1987 Football League Second Division play-off final

Association football match in England January 2021 October 2020 1987 Football League Second Division play-off final Charlton Athletic 1 Leeds United 1 on aggregateCharlton Athletic won after a replay First leg 1 0 1987 5 23 yes Selhurst Park London Roger Milford 16,680 Second leg 0 1 1987 5 25 yes Elland Road Leeds Brian Hill 31,395 Replay 2 1 After extra time 1987 5 29 yes St Andrew's Birmingham Allan Gunn 15,841 1988 The 1987 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match contested between Leeds United and Charlton Athletic over two legs on 23 May 1987 and 25 May 1987 to determine which club would play the next season in the First Division. Charlton Athletic had finished fourth from the bottom in the First Division, while Leeds United finished fourth in the Second Division. They were joined in the play-offs by the teams that had finished third and fifth in the Second Division: Charlton Athletic defeated Ipswich in their play-off semi-final, while Leeds United defeated Oldham Athletic in the other semi-final. The first leg of the final was played at Selhurst Park in London, in front of a crowd of 16,680. Jim Melrose scored the game's only goal to give Charlton Athletic a 1–0 win. Two days later, at Elland Road in Leeds, 31,395 fans saw Brendon Ormsby score the game's only goal as Leeds United won the match 1–0. This meant arranging a replay held at St Andrew's in Birmingham, which was played on 29 May 1987. After full-time, the score remained 0–0. Extra-time was played with John Sheridan scoring first for Leeds in the 99th minute. Peter Shirtliff then scored twice in the 113th and 117th minutes to give Charlton Athletic a 2–1 victory and to preserve their place in the top tier of English football. The following season, Charlton Athletic finished one spot above the relegation zone in the First Division ahead of Chelsea by goal-difference. Leeds United ended their next Second Division campaign in seventh position, eight points below the play-offs. Route to the final 1987 Football League play-offs 1986–87 Football League main WDL Q right auto 19 Football League First Division final table, relegation positions CHA Charlton Athletic LEI Leicester City MCI Manchester City AST Aston Villa 11 11 20 45 55 11 9 22 54 76 8 15 19 28 57 8 12 22 45 79 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/1987/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 15 January 2021 League Division One end of season table for 1986–87 season 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711220938/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/1987/ live main WDL Q right auto Football League Second Division final table, leading positions DER Derby County POR Portsmouth OLD Oldham Athletic LEE Leeds United IPS Ipswich Town 25 9 8 64 38 23 9 10 53 28 22 9 11 65 44 19 11 12 58 44 17 13 12 59 43 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1987/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 January 2021 League Division Two end of season table for 1986–87 season 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112210/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1987/ live Charlton Athletic finished the 1986–87 season in 19th place in the First Division. They avoided automatic relegation by defeating Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season and finished two points ahead of relegated team Leicester City.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55057907/chartlon-escape-relegation-on-last-day/ Charlton escape through hand of fate 10 May 1987 10 July 2020 Ronald Atkin The Observer 44 Newspapers.com 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711111654/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55057907/chartlon-escape-relegation-on-last-day/ live subscriptionhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/1987/ League Division One end of season table for 1986–87 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises 10 July 2020 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711220938/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/1987/ live Leeds United finished the season in fourth place in the Second Division, ten points behind Portsmouth who were automatically promoted to the First Division along with Derby Country.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55059236/football-results-may-9-1987/ Football Results 10 May 1987 10 July 2020 The Observer 44 Newspapers.com 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711074306/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55059236/football-results-may-9-1987/ live subscription Both Charlton Athletic and Leeds United, along with Oldham Athletic and Ipswich Town, entered the play-offs to determine who would play in the First Division in the 1987–88 season. Leeds United hosted the first leg of the semi-final at Elland Road in Leeds on 14 May 1987 as they faced Oldham Athletic, who were attempting to gain promotion to the top flight where they had last played in 1923. https://www.fchd.info/OLDHAMA.HTM Football Club History Database Oldham Athletic 19 January 2021 3 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200603170206/http://fchd.info/OLDHAMA.HTM live Kick off was delayed by 15 minutes as a result of the large crowd of 29,742. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500487362/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=b8e100bc Gale 19 January 2021 Last-ditch goal by substitute sets up Leeds Martin Searby 15 May 1987 62769 The Times 38 subscription 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112151/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3De00889a925ef32fce59c108f624b5f36 live Leeds' Mark Aizlewood received a booking in the 13th minute for a late tackle while Oldham's Mike Milligan was booked a minute later. The best chance of the first half fell to Sheridan whose curling free kick was caught by Andy Goram in the Oldham goal. The only goal of the game came in the 89th minute when Keith Edwards, who had come on as a substitute 17 minutes earlier, scored a header at the near post to give Leeds a one-goal advantage.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55068910/leeds-1-oldham-athletic-0-1987/ Edwards' header gives Leeds late edge 15 May 1987 10 July 2020 Stephen Bierley The Guardian 28 Newspapers.com 10 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200710061424/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55068910/leeds-1-oldham-athletic-0-1987/ live subscription The second leg of the semi-final was played three days later at Boundary Park. Oldham opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Gary Williams headed in a cross from Denis Irwin. It would take until the 89th minute before Oldham's substitute Mike Cecere headed in from another Irwin cross to put his team ahead 2–0. A minute later, Baird knocked down a cross from Sheridan for Edwards to score through a group of players, making the aggregate score 2–2, and sending the game into extra time. No further goals were scored, and Leeds progressed to the final on the away goals rule.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55069024/oldham-2-leeds-1-1987-po/ Edwards' away day 18 May 1987 10 July 2020 Stephen Bierley The Guardian 28 Newspapers.com 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711074520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55069024/oldham-2-leeds-1-1987-po/ live subscription https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500042198/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=f91cb7ea Gale 19 January 2021 Late goal by Leeds wrecks Oldham's celebrations Ian Ross 18 May 1987 62771 The Times 42 subscription 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112150/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3D417a5920cbe1377dcea89881d403a880 live In the second play-off semi-final, Charlton Athletic's opponents were Ipswich Town with the first leg being held at Portman Road in Ipswich on 14 May 1987. It was the clubs' first league meeting in nearly twenty years. In the tenth minute, Ipswich's goalkeeper Paul Cooper made his fifth penalty save of the season after denying Colin Walsh's spot kick. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500487360/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=cc1102f9 Gale 19 January 2021 Ipswich rely on Cooper's artistry Clive White 15 May 1987 62769 The Times 38 subscription 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112215/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3Df036dd4793c199f4d60f934b50d3f002 live The Charlton goalkeeper Bob Bolder made a save from Kevin Wilson before Jim Melrose hit the Ipswich crossbar. Bolder then made a double save, first from Jason Dozzell and then denying the headed rebound from Tony Humes, and the match ended 0–0.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56418385/ipswich-vs-charlton-1987-leg-1 Bolder, rock of Charlton 15 May 1987 31 July 2020 David Lacey The Guardian 28 Newspapers.com 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202741/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56418385/ipswich-vs-charlton-1987-leg-1/ live subscription The second leg took place at Selhurst Park three days later. Melrose scored the opening goal of the game with a 15 yd on header from a John Humphrey cross. Two minutes later Melrose doubled the lead with another header, this time from a Paul Miller pass. In the 85th minute, Ipswich midfielder Steve McCall scored after a shot from Mich d'Avray rebounded from the post, but Charlton Athletic qualified for the play-off final 2–1 on aggregate.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56418495/charlton-2-ipswich-1-1987-l2/ Melrose's garland 18 May 1987 31 July 2020 Robert Armstrong The Guardian 28 Newspapers.com 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202743/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56418495/charlton-2-ipswich-1-1987-l2/ live subscription https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500042199/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=70dcd6f2 Gale 20 January 2021 Tough going for Charlton Clive White 18 May 1987 62771 The Times 42 subscription Match Background This was the inaugural season of the English Football League play-offs which was introduced as part of the "Heathrow Agreement", a ten-point proposal to restructure the Football League,Foster, p. 8 which included this mechanism by which the number of clubs in the First Division could be reduced from 22 to 20. For the first two years of the play-offs, one relegation place was decided upon using a single-elimination tournament where each round was played as a two-legged tie: one club from the First Division competed with three clubs from the Second Division for a place in the top tier of English football. https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2017/may/04/football-league-play-offs-30-1987-finals-championship-league-one-two The Guardian Richard Foster The Football League play-offs at 30: a quick fix that survived and thrived 4 May 2017 19 January 2021 12 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011651/https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2017/may/04/football-league-play-offs-30-1987-finals-championship-league-one-two live The play-offs were not universally lauded: Oldham Athletic manager Joe Royle was scathing of them after losing to Leeds in the semi-final, saying "We finished seven points clear of Leeds. So to go out on away goals to them means there is something unjust. I welcomed the play-offs but possibly hadn't considered the long-term ramifications." Leeds United had played in the second tier of English football since they were relegated in the 1981–82 season. https://www.fchd.info/LEEDSU.HTM Football Club History Database 20 January 2021 Leeds United 11 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200111211807/http://www.fchd.info/LEEDSU.HTM live Billy Bremner had been appointed as their manager in October 1985, replacing Eddie Gray.Chapman, pp. 285–86 After leading the club to 14th position in the league that season, Bremner made a number of changes to playing staff, including bringing in at least ten players. Along with the fourth-place finish in the league, Bremner oversaw Leeds' run to the semi-final of the 1986–87 FA Cup where they lost to Coventry City. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/when-leeds-united-were-eight-minutes-away-going-back-under-billy-bremner-2999569 Yorkshire Evening Post 11 October 2020 When Leeds United were eight minutes away from going back up under Billy Bremner Lee Sobot 20 January 2021 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112213/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/when-leeds-united-were-eight-minutes-away-going-back-under-billy-bremner-2999569 live Charlton Athletic had been promoted to the First Division the previous season, having spent five seasons in the Second Division. https://www.fchd.info/CHARLTOA.HTM Football Club History Database 20 January 2021 Charlton Athletic 9 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200609125445/http://fchd.info/CHARLTOA.HTM live Their manager Lennie Lawrence had been moved into the caretaker role at the club in November 1982 after Ken Craggs was sacked with them fifth-from-bottom in the Second Division.Ramzan, p. 60 Despite finishing in 18th place in the First Division, Lawrence's team had made it to the 1987 Full Members' Cup Final where they were defeated by Second Division Blackburn Rovers 1–0 at Wembley Stadium.Ramzan, p. 74 First leg right|thumb|alt= Sections of the bleachers and the field at Selhurst Part in 2015| The first leg was played at Charlton's Selhurst Park (pictured in 2015). Summary The first leg of the play-off final was delayed from a scheduled Friday evening kick-off to a Saturday afternoon game to avoid traffic congestion at a supermarket local to Selhurst Park. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19870518/354/0014 British Newspaper Archive 19 March 2021 subscription 18 May 1987 Aberdeen Evening Express 14 Stokoe gloom as Roker men fail The match was played in front of a crowd of 16,680 in damp conditions and was refereed by Roger Milford.https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-leeds-united-23-may-1987-306757/ Charlton Athletic v Leeds United, 23 May 1987 11v11 AFS Enterprises 31 July 2020 14 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200714063529/https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-leeds-united-23-may-1987-306757/ live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A117725840/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=c48188b6 Gale 20 January 2021 Football: Charlton on the knife edge Sue Mott 24 May 1987 Sunday Times subscription 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112224/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA117725840&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=c48188b6 live Andy Peake's strike from outside the penalty area just flew over the Leeds crossbar before Melrose headed a cross from Walsh goalbound which was saved by Mervyn Day in the Leeds goal. The game was described in The Guardian by Michael Ralph as "an unending series of squabbles" in which both Charlton's Miller and Leeds' Aizlewood were booked. Charlton dominated the match but it took until the 87th minute when Melrose scored the opening goal of the afternoon, and his seventeenth of the season, to give them a 1–0 lead. Charlton manager Lennie Lawrence said after the match, "I can't recall us having less room to play any time this season."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56418972/charlton-vs-leeds-1987-l1/ Melrose rocks Leeds Michael Ralph 24 May 1987 The Observer 48 Newspapers.com 31 July 2020 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202822/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56418972/charlton-vs-leeds-1987-l1/ live subscription Details 23 May 1987 15:00 BST Charlton Athletic 1–0 Report Leeds United Melrose 87 Selhurst Park, London 16,680 Roger Milford right _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _3_stripes_vneck_white _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _red_stripes_adidas _3_stripes_red FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FFFFFF Charlton Athletic right _blueborder _blueyellowwing _blueborder FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 0000FF FFFFFF Leeds United Charlton Athletic GK Bob BolderRB John HumphreyLB Mark ReidCM Andy PeakeCB Steve ThompsonCB Paul MillerCM Steve GrittFW Mark StuartCF Jim MelroseCM Colin WalshLW Garth CrooksManager:Lennie LawrenceLeeds United GK Mervyn DayRB Neil AspinLB Bobby McDonaldRM Mark AizlewoodCB Jack AshurstCB Brendon OrmsbyCF Keith EdwardsCM John SheridanCF John PearsonCF Ian BairdLM Micky AdamsManager:Billy Bremner Second leg right|thumb|alt= Elland Road stadium showing field and stands | Elland Road (pictured in 2000) was the venue for the second leg of the play-off. Summary The second leg was played on 25 May 1987 Elland Road in front of a crowd of 31,395 and was refereed by Brian Hill.https://www.11v11.com/matches/leeds-united-v-charlton-athletic-25-may-1987-306758/ Leeds United v Charlton Athletic, 25 May 1987 11v11.com AFS Enterprises 5 August 2020 12 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200712023457/https://www.11v11.com/matches/leeds-united-v-charlton-athletic-25-may-1987-306758/ live Leeds' John Pearson was ruled out with an injury and was replaced in the starting eleven by Bob Taylor. The first half saw several robust challenges with former Charlton player Aizlewood receiving a yellow card after he fouled Peake. Leeds held possession for most of the first half, but Taylor missed a rebound that came from a Sheridan challenge with Charlton goalkeeper Bolder.Football: Ormsby's goal keeps Leeds within sight of first division The Times Clive White 26 May 1987 But the ball hit the woodwork and Taylor missed the rebound. In the second half, Leeds United forward Brendon Ormsby scored in the 53rd minute; it was to be the only goal of the game. The aggregate score of 1–1 meant a replay had to be played four days later at St Andrew's in Birmingham, a neutral venue.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56745692/charlton-vs-leeds-l2-1987/ Ormsby sets up decider The Guardian 28 26 May 1987 5 August 2020 Newspapers.com 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56745692/charlton-vs-leeds-l2-1987/ live subscription Lawrence reflected on the nature of the match: "It was fiercely contested but you cannot help that when there's so much at stake. It was a good game and we haven't played better than that and lost all season... there are worse sides in the First Division." https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500489349/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=82e98105 Gale 21 January 2021 Ormsby's goal keeps Leeds within sight of first division Clive White 26 May 1987 62778 The Times 35 subscription 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112153/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3Dc4167b1693e826f57e50cca23269665b live Details 25 May 1987 15:00 BST Leeds United 1–0 Report Charlton Athletic Ormsby 52 Elland Road, Leeds 31,395 Brian Hill right _blueborder _blueyellowwing _blueborder FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Leeds United right _3_stripes_border_white _3_stripes_vneck_white _3_stripes_border_white _white_stripes_adidas _3_stripes_red ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 000000 000000 Charlton Athletic Leeds United GK Mervyn DayRB Neil AspinLB Bobby McDonaldRM Mark AizlewoodCB Jack AshurstCB Brendon OrmsbyCF Keith EdwardsCM John SheridanCF Bob TaylorCF Ian BairdLM Micky AdamsManager:Billy BremnerCharlton Athletic GK Bob BolderRB John HumphreyLB Mark ReidCM Andy PeakeCB Peter ShirtliffCB Paul MillerCM Steve GrittFW Mark StuartCF Jim MelroseCM Colin WalshLW Garth CrooksManager:Lennie Lawrence Replay right|thumb|alt=St Andrew's|St Andrew's hosted the replay as a neutral venue. Summary The replay was held at St Andrew's, the home of Birmingham City, on 29 May 1987 in front of a crowd of 15,841, and was refereed by Allan Gunn.https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-leeds-united-29-may-1987-306759/ Charlton Athletic v Leeds United, 29 May 1987 11v11.com AFS Enterprises 6 August 2020 12 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200712045125/https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-leeds-united-29-may-1987-306759/ liveFoster, p. 194 Lawrence chose a blue kit for Charlton for the replay, as he believed that should any neutral supporters be present at the ground, they would support the team in the same colour as the host club. The West Midlands Police had mobilised at least 300 officers, some mounted and some with dogs, in anticipation of the arrival of at least 13,000 Leeds United supporters. Two years prior, Leeds United fans had rioted at St Andrew's, causing a wall to collapse and resulting in injuries to 96 policemen. Only 2,000 Charlton fans were expected to make the journey to Birmingham. Leeds were hoping that Pearson had recovered from a rib injury while Charlton's only selection dilemma was between Shirtliff and Thompson who was recovering from an Achilles injury. Gale 21 January 2021 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0503105103/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=6e8c560f Tension heightening as police and Charlton wait for Leeds invasion Clive White 26 May 1987 The Times 41 subscription 21 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121112152/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0503105103&v=2.1&it=r&sid=TTDA&asid=6e8c560f live During normal time Charlton dominated, but after 90 minutes the game remained goalless with Crooks and Melrose having chances to score. Leeds were a defender down after their captain Ormsby left the field before half-time with an injured leg. In the ninth minute of extra time, Sheridan scored from a free kick to give Leeds the lead. But in the second half of extra time, two goals from Shirtliff made it 2–1 to Charlton. First, in the 113th minute, he struck a low shot past Day in the Leeds goal. His second goal came in the 117th minute from a Peake free kick as his header was unchallenged. The match ended 2–1 to Charlton who retained their place in the top tier of English football.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56799644/charlton-2-leeds-1-1987-replay/ Shirtliff's late double the saver 17 30 May 1987 The Guardian 6 August 2020 Newspapers.com 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202812/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56799644/charlton-2-leeds-1-1987-replay/ live subscription Details 29 May 1987 19:30 BST Leeds United 1–2 yes Charlton Athletic Report Sheridan 99 Shirtliff 113 117 St Andrew's, Birmingham 15,841 Allan Gunn _blueborder _blueyellowwing _blueborder FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Leeds United right _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _3_stripes_vneck_white _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _adidaswhite _color_3_stripes_white 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF Charlton Athletic Leeds United GK 1 Mervyn DayRB 2 Neil AspinLB 3 Bobby McDonaldCB 5 Jack AshurstCB 6 Brendon Ormsby 44RM 4 Mark AizlewoodCM 7 John StilesCM 8 John SheridanCF 9 John PearsonCF 10 Ian BairdLM 11 Micky AdamsSubstitutes:CF 12 Keith Edwards 44Manager:Billy BremnerCharlton Athletic GK 1 Bob BolderRB 2 John HumphreyCB 5 Peter ShirtliffCB 6 Paul MillerLB 3 Mark ReidCM 7 Steve GrittCM 4 Andy PeakeRW 8 Rob LeeCF 9 Jim Melrose 96LW 10 Garth CrooksCM 11 Colin WalshSubstitutes:FW 12 Mark Stuart 96Manager:Lennie Lawrence MATCH RULES 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Post-match After the result, the Charlton manager Lawrence said in an interview, "The play-offs are exciting. I just think the format is wrong."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55278305/the-guardian/ Swindon remount on White's night 30 May 1987 17 The Guardian 6 August 2020 newspapers.com 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202812/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55278305/the-guardian/ live subscription Shirtliff had scored 15 goals in his 17-year career before scoring the two in the play-off final replay. He later said "I had never scored more than one goal in a game before and have never done it since! We were by far the better side so we just carried on playing and showed good patience." https://cafc.co.uk/news/view/5b0d3c8795374/play-off-hero-shirtliff-recalls-heroics-against-leeds-united Charlton Athletic F.C. 21 January 2021 Play-off hero Shirtliff recalls heroics against Leeds United 29 May 2018 26 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201026213453/https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5b0d3c8795374/play-off-hero-shirtliff-recalls-heroics-against-leeds-united live The following season, Charlton Athletic finished in 17th place, one place above the relegation zone after finishing their season with a 1–1 draw to Chelsea with only goal difference separating the two teams.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56861539/charlton-survival-at-expense-of-chelsea/ Fighting to the Finish 8 May 1988 20 The Observer 7 August 2020 Newspapers.com 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202821/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56861539/charlton-survival-at-expense-of-chelsea/ live subscriptionhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/1988/ League Division One end of season table for 1987–88 season 11v11.com AFS Enterprises 7 August 2020 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202822/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/1988/ live Leeds United finished the following campaign in seventh place, eight points behind the play-off spots and it would not be until 1990 where they were automatically promoted into the top flight.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1988/ League Division Two end of season table for 1987–88 season 11v11.com AFS Enterprises 7 August 2020 29 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202812/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1988/ live References Bibliography 100 Years of Leeds United Daniel Chapman 2019 978-178578-430-9 Icon Books Limited The Agony & The Ecstasy Richard Foster 978-1-910906-00-2 Ockley Books 2015 Ramzan David C. Charlton Athletic – A History 2014 Amberley Publishing 978-1-4456-1657-5 External links 2 Match report @ Chartlon Athletic's Official Site 1986–87 Season Review https://web.archive.org/web/20080719201858/http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/1982-1988.php 19 July 2008 @ Oz White Leeds United F.C. History John Sheridan's Goal https://web.archive.org/web/20160412125917/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3yauo9T5FI 12 April 2016 on YouTube 2 C Category:Football League Second Division play-off finals Category:EFL Championship play-off finals Play-off Final Play-off Final 1987 Play-off Final 1987 2 Football League Second Division play-off final Football League Second Division play-off final