1987 Football League play-offs


The Football League play-offs for the 1986–87 season were held in May 1987, with the two-legged finals taking place at the finalists home stadiums. The play-off semi-finals were also played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th and 5th place in the Football League Second Division and Football League Third Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th placed teams in the Football League Fourth Division table, along with a team from the league above. The winners of the semi-finals progressed through to the finals, with the winner of these matches either gaining promotion or avoiding relegation for the following season.

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. For the first three seasons the final was played over two legs but this was changed to a single match at Wembley Stadium from 1990. Additionally, for the 1986–87 and 1987-88 play-offs the semi-finals included a team from the next league who had finished above the relegation positions up, e.g. one team from the first tier and three teams from the second tier. The team from the higher division would be relegated if they failed to win the play-offs, with the play-off winner being promoted in their place.

Second Division

;First Division relegation places:
Team
19Charlton Athletic421111204555–1044
20Leicester City42119225476–2242
21Manchester City42815193657–2139
22Aston Villa42812224579–3436

;Second Division play-off places:
Team
3Oldham Athletic42229116544+2175
4Leeds United421911125844+1468
5Ipswich Town421713125943+1664

Semi-finals

;First leg
----
;Second leg
Charlton Athletic won 2–1 on aggregate.
----
Oldham Athletic 2–2 Leeds United on aggregate. Leeds United won on away goals.

Final

;First leg
;Second leg
Leeds United 1–1 Charlton Athletic on aggregate.
;Replay

Third Division

;Second Division relegation places:
Team
20Sunderland421212184959–1048
21Grimsby Town421014183959–2044
22Brighton & Hove Albion42912213754–1739

;Third Division play-off places:
Team
3Swindon Town46251297747+3087
4Wigan Athletic462510118360+2385
5Gillingham46239146548+1778

Semi-finals

;First leg
----
;Second leg
Sunderland 6–6 Gillingham on aggregate. Gillingham won on away goals.
----
Swindon Town won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

;First leg
;Second leg
Swindon Town 2–2 Gillingham on aggregate.
;Replay

Fourth Division

;Third Division relegation places:
Team
21Bolton Wanderers461015214658–1245
22Carlisle United46108283978–3938
23Darlington46716234577–3237
24Newport County46813254986–3737

;Fourth Division play-off places:
Team
4Wolverhampton Wanderers46247156950+1979
5Colchester United46217186456+870
6Aldershot462010166457+770

Semi-finals

;First leg
----
;Second leg
Wolverhampton Wanderers won 2–0 on aggregate.
----
Aldershot won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

;First leg
;Second leg
Aldershot won 3–0 on aggregate.