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1999 Football League play-offs

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Football League play-offs
Season1998–99
ChampionsWatford
(First Division)
Manchester City
(Second Division)
Scunthorpe United
(Third Division)
Matches played15
Goals scored28 (1.87 per match)
Biggest home winScunthorpe 3–1 Swansea
(Third Division)
Biggest away winNone
Highest scoringIpswich 4–3 Bolton
(7 goals)
Highest attendance76,935 – Gillingham v Manchester City
(Second Division final)
Lowest attendance6,762 – Wigan v Manchester City
(Second Division semi-final)
Average attendance24,837
1998
2000

The Football League play-offs for the 1998–99 season were held in May 1999, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and contested by the teams who finished 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 went 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 were aiming to return to the top flight after a 4-year absence, finished one point behind second placed Bradford City, who in turn finished 18 points behind champions Sunderland, who returned to the top flight after being relegated two seasons previously. Birmingham City, who were aiming to return to the top flight after 13 years outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Watford, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1988, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who were aiming to return to the top flight after relegation the previous season, finished one point behind Watford 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 Birmingham City 46 24 10 12 88 67 +21 82
5 Watford 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
Bolton Wanderers1–0Ipswich Town
Johansen 84'
Attendance: 18,295
Referee: Mark Halsey

Watford1–0Birmingham City
Ngonge 5'
Attendance: 18,535
Referee: Clive Wilkes
Second leg
Ipswich Town4–3 (a.e.t.)Bolton Wanderers
Holland 14', 116'
Dyer 52', 90'
Taylor 51', 96'
Frandsen 84'
Attendance: 21,755
Referee: John Kirkby

Ipswich Town 4–4 Bolton Wanderers on aggregate. Bolton Wanderers won on away goals.


Birmingham City 1–1 Watford on aggregate. Watford won 7–6 on penalties.

Final

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Bolton Wanderers0–2Watford
Report Wright 38'
Smart 89'
Attendance: 70,343
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Second Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
3 Manchester City 46 22 16 8 69 33 +36 82
4 Gillingham 46 22 14 10 75 44 +31 80
5 Preston North End 46 22 13 11 78 50 +28 79
6 Wigan Athletic 46 22 10 14 75 48 +27 76

Semi-finals

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First leg
Wigan Athletic1–1Manchester City
Barlow 1' Dickov 76'
Attendance: 6,762
Referee: Alan Wiley

Preston North End1–1Gillingham
Eyres 54' Taylor 79'
Attendance: 18,584
Referee: John Kirkby
Second leg
Gillingham1–0Preston North End
Hessenthaler 2'
Attendance: 10,105
Referee: Mark Halsey

Gillingham won 2–1 on aggregate.


Manchester City1–0Wigan Athletic
Goater 27'
Attendance: 31,305
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Manchester City won 2–1 on aggregate.

Final

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Third Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4 Scunthorpe United 46 22 8 16 69 58 +11 74
5 Rotherham United 46 20 13 13 79 61 +18 73
6 Leyton Orient 46 19 15 12 68 59 0+9 72
7 Swansea City 46 19 14 13 56 48 0+8 71

Semi-finals

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First leg
Leyton Orient0–0Rotherham United
Attendance: 9,419
Referee: Terry Heilbron

Swansea City1–0Scunthorpe United
Bound 44'
Attendance: 7,828
Referee: David Pugh
Second leg

Rotherham United 0–0 Leyton Orient on aggregate. Leyton Orient won 4–2 on penalties.


Scunthorpe United3–1 (a.e.t.)Swansea City
Dawson 2'
Sheldon 92', 102'
Bird 98'
Attendance: 7,089
Referee: Alan Wiley

Scunthorpe United won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

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Leyton Orient0–1Scunthorpe United
Report Calvo García 6'
Attendance: 36,985
Referee: Clive Wilkes
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