EFL Championship Play-Off Final History
The EFL Championship, the second tier of the English footballing pyramid, is notoriously tough. Each of the 24 teams faces 46 matches, and though the top two at the end of the season can start to dream of Premier League life while relaxing on a beach enjoying the summer, those sat in the four positions below now have the small matter of playoff clashes to overcome. The playoff system pits these four teams against each other, first in two sets of two-legged encounters in the semi-finals before the victorious teams then meet at Wembley Stadium for a match that is eagerly anticipated. Football playoffs in the English league are a relatively new development, with the first occasion of their use being in 1987.
The Play-Off Final Moves to Wembley Stadium!
The final for these occasions moved to Wembley Stadium in 1990, adding even more pomp and ceremony to what was already a weighty occasion.
There have been many thrilling play-off finals over the years, but perhaps the most infamous and nail-biting occurred in 1998 when Charlton Athletic faced Sunderland.
That year Nottingham Forest won the title, and Middlesbrough finished in second place, and third-placed Sunderland finished just two points clear of London outfit Charlton.
The Black Cats took care of Sheffield United in their semi-final, and the Addicks beat Ipswich to set up the glorious finale on a sunny afternoon in late May.
The Unforgettable Play-Off Final of 1998
Veteran forward Clive Mendonca gave Charlton the lead after 23 minutes before goals from Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips gave the side from the northeast a lead on the hour.
Mendonca levelled matters after 71 minutes only to then see Quinn bag his second two minutes later.
With five minutes remaining, it looked as if Peter Reid's side were going to secure promotion to the Premier League but Richard Rufus made it 3-3 and sent the game into extra time.
Nicky Summerbee put Sunderland back in the lead on 99 minutes before Mendonca completed a memorable hat-trick with a superb volley to make it 4-4, sending the game to penalties.
After 13 spot-kicks were successfully put away, up stepped Sunderland full-back Michael Gray, who saw his penalty saved by Sasa Ilic to send Charlton fans, who had just watched all the action unfold, into a state of delirium.
EFL Championship Play-Off Final Previous Matches
- 2017 Huddersfield Town 0-0 Reading Huddersfield Town win on penalties
- 2018 Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
- 2019 Aston Villa 2-1 Derby County
- 2020 Fulham 2-1 Brentford
- 2021 Brentford 2-0 Swansea City
- 2022 Nottingham Forest 1-0 Huddersfield Town
EFL Championship 2022-23
The race to secure promotion to the Premier League will be as challenging as ever this season, and those sides that fell from the top tier last time around, Burnley, Watford, and Norwich City, will expect to be among the teams challenging for an immediate return.
