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053342/the-guardian/ 26 June 2020 live Norwich City's play-off opponents for the semi-final were Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had ended the regular season in third place. The first leg was played at Norwich's home stadium, Carrow Road, on 28 April 2002. Dean Sturridge scored the 21st goal of his season to put Wolves ahead midway through the first half, but Mark Rivers levelled the match 11 minutes after half time with a volley from 7 yd. Paul McVeigh then put Norwich into the lead with a 73rd minute header, before an injury-time goal from Malky Mackay secured a 3–1 win for the home team. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1951114.stm Norwich wrench the advantage 28 April 2002 23 June 2020 BBC Sport The return leg, played at Molineux, took place three days later. After a goalless first half, Kevin Cooper gave Wolves the lead with a strike from 35 yd in the 76th minute. Late misses from Norwich's Iwan Roberts and Wolves' Paul Butler meant the game ended 1–0 to Wolves, but saw Norwich qualify for the final 3–2 on aggregate. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1959203.stm Norwich end Wolves hopes 1 May 2002 23 June 2020 BBC Sport Birmingham City faced Millwall in their play-off semi-final, with the first leg held at St Andrew's in Birmingham on 28 April 2002. Following a goalless first half, Bryan Hughes scored early in the second half to put the home team ahead. With eleven minutes remaining, Dion Dublin, on loan from Birmingham's local rivals Aston Villa, headed in the equaliser from a Steven Reid cross, and the match ended 1–1. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1951115.stm Dublin dents Birmingham 28 April 2002 23 June 2020 BBC Sport The second semi-final was held four days later at The Den. Ronnie Bull cleared a goal-bound header from Olivier Tébily to keep the score 0–0 at half time. Dublin missed a chance early in the second half, shooting wide from 6 yd. In the last minute of regular time, a shot across the Millwall penalty area by Steve Vickers was struck into the net by Stern John, winning the game for Birmingham 1–0, and a 2–1 aggregate victory. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1962328.stm Birmingham snatch dramatic win 2 May 2002 23 June 2020 BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20040501111302/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1962328.stm 1 May 2004 live After the match, Millwall fans rioted in what police described as "the worst incidents of football hooliganism for more than 20 years". Birmingham City Round Norwich CityOpponentResultLegsSemi-finalsOpponentResultLegsMillwall2–11–1 home; 1–0 away Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2 3–1 home; 0–1 away Match Background thumb|upright|right|alt=Steve Bruce|Steve Bruce (pictured in 2004) had played for both Norwich and Birmingham City. This was the first time either Norwich or Birmingham City had qualified for the second-tier play-off final. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214128/https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats 9 October 2016 25 May 2015 Sporting Life 3 May 2020 Play-Off Final History & Stats Birmingham had secured a berth in the play-offs for the previous three seasons, but in each case had lost in the semi-finals. In the 1999 Football League play-offs, Birmingham were knocked out 7–6 in a penalty shootout by Watford after the aggregate score finished 1–1. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/349123.stm Hornets sting the Blues BBC News 20 May 1999 23 June 2020 The following season's play-offs saw them defeated 5–2 across two legs against Barnsley, https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/754467.stm BBC News 23 June 2020 18 May 2000 Barnsley book Wembley place https://web.archive.org/web/20080325101443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/754467.stm 25 March 2008 live while in the 2001 Football League play-offs, they lost again on penalties, this time to Preston North End. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1334415.stm BBC Sport 23 June 2020 17 May 2001 Preston shock Blues in shoot-out https://web.archive.org/web/20030728082337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1334415.stm 28 July 2003 live Birmingham had played in the second tier of English football since they were promoted in their 1994–95 season. https://www.fchd.info/BIRMINGC.HTM Football Club History Database Birmingham City 23 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20070905171637/http://www.fchd.info/BIRMINGC.HTM 5 September 2007 live Norwich had played in the Football League First Division since their 1995–96 season after being relegated from the 1994–95 Premiership. https://www.fchd.info/NORWICHC.HTM Football Club History Database Norwich City 23 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20120715085158/http://www.fchd.info/NORWICHC.HTM 15 July 2012 live During the regular season, the highest scorers for Norwich were Roberts with thirteen goals, followed by McVeigh and David Nielsen, both of whom scored eight.https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1855&teamTabs=stats&season_id=131 Norwich: Squad details: 2001/02 Soccerbase Centurycomm 24 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200624000900/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1855&teamTabs=stats&season_id=131 24 June 2020 live Tommy Mooney was Birmingham's top marksman with fifteen, followed by Marcelo on twelve.https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=291&teamTabs=stats&season_id=131 Birmingham: Squad details: 2001/02 Soccerbase Centurycomm 24 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200624001309/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=291&teamTabs=stats&season_id=131 24 June 2020 live Birmingham City had won both encounters between the clubs during the season, winning 4–0 at St Andrew's in December, and 1–0 at Carrow Road the following March. https://www.11v11.com/teams/norwich-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Birmingham%20City/ 11v11.com AFS Enterprises 24 June 2020 Norwich City football club: record v Birmingham City https://web.archive.org/web/20200624123050/https://www.11v11.com/teams/norwich-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Birmingham%20City/ 24 June 2020 live Delia Smith, a director at Norwich City, said that the club was attempting to model itself on Charlton Athletic who had retained top-tier status following promotion. She noted: "We'd like to become a modern football club like Charlton. We've long had Charlton as our ideal." https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053196/the-observer/ The Observer Will Buckley Will Buckley (journalist) Delia's winning recipe 12 May 2002 24 June 2020 229 https://web.archive.org/web/20200624232249/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053196/the-observer/ 24 June 2020 live The Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce had been appointed five months earlier, replacing Mick Mills and Jim Barron. https://www.bt.com/sport/news/play-off-heroes-darren-carter BT 24 June 2020 Play-off heroes – Darren Carter Press Association 22 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200624123051/https://www.bt.com/sport/news/play-off-heroes-darren-carter 24 June 2020 live He captained Norwich City as a player in the 1980s, making 180 appearances and scoring 20 goals. Speaking of his former club, Bruce admitted that "Norwich put me on the map and I will always feel I owe them something". According to bookmakers and the media, Birmingham had been favourites to win. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053220/the-observer/ The Observer Bruce's blue-chip stock pays dividends Jason Tomas 12 May 2002 24 June 2020 229 https://web.archive.org/web/20200626165343/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053220/the-observer/ 26 June 2020 live https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053300/the-guardian/ The Guardian 24 June 2020 Back Ralf to win this battle of the Schumachers 11 May 2002 Jamie Reid 43 https://web.archive.org/web/20200625070509/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053300/the-guardian/ 25 June 2020 live The referee for the match was Graham Barber from Tring. It was reported that winning the match was worth £20–30million. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1984504.stm Bruce's £30m bonus 13 May 2002 24 June 2020 BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20040516230632/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1984504.stm 16 May 2004 live https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/may/13/match.sport3 The Guardian 13 May 2002 24 June 2020 Birmingham spot on to deny the Canaries Dominic Fifield https://web.archive.org/web/20200626093256/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/may/13/match.sport3 26 June 2020 live https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001730/20020513/680/0094 British Newspaper Archive subscription Evening Herald Dublin 24 June 2020 13 May 2002 Carter spot on as Birmingham end long wait 94 A significant police operation was mounted with concerns over potential clashes of Cardiff City fans with those of Brentford and Stoke City who had contested the Second Division play-off final the day before. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053594/the-guardian/ The Guardian Cardiff police brace for clash as fans gather 6 11 May 2002 Vivak Chaudhary 24 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200626232314/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54053594/the-guardian/ 26 June 2020 live Birmingham were aiming to overcome the "dressing room curse" which had seen none of the eleven clubs using the south changing room win since matches were moved from Wembley Stadium to the Millennium Stadium. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001715/20020511/293/0020 Irish Independent 20 Shels get Champions' nomination 11 May 2002 24 June 2020 British Newspaper Archive subscription Philip Quinn Birmingham were the first club to lose having used those facilities in the 2001 Football League Cup Final. In anticipation of sunny weather it was announced that the roof of the stadium would be closed "in the interests of play-off spectator comfort". https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1982818.stm Roof shut for final play-off BBC Sport 24 June 2020 12 May 2002 It was the first time such a course of action had been taken other than for inclement weather. Prior to kick off, the girl group Atomic Kitten played a set. https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/2002-play-off-final-1-6648376 The Pink Un 24 June 2020 May 12, 2002 – great day out but no happy ending for Norwich City Chris Lakey 12 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200624043829/https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/2002-play-off-final-1-6648376 24 June 2020 live First half The match kicked off at 3:30p.m. in front of a Millennium Stadium crowd of 71,597. https://www.11v11.com/matches/birmingham-city-v-norwich-city-12-may-2002-12374/ Birmingham City v Norwich City, 12 May 2002 24 June 2020 AFS Enterprises 11v11.com https://web.archive.org/web/20200325133746/https://www.11v11.com/matches/birmingham-city-v-norwich-city-12-may-2002-12374/ 25 March 2020 live Birmingham dominated the opening exchanges, with a Martin Grainger free kick going over the Norwich crossbar from 20 yd and Hughes' shot going wide. Norwich's first attack in the 13th minute saw Rivers' cross defended for a corner. A minute later, John's shot following his run went wide with only the Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green to beat. Nielsen then toe-poked his shot wide of Birmingham's goal before a volley from Norwich's Clint Easton passed outside the post. John's strike then cleared the Norwich bar. Just before the half-time whistle was blown, Green saved a close-range Geoff Horsfield half-volley from a Mooney header to ensure the first half ended 0–0. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1979806.stm Birmingham reach Premiership BBC Sport 12 May 2002 24 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20160112224237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1979806.stm 12 January 2016 live Second half Green made a save from Tebily early in the second half before Birmingham's goalkeeper Nico Vaesen tipped a shot from McVeigh over the bar. Nielsen then headed wide of the goal from 10 yd. John's shot was then blocked by Adam Drury before Paul Devlin's direct free kick was inches high. Birmingham ended the half the stronger team with Tebily striking over the bar, before Jeff Kenna intercepted to deny Roberts a shot. As regular time ended with a goalless match, extra time was played. Extra time and penalties Norwich scored within the first minute of extra time when Roberts headed in from an Alex Notman cross. The lead lasted eleven minutes before Birmingham equalised. Kenna crossed for John who headed the ball back across goal. Green was stranded allowing Horsfield to head the ball in at the far post. A free kick from Mulryne was tipped behind by Vaesen before Michael Johnson's header was cleared off Norwich's goalline by Drury. With two minutes of extra time remaining, Johnson then struck Grainger's pass from a free kick against the bottom of Norwich's goalpost. There were no more goals and the game finished at 1–1 requiring a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner. Roberts took the first penalty for Norwich, and scored. John then levelled the score at 1–1 before Vaesen saved Mulryne's attempt. Devlin's penalty made it 2–1 to Birmingham. Daryl Sutch missed his shot, after which Stan Lazaridis scored. Easton converted his spot-kick but Darren Carter stepped up to curl a left-footed shot into the right-hand corner of the net to secure the victory for Birmingham City, 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in extra time. Details 12 May 2002 15:30 BST Norwich City 1–1 yes Birmingham City Roberts 91 Horsfield 102 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 71,597 Graham Barber (Tring) Roberts Mulryne Sutch Easton 2–4 John Devlin Lazaridis Carter 008000 008000 FFFF00 FFFF00 FFFF00 008000 FFFF00 Norwich City 1F24B4 1F24B4 1F24B4 white 1F24B4 Birmingham City GK 1 ENG Robert GreenRB 15 ENG Darren KentonCB 4 SCO Malky MackayCB 5 ENG Craig FlemingLB 3 ENG Adam DruryRM 27 ENG Mark Rivers 90CM 7 NIR Philip MulryneCM 8 SCO Gary HoltLM 24 ENG Clint EastonCF 18 NIR Paul McVeigh 102CF 6 DEN David Nielsen 83Substitutes:GK 28 ENG Paul CrichtonDF 17 ENG Daryl Sutch 102FW 14 SCO Alex Notman 90FW 9 WAL Iwan Roberts 83FW 19 FRA Marc LibbraManager:NIR Nigel Worthington GK 18 BEL Nico VaesenRB 36 IRL Jeff KennaCB 17 JAM Michael JohnsonCB 35 ENG Steve Vickers 71LB 3 ENG Martin GraingerCM 37 ENG Paul DevlinCM 10 ENG Bryan HughesCM 26 CIV Olivier TébilyCF 16 ENG Tommy Mooney 69CF 9 ENG Geoff Horsfield 113CF 8 TRI Stern JohnSubstitutes:GK 1 ENG Ian BennettMF 33 ENG Darren Carter 71MF 22 NIR Damien JohnsonMF 11 AUS Stan Lazaridis 69FW 19 ENG Andrew Johnson 113Manager:ENG Steve Bruce Post-match right|upright|thumb|alt=Darren Carter|Darren Carter (pictured in 2013) scored the winning penalty for Birmingham City. The Birmingham midfielder Devlin said of Carter, the winning penalty-taker, that it was "fitting that a Brummie lad scores the goal that gets us up. For someone of 18 to take the penalty as calmly as he did, in a game of this magnitude, is unbelievable". Carter himself admitted: "I won't sleep for days now....It's unbelievable. Birmingham fans have been waiting for this for a very long time. I was a fan and I know how much it means to them. This season is my first and to be playing in the Premiership next year is absolutely unbelievable." Describing the win, the Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington said: "It's been a wonderful ride and I am proud of every one of my players. Our performance showed that we are on the right track but it wasn't our day." https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54054397/the-guardian/ The Guardian 24 June 2020 13 May 2002 28 Blues hail Bruce's masterplan but young Carter is smarter Roy Collins https://web.archive.org/web/20200624224807/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/54054397/the-guardian/ 24 June 2020 live He bemoaned the financial impact of the failure to be promoted: "If we had been promoted we would have had money to spend but now we might end up looking for Bosman signings". https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1983734.stm Bruce back in the big-time BBC Sport Paul Fletcher 24 June 2020 13 May 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20040506181722/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1983734.stm 6 May 2004 live Bruce commiserated with his former club: "I have to say to Norwich that it is a very cruel way to lose a football match." He made his aspirations for the following season clear: "Our first aim is to try and stay up – we will be doing our best to finish fourth bottom". Birmingham's managing director Karren Brady explained: "We have arranged a meeting this week at David Sullivan's house to discuss the players that we are going to sign." The club chairman, David Gold, was grateful for the monetary prize, but warned: "We are leaving behind some serious trouble in the lower divisions with the shortfall of the ITV Digital money". Mackay said: "It took Birmingham four goes to get back where they are now and I don’t see why we can’t bounce back... It is important that we get on with it, bounce back, start again and do it all again next year." Sutch spoke of his penalty miss: "I felt cool, I wanted to take it and I knew where I wanted to put it. Unfortunately it didn't go in. We’ve been practising penalties for two or three weeks now and I was confident." It was Norwich City's fifth penalty shootout and their second loss. https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich-city-s-exit-to-everton-was-the-club-s-10th-penalty-shoot-out-but-how-many-have-they-won-1-4288313 Peter Raven Norwich City's exit to Everton was the club's 10th penalty shoot-out, but how many have they won? 28 October 2015 24 June 2020 Eastern Daily Press 23 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200623132850/https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich-city-s-exit-to-everton-was-the-club-s-10th-penalty-shoot-out-but-how-many-have-they-won-1-4288313 dead Roberts later said that he believed that he had scored "a golden goal. There had been a couple of competitions in the years leading up to it where the golden goal had come into play and for some reason I thought that was going to carry on into this play-off final... I straightened my shirt, put my collar down and looked around – and they are all ready to take kick-off. It just clicked there, ‘Jeez, it's not golden goal and there's plenty of time for them to get back into it." https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/views/magic-moment-may-12-2002-iwan-roberts-scores-the-golden-goal-he-thought-would-take-norwich-city-up-1-719614 Norwich Evening News 24 June 2020 5 November 2010 Magic moment: May 12, 2002 – Iwan Roberts scores the 'golden goal' he thought would take Norwich City up https://web.archive.org/web/20200626095007/https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/views/magic-moment-may-12-2002-iwan-roberts-scores-the-golden-goal-he-thought-would-take-norwich-city-up-1-719614 26 June 2020 live Norwich City ended the following season in eighth place in the 2002–03 Football League First Division, five points below the play-offs. https://www.11v11.com/teams/norwich-city/tab/leagueTables/2003/ AFS Enterprises 11v11.com 24 June 2020 League Division 1 table at close of 2002–03 season https://web.archive.org/web/20200626125404/https://www.11v11.com/teams/norwich-city/tab/leagueTables/2003/ 26 June 2020 live Birmingham City finished thirteenth place in their next season, when they finished six points above the relegation zone in the premiership. https://www.11v11.com/teams/birmingham-city/tab/leagueTables/2003/ AFS Enterprises 11v11.com 24 June 2020 Premier League table at close of 2002–03 season https://web.archive.org/web/20200626165040/https://www.11v11.com/teams/birmingham-city/tab/leagueTables/2003/ 26 June 2020 live References 1 Category:EFL Championship play-off finals Play-off Final 2002 Play-off Final 2002 Football League First Division play-off final Category:Football finals in Wales