2008 Football League play-offs

The

Hull City won promotion to the Premier League after defeating Bristol City in the Championship final, 1–0 with a goal from their leading scorer Dean Windass. This marked the Tigers' first entry to the top division of English football in their existence.

In

The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each of the three Football League divisions following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places.

In the Championship, Hull City finished four points behind second-placed Stoke City, who were promoted with champions West Bromwich Albion. Bristol City - who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1980 - finished in fourth place in their first season at Championship level for nine years. The other entrants, Crystal Palace and Watford, had both played in the Premier League before, with Palace's last spell in the top division ending in a final day relegation in 2005, a year after having won the play-offs. Watford had been relegated from the top flight in the previous season, having finished bottom, and were looking to return at the first attempt.

First leg

10 May 2008

12:15

Crystal Palace	1–2	Bristol City
Watson 87' (pen. )	Report	Noble 90+2'

Selhurst Park, London

Attendance: 22,869

Referee: Mike Jones

11 May 2008

12:00

Watford	0–2	Hull City
	Report	Barmby 8' Windass 23'

Vicarage Road, Watford

Attendance: 14,713

Referee: Kevin Friend

Second leg

13 May 2008

19:45

Bristol City	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Crystal Palace
Trundle 104' McIndoe 110'	Report	Watson 24'

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Attendance: 18,842

Referee: Howard Webb

14 May 2008

19:45

Hull City	4–1	Watford
Barmby 43' Folan 70' Garcia 88' Doyle 90'	Report	Henderson 12'

KC Stadium, Hull

Attendance: 23,155

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

24 May 2008

15:00

Bristol City	0–1	Hull City
	Report	Windass 38'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 86,703

Referee: Alan Wiley

• Leeds United were docked 15 points by the
  Football League due to the club not following Football League rules on clubs entering administration.^[1][2]

12 May 2008

19:45

Leeds United	1–2	Carlisle United
Freedman 90'	Report	Graham 32' Bridge-Wilkinson 50'

Elland Road, Leeds

Attendance: 36,297

Referee: Anthony Bates

Second leg

15 May 2008

19:45

Leeds United
	Report	Howson 10', 90'

Carlisle

Attendance: 12,873

Referee: Alan Wiley

16 May 2008

19:45

Doncaster Rovers	5–1	Southend United
Stock 11' (pen.) Barrett 21' (o.g.) Coppinger 39', 52', 80'	Report	Bailey 88'

Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster

Attendance: 13,081

Referee: Mark Halsey

25 May 2008

15:00

Leeds United
Hayter 48'	Report

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 75,132

Referee: Andy D'Urso

First leg

10 May 2008

17:35

Darlington	2–1	Rochdale
Miller 90'	Report	Dagnall 70'

Darlington Arena, Darlington

Attendance: 8,057

Referee: Paul Armstrong

11 May 2008

18:00

Wycombe Wanderers	1–1	Stockport County
Facey 37'	Report	Gleeson 82'

Adams Park, High Wycombe

Attendance: 6,371

Referee: Darren Deadman

Second leg

17 May 2008

12:00

Rochdale	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Darlington
Dagnall 43' Perkins 78'	Report	Keltie 28' (pen.)
Penalties
Jones Muirhead	5–4	Guylain Purdie Wainwright Ravenhill Kennedy

Spotland, Rochdale

Attendance: 9,870

Referee: Richard Beeby

Rochdale 3–3 Darlington on aggregate. Rochdale won 5–4 on penalties.

17 May 2008

18:00

Stockport County	1–0	Wycombe Wanderers
Dickinson 7'	Report

Edgeley Park, Stockport

Attendance: 9,245

Referee: Andy D'Urso

Stockport County won 2–1 on aggregate.

26 May 2008

15:00

Rochdale	2–3	Stockport County
McArdle 24' Rundle 77'	Report	Stanton 34' (o.g.) Pilkington 49' Dickinson 67'

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance: 35,715

Referee: Stuart Attwell

• Football League website