2008 Football League play-offs

April 2022 Football League play-offs 2007–08 Hull City(Championship)Doncaster Rovers(League One)Stockport County(League Two) Doncaster 5–1 Southend(League One) Watford 0–2 Hull City(Championship)Carlisle United 0–2 Leeds(League One) Doncaster 5–1 Southend(6 goals) 15 40 86,703 – Bristol City v Hull(Championship final) 6,371 – Wycombe v Stockport(League Two semi-final) 25,469 2007 2009 The Football League play-offs for the 2007–08 season were held in May 2008, 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 Championship and League One tables, and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in League Two. The semi-final winners progressed to the finals, with the winner of each match earning promotion for the following season. Hull City won promotion to the Premier League after defeating Bristol City in the Championship final, 1–0 with a goal from their leading scorer Dean Windass. This marked the Tigers' first entry to the top division of English football in their existence. In the League One final, another 1–0 victory saw Doncaster Rovers promoted ahead of Leeds United. Stockport County defeated Rochdale 3–2 in the League Two final. This meant all three clubs who had finished immediately below the automatic promotion places in their divisions were promoted. Background The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each of the three Football League divisions following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places. In the Championship, Hull City finished four points behind second-placed Stoke City, who were promoted with champions West Bromwich Albion. Bristol City - who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1980 - finished in fourth place in their first season at Championship level for nine years. The other entrants, Crystal Palace and Watford, had both played in the Premier League before, with Palace's last spell in the top division ending in a final day relegation in 2005, a year after having won the play-offs. Watford had been relegated from the top flight in the previous season, having finished bottom, and were looking to return at the first attempt. Championship 2007–08 Football League Championship Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Hull City462112136547+18754Bristol City462014125453+1745Crystal Palace461817115842+16716Watford461816126256+670 Semi-finals First leg 10 May 2008 12:15 Crystal Palace 1–2 Report Bristol City Watson 87 pen. Carey 53Noble 90+2 Selhurst Park, London 22,869 Mike Jones 11 May 2008 12:00 Watford 0–2 Report Hull City Barmby 8Windass 23 Vicarage Road, Watford 14,713 Kevin Friend Second leg 13 May 2008 19:45 Bristol City 2–1 yes Report Crystal Palace Trundle 104McIndoe 110 Watson 24 Ashton Gate, Bristol 18,842 Howard Webb Bristol City won 4–2 on aggregate. 14 May 2008 19:45 Hull City 4–1 Report Watford Barmby 43Folan 70Garcia 88Doyle 90 Henderson 12 KC Stadium, Hull 23,155 Mark Clattenburg Hull City won 6–1 on aggregate. Final 2008 Football League Championship play-off final 24 May 2008 15:00 Bristol City 0–1 Report Hull City Windass 38 Wembley Stadium, London 86,703 Alan Wiley League One 2007–08 Football League One Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Doncaster Rovers462311128347+24804Carlisle United462311126446+18805Leeds United46271097238+3476*6Southend United462210147055+1576 Leeds United were docked 15 points by the Football League due to the club not following Football League rules on clubs entering administration.http://www.englishfootball.info/leagueone/table/index.php?season=2007-08 Coca Cola Football League One Table 2010-05-13 2008-05-03 The Football Leaguehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/6920103.stm Leeds United hit with 15 point deduction 2007-08-04 2007-08-03 The Football League Semi-finals First leg 9 May 2008 19:45 Southend United 0–0 Report Doncaster Rovers Roots Hall, Southend 9,109 Paul Taylor 12 May 2008 19:45 Leeds United 1–2 Report Carlisle United Freedman 90 Graham 32Bridge-Wilkinson 50 Elland Road, Leeds 36,297 Anthony Bates Second leg 15 May 2008 19:45 Carlisle United 0–2 Report Leeds United Howson 10 90 Brunton Park, Carlisle 12,873 Alan Wiley Leeds United won 3–2 on aggregate. 16 May 2008 19:45 Doncaster Rovers 5–1 Report Southend United Stock 11 pen.Barrett 21 o.g.Coppinger 39 52 80 Bailey 88 Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster 13,081 Mark Halsey Doncaster Rovers won 5–1 on aggregate. Final 2008 Football League One play-off final 25 May 2008 15:00 Doncaster Rovers 1–0 Report Leeds United Hayter 48 Wembley Stadium, London 75,132 Andy D'Urso League Two 2007–08 Football League Two Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Stockport County462410127254+18825Rochdale462311127754+23806Darlington462212126740+27787Wycombe Wanderers462212125642+1478 Semi-finals First leg 10 May 2008 17:35 Darlington 2–1 Report Rochdale Kennedy 28Miller 90 Dagnall 70 Darlington Arena, Darlington 8,057 Paul Armstrong 11 May 2008 18:00 Wycombe Wanderers 1–1 Report Stockport County Facey 37 Gleeson 82 Adams Park, High Wycombe 6,371 Darren Deadman Second leg 17 May 2008 12:00 Rochdale 2–1 yes Report Darlington Dagnall 43Perkins 78 Keltie 28 pen. Spotland, Rochdale 9,870 Richard Beeby Dagnall Kennedy Le Fondre Jones Muirhead 5–4 Guylain Purdie Wainwright Ravenhill Kennedy Rochdale 3–3 Darlington on aggregate. Rochdale won 5–4 on penalties. 17 May 2008 18:00 Stockport County 1–0 Report Wycombe Wanderers Dickinson 7 Edgeley Park, Stockport 9,245 Andy D'Urso Stockport County won 2–1 on aggregate. Final 2008 Football League Two play-off final 26 May 2008 15:00 Rochdale Stockport County 2–3 Report McArdle 24Rundle 77 Stanton 34 o.g.Pilkington 49Dickinson 67 Wembley Stadium, London 35,715 Stuart Attwell References External links Football League website Category:English Football League play-offs play-offs Category:May 2008 sports events in the United Kingdom