2000 Football League Third Division play-off final

Association football match June 2015 November 2017 2000 Football League Third Division play-off final Old Wembley Stadium (external view).jpg 200 The final took place at Wembley Stadium. Peterborough United 1 Darlington 0 26 May 2000 Wembley Stadium London Mike Dean 33,383 Wet 1999 2001 The 2000 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2000 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Peterborough United and Darlington. 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 1999–2000 Football League Third Division, Swansea City, Rotherham United and Northampton Town, 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 2000–01 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Hartlepool United and Barnet who had been defeated by Darlington and Peterborough United respectively. The match had been moved forward by one day and was played on a Friday evening to accommodate a friendly between England and Brazil. The referee for the final was Mike Dean and the game was played in front of 33,383 spectators on a very wet surface after persistent rain throughout the day. Darlington dominated the first half but in the 72nd minute, the ball fell to Andy Clarke from a header inside the Darlington penalty area and he scored on the rebound to make it 1–0 to Peterborough United, who were promoted to the Second Division. Peterborough United's next season saw them finish in twelfth place in the Second Division, eight points above the relegation zone but sixteen below the play-offs. Darlington ended their following season in twentieth position in the Third Division, four places and four points above bottom-placed Barnet who were relegated. Route to the final 1999–2000 Football League#Third Division main WDL Q right auto Football League Third Division final table, leading positions SWA Swansea City ROT Rotherham United NOR Northampton Town DAR Darlington PET Peterborough United BAR Barnet HAR Hartlepool United 24 13 9 51 30 24 12 10 72 36 25 7 14 63 45 21 16 9 66 36 22 12 12 63 54 21 12 13 59 53 21 9 16 60 49 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/2000/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 7 May 2021 League Division 3 end of season table for 1999-00 season 7 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210507064216/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/2000/ live Darlington finished the regular 1999–2000 season in fourth position in the Third Division, the fourth tier of the English football league system, one place and one point ahead of Peterborough United. 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. Darlington finished three points behind Northampton Town (who were promoted in third place), five behind Rotherham United (who were promoted in second place) and six behind league winners Swansea City. Peterborough United's opposition for their play-off semi-final were Barnet with the first match of the two-legged tie being played at Underhill Stadium in Chipping Barnet on 13 May 2000. Jason Lee gave the visitors the lead in the fifth minute with a header and missed two other chances to score before being stretchered off the pitch with a knee injury. Mark Arber equalised for Barnet midway through the first half before Peterborough United had a goal disallowed: Andy Clarke's shot was goalbound but Dave Farrell applied the last touch from an offside position. In the 68th minute, Clarke won the ball from Barnet defender Mike Basham and scored with a low left-footed strike, and the match ended 2–1 to Peterborough United. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75664558/the-observer/ The Observer Newspapers.com 13 April 2021 14 May 2000 81 Clarke's welcome return Nick Callow 13 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210413114235/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75664558/the-observer/ live The second leg took place four days later at London Road in Peterborough United. Farrell gave the home side the lead in the 28th minute when he received the ball from Richard Scott and struck it into the Barnet net from around 25 yd. He scored his and Peterborough United's second goal in the 70th minute in similar circumstances, shooting from distance past the Barnet goalkeeper Lee Harrison. Farrell completed his hat-trick a minute from the end of the game with a chip from around 30 yd. Peterborough United won the match 3–0 and progressed to the final with a 5–1 aggregate victory. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75727438/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 14 April 2021 Farrell's hat-trick provides Posh spice Adam Sills 18 May 2000 35 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414115845/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75727438/the-guardian/ live Darlington faced Hartlepool United in the other semi-final and the first leg was played at Victoria Park in Hartlepool on 13 May. Darlington's Craig Liddle brought James Coppinger down with a professional foul in the fifth minute but was only shown a yellow card. Half an hour later Liddle put his side ahead with a volley. Hartlepool United's Craig Midgley went close after taking the ball round Darlington's goalkeeper Andy Collett but his shot was wide. With a quarter of an hour to go, second-half substitute Glenn Naylor was brought down by Hartlepool's goalkeeper Martin Hollund who was sent off. Marco Gabbiadini converted the subsequent penalty past Andy Dibble, and the match ended 2–0. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75664790/the-observer/ The Observer Newspapers.com 13 April 2021 14 May 2000 81 Fans attack Marco, Hodgson John Wardle 13 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210413114554/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75664790/the-observer/ live The second leg of the semi-final was held four days later at Feethams in Darlington. In front of their largest crowd for nine years, the home side took the lead in the ninth minute when Hartlepool defender Gary Strodder headed a cross from Darlington's Phil Brumwell into his own net for an own goal. Peter Duffield hit the Hartlepool crossbar five minutes later and Chris Freestone's headed goal in the 71st minute for the visitors was disallowed. The match ended 1–0 and Darlington progressed with a 3–0 aggregate win. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75727943/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 14 April 2021 Darlingon put Reynolds in mood for a holiday John Wardle 35 18 May 2000 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414124024/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75727943/the-guardian/ live Match Background Darlington were making their second appearance in the play-offs, having lost 1–0 to Plymouth Argyle at Wembley Stadium in the 1996 Football League Third Division play-off final. They had played in the fourth tier of English football since being relegated in the 1991–92 season. https://www.fchd.info/DARLINGT.HTM Darlington 14 April 2021 Football Club History Database 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414131630/https://www.fchd.info/DARLINGT.HTM live Peterborough United had also participated in the play-offs on one previous occasion, when they defeated Stockport County 2–1 in the 1992 Football League Third Division play-off final at Wembley. They had played in the Third Division since suffering relegation in the 1996–97 season. https://www.fchd.info/PETERBOU.HTM Peterborough United 14 April 2021 Football Club History Database Gabbiadini was Darlington's leading scorer with a total of 27 goals during the regular season, followed by Duffield on 13. https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=719&teamTabs=stats&season_id=129 Soccerbase Centurycomm 14 April 2021 Darlington (old) squad details – 1999/00 – Player appearances 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414132659/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=719&teamTabs=stats&season_id=129 live Peterborough United's top scorer was Clarke on 16 goals (15 in the league and 1 in the FA Cup) followed by Steve Castle on 10 (all in the league). https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1996&teamTabs=stats&season_id=129 Soccerbase Centurycomm 14 April 2021 Peterborough squad details – 1999/00 – Player appearances 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414134202/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1996&teamTabs=stats&season_id=129 live Both matches between the sides during the regular season ended in home victories: Peterborough United won 4–2 at London Road in August 1999 while Darlington were 2–0 winners at Feethams the following February. https://www.11v11.com/teams/peterborough-united/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Darlington/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 14 April 2021 Peterborough United football club: record v Darlington 5 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200905090216/https://www.11v11.com/teams/peterborough-united/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Darlington/ live The referee for the match, which had been moved to a Friday night to accommodate a friendly between England and Brazil, was Mike Dean. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75738485/the-guardian/ The Guardian 14 April 2021 Newspapers.com Fry high as Clarke lifts Posh Trevor Haylett 36 27 May 2000 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414162018/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75738485/the-guardian/ live Both sides adopted a 4–4–2 formation. The Wembley pitch was saturated as a result of heavy rain prior to the match. The game was broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A62318543/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=8c3b5822 Gale subscription 14 April 2021 26 May 2000 Paul Johnson Racing Post Darlo in line for Wembley glory 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202507/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA62318543&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=8c3b5822 live Lee was unavailable for Peterborough United having suffered a dislocated knee during the first leg of the play-off semi-final. Jesper Hjorth was a doubt for Darlington after sustaining a hamstring injury in the second leg of their semi-final. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A62321019/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=d3b4051e Gale subscription 14 April 2021 25 May 2000 Birmingham Evening Mail Jason blow for Barry 118 19 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202507/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA62321019&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=d3b4051e live Summary The match kicked off around 7:45p.m. on 26 May 2000 at a rain-soaked Wembley Stadium in front of 33,383 spectators. https://www.11v11.com/matches/darlington-v-peterborough-united-26-may-2000-307215/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 14 April 2021 Darlington v Peterborough United, 26 May 2000 14 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414203001/https://www.11v11.com/matches/darlington-v-peterborough-united-26-may-2000-307215/ live Gabbiadini headed a cross from Michael Oliver wide of the Peterborough goal before dragging a shot to the outside of the post in the ninth minute. He then saw a 12th-minute strike deflected over the Darlington crossbar after having cut inside from the left wing to shoot from the edge of the penalty area. In the 27th minute, Duffield's shot from 10 yd under pressure from Peterborough United defender Simon Rea hit the outside of the post. Duffield then played a one-two with Oliver before striking wide and the half ended 0–0. Four minutes after the interval, a slip from Neil Aspin allowed Clarke to shoot but the ball passed narrowly wide of the Darlington goalpost. Gabbiadini then saw his shot saved by Peterborough United goalkeeper Mark Tyler in the 71st minute and then Liddle made a goal-saving tackle on Clarke who had taken the ball round Collett in the Darlington goal. A minute later, the ball fell to Clarke from a header inside the Darlington penalty area and he scored on the rebound to make it 1–0 to Peterborough United. The match ended without further scoring and Peterborough United were promoted to the Second Division with a single-goal victory. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/27/newsstory.sport13 Fry high as Clarke lifts Posh 15 April 2021 Trevor Haylett 27 May 2000 The Guardian 1 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200901120344/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/27/newsstory.sport13 live Details 26 May 2000 19:45 BST Peterborough United 1–0 Report Darlington Clarke 74 Wembley Stadium, London 33,383 Mike Dean _adidas2010white _adidas2010white _adidas2010white _color_3_stripes_blue _color_3_stripes_white 0000cd 0000cd 0000cd ffffff 0000cd Peterborough United _shoulder_stripes_black_shirt _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes _shoulder_stripes_black_shirt _kappahome _color_3_stripes_black FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Darlington GK 1 Mark TylerDF 3 Adam Drury 44DF 4 Richard ScottDF 6 Andy EdwardsDF 19Gareth JelleymanMF 34Simon ReaMF 7 David Farrell MF 11Jon CullenMF 30Steve CastleMF 40David OldfieldFW 9 Andy Clarke 89Substitutes:DF 5 Matt WicksGK 7 Bart GrieminkMF 18Ritchie Hanlon 44MF 12Matthew GillFW 14Francis Green 89Manager:Barry Fry GK 1 Andy CollettDF 4 Craig LiddleDF 5 Steve TutillDF 6 Neil AspinDF 15Paul Heckingbottom 68MF 8 Martin GrayMF 12Michael OliverMF 11Brian Atkinson 86MF 24Neil HeaneyFW 10Marco GabbiadiniFW 9 Peter Duffield 84Substitutes:GK 22Mark SamwaysDF 4 Phil BrumwellMF 34Paul Holsgrove 86FW 16Glenn Naylor 68FW 28Lee Nogan 84Manager:David Hodgson Post-match Peterborough United manager Barry Fry suggested Darlington made the better start and that "their experience told and they passed it around." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/765808.stm Posh pull it off at Wembley 26 May 2000 14 April 2021 BBC News 3 March 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030303194039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/765808.stm live The winning goalscorer Clarke described it as "the best moment of my life." George Reynolds, the Darlington chairman, was defiant in defeat, saying "I'm going to take this team into the Premiership as sure as night follows day". Clarke hits on break to floor Darlington Nick Harris 15 April 2021 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A63150376/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=0d06f4b5 Gale subscription 27 May 2000 The Independent 31 Peterborough United's next season saw them finish in twelfth place in the Second Division, eight points above the relegation zone but sixteen below the play-offs. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2000-2001/regular-season/r2169/ Soccerway 15 April 2021 Perform Group League One – 2000/2001 – Regular season 3 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140103121124/http://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2000-2001/regular-season/r2169/ live Darlington ended their following season in twentieth position in the Third Division, four places and four points above bottom-placed Barnet who were relegated. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2000-2001/regular-season/r1946/ Soccerway 15 April 2021 Perform Group League Two – 2000/2001 – Regular season 15 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210415210005/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2000-2001/regular-season/r1946/ live References Play-off Final Category:Football League Third Division play-off finals Category:EFL League Two play-off finals 3 Play-off Final 2000 Play-off Final 2000 Football League Third Division play-off final Football Third Fourth Division play-off final