The inaugral play-off campaigns involved four sides vying for promotion and one trying to stave off relegation. Charlton Athletic managed to retain their top-flight place whilst relegation beckoned for Sunderland (from Division Two) and Bolton Wanderers (from Division Three) with Swindon Town (to Division Two) and Aldershot (to Division Three) celebrating promotion.
Ironically the Shrimpers, who had not featured in the play-offs until this season, missed out on the Fourth Division play-offs by just one point, clinching automatic promotion ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Relegation play-offs lasted just two season’s, as originally planned, with United luckily missing out in 1987-88 by three points, with Rotherham United losing out to Swansea City and finding themselves demoted to the basement Division.
However, the concept of an exciting finale to the football season gripped supporters and the concept of play-offs has remained since and although not involving the top league, saw sides from the second, third and fourth tier of the League battling it out each May for a coverted promotion place.
Play-off finals were initially played over two legs – home and away – but were shifted to Wembley Stadium when the relegation issues were disbanded, and as a result reaching a final became a highly prestigious event, especially for sides from the lower leagues.
Of course, with the closure of the famous old Stadium they were shifted to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 2001, however all three finals are set to take place beneath the Arch in 2006.
THE PLAY-OFF WINNERS
1986-87
Charlton Athletic – remained in First Division
Swindon Town – promoted to Second Division
(Sunderland relegated to Third Division)
Aldershot – promoted to Third Division
(Bolton Wanderers relegated to Fourth Division)
1987-88
Middlesbrough – promoted to First Division
(Chelsea relegated to Second Division)
Walsall – promoted to Second Division
(Sheffield United relegated to Third Division)
Swansea City – promoted to Third Division
1988-89 – all finals moved to Wembley Stadium
Crystal Palace – promoted to First Division
Port Vale – promoted to Second Division
Leyton Orient – promoted to Third Division
1989-90
Sunderland – promoted to First Division*
Notts County – promoted to Second Division
Cambridge United – promoted to Third Division
1990-91
Notts County – promoted to First Division
Tranmere Rovers – promoted to Second Division
Torquay United – promoted to Third Division
1991-92
Blackburn Rovers – promoted to First Division (Premier League)
Peterborough United – promoted to Second Division (new First Division)
Blackpool – promoted to Third Division (new Second Division)
FA Premier League inaugurated for 1992-93 season
1992-92
Swindon Town – promoted to Premier League
West Bromwich Albion – promoted to First Division
York City – promoted to Second Division
1993-94
Leicester City – promoted to Premier League
Burnley – promoted to First Division
Wycombe Wanderers – promoted to Second Division
1994-95
Bolton Wanderers – promoted to Premier League
Huddersfield Town – promoted to First Division
Chesterfield – promoted to Second Division
1995-96
Leicester City – promoted to Premier League
Bradford City – promoted to First Division
Plymouth Argyle – promoted to Second Division
1996-97
Crystal Palace – promoted to Premier League
Crewe Alexandra – promoted to First Division
Northampton Town – promoted to Second Division
1997-98
Charlton Athletic – promoted to Premier League
Grimsby Town – promoted to First Division
Colchester United – promoted to Second Division
1998-99
Watford – promoted to Premier League
Manchester City – promoted to First Division
Scunthorpe United – promoted to Second Division
1999-00
Ipswich Town – promoted to Premier League
Gillingham – promoted to First Division
Peterborough United – promoted to Second Division
2000-01 – all finals moved to Millennium Stadium
Bolton Wanderers – promoted to Premier League
Walsall – promoted to First Division
Blackpool – promoted to Second Division
2001-02
Birmingham City – promoted to Premier League
Stoke City – promoted to First Division
Cheltenham Town – promoted to Second Division
2002-03
Wolverhampton Wanderers – promoted to Premier League
Cardiff City – promoted to First Division
AFC Bournemouth – promoted to Second Division
2003-04
Crystal Palace – promoted to Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion – promoted to First Division
Huddersfield Town – promoted to Second Division
*Sunderland lost final, but were awarded promotion after victors Swindon Town were found guilty of financial irregularities. Swindon were relegated to Division Three before retaining Division Two status upon appeal.