1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final
Encyclopedia
The 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 1996, at the end of the 1995–96 English league season to determine the final promoted
side from the Second Division
. Bradford City
beat Notts County
2–0 to join Swindon Town
and Oxford United
in winning promotion to the First Division
. It was the 10th Second Division play-off Final
and the seventh to be held at Wembley.
For Bradford, it was the first time they had played at Wembley in their 93-year history
. City finished sixth during the regular league season only winning a play-off place with a victory on the final day of the season. They came from two goals down during the semi-finals against Blackpool
to gain a place in the play-off final. Having been relegated the previous season, Notts County had the chance to win an instant promotion back to the First Division. They finished fourth during the regular season and defeated Crewe Alexandra
in the semi-final by drawing the away tie and winning by one-goal in the second leg at home.
Bradford took an eighth minute lead in the final through 19-year-old Bradford
-born Des Hamilton
. Notts County only had one chance in the first half before applying more pressure during the early part of the second half. However Bradford's recent signing Mark Stallard
doubled their lead to give them victory and newspaper reporters agreed that Bradford dominated the game. Their manager Chris Kamara
had only been in charge for six months before the final. Three years after their victory, Bradford went on to win promotion to the Premier League; their opponents Notts County were relegated the season after their play-off final defeat and have yet to finish higher since their fourth place finish in 1996.
Second Division league champions Swindon Town
and runners-up Oxford United
took the two automatic promotion
spots after recording 92 and 83 points respectively, leaving Blackpool
, Notts County
, Crewe Alexandra
and Bradford City
to contest the play-offs
for the final promotion place. Bradford City, who appointed rookie manager Chris Kamara
in November 1995, won nine of their last 12 league games and only secured a play-off berth on the final day of the season by defeating Hull City
3–2 at Boothferry Park
in a game that was delayed because of crowd trouble. They were one point ahead of seventh place Chesterfield
, and equal on points with Crewe but behind in goal difference
; they therefore finished sixth. As a result, in the play-off semi-finals Bradford played third-place Blackpool, whose manager Sam Allardyce
admitted his side had thrown away an automatic promotion spot; they finished a solitary point behind Oxford. Bradford had already played Blackpool four times during the season, after being drawn together in the League Cup
, with Bradford winning three of the previous encounters. Notts County, who had been relegated the previous season having finished in last place in the First Division
, came in fourth position to set up a tie against Crewe Alexandra in the other semi-final.
Notts County's fourth place meant they were away to Crewe Alexandra in the first leg, which finished 2–2 at Gresty Road. With home advantage at Meadow Lane
three days later, they won 1–0 thanks to a goal from Gary Martindale
to give them a 3–2 aggregate victory. The other semi-final went against home advantage; City finished sixth so played at their Valley Parade
home in the first leg, losing 2–0. However, they overturned the deficit by winning 3–0 at Bloomfield Road
in a tie that went to extra-time
. Des Hamilton
, Carl Shutt and Mark Stallard
scored the three goals that also gave them a 3–2 aggregate victory. Kamara called it the "best night" of his career, whereas his opposite number Allardyce was sacked.
before Wembley Stadium had been built. Hence, the play-off final was the club's first game at Wembley in their 93-year history
. For Notts County, it was the fifth visit to the national stadium since 1990. The historic occasion for Bradford was reflected in the ticket sales, with City fans outnumbering their opponents nearly three-to-one with 28,000 of the crowd of 39,972 coming from Bradford.
Kamara's main selection dilemma was in attack where he had to pick a strike partner for Stallard, a player who had joined from Derby County
in January for £120,000 and gone on to score ten goals. Kamara opted for Shutt, who was given only a 50 per cent of playing in the run-up to the match because of a slight knock, with Ian Ormondroyd
, a veteran of three play-off finals with his previous club Leicester City
, selected as substitute. Captain Eddie Youds
, who overcame a knee problem to return to the side in defence in place of David Brightwell
, was the only player not to have played in the second leg against Blackpool. Notts County's side featured only two of the players that had been relegated the previous season – Tony Agana
and Shaun Murphy
. Their side also contained Darren Ward, who was selected for the Second Division PFA (Professional Footballers' Association
) representative side, and Steve Finnan
, on loan from First Division
Birmingham City
.
City's chairman Geoffrey Richmond
was reported to have told his side before the game: "Well boys, you can either play Bury
or Manchester City
next season – it's up to you!" Two times league champions Manchester City had been relegated from the Premier League whereas Bury had been just promoted from the Third Division
. Three of the City players, Richard Huxford
, Wayne Jacobs
and Andy Kiwomya
– all Christians – went onto the pitch to pray before the game.
Gurnam Singh, from Wolverhampton, a former non-league player who turned to officiating after an injury, was chosen as the match referee. He had been overlooked as the referee for the previous year's First Division play-off Final
despite having the top marks in the country and The Independent
reported after Singh's career that his appointment a year on was the highlight of his career.
. Minutes later, City had two successive chances through Shutt and Youds, but the first was blocked and the second went wide. During this spell of play, County's two central defenders Murphy and Gary Strodder
both received yellow cards. Just before half-time, Shutt had the chance to double City's lead but his weak shot hit Ward's ankles after good work by Kiwomya.
was booked within a minute of the second half starting for bringing down Kiwomya. Notts County started to come back into the game; Martindale headed wide, Agana and Richardson both had shots blocked during a goalmouth scramble and Tony Battersby
had a shot saved over the crossbar by Jonathan Gould
, as County tried to equalise during a 20-minute spell of pressure. Between County's chances, Stallard had the opportunity to double City's lead when he capitalised on a slip from Strodder, but Ward saved his effort. However, City went on to double their advantage on 75 minutes. Ormondroyd, who had replaced the injured Hamilton, flicked on a long pass from Richard Huxford
with his first touch. His header went across goal to Stallard who volleyed home. Two minutes after the goal, Martindale fired wide for County after a pass from Agana, and with time running out Finnan's long-range shot was deflected for a corner, but from the resulting set-piece, Richardson shot over the crossbar.
match reporter, called it an uneven contest, with Bradford never looking back from their early goal. He added Hamilton and Kiwomya, City's two wingers, maintained their side's momentum. Haylett reported that County played as a "team of strangers" during the first half. Bradford's daily newspaper the Telegraph & Argus reported that "apart from a 15-minute spell midway through the second half when Notts came close to equalising, City were in complete charge of the game".
City's matchwinner Hamilton and his manager Kamara shared the headlines in the national newspapers. Hamilton said after the game: "To score for my hometown team at Wembley has got to be one of the best feelings ever." Kamara added: "Now I am hungry for second helpings of success. And I am absolutely convinced I can get it here. We will not look out of place in the First Division
because we have so much quality." County's manager Colin Murphy told the press: "All credit to Bradford, they won it fair and square. And that does not always happen in football. Bradford are a very experienced side compared to mine. Maybe this came a year too early for my boys." Jacobs, the Bradford full-back who played 11 years for the club and won a subsequent promotion to the Premier League, said after his career: "I just look back on some amazing times and I was delighted to be part of them. It was a real blessing to my life. To play at Wembley was a dream fulfilled."
The day after the final, City held an open top bus tour and a civic reception at Bradford City Hall
. The following day, they hosted a friendly match against Dutch side Feyenoord to celebrate their victory.
ensured they avoided being relegated immediately back to the Second Division. Instead Grimsby Town
went down alongside Oldham Athletic
and Southend United
. In January 1998, Richmond sacked Kamara and named his assistant Paul Jewell
as new manager. Jewell guided City to the Premier League within 16 months, the first time City had been in the top flight in 77 years.
Notts County's fate went in the opposite direction. They were relegated in bottom place the season after the 1996 play-off final defeat, only to win the 1997–98 Third Division title and gain instant promotion. However, they have spent every season since in the bottom two divisions. The two clubs did not meet again in league football until January 2008 after City's fall back down the league structure.
Blackpool, whom Bradford had defeated in the play-off semi-final, were relegated to the bottom tier in 1999–2000. They won three promotions – all via the play-offs – within the following decade to reach the Premier League themselves for the first time in their history.
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
side from the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
beat Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
2–0 to join Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
in winning promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. It was the 10th Second Division play-off Final
Football League One play-offs
The Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
and the seventh to be held at Wembley.
For Bradford, it was the first time they had played at Wembley in their 93-year history
History of Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club—also known informally as Bradford City, or just "City"—are an English football club founded in Bradford in 1903 to introduce the sport to the West Riding of Yorkshire, which until then had been almost entirely inclined towards rugby league...
. City finished sixth during the regular league season only winning a play-off place with a victory on the final day of the season. They came from two goals down during the semi-finals against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
to gain a place in the play-off final. Having been relegated the previous season, Notts County had the chance to win an instant promotion back to the First Division. They finished fourth during the regular season and defeated Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in the semi-final by drawing the away tie and winning by one-goal in the second leg at home.
Bradford took an eighth minute lead in the final through 19-year-old Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
-born Des Hamilton
Des Hamilton
Derrick Vivian "Des" Hamilton is an English retired professional footballer. He was a midfielder, who played most notably for Bradford City which counted for nearly half his career appearances and in the Premier League with Newcastle United...
. Notts County only had one chance in the first half before applying more pressure during the early part of the second half. However Bradford's recent signing Mark Stallard
Mark Stallard
Mark Stallard is a retired English professional footballer who last played for Conference North side Corby Town as a striker. He made more than 450 appearances in the Football League between 1991 and 2008, scoring 134 goals....
doubled their lead to give them victory and newspaper reporters agreed that Bradford dominated the game. Their manager Chris Kamara
Chris Kamara
Chris Kamara is a retired English footballer. He ended his playing career in 1995 and last managed a club in 1998. He is now a presenter and football analyst on Sky Sports.-Playing career:...
had only been in charge for six months before the final. Three years after their victory, Bradford went on to win promotion to the Premier League; their opponents Notts County were relegated the season after their play-off final defeat and have yet to finish higher since their fourth place finish in 1996.
Route to the final
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
46 | 25 | 17 | 4 | 71 | 34 | 92 |
| 2. | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 39 | 83 |
| 3. | Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 77 | 40 | 82 |
| 4. | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 63 | 39 | 78 |
| 5. | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 77 | 60 | 73 |
| 6. | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 71 | 69 | 73 |
| Pos=Position P=Games played W=Wins D=Draws L=Defeats F=Goals for A=Goals against Pts=Points |
||||||||
Second Division league champions Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and runners-up Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
took the two automatic promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
spots after recording 92 and 83 points respectively, leaving Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
to contest the play-offs
Football League One play-offs
The Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
for the final promotion place. Bradford City, who appointed rookie manager Chris Kamara
Chris Kamara
Chris Kamara is a retired English footballer. He ended his playing career in 1995 and last managed a club in 1998. He is now a presenter and football analyst on Sky Sports.-Playing career:...
in November 1995, won nine of their last 12 league games and only secured a play-off berth on the final day of the season by defeating Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
3–2 at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
in a game that was delayed because of crowd trouble. They were one point ahead of seventh place Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, and equal on points with Crewe but behind in goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
; they therefore finished sixth. As a result, in the play-off semi-finals Bradford played third-place Blackpool, whose manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
admitted his side had thrown away an automatic promotion spot; they finished a solitary point behind Oxford. Bradford had already played Blackpool four times during the season, after being drawn together in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, with Bradford winning three of the previous encounters. Notts County, who had been relegated the previous season having finished in last place in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, came in fourth position to set up a tie against Crewe Alexandra in the other semi-final.
Notts County's fourth place meant they were away to Crewe Alexandra in the first leg, which finished 2–2 at Gresty Road. With home advantage at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
three days later, they won 1–0 thanks to a goal from Gary Martindale
Gary Martindale
Gary Martindale is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. After retiring as a player, Martindale started coaching.-Playing career:...
to give them a 3–2 aggregate victory. The other semi-final went against home advantage; City finished sixth so played at their Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
home in the first leg, losing 2–0. However, they overturned the deficit by winning 3–0 at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
in a tie that went to extra-time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
. Des Hamilton
Des Hamilton
Derrick Vivian "Des" Hamilton is an English retired professional footballer. He was a midfielder, who played most notably for Bradford City which counted for nearly half his career appearances and in the Premier League with Newcastle United...
, Carl Shutt and Mark Stallard
Mark Stallard
Mark Stallard is a retired English professional footballer who last played for Conference North side Corby Town as a striker. He made more than 450 appearances in the Football League between 1991 and 2008, scoring 134 goals....
scored the three goals that also gave them a 3–2 aggregate victory. Kamara called it the "best night" of his career, whereas his opposite number Allardyce was sacked.
| Bradford City | Notts County | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Legs | Round | Opponent | Result | Legs |
| Blackpool | 3–2 | 0–2 home; 3–0 away | Semi-finals | Crewe Alexandra | 3–2 | 2–2 away; 1–0 home |
Pre-match
City had only appeared in one previous major final when they won the 1911 FA Cup Final1911 FA Cup Final
The 1911 FA Cup Final was the 40th FA Cup final. It was contested by Bradford City and Newcastle United. The first game resulted in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace...
before Wembley Stadium had been built. Hence, the play-off final was the club's first game at Wembley in their 93-year history
History of Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club—also known informally as Bradford City, or just "City"—are an English football club founded in Bradford in 1903 to introduce the sport to the West Riding of Yorkshire, which until then had been almost entirely inclined towards rugby league...
. For Notts County, it was the fifth visit to the national stadium since 1990. The historic occasion for Bradford was reflected in the ticket sales, with City fans outnumbering their opponents nearly three-to-one with 28,000 of the crowd of 39,972 coming from Bradford.
Kamara's main selection dilemma was in attack where he had to pick a strike partner for Stallard, a player who had joined from Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in January for £120,000 and gone on to score ten goals. Kamara opted for Shutt, who was given only a 50 per cent of playing in the run-up to the match because of a slight knock, with Ian Ormondroyd
Ian Ormondroyd
Ian Ormondroyd is a retired English footballer. Ormondroyd became famous for his height and build in a similar manner to Peter Crouch, giving him a cult status among fans of the clubs he played for....
, a veteran of three play-off finals with his previous club Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, selected as substitute. Captain Eddie Youds
Eddie Youds
Edward Paul "Eddie" Youds is a former English footballer, who played as a defender.Born in Liverpool, Youds began his career with Everton and also played for Cardiff City, Wrexham, Ipswich Town, Bradford City, Charlton Athletic, Huddersfield Town and Grays Athletic, before retiring in 2005 at...
, who overcame a knee problem to return to the side in defence in place of David Brightwell
David Brightwell
David John Brightwell is an English former professional footballer who played in defence for ten clubs.-Biography:Brightwell was born in Lutterworth, England...
, was the only player not to have played in the second leg against Blackpool. Notts County's side featured only two of the players that had been relegated the previous season – Tony Agana
Tony Agana
Patrick Anthony Olazinka "Tony" Agana is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.After starting his career in non-league football, he became a professional with Watford...
and Shaun Murphy
Shaun Murphy (footballer)
Shaun Peter Murphy is an Australian football player. Shaun currently lives in Perth, Western Australia with his family....
. Their side also contained Darren Ward, who was selected for the Second Division PFA (Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
) representative side, and Steve Finnan
Steve Finnan
Stephen John "Steve" Finnan is a retired Irish international footballer who played as a right back. He is the only player to have played in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, all four levels of the English league football and the Football Conference.-Early career:Finnan was born in...
, on loan from First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
.
City's chairman Geoffrey Richmond
Geoffrey Richmond
Geoffrey Richmond was a football chairman of Bradford City from 1994 to 2002, and previously chairman of Scarborough.-Biography:Richmond was born and raised in Leeds, where he attended Roundhay Grammar School...
was reported to have told his side before the game: "Well boys, you can either play Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
or Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
next season – it's up to you!" Two times league champions Manchester City had been relegated from the Premier League whereas Bury had been just promoted from the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Three of the City players, Richard Huxford
Richard Huxford
Richard John Huxford is an English former professional footballer who made more than 200 appearances in the Football League and the Scottish Football League. His regular playing position was at right back, but he also played as a central defender or in midfield.-Playing career:Huxford was born in...
, Wayne Jacobs
Wayne Jacobs
Wayne Jacobs is an English football coach and former professional player who was most recently assistant manager at Bradford City.-Playing career:...
and Andy Kiwomya
Andy Kiwomya
Andrew Derek Kiwomya is an English former professional footballer who played as both a left winger and a striker.-Career:...
– all Christians – went onto the pitch to pray before the game.
Gurnam Singh, from Wolverhampton, a former non-league player who turned to officiating after an injury, was chosen as the match referee. He had been overlooked as the referee for the previous year's First Division play-off Final
1995 Football League First Division play-off Final
The 1995 Football League Division One play-off Final was an epic contest between Bolton Wanderers and Reading at Wembley Stadium, London. Bolton Wanderers won the match 4-3, after extra time.-Background:...
despite having the top marks in the country and The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported after Singh's career that his appointment a year on was the highlight of his career.
First half
Bradford opened the scoring after only eight minutes of the match through teenage hometown midfielder Hamilton. A long pass from Huxford down the right flank was headed by Shutt into Hamilton's path. He beat three defenders and, despite the fact he was stumbling, shot past Notts County goalkeeper Ward, with the ball going in after hitting the crossbar. It had been Bradford's first shot of the game. Steve Finnan had County's first chance after 14 minutes but shot straight at Bradford keeper Jonathan GouldJonathan Gould
Jonathan Alan Gould is a former Scottish international footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the Goalkeeping Coach at Perth Glory of the Australian A-League.-Playing:...
. Minutes later, City had two successive chances through Shutt and Youds, but the first was blocked and the second went wide. During this spell of play, County's two central defenders Murphy and Gary Strodder
Gary Strodder
Gary Strodder was a centre half who played for West Ham United for four seasons, making 71 starts in total with a further eight appearances as substitute. His two goals were both scored against South Coast opposition, Portsmouth and Bournemouth. He joined in March 1987 from Lincoln City...
both received yellow cards. Just before half-time, Shutt had the chance to double City's lead but his weak shot hit Ward's ankles after good work by Kiwomya.
Second half
Ian RichardsonIan Richardson (footballer)
Ian Richardson is an English former professional footballer and football manager. He played 260 games in the Football League for Birmingham City and Notts County, where he spent most of his professional career, including for a time acting as caretaker manager. He played as a midfielder or centre...
was booked within a minute of the second half starting for bringing down Kiwomya. Notts County started to come back into the game; Martindale headed wide, Agana and Richardson both had shots blocked during a goalmouth scramble and Tony Battersby
Tony Battersby
Tony Battersby is a footballer who plays as a striker for Grantham Town. Battersby is one of football's journeymen and has played for many clubs both The Football League and non-League....
had a shot saved over the crossbar by Jonathan Gould
Jonathan Gould
Jonathan Alan Gould is a former Scottish international footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the Goalkeeping Coach at Perth Glory of the Australian A-League.-Playing:...
, as County tried to equalise during a 20-minute spell of pressure. Between County's chances, Stallard had the opportunity to double City's lead when he capitalised on a slip from Strodder, but Ward saved his effort. However, City went on to double their advantage on 75 minutes. Ormondroyd, who had replaced the injured Hamilton, flicked on a long pass from Richard Huxford
Richard Huxford
Richard John Huxford is an English former professional footballer who made more than 200 appearances in the Football League and the Scottish Football League. His regular playing position was at right back, but he also played as a central defender or in midfield.-Playing career:Huxford was born in...
with his first touch. His header went across goal to Stallard who volleyed home. Two minutes after the goal, Martindale fired wide for County after a pass from Agana, and with time running out Finnan's long-range shot was deflected for a corner, but from the resulting set-piece, Richardson shot over the crossbar.
Post-match reaction
In his match report for The Independent, Tim Collings wrote that City "played with a width, verve and pace which embarrassed County" and called it "a professional job by a spirited and swift team". The Suns report said that City had "cruised to victory". The Daily Mirror reported that County had struggled until the second half with their best chance limited to one from 25 yards from goal. Trevor Haylett, The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
match reporter, called it an uneven contest, with Bradford never looking back from their early goal. He added Hamilton and Kiwomya, City's two wingers, maintained their side's momentum. Haylett reported that County played as a "team of strangers" during the first half. Bradford's daily newspaper the Telegraph & Argus reported that "apart from a 15-minute spell midway through the second half when Notts came close to equalising, City were in complete charge of the game".
City's matchwinner Hamilton and his manager Kamara shared the headlines in the national newspapers. Hamilton said after the game: "To score for my hometown team at Wembley has got to be one of the best feelings ever." Kamara added: "Now I am hungry for second helpings of success. And I am absolutely convinced I can get it here. We will not look out of place in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
because we have so much quality." County's manager Colin Murphy told the press: "All credit to Bradford, they won it fair and square. And that does not always happen in football. Bradford are a very experienced side compared to mine. Maybe this came a year too early for my boys." Jacobs, the Bradford full-back who played 11 years for the club and won a subsequent promotion to the Premier League, said after his career: "I just look back on some amazing times and I was delighted to be part of them. It was a real blessing to my life. To play at Wembley was a dream fulfilled."
The day after the final, City held an open top bus tour and a civic reception at Bradford City Hall
Bradford City Hall
Bradford City Hall is a Grade I listed, 19th century town hall in Centenary Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and is notable for its landmark bell/clock tower.- As town hall :The building was designed by Lockwood and Mawson, and opened in 1873....
. The following day, they hosted a friendly match against Dutch side Feyenoord to celebrate their victory.
Match details
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MATCH RULES
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Aftermath
The following season, Bradford City's fate once again went down to the final game of the season. A 3–0 victory against Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
ensured they avoided being relegated immediately back to the Second Division. Instead Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
went down alongside Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. In January 1998, Richmond sacked Kamara and named his assistant Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
as new manager. Jewell guided City to the Premier League within 16 months, the first time City had been in the top flight in 77 years.
Notts County's fate went in the opposite direction. They were relegated in bottom place the season after the 1996 play-off final defeat, only to win the 1997–98 Third Division title and gain instant promotion. However, they have spent every season since in the bottom two divisions. The two clubs did not meet again in league football until January 2008 after City's fall back down the league structure.
Blackpool, whom Bradford had defeated in the play-off semi-final, were relegated to the bottom tier in 1999–2000. They won three promotions – all via the play-offs – within the following decade to reach the Premier League themselves for the first time in their history.
See also
- 1996 Football League play-offs1996 Football League play-offsThe Football League play-offs for the 1995-96 season were held in May 1996, with the finals taking place at Wembley Stadium in London. 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 First Division...
- 1996 Football League First Division play-off Final1996 Football League First Division play-off FinalThe 1996 Football League First Division play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium, London on May 27 1996 at the end of the 1995–96 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from First Division to the Premiership, and was contested by Leicester City,...
- 1996 Football League Third Division play-off Final1996 Football League Third Division play-off FinalThe 1996 Football League Third Division play-off final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 1996, to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Third Division to the Second Division of the Football League in the 1995–96 season.It was contested by...