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The Football League play-offs for the 1999–2000 season were held in May 2000, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London for the final time. The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs and will be contested by the teams who finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals will go through 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 First Division, Ipswich Town, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 5 years outside the top flight, finished 2 points behind second placed Manchester City, who in turn finished 2 points behind champions Charlton Athletic, who returned to the top flight after being relegated last season. Barnsley who are aiming to return to the top flight after 2 seasons outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 14 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who as well as Barnsley are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation 2 seasons ago, finished 1 point behind Birmingham City in sixth place.

First Division

Semi-finals

First leg

Birmingham City	0–4	Barnsley
	Report	Shipperley 12' Dyer 48', 60' Hignett 84'

Bolton Wanderers	2–2	Ipswich Town
Holdsworth 5' Guðjohnsen 26'	Report	Stewart 36', 65'

Second leg

Ipswich Town	5–3 (a.e.t.)	Bolton Wanderers
Magilton 18' (pen.), 49', 90' Clapham 94' (pen.) Reuser 110'	Report	Holdsworth 6', 39' Johnston 50'

Ipswich Town won 7–5 on aggregate.

Barnsley	1–2	Birmingham City
Dyer 54'	Report	Rowett 33' Marcelo 75'

Barnsley won 5–2 on aggregate.

Final

Barnsley	2–4	Ipswich Town
Wright 6' (o.g.) Hignett 78' (pen.)	Report	Mowbray 28' Naylor 52' Stewart 58' Reuser 90'

Second Division

Semi-finals

First leg

Stoke City	3–2	Gillingham
Gunnlaugsson 1' Lightbourne 8' Thorne 67'	Report	Gooden 18' Hassenthaler 90'

Second leg

Gillingham	3–0 (a.e.t.)	Stoke City
Ashby 55' Onuora 102' Smith 118'	Report

Gillingham won 5–3 on aggregate.

Wigan Athletic	1–0	Millwall
Sheridan 61'

Wigan Athletic won 1–0 on aggregate.

Final

Wigan Athletic	2–3 (a.e.t.)	Gillingham
Haworth 59' Barlow 99' (pen.)	Report	McGibbon 35' (o.g.) Butler 114' Thomson 118'

Third Division

Semi-finals

First leg

Barnet	1–2	Peterborough United
Arber 22'		Lee 5' Clarke 68'

Hartlepool United	0–2	Darlington
		Liddle 35' Gabbiadini 76' (pen.)

Second leg

Darlington	1–0	Hartlepool United
Strodder 9' (o.g.)

Darlington won 3–0 on aggregate.

Peterborough United	3–0	Barnet
Farrell 28', 70', 89'

Peterborough United won 5–1 on aggregate.

Final

Peterborough United	1–0	Darlington
Clarke 74'	Report

External links

• Football League website

• 2000 Football League play-offs
• English Football League play-offs
• 1999–2000 Football League
• May 2000 sports events in the United Kingdom