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2000 Football League play-offs

Football League play-offs
Season1999–2000
ChampionsIpswich Town
(First Division)
Gillingham
(Second Division)
Peterborough United
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored49 (3.27 per match)
Biggest home winPeterborough 3–0 Barnet
(Third Division)
Biggest away winBirmingham 0–4 Barnsley
(First Division)
Highest scoringIpswich 5–3 Bolton
(8 goals)
Highest attendance73,427 – Barnsley v Ipswich
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance4,535 – Barnet v Peterborough
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance22,266
1999
2001

The Football League play-offs for the 1999–2000 season were held in May 2000, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London for the final time. 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.

Background

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The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.

In the First Division, Ipswich Town, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 5 years outside the top flight, finished 2 points behind second placed Manchester City, who in turn finished 2 points behind champions Charlton Athletic, who returned to the top flight after being relegated last season. Barnsley who are aiming to return to the top flight after 2 seasons outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 14 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who as well as Barnsley are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation 2 seasons ago, finished 1 point behind Birmingham City in sixth place.

First Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Ipswich Town 46 25 12 9 71 42 +29 87
4 Barnsley 46 24 10 12 88 67 +21 82
5 Birmingham City 46 22 11 13 65 44 +21 77
6 Bolton Wanderers 46 21 13 12 69 50 +19 76

Semi-finals

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First leg
Birmingham City0–4Barnsley
Report Shipperley 12'
Dyer 48', 60'
Hignett 84'
St Andrew's, Birmingham
Attendance: 26,492
Referee: Mark Halsey

Bolton Wanderers2–2Ipswich Town
Holdsworth 5'
Guðjohnsen 26'
Report Stewart 36', 65'
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 18,814
Referee: Rob Styles
Second leg
Ipswich Town5–3 (a.e.t.)Bolton Wanderers
Magilton 18' (pen.), 49', 90'
Clapham 94' (pen.)
Reuser 110'
Report Holdsworth 6', 39'
Johnston 50'
Portman Road, Ipswich
Attendance: 21,543
Referee: Barry Knight

Ipswich Town won 7–5 on aggregate.


Barnsley1–2Birmingham City
Dyer 54' Report Rowett 33'
Marcelo 75'
Oakwell, Barnsley
Attendance: 19,050
Referee: Mike Dean

Barnsley won 5–2 on aggregate.

Final

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Barnsley2–4Ipswich Town
Wright 6' (o.g.)
Hignett 78' (pen.)
Report Mowbray 28'
Naylor 52'
Stewart 58'
Reuser 90'
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 73,427
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Second Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Gillingham 46 25 10 11 79 48 +31 85
4 Wigan Athletic 46 22 17 7 72 38 +34 83
5 Millwall 46 23 13 10 76 50 +26 82
6 Stoke City 46 23 13 10 68 42 +26 82

Semi-finals

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First leg
Millwall0–0Wigan Athletic
Report
The New Den, London
Attendance: 14,091
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Second leg
Gillingham3–0 (a.e.t.)Stoke City
Ashby 55'
Onuora 102'
Smith 118'
Report
Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham
Attendance: 10,386
Referee: Rob Styles

Gillingham won 5–3 on aggregate.


Wigan Athletic1–0Millwall
Sheridan 61'
JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 10,642
Referee: David Laws

Wigan Athletic won 1–0 on aggregate.

Final

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Wigan Athletic2–3 (a.e.t.)Gillingham
Haworth 59'
Barlow 99' (pen.)
Report McGibbon 35' (o.g.)
Butler 114'
Thomson 118'
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 53,764
Referee: Rob Styles

Third Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4 Darlington 46 21 16 9 66 36 +30 79
5 Peterborough United 46 22 12 12 63 54 0+9 78
6 Barnet 46 21 12 13 59 53 0+6 75
7 Hartlepool United 46 21 9 16 60 49 +11 72

Semi-finals

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First leg
Barnet1–2Peterborough United
Arber 22' Lee 5'
Clarke 68'
Underhill, London
Attendance: 4,535
Referee: David Laws

Hartlepool United0–2Darlington
Liddle 35'
Gabbiadini 76' (pen.)
Victoria Park, Hartlepool
Attendance: 6,995
Referee: Barry Knight
Second leg
Darlington1–0Hartlepool United
Strodder 9' (o.g.)
Feethams, Darlington
Attendance: 8,238
Referee: Mark Halsey

Darlington won 3–0 on aggregate.


Peterborough United3–0Barnet
Farrell 28', 70', 89'
London Road, Peterborough
Attendance: 10,515
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Peterborough United won 5–1 on aggregate.

Final

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Peterborough United1–0Darlington
Clarke 74' Report
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 33,383
Referee: Mike Dean
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