‘The longest cup competition in the world’: 40 years of the Football League play-offs | OneFootball

Four decades on, the Football League play-offs have grown from a divisive experiment into an anxiety-soaked national institution.

According to NY Times, the format now defines the domestic run-in. In all, 105 clubs have featured, Blackpool hold a record six promotions and Sheffield United have failed a record 10 times. Fifteen finals have gone to penalties, Huddersfield Town winning three, and this weekend unfolds amid the Spygate row that saw Southampton sensationally kicked out of the £200million Championship final.

Originally, the fourth-bottom top-flight club faced teams finishing third to fifth below. In 1987 Leeds United survived Oldham Athletic, Keith Edwards scoring in the 90th minute at Elland Road and again in stoppage time away before edging through on away goals after extra time.

A two-legged final with Charlton stayed level, so a replay at St Andrew’s followed. John Sheridan’s extra-time free kick put Leeds ahead, then Peter Shirtliff scored twice to keep Charlton up.

Oldham’s Joe Royle called it “the longest Cup competition in the world”, and Swindon’s Lou Macari wanted it scrapped even after a 2-0 replay win over Gillingham. Reforms in 1989 and 1990 ushered in Wembley finals. Swindon’s 1990 promotion was stripped for 36 rule breaches, reduced on appeal, with Sunderland promoted.

In 1999, Manchester City stunned Gillingham, Kevin Horlock on 90 and Paul Dickov on 95 forcing penalties after Carl Asaba and Robert Taylor had made it 2-0.

Dean Windass’s 2008 volley took Hull City up, and his son Josh delivered Sheffield Wednesday’s 2023 winner. The pantheon also includes Sasa Ilic, David Hopkin and Troy Deeney. Who joins them this weekend?

Source: NY Times