The
Football League play-offs
The English Football League play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the four association football teams finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places in the second, third and fourth tiers of the English football leagu ...
for the
2004–05 season were held in May 2005, with the finals taking place at
Millennium Stadium in
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
. 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
The English Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Sky Bet League One for sponsorship purposes, and known as the Football League One from 2004 until 2016) is the second-highest division of the English Football Leag ...
and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the
League Two
The English Football League Two (often referred to as League Two for short or Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship purposes, and known as the Football League Two from 2004 until 2016) is the third and lowest division of the English Football Lea ...
table. The winners of the semi-finals progressed to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion 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.
In the Championship,
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. They play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.
The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn profession ...
, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 2002, finished 2 points behind second placed
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system.
Founded in 1932, ...
, who in turn finished 7 points behind champions
Sunderland, who returned to the top flight at the second attempt after relegation from the
Premier League
The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Fo ...
in 2003.
Derby County
Derby County Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Derby, Derbyshire, England. In 2022, it was announced that DCFC was acquired by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, a Derbyshire-based property group.
Founded in 188 ...
who were also relegated along with Ipswich from the top flight in 2002, finished in fourth place in the table.
Preston North End who have not been in the top flight since 1961, finished in fifth place.
West Ham United
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club that plays its home matches in Stratford, East London. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club plays at the London Stadium, hav ...
finished 2 points behind Preston North End and were looking for a place back in the Premiership after 2 seasons outside the top division.
Championship
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''West Ham United won 4–2 on aggregate.''
----
''Preston North End won 2–0 on aggregate.''
Final
League One
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Sheffield Wednesday won 3–1 on aggregate.''
----
''Tranmere Rovers 2–2 Hartlepool United on aggregate. Hartlepool United won 6–5 on penalties.''
Final
League Two
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Lincoln City won 2–1 on aggregate.''
----
''Southend United won 1–0 on aggregate.''
Final
External links
Football League website
{{2004–05 in English football
Play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
* Google Play, a digital content service
* Play Framework, a Java framework
* P ...
English Football League play-offs
May 2005 sports events in the United Kingdom