The
Football League play-offs for the
2009–10 season were held in May 2010, with the finals taking place at
Wembley Stadium in
London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs, contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the
Football League Championship
The English Football League Championship (often referred to as the Championship for short or the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship purposes) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the En ...
and
League One 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 went through to the finals, with the winner of the final 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,
Nottingham Forest, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1999, finished 12 points behind second placed
West Bromwich Albion, who in turn finished 11 points behind champions
Newcastle United
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, that plays in the Premier League – the top flight of English football. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End ...
, who returned to the top flight at the first attempt after relegation from the
Premier League on the last day the season before.
Cardiff City
Cardiff City Football Club ( cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd) is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1899 as R ...
who haven't been in the top flight since 1962, finished in fourth place in the table.
Leicester City who finished as champions of
League One the season before, finished in fifth place looking for a return to the top flight for the first time in 6 years.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...
finished 6 points behind Leicester and Cardiff on 70 points, looking for a first spell back in the top flight since 1971.
Championship
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Blackpool won 6–4 on aggregate.''
----
''Cardiff City 3–3 Leicester City on aggregate. Cardiff City won 4–3 on penalties.''
Final
League One
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Charlton Athletic 3–3 Swindon Town on aggregate. Swindon Town won 5–4 on penalties.''
----
''Millwall won 2–0 on aggregate.''
Final
League Two
Semi-finals
;First leg
----
;Second leg
''Rotherham United won 3–0 on aggregate.''
----
''Dagenham & Redbridge won 7–2 on aggregate.''
Final
References
External links
Football League website
{{2009–10 in English football
English Football League play-offs
Play-offs
May 2010 sports events in Europe