1998 Football League Second Division play-off Final


The 1998 Football League Second Division play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium, London on 24 May 1998 at the end of the 1997–98 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from Second Division to the First Division, and was contested by Grimsby Town, who finished third during the league season, and Northampton Town, who finished fourth. The teams reached the final by defeating Fulham and Bristol Rovers respectively in the two-legged semi-finals.
Grimsby won the final 1–0 thanks to a goal from Kevin Donovan in the 20th minute to seal their place in the second tier of English football. Grimsby had to wait 120 years to reach Wembley and before this game had won the Football League Trophy earlier on in the season.

Route to the final

Semi-finals

;First leg
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;Second leg
Grimsby Town won 2–1 on aggregate.
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Northampton Town won 4–3 on aggregate.

Match

Details