1998 Football League play-offs

April 2022 October 2010 Football League play-offs 1997–98 Charlton Athletic(First Division)Grimsby Town(Second Division)Colchester United(Third Division) Torquay 4–1 Scarborough(Third Division) Scarborough 1–3 Torquay(Third Division) Charlton 4–4 Sunderland(8 goals) 15 41 77,739 – Charlton v Sunderland(First Division final) 3,858 – Barnet v Colchester(Third Division semi-final) 21,402 1997 1999 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. 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 1997–98 Football League First Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Sunderland46261288650+36904Charlton Athletic462610108049+31885Ipswich Town46231497743+34836Sheffield United461917106954+1574 Semi-finals First leg 10 May 1998 13:00 Ipswich Town 0–1 Report Charlton Athletic Clapham 12 o.g. Portman Road, Ipswich 21,681 Mick Fletcher 10 May 1998 13:00 Sheffield United 2–1 Report Sunderland Marcelo 57Borbokis 76 Ball 17 Bramall Lane, Sheffield 23,800 Clive Wilkes Second leg 13 May 1998 19:45 Charlton Athletic 1–0 Ipswich Town Newton 36 The Valley, London 15,585 Eddie Wolstenholme Charlton Athletic won 2–0 on aggregate. 13 May 1998 19:45 Sunderland 2–0 Sheffield United Marker 21 o.g.Phillips 38 Stadium of Light, Sunderland 40,092 Mick Pierce Sunderland won 3–2 on aggregate. Final 1998 Football League First Division play-off final 25 May 1998 15:00 Charlton Athletic 4–4 yes Report Sunderland Mendonca 23 71 103Rufus 85 Quinn 50 73 Phillips 58Summerbee 99 Wembley Stadium, London 77,739 Eddie Wolstenholme Mendonca Brown Jones Kinsella Bowen Robinson Newton 7–6 Summerbee Johnston Ball Makin Rae Quinn Gray Second Division 1997–98 Football League Second Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Grimsby Town461915125537+18724Northampton Town461817115237+15715Bristol Rovers462010167064+6706Fulham462010166043+1770 Semi-finals First leg 9 May 1998 15:00 Fulham 1–1 Grimsby Town Beardsley 45 pen. Smith 53 Craven Cottage, London 13,954 Terry Heilbron 10 May 1998 15:00 Bristol Rovers 3–1 Northampton Town Beadle 30 pen.Bennett 37Hayles 46 Gayle 74 Memorial Ground, Bristol 9,173 Rob Harris Second leg 13 May 1998 19:45 Grimsby Town 1–0 Fulham Donovan 81 Blundell Park, Cleethorpes 8,689 Clive Wilkes Grimsby Town won 2–1 on aggregate. 13 May 1998 19:45 Northampton Town 3–0 Bristol Rovers Heggs 34Clarkson 61Warburton 77 Sixfields Stadium, Northampton 7,501 Mick Fletcher Northampton Town won 4–3 on aggregate. Final 1998 Football League Second Division play-off final 24 May 1998 15:00 Grimsby Town 1–0 Northampton Town Donovan 19 Wembley Stadium, London 62,988 Terry Heilbron Third Division 1997–98 Football League Third Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Colchester United462111147260+12745Torquay United462111146859+9746Scarborough461915126758+9727Barnet461913146151+1070 Semi-finals First leg 10 May 1998 13:30 Barnet 1–0 Colchester United Heald 48 Underhill, London 3,858 Eddie Wolstenholme 10 May 1998 15:00 Scarborough 1–3 Torquay United Rockett 40 Jack 22Gittens 50McFarlane 72 McCain Stadium, Scarborough 5,246 Mike Pierce Second leg 13 May 1998 19:45 Colchester United 3–1 yes Barnet Gregory 12 pen. 95Greene 65 Goodhind 41 Layer Road, Colchester 5,863 Terry Heilbron Colchester United won 3–2 on aggregate. 13 May 1998 19:45 Torquay United 4–1 Scarborough Jack 6 7McCall 38Gibbs 55 Rockett 22 Plainmoor, Torquay 5,386 Rob Harris Torquay United won 7–2 on aggregate. Final 1998 Football League Third Division play-off final 22 May 1998 19:30 Colchester United 1–0 Torquay United Gregory 22 pen. Wembley Stadium, London 19,486 Mick Fletcher External links Football League website Category:English Football League play-offs