1995 Football League Second Division play-off final

Association football match December 2017 February 2021 1995 Football League Second Division play-off final Old Wembley Stadium (external view).jpg The match took place at Wembley Stadium. Huddersfield Town 2 Bristol Rovers 1 28 May 1995 Wembley Stadium London Clive Wilkes (Gloucester) 59,175 1994 1996 The 1995 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 28 May 1995 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Huddersfield Town and Bristol Rovers. It was to determine the second team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division to the First Division. Only Birmingham City, the champions of the 1994–95 Football League Second Division league, gained automatic promotion to the First Division due to the reduction of the Premier League from 22 to 20 teams. The sides placed from second to fifth place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1995–96 season in the First Division. The losing semi-finalists were Brentford and Crewe Alexandra who had been defeated by Huddersfield and Bristol Rovers respectively. The referee for the match, played in front of a Second Division play-off final record attendance of 59,175, was Clive Wilkes. In injury time in the first half, an overhead kick from Ronnie Jepson was eventually headed in by Andy Booth for his 30th goal of the season to give Huddersfield the lead. Just over a minute later, Marcus Stewart scored the equaliser for Bristol Rovers with a volley after Justin Channing headed on Worrell Sterling's throw-in. It was Stewart's 24th goal of the season. In the 80th minute, Iain Dunn came on as a substitute and his first touch of the match a minute later was to deliver a cross which Booth headed back across the goalmouth for Chris Billy to score to make it 2–1. In the final minute of the match, Stewart's shot from around 25 yd hit the frame of the Huddersfield goal with the goalkeeper Steve Francis beaten. The match ended 2–1 and Huddersfield were promoted to the First Division. Huddersfield's manager, Neil Warnock, left his newly promoted club days after the win at Wembley and soon after took up the managerial position at Plymouth Argyle who had been relegated to the Third Division after finishing in 21st position in the league. Huddersfield Town's next season saw them finish in eighth position in the First Division, two places below the play-offs. Bristol Rovers ended their following season in tenth place in the Second Division league table, four positions outside the play-offs. Route to the final 1994–95 Football League main WDL Q right auto Football League Second Division final table, leading positions BIR Birmingham City BRE Brentford CRE Crewe Alexandra BRR Bristol Rovers HUD Huddersfield Town 25 14 7 84 37 25 10 11 81 39 25 8 13 80 68 22 16 8 70 40 22 15 9 79 49 complete https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/1994-1995/round-1/r96/ Soccerway League One – 1994/1995 Perform Group 20 February 2021 3 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140103120956/http://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/1994-1995/round-1/r96/ live Bristol Rovers finished the regular 1994–95 season in fourth place in the Second Division, the third tier of the English football league system, one position ahead of Huddersfield Town. The reduction of the Premier League from 22 to 20 teams meant that both missed out on the single automatic place for promotion to the First Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the second promoted club. Bristol Rovers finished seven points behind league winners Birmingham City. Huddersfield Town ended the season one point behind Bristol Rovers. Huddersfield Town's opponents for their play-off semi-final were Brentford with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield on 14 May 1995. In the 9th minute, Huddersfield took the lead after Andy Booth's low cross found Chris Billy who controlled the ball before striking it into the Brentford goal. Nicky Forster levelled the game four minutes before half-time with a volley from a Paul Smith pass. The second half was goalless and the match ended 1–1. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115444321/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=8c30f3fa Gale 20 February 2021 Chances tossed away in high-stake game Simon Barnes Simon Barnes 15 May 1995 The Times 29 subscription The return leg of the play-off semi-final was held three days later at Griffin Park in Brentwood. In the 19th minute, Brentford's Paul Stephenson was brought down in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty, which was scored by Martin Grainger. The Brentford goalkeeper Kevin Dearden then fumbled the ball under pressure from Darren Bullock which allowed Booth to equalise, and the first half ended level. No goals were scored in the second half so the game went to extra time which also remained goalless with Grainger's last-minute free-kick being blocked. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115443584/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=07eff56e Gale 20 February 2021 Brentford denied in penalty shoot-out Alyson Rudd Alyson Rudd 18 May 1995 The Times 44 subscription 22 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210222175913/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA115443584&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=07eff56e live The match then went to a penalty shootout and although Pat Scully missed the second spot-kick for Huddersfield, their goalkeeper Steve Francis saved strikes from both Denny Mundee and Jamie Bates. Bullock then scored to send Huddersfield to the final with a 4–3 aggregate victory. https://www.htafc.com/news/2020/may/on-this-day-play-off-triumph-for-town/ Adam Tomlinson 20 February 2021 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 17 May 2020 On this day: Play-off triumph for Town 16 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210116085956/https://www.htafc.com/news/2020/may/on-this-day-play-off-triumph-for-town/ live Bristol Rovers faced Crewe Alexandra in the other play-off semi-final and the first leg was held on 14 May 1995 at Twerton Park in Bath, a ground which Rovers shared with non-League club Bath City. Bristol Rovers dominated the match but with two goal-line clearances being made by Crewe, first by Worrell Sterling and then Danny Murphy ensured the game ended goalless. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115444322/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=6eb85914 Gale 21 February 2021 Bury seize play-off initiative David Powell 15 May 1995 The Times 29 subscription 22 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210222175913/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA115444322&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=6eb85914 live The second leg took place three days later at Gresty Road in Crewe.Foster, p. 205 Regular time ended without a goal being scored so the match went into extra time in which Darran Rowbotham put Crewe ahead mid-way through the first period. Paul Miller equalised for the visitors. The match ended 1–1 and Bristol Rovers progressed to the final on the away goals rule. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A170564804/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=7ca0c66c Gale 21 February 2021 Miller's strike gives Rovers a Wembley spot Don Beet 18 May 1995 The Guardian 20 subscription Match Background Bristol Rovers had made one previous appearance in the play-offs when they lost 2–1 on aggregate to Port Vale in the 1989 Football League Third Division play-off final. They had played in the third tier of English football since being relegated from the Second Division in the 1992–93 season. https://www.fchd.info/BRISTOLR.HTM Bristol Rovers 21 February 2021 Football Club History Database 29 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129140812/https://www.fchd.info/BRISTOLR.HTM live Huddersfield Town were also appearing in the play-offs for a second occasion, having lost 4–3 on aggregate to Peterborough United in the 1992 semi-finals. They had been relegated to the third tier in the 1987–88 season and had played there ever since. https://www.fchd.info/HUDDERST.HTM Huddersfield Town 21 February 2021 Football Club History Database 8 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200808234856/http://fchd.info/HUDDERST.HTM live In the two league matches between the sides during the regular season, both ended in 1–1 draws. https://www.11v11.com/teams/huddersfield-town/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Bristol%20Rovers/ 11v11 21 February 2021 Huddersfield Town football club: record v Bristol Rovers AFS Enterprises 12 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161212170737/http://www.11v11.com/teams/huddersfield-town/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Bristol%20Rovers/ live Huddersfield manager Neil Warnock had led a team out at a Wembley final three times in the previous four seasons, including two play-off final wins with Notts County in 1990 and 1991. The referee for the match was Clive Wilkes. Huddersfield Town adopted a 4–4–2 formation while Bristol Rovers played as a 4–2–4. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115440015/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=439e47ac Gale 22 February 2021 Stewart's dismay bars path to riches for Rovers Alyson Rudd Alyson Rudd 29 May 1995 The Times 28 subscription 22 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210222175914/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA115440015&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=439e47ac live Summary The match kicked off around 3p.m. on 28 May 1995 in front of a crowd of 59,175, a record attendance for a Second Division play-off final. https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-huddersfield-town-28-may-1995-307064/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 22 February 2021 Bristol Rovers v Huddersfield Town, 28 May 1995 3 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160803204145/http://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-huddersfield-town-28-may-1995-307064/ live In injury time in the first half, an overhead kick from Ronnie Jepson was eventually headed in by Booth for his 30th goal of the season to give Huddersfield the lead. Just over a minute later, Stewart scored the equaliser for Bristol Rovers with a volley after Justin Channing headed on Sterling's throw-in. It was Stewart's 24th goal of the season. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19950529/194/0025 British Newspaper Archive 22 February 2021 Sought after striker on song for Wembley joy subscription 29 May 1995 25 Peter Lansley Newcastle Journal Eight minutes into the second half, the ball rebounded from the Huddersfield crossbar but Taylor missed from 3 yd. Two minutes later, Jon Dyson came on to replace Simon Trevitt in Huddersfield's first substitution of the match. In the 80th minute, Iain Dunn was then brought on for Gary Crosby while Bristol Rovers made their first change at the same time with Marcus Browning replacing Taylor. Dunn's first touch of the match a minute later was to deliver a cross which Booth headed back across the goalmouth for Billy to score. Lee Archer then came on for Channing for Bristol Rovers in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, a 25 yd strike from Browning was tipped over by Francis. In the final minute of the match, Stewart's shot from around 25 yd hit the frame of the Huddersfield goal with Francis beaten. The match ended 2–1 and Huddersfield were promoted to the First Division. Details 28 May 1995 15:00 BST Huddersfield Town 2–1 Bristol Rovers Report Booth 45Billy 81 45+1 Stewart Wembley Stadium, London 59,175 Clive Wilkes (Gloucester) _white_stripes _3whitestripes _white_stripes _color_3_stripes_on_white 1E90FF 1E90FF 1E90FF FFFFFF 1E90FF Huddersfield Town _blackquarters23 000000 009F6B 009F6B 000000 000000 Bristol Rovers GK 1 Steve FrancisDF 2 Simon Trevitt 56DF 3 Tom CowanMF 4 Darren BullockDF 5 Lee Sinnott (c)DF 6 Pat ScullyMF 7 Chris BillyMF 8 Lee DuxburyFW 9Andy BoothFW 10Ronnie JepsonMF 11 Gary Crosby 80Substitutes:FW 12Iain Dunn 80GK 13Kevin BlackwellDF 14Jon Dyson 56Manager:Neil Warnock GK 1 Brian ParkinDF 2 David PritchardDF 3 Andy GurneyFW 4 Marcus StewartDF 5 Billy ClarkDF 6 Andy Tillson (c)MF 7 Worrell SterlingMF 8 Paul MillerFW 9 Gareth Taylor 80MF 10Justin SkinnerMF 11Justin Channing 84Substitutes:MF 12Marcus Browning 80GK 13Andy CollettMF 14Lee Archer 84Manager:John Ward Post-match The victory was Huddersfield Town's first win at the national stadium in five finals over a 67-year period. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/71704310/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 21 February 2021 29 May 1995 Huddersfield up but may lose Warnock Russell Thomas 19 subscription 22 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210222175918/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/71704310/the-guardian/ live Warnock had been working without a contract and suggested that Huddersfield "had to think big and be big... Whether it's with me or not, the club will go forwards." He stated that he and Huddersfield chairman, David Fisher, would be meeting and they had "got to speak a lot." He went on to note that he was "not the sort of manager who goes anywhere lightly." Warnock left his newly promoted club eight days after the win at Wembley and soon after took up the managerial position at Plymouth Argyle who had been relegated to the Third Division after finishing in 21st position in the league. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19950605/373/0035 British Newspaper Archive 22 February 2021 subscription Barton tips the Scales Rob King 35 Liverpool Echo https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-warnock-recalls-fond-memories-19359568 TeessideLive 21 February 2021 Neil Warnock recalls fond memories at Huddersfield as he prepares for open game for Middlesbrough Craig Johns 28 November 2020 27 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201127161853/https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-warnock-recalls-fond-memories-19359568 live In a 2020 interview, Warnock confirmed that "getting promotion was the stand-out memory. It was a fabulous time" but that he "fell-out with the chairman after he told me a porky pie [a lie] and left a few days later". Huddersfield Town's next season saw them finish in eighth position in the First Division, two places below the play-offs. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/1995-1996/round-1/r2283/ Soccerway Championship – 1995/1996 Perform Group 21 February 2021 22 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210222175920/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/1995-1996/round-1/r2283/ live Bristol Rovers ended their following season in tenth position in the Second Division league table, four places outside the play-offs. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/1995-1996/round-1/r95/ Soccerway League One – 1995/1996 Perform Group 21 February 2021 3 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140103121102/http://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/1995-1996/round-1/r95/ live References The Agony & The Ecstasy Richard Foster 978-1-910906-00-2 Ockley Books 2015 Category:Football League Second Division play-off finals Category:EFL League One play-off finals Play 2 Play-off Final 1995 Play-off Final 1995 Football League Second Division play-off final Football League Second Division play-off final