1997 Football League Third Division play-off final
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Date | 24 May 1997 | ||||||
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Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
Referee | Terry Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe) | ||||||
Attendance | 46,804 | ||||||
The 1997 Football League Third Division play-off Final was an
The match, refereed by Terry Heilbron, was played in front of 46,804 supporters. In a goalless first half, Carl Heggs came close to scoring with a volley which Andy Woodman, the Northampton Town goalkeeper, saved. Late in the second half, Northampton Town were awarded a free kick which John Frain struck against the Swansea wall, but the referee ordered it be re-taken. On the second attempt, Frain scored to give his side a 1–0 victory and promotion to the Second Division.
In their next season, Northampton Town finished in fourth place in the Second Division to qualify for the play-offs. There, they lost 1–0 to Grimsby Town in the 1998 Football League Second Division play-off final. Swansea City ended their following season in 21st position in the Third Division.
Route to the final
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
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1 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 84 | 51 | +33 | 87 |
2 | Fulham | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 72 | 38 | +34 | 87 |
3 | Carlisle United | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 67 | 44 | +23 | 84 |
4 | Northampton Town | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 67 | 44 | +23 | 72 |
5 | Swansea City | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 71 |
6 | Chester City | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 70 |
7 | Cardiff City | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 69 |
Northampton Town finished the regular 1996–97 season in fourth position in the Football League Third Division, the fourth tier of the English football league system, one place and one point ahead of Swansea City. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to the Second Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Northampton Town finished twelve points behind Carlisle United (who were promoted in third place), and fifteen behind second-placed Fulham and league winners Wigan Athletic (who had superior goal difference to Fulham).[1]
In their play-off semi-final, Northampton Town faced
Swansea City's opposition in their play-off semi-final was
Match
Background
This was Swansea City's second appearance in a play-off final, having won the
In the two matches between the sides during the regular season, Swansea City won both: a 1–0 victory at Vetch Field in November 1996 was followed by a 2–1 win at Sixfields the following February.[13] Dave Penney was Swansea City's top scorer during the regular season with 13 goals (all in the league).[14] Northampton Town's leading scorer was Neil Grayson who had scored 12 league goals during the season.[15] The referee for the match was Terry Heilbron from Newton Aycliffe.[16]
Summary
The match kicked off around 3 p.m. on 24 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 46,804.[17] Five minutes into the match, a volley from Swansea's Heggs was tipped over the crossbar by Andy Woodman, the Northampton Town goalkeeper.[18] In the 25th minute, Jan Mølby conceded possession to Swansea's Grayson who passed to Parrish, but Christian Edwards blocked his shot. Early in the second half, John Frain crossed for Christian Lee but his header was off-target.[19] Later in the half, Frain crossed for Gayle whose header just clipped the Swansea crossbar. Soon after, Northampton Town were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Swansea penalty area. Frain struck the ball into the wall but the referee adjudged that the defenders had encroached and ordered the free kick be retaken. On the second attempt, and in second-half stoppage time, Frain's shot found its way into the back of the Swansea goal, giving Northampton a 1–0 lead which they held onto for the last seconds to secure victory and promotion to the Second Division.[18]
Details
Northampton Town
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Swansea City
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Post-match
Swansea City's
In their next season, Northampton Town finished in fourth place in the Second Division to qualify for the play-offs. There, they lost 1–0 to Grimsby Town in the 1998 Football League Second Division play-off final.[22] Mølby was dismissed from his position the following October with his side fifth from bottom.[23] Micky Adams replaced Mølby temporarily and two weeks later Alan Cork was appointed as the full-time manager:[24] he led Swansea to 21st position in the Third Division that season.[25]
References
- ^ a b "League Division Three end of season table for 1996–97 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 31 August 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Cardiff City v Northampton Town, 11 May 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Northampton Town v Cardiff City, 14 May 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Cobblers to meet Swansea". The Independent. 15 May 1997. p. 29. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "Chester City v Swansea City, 11 May 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Swansea City v Chester City, 14 May 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Swansea battle for return ticket". The Times. 15 May 1997. p. 42. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "Swansea City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ Gwilym, Andrew (8 March 2018). "The story of Swansea City's 1994 Wembley triumph and why they were booed off just two days after winning the cup". Wales Online. Media Wales. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Northampton Town". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Club history". Northampton Town F.C. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Swansea City football club: record v Northampton Town". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Swansea squad details – 1996/97 – Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Northampton squad details – 1996/97 – Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Northampton Town v Swansea City, 24 May 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Northampton sing a joyous refrain". The Independent. 26 May 1997. p. S6. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021 – via Gale.
- .
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Connolly, Kevin (25 May 1997). "Frain's stirring finale gives Cobblers a lift". The Sunday Times. p. 2. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "League Division 2 end of season table for 1997–98 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ Duxbury, Nick (8 October 1997). "Football: Sacked Molby's parting shot". The Independent. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Classic seasons: 1998–99". Swansea City A.F.C. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "League Division 3 end of season table for 1997–98 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2021.