1987 Football League Third Division play-off Final

The 1987 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match contested by Gillingham and Swindon Town over two-legs on 22 May 1987 and 25 Mat 1987 to determine which club would play the next season in the second division. Gillingham had finished in fifth while Swindon finished in third as they both competed in the third division. They were joined in the play-offs by 21st place from the division above in Sunderland and Wigan Athletic who finished fourth that season. Gillingham defeated Sunderland in their play-off by away goals while Swindon Town defeated Wigan Athletic in the other play-off.[1]

1987 Football League Third Division play-off Final
Event1986–87 Football League Third Division
Swindon Town won 2–0 in a replay
First leg
Date22 May 1987
VenuePriestfield, Gillingham
Attendance16,775
Second leg
Date25 May 1987
VenueCounty Ground, Swindon
Attendance14,382

The first leg of the final was played at Priestfield Stadium, in front of a crowd of 16,775. Dave Smith scored the only goal of the game to give Gillingham a one goal lead heading into the second leg. Three days later at County Ground, 14,382 people saw the match head into a replay after Karl Elsey scored the opening goal of the game in the 17th minute. This was followed by two goals from Peter Coyne and Charlie Henry to give Swindon the 2-1 victory in the match. This meant that a replay was held at the Selhurst Park where two goals from Steve White secured Swindon Town spot in the second division.

The following season, Swindon Town finished in 12th position in the second division while Gillingham finished the following season in the third division in 13th, only nine points ahead of the relegation zone.

Match Details

First leg

22 May 1987 Gillingham 1–0 Swindon Town Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham
Smith  81' Attendance: 16,775
1Phil Kite
2Paul Haylock
3Graham Pearce
4Les Berry
5Trevor Quow
6Colin Greenall
7Howard Pritchard
8Dave Shearer
9Dave Smith
10Karl Elsey
11Tony Cascarino
Manager:
Keith Peacock
1Fraser Digby
2Dave Hockaday
3Phil King
4Leigh Barnard
5Tim Parkin
6Colin Calderwood
7Mark Jones
8Chris Kamara
9Jimmy Quinn
10Dave Bamber
11Steve Berry
Substitutes:
12Charlie Henry
Manager:
Lou Macari

Second leg

25 May 1987 Swindon Town 2–1
(2–2 agg.)
Gillingham County Ground, Swindon
Coyne  61'
Henry  80'
Elsey  17' Attendance: 14,382
1Fraser Digby
2Dave Hockaday
3Phil King
4Peter Coyne
5Tim Parkin
6Colin Calderwood
7Dave Bamber
8Chris Kamara
9Steve Berry
10Steve White
11Leigh Barnard
Substitutes:
12Charlie Henry
Manager:
Lou Macari
1Phil Kite
2Paul Haylock
3Graham Pearce
4Les Berry
5Trevor Quow
6Colin Greenall
7Howard Pritchard
8Dave Shearer
9Steve Lovell
10Karl Elsey
11Tony Cascarino
Substitutes:
12Dave Smith
Manager:
Keith Peacock

Replay

29 May 1987 Swindon Town 2–0 Gillingham Selhurst Park, Croydon
White  2', 65' Attendance: 18,491
1Fraser Digby
2Dave Hockaday
3Phil King
4Peter Coyne
5Tim Parkin
6Colin Calderwood
7Dave Bamber
8Steve Berry
9Charlie Henry
10Steve White
11Leigh Barnard
Manager:
Lou Macari
1Phil Kite
2Paul Haylock
3Graham Pearce
4Les Berry
5Trevor Quow
6Colin Greenall
7Howard Pritchard
8Dave Shearer
9Martin Robinson
10Karl Elsey
11Tony Cascarino
Substitutes:
12Dave Smith
Manager:
Keith Peacock

References

  1. 1987 Football League Third Division play-off Final at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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