2002 Football League play-offs


The Football League play-offs for the 2001–02 season were held in May 2002, with the finals taking place at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. 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, Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are aiming to return to the top flight after nearly 20 years outside the top flight, finished 3 points behind second placed West Bromwich Albion, who in turn finished 10 points behind champions Manchester City, who returned to the Premier League after relegation last season. Millwall who are aiming for a place in the top flight for the first time since 1990, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1986, finished in fifth place. Norwich City finished 1 point behind Birmingham City and were looking for a place back in the Premiership for the first time since 1995.

First Division

Team
3Wolverhampton Wanderers462511107643+3386
4Millwall462211136948+2177
5Birmingham City462113127049+2176
6Norwich City46229156051+975

Semi-finals

;First leg
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;Second leg
Norwich City won 3–2 on aggregate.
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Birmingham City won 2–1 on aggregate.

Final

Second Division

Team
3Brentford462411117743+3483
4Cardiff City46231497550+2583
5Stoke City462311126740+2780
6Huddersfield Town462115106547+1878

Semi-finals

;First leg
----
;Second leg
Brentford won 2–1 on aggregate.
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Stoke City won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

Third Division

Team
4Cheltenham Town462115106649+1778
5Rochdale462115106552+1378
6Rushden & Diamonds462013136953+1673
7Hartlepool United462011157448+2671

Semi-finals

;First leg
----
;Second leg
Cheltenham Town 2–2 Hartlepool United on aggregate. Cheltenham Town won 5–4 on penalties.
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Rushden & Diamonds won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final