2008 Football League Championship playoff final
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Football League Championship play-off Final was contested between Bristol City
and Hull City
. The match was won by Hull City through a 38th minute goal from Dean Windass
. The victory meant that this was the first time in the history of Hull City that they would be competing in the top flight of English Football. The match took place on 24 May 2008 in Wembley Stadium
, London
.
and Stoke City
were the top 2, with West Brom promoted as division champions. The 4 teams placed immediately below the top 2 qualified for the Play-offs
to determine the final promotion place.
. Despite a final day loss, they were one of the in-form sides going into the play-offs. They faced Watford
in the play-off semi-finals. Watford finished 6th, the lowest of all the play-off postions. Hull beat Watford 2–0 away in the first leg, and also won the second leg at home, by a 4–1 scoreline.
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in 2006-07, they were attempting to become the first team to win successive promotions from the 3rd to 1st tiers since Watford in 1998-99. They faced Crystal Palace
in the play-off semi-finals, who finished 5th. Bristol City won the first leg 2–1. Crystal Palace led the second leg 1–0 after the regulation 90 minutes to level the aggregate scores and force the tie into extra time. Bristol City scored twice in the extra time period to progress 4–2 on aggregate.
----
scoring the only goal at the first half. Towards the end of the game, Bristol City put Hull under a lot of attacking pressure, and Hull City needed Michael Turner
to clear Lee Trundle
's effort off the line with 5 minutes to go to keep their lead. Hull City held on to win a place in the top flight of English football for the first time in their 104 year history.
got the winning goal, I think it was written in the Gods that it would be Dean Windass or Nicky Barmby
who would get the winner today.". Goalscorer Windass said that "It feels unbelievable. I don't think there is anyone left in Hull today looking at how many supporters we've got here." Hull City chairman Paul Duffen said "This is fantastic, I think it's amazing. It is something which means a lot to the city of Hull."
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson
congratulated Hull, and said that Bristol City would "Bounce back" in the following years. Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown said that "It's been a great day out for Bristol City football club - it doesn't feel like it at the moment but the future's there and I think we've shown over the last few weeks what this football club can achieve."
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and 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...
. The match was won by Hull City through a 38th minute goal from Dean Windass
Dean Windass
Dean Windass is an English footballer, who predominantly played as a striker, and is known for his spells at Bradford City and his hometown team Hull City...
. The victory meant that this was the first time in the history of Hull City that they would be competing in the top flight of English Football. The match took place on 24 May 2008 in Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Route to the final
In the regular season of the 2007-08 Championship, the top 2 teams won promotion to the 2008-09 Premier League automatically. West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
were the top 2, with West Brom promoted as division champions. The 4 teams placed immediately below the top 2 qualified for the Play-offs
Football League Play-Offs
The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion places within the Football League. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is...
to determine the final promotion place.
Hull City
Hull City finished 3rd in the Championship, the highest of the teams in the play-offs. It was possible for them to get promoted on the final day of the regular season, but lost to Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. Despite a final day loss, they were one of the in-form sides going into the play-offs. They faced Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the play-off semi-finals. Watford finished 6th, the lowest of all the play-off postions. Hull beat Watford 2–0 away in the first leg, and also won the second leg at home, by a 4–1 scoreline.
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Bristol City
Bristol City finished 4th in the Championship. They had a strong season, staying in the top 6 from the start of September until the end of the season. Having been promoted to the Championship from League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
in 2006-07, they were attempting to become the first team to win successive promotions from the 3rd to 1st tiers since Watford in 1998-99. They faced Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in the play-off semi-finals, who finished 5th. Bristol City won the first leg 2–1. Crystal Palace led the second leg 1–0 after the regulation 90 minutes to level the aggregate scores and force the tie into extra time. Bristol City scored twice in the extra time period to progress 4–2 on aggregate.
----
Match summary
The match was a largely even affair, with Hull-born Dean WindassDean Windass
Dean Windass is an English footballer, who predominantly played as a striker, and is known for his spells at Bradford City and his hometown team Hull City...
scoring the only goal at the first half. Towards the end of the game, Bristol City put Hull under a lot of attacking pressure, and Hull City needed Michael Turner
Michael Turner (footballer)
Michael Thomas Turner is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland.-Charlton Athletic:Born in Lewisham, London, Turner started his career at Charlton Athletic. As part of a link-up Charlton had with Internazionale, he spent several months of his apprenticeship with the Italian club's under-19...
to clear Lee Trundle
Lee Trundle
Lee Christopher Trundle is an English footballer who currently plays for Neath.-Career:Trundle was a late entrant into professional and league football, playing for non-league teams Burscough, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport, Bamber Bridge and Chorley before joining Welsh Premier League club Rhyl in...
's effort off the line with 5 minutes to go to keep their lead. Hull City held on to win a place in the top flight of English football for the first time in their 104 year history.
Post-match reaction
Hull City manager Phil Brown said "It is very fitting that Dean WindassDean Windass
Dean Windass is an English footballer, who predominantly played as a striker, and is known for his spells at Bradford City and his hometown team Hull City...
got the winning goal, I think it was written in the Gods that it would be Dean Windass or Nicky Barmby
Nick Barmby
Nicholas Jon "Nick" Barmby is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a midfielder, where he is also caretaker manager. At his peak he earned a total of 23 caps for England between 1995 and 2001...
who would get the winner today.". Goalscorer Windass said that "It feels unbelievable. I don't think there is anyone left in Hull today looking at how many supporters we've got here." Hull City chairman Paul Duffen said "This is fantastic, I think it's amazing. It is something which means a lot to the city of Hull."
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson may refer to:*Gary Johnson , former Governor of New Mexico and candidate for President in 2012*Gary Johnson , American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly...
congratulated Hull, and said that Bristol City would "Bounce back" in the following years. Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown said that "It's been a great day out for Bristol City football club - it doesn't feel like it at the moment but the future's there and I think we've shown over the last few weeks what this football club can achieve."
Match details
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Match rules
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