2001 Football League play-offs
| Season | 2000–01 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bolton Wanderers (First Division) Walsall (Second Division) Blackpool (Third Division) |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 43 (2.87 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Bolton 3–0 WBA (First Division) |
| Biggest away win | Hartlepool 1–3 Blackpool (Third Division) |
| Highest scoring | Walsall 4–2 Stoke Blackpool 4–2 Leyton Orient (6 goals) |
| Highest attendance | 54,328 – Bolton v Preston (First Division final) |
| Lowest attendance | 5,720 – Blackpool v Hartlepool (Third Division semi-final) |
| Average attendance | 21,183 |
← 2000 → | |
The
Background
The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.
In the First Division, Bolton Wanderers, who are aiming to return to the top flight after nearly 3 seasons outside the top flight, finished 4 points behind second placed Blackburn Rovers, who in turn finished 10 points behind champions Fulham, who returned to the top flight for the first time since 1968. Preston North End who are aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1961, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 15 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. West Bromwich Albion, who are also aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1986, finished 4 points behind Birmingham City and Preston North End in sixth place.
First Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 76 | 45 | +31 | 87 |
| 4 | Preston North End | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 64 | 52 | +12 | 78 |
| 5 | Birmingham City | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 78 |
| 6 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 60 | 52 | +8 | 74 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–2 | Bolton Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
Roberts  44'Hughes 55' (pen.) |
Report | Bergsson 81' Frandsen 88' (pen.) |
- Second leg
| Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | West Bromwich Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Bergsson 10' Ricketts 63'Gardner 90' |
Report |
Bolton Wanderers won 5–2 on aggregate.
| Preston North End | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Birmingham City |
|---|---|---|
| Healy 24' Rankine 90' |
Report | Horsfield 59' |
| Penalties | ||
 |
4–2 |  |
Preston North End 2–2 Birmingham City on aggregate. Preston North End won 4–2 on penalties.
Final
| Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | Preston North End |
|---|---|---|
| Farrelly 17' Ricketts 89'Gardner 90' |
Report |
Second Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Reading | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 86 | 52 | +34 | 86 |
| 4 | Walsall | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 79 | 50 | +29 | 81 |
| 5 | Stoke City | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 74 | 49 | +25 | 77 |
| 6 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 19 | 18 | 9 | 60 | 52 | +8 | 75 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
| Stoke City | 0–0 | Walsall |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
- Second leg
| Reading | 2–1 | Wigan Athletic |
|---|---|---|
| Butler 86' Forster 90' |
Report | Nicholls 26' |
Reading won 2–1 on aggregate.
Walsall won 4–2 on aggregate.
Final
Third Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 71 | 54 | +17 | 77 |
| 5 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 75 |
| 6 | Hull City | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 74 |
| 7 | Blackpool | 46 | 22 | 6 | 18 | 74 | 58 | +16 | 72 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
| Blackpool | 2–0 | Hartlepool United |
|---|---|---|
| Ormerod 61', 78' |
Report |
| Hull City | 1–0 | Leyton Orient |
|---|---|---|
| Eyre 69' |
Report |
- Second leg
| Hartlepool United | 1–3 | Blackpool |
|---|---|---|
| Henderson 48' |
Report | Ormerod 21', 68' Hills 50' |
Blackpool won 5–1 on aggregate.
| Leyton Orient | 2–0 | Hull City |
|---|---|---|
Lockwood 70' |
Report |
Leyton Orient won 2–1 on aggregate.