1997 Football League play-offs

April 2022 Football League play-offs 1996–97 Crystal Palace(First Division)Crewe Alexandra(Second Division)Northampton Town(Third Division) Swansea 3–0 Chester(Third Division) Bristol City 1–2 Brentford(Second Division) Northampton 3–2 Cardiff(5 goals) 15 38 64,383 – Crystal Palace v Sheffield United(First Division final) 5,104 – Chester v Swansea(Third Division semi-final) 21,403 1996 1998 The Football League play-offs for the 1996–97 season were held in May 1997, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs and will be contested by the teams who finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals will go through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season. First Division 1996–97 Football League First Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Wolverhampton Wanderers462210146851+17764Ipswich Town462014126850+18745Sheffield United462013137552+23736Crystal Palace461914137848+3071 Semi-finals First leg 10 May 1997 15:00 Crystal Palace 3–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Shipperley 68Freedman 89 90 Smith 90 Selhurst Park, London 21,053 Neale Barry 10 May 1997 15:00 Sheffield United 1–1 Ipswich Town Fjørtoft 41 Stockwell 78 Bramall Lane, Sheffield 22,312 Roy Pearson Second leg 14 May 1997 19:45 Ipswich Town 2–2 yes Sheffield United Scowcroft 32Gudmundsson 73 Kachura 9Walker 77 Portman Road, Ipswich 21,467 Terry Heilbron Ipswich Town 3–3 Sheffield United on aggregate. Sheffield United won on away goals. 14 May 1997 19:45 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Crystal Palace Atkins 30Williams 85 Hopkin 66 Molineux, Wolverhampton 26,403 Clive Wilkes Crystal Palace won 4–3 on aggregate. Final 1997 Football League First Division play-off final 26 May 1997 15:00 Crystal Palace 1–0 Sheffield United Hopkin 90 Wembley Stadium, London 64,383 Neale Barry Second Division 1996–97 Football League Second Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Luton Town462115105941+18784Brentford462014125643+13745Bristol City462110156951+18736Crewe Alexandra46227175647+973 Semi-finals First leg 11 May 1997 13:00 Bristol City 1–2 Brentford Owers 28 Smith 13Taylor 30 Ashton Gate, Bristol 15,581 11 May 1997 15:00 Crewe Alexandra 2–1 Luton Town Rivers 53Little 68 Oldfield 3 Gresty Road, Crewe 5,467 Second leg 14 May 1997 19:45 Brentford 2–1 Bristol City Taylor 67Bent 79 Barnard 49 Griffin Park, London 9,496 John Kirkby Brentford won 4–2 on aggregate. 14 May 1997 19:45 Luton Town 2–2 Crewe Alexandra Oldfield 20 31 Little 32Smith 62 Kenilworth Road, Luton 8,168 Roy Pearson Crewe Alexandra won 4–3 on aggregate. Final 1997 Football League Second Division play-off final 25 May 1997 15:00 Brentford 0–1 Crewe Alexandra Smith 34 Wembley Stadium, London 34,149 Uriah Rennie Third Division 1996–97 Football League Third Division Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Northampton Town462012146744+23725Swansea City46218176258+4716Chester City461816125543+12707Cardiff City46209175654+269 Semi-finals First leg 11 May 1997 12:00 Cardiff City 0–1 Northampton Town Parrish 77 Ninian Park, Cardiff 11,369 11 May 1997 15:00 Chester City 0–0 Swansea City Deva Stadium, Chester 5,104 Second leg 14 May 1997 19:30 Swansea City 3–0 Chester City Thomas 39Torpey 43Heggs 64 Vetch Field, Swansea 10,027 Swansea City won 3–0 on aggregate. 14 May 1997 19:45 Northampton Town 3–2 Cardiff City Sampson 23Warburton 68Gayle 77 Fowler 36Haworth 90 Sixfields, Northampton 7,302 Northampton Town won 4–2 on aggregate. Final 1997 Football League Third Division play-off final 24 May 1997 15:00 Northampton Town 1–0 Swansea City Frain 90 Wembley Stadium, London 46,804 Terry Heilbron External links Football League website Category:English Football League play-offs