The Football League

The Football League (often referred to as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons) is a league competition for English football (soccer) clubs (though a few Welsh clubs also take part) containing three divisions (the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League Two) that occupy the second, third and fourth levels of the English football league system (below the FA Premier League, but above the Football Conference). In addition to the main competition, the League also organises two knockout cup competitions, the Football League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

The Play-Offs

The Football League Play-Offs are used as a means of determining the final promotion place from each of the league's three divisions. This is a way of keeping some excitement for clubs at the end of the season. The format was first introduced in 1987; initially, this was over two legs between the team finishing third from bottom in one division against the team finishing third in the division below. In 1990, this was changed - instead of teams from different divisions playing each other, the four teams below the automatic promotion places would contest two semi-finals, played over two legs. The winners of these ties would then play each other in a one-off final (usually at Wembley) for the last promotion place. It is in this format that the play-offs continue today.

Related Topics:
1987 - 1990 - Wembley

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Controversy

For all the excitement they generate, the play-off concept causes significant controversy, due to the lottery of having to play a two legged semi-final, then a one-off final. This is especially the case for the team that finishes third in the table, who will have invariably been many points ahead of the chasing pack, and often pushing for automatic promotion, only to then lose out in the play-offs. It is all the worse for those in the division below the FA Premier League given the amounts of money involved in gaining promotion; the Football League Championship play-off final has often been called "the richest game of football in the world" due to the money on offer through gaining promotion.

Related Topics:
FA Premier League - Football League Championship

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Play-Off Winners

1: Due to financial irregularities, Swindon were prevented from taking their place in the top division, which was awarded to the losing finalists, Sunderland.

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