Today, we’ll be concluding our trio of articles on the Championship Play-Offs here on Nostalgia Trip. We’ve already looked at a couple of the classic finals as well as the history behind the end of season tournament, and today we’ll look at a few more of the classic Play-Off finals.
Leeds United 0-3 Watford – 2006
Leeds United were one of the biggest teams in English football. As recently as 2001, they had been playing in the UEFA Champions League, even reaching the semi-finals before being eliminated by Valencia. However, financial mismanagement lead to the sales of many of their star players, and in 2004, Leeds were relegated to the Championship. After a mid table finish in their first season in the second tier, they found themselves in the Play-Offs in their second year and with the chance of a swift return to the top flight. After knocking out Preston in the semi-finals, they found themselves up against Watford, who were looking for their second Play-Off win having beaten Bolton in the final in 1999.
Leeds fell behind in the first half thanks to a header from within the 6 yard box by centre back Jay DeMerit after he escaped his marker, following a wonderful corner by Ashley Young. The advantage was doubled in the second half when a long throw was flicked on by Malky Mackay to James Chambers, whose effort took a large deflection, hit the post and then bounced in off the arm of Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan for an own goal.
Darius Henderson ensured Watford’s return to the top flight with a penalty after Marlon King was brought down.
Watford were relegated again from the top flight the following year, but returned to the Premier League in 2015, and have since established themselves in the top flight. Leeds, meanwhile, saw themselves relegated to League One just a year later, the first time they’d ever been in the third tier. Despite having since returned to the Championship, Leeds have never again made the Play-Offs and still haven’t returned to the Premier League.
Blackpool 3-2 Cardiff City – 2010
Neither side had ever been in the Premier League, both had spent decades outside the top flight, and both had recently been as low as the fourth tier. But the Play-Off Final between Blackpool and Cardiff would mean that one of those teams would be able to put that history behind them and get to play against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Blackpool snuck into the Play-Offs on the final day of the season before dispatching of Nottingham Forest in the semi-final. Cardiff, meanwhile, needed penalties to eliminate Leicester.
Cardiff started the brightest with Michael Chopra hitting the bar before scoring minutes later, but Cardiff’s lead would not last long before Charlie Adam equalised with a free kick. Then, in the moments before half-time the game dramatically burst into life.
First, Joe Ledley was played through to put Cardiff back in front, but once again Cardiff could only hold on to the lead for 4 minutes before Gary Taylor-Fletcher made it 2-2. In first half injury time, DJ Campbell on the edge of the box just about managed to squeeze the ball through to Brett Ormerod to fire in what would turn out to be the winning goal.
The second half still help plenty of excitement but Blackpool managed to hold on to return to the top flight of English football for the first time since 1971. Cardiff would have to wait until 2013 for their chance to play in the Premier League.
By Nathan Williamson
Nostalgia Trip 
Leave a comment