1999 Football League Third Division play-off final

Association football match June 2017 April 2021 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final The second half - geograph.org.uk - 2834271.jpg 200 The final took place at Wembley Stadium Scunthorpe United 1 Leyton Orient 0 29 May 1999 Wembley Stadium London Clive Wilkes 36,985 Warm 1998 2000 The 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 1999 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Scunthorpe United and Leyton Orient. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1998–99 Football League Third Division, Brentford, Cambridge United and Cardiff City, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1999–2000 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Rotherham United and Swansea City who had been defeated by Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United respectively. The referee for the final, which was played in front of 36,985 spectators, was Clive Wilkes. In the sixth minute, Gareth Sheldon took the ball round Dean Smith, the Leyton Orient captain, and played a chipped cross to the near post: Scunthorpe's Alejandro Calvo García scored with a header past Scott Barrett. Scunthorpe dominated the first half but Leyton Orient made two substitutions at half-time and started the second half with more pressure. Scunthorpe's goalkeeper Tom Evans made a number of saves and Martin Ling cleared Darryn Stamp's shot in the final minute of the game. The match ended 1–0 to Scunthorpe who were promoted to the Second Division. Scunthorpe United finished their following season in 23rd place in the Second Division, losing four of their last five matches, and were relegated back to the Third Division. Leyton Orient ended their following season in 19th position in the Third Division. Route to the final 1998–99 Football League#Third Division main WDL Q right auto Football League Third Division final table, leading positions BRE Brentford CAM Cambridge United CAR Cardiff City SCU Scunthorpe United ROT Rotherham United LEY Leyton Orient SWA Swansea City 26 7 13 79 56 23 12 11 78 48 22 14 10 60 39 22 8 16 69 58 20 13 13 79 61 19 15 12 68 59 19 14 13 56 48 complete https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/1998-1999/regular-season/r311/ Soccerway 16 April 2021 League Two – 1998/1999 – Regular season Perform Group 17 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210417202406/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/1998-1999/regular-season/r311/ live Scunthorpe United finished the regular 1998–99 season in fourth position in the Third Division, the fourth tier of the English football league system, two places and two points ahead of Leyton Orient. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to the Second Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Scunthorpe United finished six points behind Cardiff City (who were promoted in third place), seven behind Cambridge United (who were promoted in second place) and eleven behind league winners Brentford. Leyton Orient's opposition for their play-off semi-final were Rotherham United with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at Brisbane Road in Leyton on 16 May 1999. Chris Brown, writing in The Guardian suggested that the pressure affected the players and that it resulted in "a scrappy goalless match". https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75868830/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com 16 April 2021 17 May 1999 Orient fluff their lines but expect to get it right on Wednesday night Chris Brown The Guardian 29 18 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210418003740/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75868830/the-guardian/ live Leyton Orient applied pressure on the Rotherham defence in the early stages with a series of corners and Amara Simba twice missed chances to score. The second half saw an unmarked Danny Hudson miss with a header from a John Varty cross and the match ended 0–0. The second leg was played three days later at Millmoor in Rotherham. The game ended goalless in regular time and went into extra time where the deadlock remained, the tie ending 0–0 on aggregate so had to be decided by a penalty shootout. Leyton Orient's goalkeeper Scott Barrett saved penalties from both Andy Roscoe and Paul Hurst, and Matt Lockwood scored the decisive goal to give his side a 4–2 win. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75933132/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 17 April 2021 Orient on the penalty express Daniel Taylor 20 May 1999 32 18 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210418194020/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75933132/the-guardian/ live Scunthorpe United faced Swansea City in the other semi-final and the first leg was held at the Vetch Field in Swansea on 16 May 1999. Matthew Bound went close on 20 minutes but his shot from a Nick Cusack free kick went over the Scunthorpe crossbar. A minute before half-time, Bound put Swansea City ahead: Tony Bird was fouled by Russ Wilcox and Bound headed in the resulting free kick from Michael Howard from around 20 yd. Despite applying more pressure in the second half, Scunthorpe failed to score and Bird missed two chances for Swansea, striking one shot high and another against the post, and the match finished 1–0 to Swansea. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75868802/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com 16 April 2021 17 May 1999 Swans profit from leap of Bound Paul Rees The Guardian 29 16 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210416173316/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75868802/the-guardian/ live The second leg took place at Glanford Park in Scunthorpe three days later. Andy Dawson put the home side ahead after two minutes to level the tie on aggregate. The goal was followed by a period of Scunthorpe pressure that included misses from both Jamie Forrester and Paul Harsley. With no further goals in regular time, the match went into extra time and Gareth Sheldon scored two minutes in to make it 2–0 to Scunthorpe. Bird then scored for Swansea City in the 98th minute before Sheldon increased Scunthorpe's lead in the 102nd minute. John Eyre then fouled Howard and was sent off after a 20-player fight erupted. The game ended 3–1 to Scunthorpe who progressed to the final 3–2 on aggregate. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75934660/the-guardian/ The Guardian 17 April 2021 Sheldon strikes twice in fiery finale Nick Alexander 20 May 1999 32 Newspapers.com 17 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210417164559/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75934660/the-guardian/ live Match Background This was Leyton Orient's second appearance in the play-offs having won the 1989 Football League Fourth Division play-off final 2–1 on aggregate against Wrexham over two legs. They had played in the Third Division since being relegated in the 1994–95 season. https://www.fchd.info/LEYTONOR.HTM Leyton Orient 17 April 2021 Football Club History Database 28 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210128014400/https://www.fchd.info/LEYTONOR.HTM live Leyton Orient had twice played at Wembley Stadium in the 1930s as Clapton Orient when Lea Bridge Stadium, their home ground, was undergoing work. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72663090/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=51ec2346 The Sunday Times 19 April 2021 Sheldon makes the difference Brian Glanville Brian Glanville Gale 30 May 1999 13 subscription 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202441/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA72663090&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=51ec2346 live https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/tottenham-will-do-well-to-match-leyton-orient-s-87yearold-wembley-record-a3566066.html Tottenham will do well to match Leyton Orient's 87-year-old Wembley record John Dillon 19 April 2021 Evening Standard 16 June 2017 Scunthorpe United were taking part in their fifth play-offs, having lost in the semi-finals three times and the 1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final in a penalty shootout against Blackpool. They had played in the fourth tier of English football since suffering relegation in the 1983–84 season. https://www.fchd.info/SCUNTHOU.HTM Scunthorpe United 17 April 2021 Football Club History Database 18 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918200917/http://www.fchd.info/SCUNTHOU.HTM live Both matches between the sides during the regular season ended in home wins: Leyton Orient won 1–0 at Brisbane Road in October 1998 while Scunthorpe United claimed a 2–0 victory at Glanford Park the following March. https://www.11v11.com/teams/leyton-orient/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Scunthorpe%20United/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 16 April 2021 Leyton Orient football club: record v Scunthorpe United 15 December 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121215083153/http://www.11v11.com/teams/leyton-orient/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Scunthorpe%20United live Simba and Tony Richards were lead scorers for Leyton Orient with 11 goals each. https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1537&teamTabs=stats&season_id=128 Soccerbase 18 April 2021 Leyton Orient squad details – 1998/99 – Player appearances Centurycomm Forrester led the scoring for Scunthorpe United with 23 goals (20 in the league, 2 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup) followed by Eyre on 17 (15 in the league, 2 in the FA Cup). https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2263&teamTabs=stats&season_id=128 Soccerbase 18 April 2021 Scunthorpe squad details – 1998/99 – Player appearances Centurycomm 18 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210418191935/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2263&teamTabs=stats&season_id=128 live The referee for the final was Clive Wilkes. Leyton Orient adopted a 4–4–2 formation while Scunthorpe United played as a 3–4–3. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76011431/the-guardian/ The Guardian 18 April 2021 Newspapers.com 31 May 1999 Spaniard makes Iron hearts soar Trevor Haylett 25 18 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210418194028/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76011431/the-guardian/ live The match was broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76011147/the-guardian/ The Guardian 18 April 2021 Newspapers.com 29 May 1999 Poor relations have grounds for positive thinking Trevor Haylett 35 18 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210418194029/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76011147/the-guardian/ live Summary The match kicked off around 3p.m. on 29 May 1999 at Wembley Stadium in front of 36,985 spectators in warm conditions. In the sixth minute, Sheldon went round Dean Smith, the Leyton Orient captain, and played a chipped cross to the near post where Alejandro Calvo García headed the ball past Barrett to give Scunthorpe the lead. Forrester then crossed for Chris Hope whose header went over the Leyton Orient crossbar. Dawson sent a free kick wide of the post before Barrett made saves from both him and Sheldon. Leyton Orient made two substitutions at half-time, with Craig Maskell and Alex Inglethorpe coming on for Stuart Hicks and Richards and started the second half with more pressure. Maskell passed to Steve Watts but Scunthorpe's goalkeeper Tom Evans gathered the ball at his feet. Watts also saw his attempted shot go wide of the Scunthorpe goal. In the 86th minute, Simba passed to Inglethorpe but his shot was saved by Evans. In the last minute, Barrett then denied Harsley's attempt to score before Martin Ling cleared Darryn Stamp's shot from the rebound. The match ended 1–0 to Scunthorpe who were promoted to the Second Division. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76011815/the-observer/ The Observer 18 April 2021 Scunthorpe scuttle ordinary Orient Ian Ridley 74 30 May 1999 Newspapers.com 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202504/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76011815/the-observer/ live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66592372/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=784ea71b The Independent 19 April 2021 Laws plans to hold on to his young talent Norman Fox 31 May 1999 Gale subscription 7 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202522/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA66592372&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=784ea71b live Details uncollapsed 1 29 May 1999 15:00 Scunthorpe United 1–0 Leyton Orient Report Calvo García 7 Wembley Stadium, London 36,985 Clive Wilkes GK 1 Tom EvansRB 2 Paul HarsleyCB 3 Andy DawsonCB 4 Richard Logan LB 5 Russ Wilcox RM 6 Chris HopeCM 7 Justin Walker CM 8 Jamie Forrester 85FW 9 Gareth SheldonFW 10John Gayle 78 LM 11Alejandro Calvo García 76Substitutes:LM 12Gary Bull 85FW 13Darryn Stamp 78MF 14Steve Housham 76Manager:Brian Laws GK 1 Scott BarrettRB 2 Roger Joseph CB 3 Matt LockwoodCB 4 Dean Smith LB 5 Stuart Hicks 46RM 6 Simon ClarkCM 7 Martin Ling CM 8 Tony Richards 46FW 9 Steve WattsFW 10Amara SimbaLM 11Billy BeallSubstitutes:FW 12Craig Maskell 46FW 13Alex Inglethorpe 46Manager:Tommy Taylor Post-match thumb|Scunthorpe United supporters celebrating after the final whistle The Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws said "it's a better achievement getting promotion here than winning trophies with Nottingham Forest... I've had a few lows and this is one of the highs." Spanish goalscorer Calvo García said he was unaware of Scunthorpe United before his move from Real Sociedad, but noted "the people there have made both me and my girlfriend very happy, and to clinch promotion at Wembley — you cannot ask for anything more than that." His mother was in the crowd having made her first trip from Spain to England, despite a fear of flying. Scunthorpe United finished their following season in 23rd place in the Second Division, losing four of their last five matches, and were relegated back to the Third Division. https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/1999-2000/regular-season/r91/ Soccerway Perform Group 16 April 2021 League One – 1999/2000 – Regular season 16 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210416125627/https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/1999-2000/regular-season/r91/ live Leyton Orient ended their following season in 19th position in the Third Division. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/1999-2000/regular-season/r312/ Soccerway Perform Group 16 April 2021 League Two – 1999/2000 – Regular season 15 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210415192905/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/1999-2000/regular-season/r312/ live References Category:1998–99 Football League Third Division 3 Category:Football League Third Division play-off finals Category:EFL League Two play-off finals Play-off Final 1999 Play-off Final 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final Football Third Fourth Division play-off final