1998 Football League Second Division play-off final

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1998 Football League Second Division play-off Final
Wembley Stadium
The final took place at Wembley Stadium.
Grimsby Town Northampton Town
1 0
Date24 May 1998
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeTerry Heilbron
Attendance62,988
← 1997
1999 →

The 1998 Football League Second Division play-off Final was an

1998–99 season in the First Division. The losing semi-finalists were Bristol Rovers and Fulham
who had been defeated by Northampton and Grimsby respectively.

The match was refereed by Terry Heilbron in front of a crowd of 62,988 spectators (44,250 of which were Northampton, a modern-day record at the time). After twenty minutes, Grimsby took the lead through Kevin Donovan who dribbled round the Northampton goalkeeper Andy Woodman, and struck the ball into the goal. In the second half, Jack Lester was fouled in the Northampton penalty area to win a penalty kick. Donovan's spot kick was saved by Woodman to keep the game at 1–0, which remained the score at the final whistle, to see Grimsby promoted to the First Division after a single season's absence.

Grimsby's next season finished with them in eleventh position in the First Division. Northampton ended their following season in 22nd place in the Second Division and were relegated to the Third Division for the 1999–2000 season.

Route to the final

Main article: 1997–98 Football League § Second Division
Football League Second Division final table, leading positions[1]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Watford 46 24 16 6 67 41 +26 88
2 Bristol City 46 25 10 11 69 39 +30 85
3 Grimsby Town 46 19 15 12 55 37 +18 72
4 Northampton Town 46 18 17 11 52 37 +15 71
5 Bristol Rovers 46 20 10 16 70 64 +6 70
6 Fulham 46 20 10 16 60 43 +17 70

1997–98 season in third position in the Second Division, the third tier of the English football league system, one place and one point ahead of Northampton Town. Both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the First Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Grimsby finished thirteen points behind Bristol City (who were promoted in second place) and sixteen behind league winners Watford.[1]

Northampton's opponents for their play-off semi-final were

on aggregate. Bristol Rovers then pressed to regain the lead but Ray Warburton headed in James Hunt's corner to give Northampton a 3–0 lead in the match and a 4–3 aggregate victory to progress to the final.[4]

Grimsby faced Fulham in their semi-final with the first leg being held at Craven Cottage in London on 9 May 1998. Fulham dominated the first half, but five minutes before half-time, they were reduced to ten men when Paul Moody was shown a straight red card for a foul on Mark Lever. While Grimsby were making a substitution to replace the injured Lever, Paul Peschisolido was fouled in the penalty area and Peter Beardsley converted the subsequent penalty to make it 1–0 to Fulham. A mistake eight minutes into the second half from Wayne Collins allowed David Smith to equalise for Grimsby. No further goals were scored and the match ended 1–1.[5] The second leg took place at Blundell Park near Grimsby four days later.[6] After thirty minutes, Fulham were once again down to ten players after Peschisolido was sent off for a foul on Peter Handyside. The first half ended goalless, but with less than ten minutes of the game remaining, Kevin Donovan scored past Maik Taylor to give Grimsby a 1–0 victory and a 2–1 aggregate win.[7]

Match

Background

This was Northampton Town's second appearance in a play-off final, having been promoted the previous season with a 1–0 victory against

final of the Football League Trophy.[10][11]

In the matches between the sides during the regular season, both teams won their home games, with Grimsby winning 1–0 at Blundell Park in October 1997 and Northampton securing a 2–1 victory the following February at Sixfields.[12] The top scorer for Grimsby during the regular season was Donovan with 19 goals (16 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup, 1 in the League Cup and 1 in the Football League Trophy) followed by Lee Nogan with 13 (8 in the league, 2 in the FA Cup, 1 in the League Cup and 2 in the Football League Trophy).[13] David Seal led the scoring for Northampton with 14 goals during the season (12 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup) followed by Chris Freestone with 13 (11 in the league and 2 in the Football League Trophy).[14]

The referee for the match, which was broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports, was Terry Heilbron.[15][16] According to the BBC, Grimsby were favourites to gain promotion.[17] Grimsby played in a 4–4–2 formation while Northampton adopted 3–5–2.[18] Roy Hunter and Sean Parrish were long-term injuries for Northampton but otherwise, their manager Ian Atkins had a full-strength squad.[17]

Summary

The match kicked off around 3 p.m. on 24 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 62,988.[15] After twenty minutes, Grimsby took the lead through Donovan: he received a pass from Wayne Burnett, dribbled round the Northampton goalkeeper Andy Woodman, and struck the ball into the goal. Three minutes later, Jack Lester's shot went wide of the Northampton goal. Freestone's missed chance was Northampton's best opportunity to score of the half.[19] According to Trevor Haylett, writing in The Guardian, Donovan's goal was "the only highlight of a dreadfully dull first half."[20] Northampton started the second half the stronger of the teams missing two chances in as many minutes.[19] Soon after the hour mark, Donovan misjudged a backpass and Freestone took possession of the ball before rounding Aidan Davison, the Grimsby goalkeeper, but missed from a tight angle.[20] In the 78th minute, Lester was fouled in the Northampton penalty area to win a penalty. Donovan's spot kick was saved by Woodman to keep the game at 1–0.[19] Five minute later, Paul Groves hit the Northampton crossbar but with no change the score, the match ended 1–0 and Grimsby were promoted to the First Division after a single season's absence.[19][20]

Details

Grimsby Town1–0Northampton Town
Donovan 20' Report
Attendance: 62,988
Referee: Terry Heilbron
GK Aidan Davison
DF John McDermott
DF Tony Gallimore Yellow card
DF Mark Lever
DF Peter Handyside
MF Wayne Burnett
MF Paul Groves
MF Kevin Donovan
MF David Smith downward-facing red arrow 66'
FW Jack Lester
FW Lee Nogan downward-facing red arrow 60'
Substitutes:
MF Kevin Jobling
MF Kingsley Black upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW Steve Livingstone upward-facing green arrow 60'
Manager:
Alan Buckley
GK Andy Woodman
DF Ian Clarkson
DF John Frain Yellow card
DF Colin Hill downward-facing red arrow 60'
DF Ian Sampson
DF Ray Warburton
MF Dean Peer
MF James Hunt
FW John Gayle downward-facing red arrow 56'
FW Chris Freestone
FW Carl Heggs
Substitutes:
MF Jason Dozzell
MF Ali Gibb upward-facing green arrow 60'
FW David Seal upward-facing green arrow 56'
Manager:
Ian Atkins

Post-match

Despite the victory, Alan Buckley, the Grimsby manager, was not an aficionado of the post-season decider, saying "Anybody who says they enjoy play-offs aren't football managers."[19] The Northampton manager Atkins said he believed that some of the match's pivotal decisions had not favoured his side: "If you get a decision against you in these games it can kill you."[19]

Grimsby's next season finished with them in eleventh position in the First Division.[21] Northampton ended their following season in 22nd place in the Second Division and were relegated to the Third Division for the 1999–2000 season.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "League One – 1997/1998 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town, 10 May 1998". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  3. ^ Staniforth, Tommy (10 May 1998). "Football: Rovers looking good for progress". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ Fox, Norman (13 May 1998). "Football: Warburton wins the cheers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. ^ Jones, Ken (10 May 1998). "Football: Keegan remains in buoyant mood". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Grimsby Town v Fulham, 13 May 1998". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  7. ^ Andrews, Phil (13 May 1998). "Football: Donovan foils the grand plan of Fulham". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Northampton Town". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Grimsby Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  10. ^ Douglas, James (22 March 2013). "The First Time - Grimsby 2 Bournemouth 1". Grimsby Town F.C. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  11. ^ "AFC Bournemouth v Grimsby Town, 19 April 1998". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Northampton Town football club: record v Grimsby Town". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Grimsby squad details – 1997/98 – Player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Northampton squad details – 1997/98 – Player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Grimsby Town v Northampton Town, 24 May 1998". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Football fare". The Observer. 24 May 1998. p. 15. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021 – via Gale.
  17. ^ a b "Cobblers to the Mariners". BBC News. 22 May 1998. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  18. ^ Glanville, Brian (25 May 1998). "Grimsby party to Donovan's hit single". The Times. p. 30. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021 – via Gale.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Grimsby bounce back to Division 1". BBC News. 24 May 1998. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  20. ^
    Newspapers.com
    .
  21. ^ "Championship – 1998/1999 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  22. ^ "League Two – 1998/1999 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
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