The Football League play-offs for the 1986–87 season were held in May 1987, with the two-legged finals taking place at the finalists home stadiums. The play-off semi-finals were also played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th and 5th place in the Football League Second Division and Football League Third Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th placed teams in the Football League Fourth Division table, along with a team from the league above. The winners of the semi-finals progressed through to the finals, with the winner of these matches either gaining promotion or avoiding relegation 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. For the first three seasons the final was played over two legs but this was changed to a single match at Wembley Stadium from 1990. Additionally, for the 1986–87 and 1987–88 play-offs the semi-finals included a team from the next league who had finished above the relegation positions up, e.g. one team from the first tier and three teams from the second tier. The team from the higher division would be relegated if they failed to win the play-offs, with the play-off winner being promoted in their place.
Second Division
First Division relegation places Team19Charlton Athletic421111204555–104420Leicester City42119225476–224221Manchester City42815193657–213922Aston Villa42812224579–3436 Second Division play-off places Team3Oldham Athletic42229116544+21754Leeds United421911125844+14685Ipswich Town421713125943+1664
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Charlton Athletic won 2–1 on aggregate.
Oldham Athletic 2–2 Leeds United on aggregate. Leeds United won on away goals.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Leeds United 1–1 Charlton Athletic on aggregate.
Replay
Third Division
Second Division relegation places Team20Sunderland421212184959–104821Grimsby Town421014183959–204422Brighton & Hove Albion42912213754–1739 Third Division play-off places Team3Swindon Town46251297747+30874Wigan Athletic462510118360+23855Gillingham46239146548+1778
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Sunderland 6–6 Gillingham on aggregate. Gillingham won on away goals.
Swindon Town won 3–2 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Swindon Town 2–2 Gillingham on aggregate.
Replay
Fourth Division
Third Division relegation places Team21Bolton Wanderers461015214658–124522Carlisle United46108283978–393823Darlington46716234577–323724Newport County46813254986–3737 Fourth Division play-off places Team4Wolverhampton Wanderers46247156950+19795Colchester United46217186456+8706Aldershot462010166457+770
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Wolverhampton Wanderers won 2–0 on aggregate.
Aldershot won 3–2 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Aldershot won 3–0 on aggregate.
External links Football League website