| Season | 2007–08 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Hull City (Championship) Doncaster Rovers (League One) Stockport County (League Two) |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 40 (2.67 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Doncaster 5–1 Southend (League One) |
| Biggest away win | Watford 0–2 Hull City (Championship) Carlisle United 0–2 Leeds (League One) |
| Highest scoring | Doncaster 5–1 Southend (6 goals) |
| Highest attendance | 86,703 – Bristol City v Hull (Championship final) |
| Lowest attendance | 6,371 – Wycombe Wanderers v Stockport (League Two semi-final) |
| Average attendance | 25,469 |
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← 2007
2009 →
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The Football League play-offs for the 2007–08 season were held in May 2008, with the finals taking place at Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League Championship and League One tables, and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in League Two. The semi-final winners progressed to the finals, with the winner of each match earning promotion for the following season.
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 League One final, another 1–0 victory saw Doncaster Rovers promoted ahead of Leeds United. Stockport County defeated Rochdale 3–;2 in the League Two final. This meant all three clubs who had finished immediately below the automatic promotion places in their divisions were promoted.
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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.
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hull City | 46 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 75 |
| 4 | Bristol City | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 74 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 58 | 42 | +16 | 71 |
| 6 | Watford | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 62 | 56 | +6 | 70 |
| 10 May 2008 12:15 |
Crystal Palace | 1 – 2 | Bristol City | Selhurst Park, London Attendance: 22,869 Referee: Mike Jones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watson 87' (pen.) | Report | Carey 53' Noble 90' |
| 11 May 2008 12:00 |
Watford | 0 – 2 | Hull City | Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 14,713 Referee: Kevin Friend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Barmby 8' Windass 23' |
| 13 May 2008 19:45 |
Bristol City | 2 – 1 (a.e.t.) |
Crystal Palace | Ashton Gate, Bristol Attendance: 18,842 Referee: Howard Webb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trundle 104' McIndoe 110' |
Report | Watson 24' |
Bristol City won 4–2 on aggregate.
| 14 May 2008 19:45 |
Hull City | 4 – 1 | Watford | KC Stadium, Hull Attendance: 23,155 Referee: Mark Clattenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barmby 43' Folan 70' Garcia 88' Doyle 90' |
Report | Henderson 12' |
Hull City won 6–1 on aggregate.
| 24 May 2008 15:00 |
Bristol City | 0 – 1 | Hull City | Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 86,703 Referee: Alan Wiley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Windass 38' |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 83 | 47 | +24 | 80 |
| 4 | Carlisle United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 80 |
| 5 | Leeds United | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 72 | 38 | +34 | 76* |
| 6 | Southend United | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 70 | 55 | +15 | 76 |
| 9 May 2008 19:45 |
Southend United | 0 – 0 | Doncaster Rovers | Roots Hall, Southend Attendance: 9,109 Referee: Paul Taylor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report |
| 12 May 2008 19:45 |
Leeds United | 1 – 2 | Carlisle United | Elland Road, Leeds Attendance: 36,297 Referee: Anthony Bates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedman 90' | Report | Graham 32' Bridge-Wilkinson 50' |
| 15 May 2008 19:45 |
Carlisle United | 0 – 2 | Leeds United | Brunton Park, Carlisle Attendance: 12,873 Referee: Alan Wiley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Howson 10', 90' |
Leeds United won 3–2 on aggregate.
| 16 May 2008 19:45 |
Doncaster Rovers | 5 – 1 | Southend United | Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Attendance: 13,081 Referee: Mark Halsey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock 11' (pen.) Barrett 21' (o.g.) Coppinger 39', 52', 80' |
Report | Bailey 88' |
Doncaster Rovers won 5–1 on aggregate.
| 25 May 2008 15:00 |
Doncaster Rovers | 1 – 0 | Leeds United | Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 75,132 Referee: Andy D'Urso |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayter 48' | Report |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Stockport County | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 82 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 54 | +23 | 80 |
| 6 | Darlington | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 78 |
| 7 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 56 | 42 | +14 | 78 |
| 10 May 2008 17:35 |
Darlington | 2 – 1 | Rochdale | Darlington Arena, Darlington Attendance: 8,057 Referee: Paul Armstrong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy 28' Miller 90' |
Report | Dagnall 70' |
| 11 May 2008 18:00 |
Wycombe Wanderers | 1 – 1 | Stockport County | Adams Park, High Wycombe Attendance: 6,371 Referee: Darren Deadman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facey 37' | Report | Gleeson 82' |
| 17 May 2008 18:00 |
Stockport County | 1 – 0 | Wycombe Wanderers | Edgeley Park, Stockport Attendance: 9,245 Referee: Andy D'Urso |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson 7' | Report |
Stockport County won 2–1 on aggregate.
| 17 May 2008 12:00 |
Rochdale | 2 – 1 (a.e.t.) |
Darlington | Spotland, Rochdale Attendance: 9,870 Referee: Richard Beeby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dagnall 43' Perkins 78' |
Report | Keltie 28' (pen.) | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| Dagnall Kennedy Le Fondre Jones Muirhead |
5 – 4 | Guylain Purdie Wainwright Ravenhill Kennedy |
Rochdale 3-3 Darlington on aggregate. Rochdale won 5–4 on penalties.
| 26 May 2008 15:00 |
Stockport County | 3 – 2 | Rochdale | Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 35,715 Referee: Stuart Attwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanton 34' (o.g.) Pilkington 49' Dickinson 67' |
Report | McArdle 24' Rundle 77' |
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