The Football League play-offs for the 1987–88 season were held in May 1988, 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 Team18Chelsea40915165068–184219Portsmouth40714193666–303520Watford40711222751–243221Oxford United40613214480–3631 Second Division play-off places Team3Middlesbrough442212106336+27784Bradford City442211117454+20775Blackburn Rovers44211496852+1677
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Chelsea won 6–1 on aggregate.
Middlesbrough won 3–2 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Middlesbrough won 2–1 on aggregate and were promoted to the First Division. Chelsea was relegated to the Second Division.
Third Division
Second Division relegation places Team21Sheffield United44137244574–294622Reading441012224470–264223Huddersfield Town446102841100–5928 Third Division play-off places Team3Walsall462313106850+18824Notts County462312118249+33815Bristol City462112137762+1575
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Bristol City won 2–1 on aggregate.
Walsall won 4–2 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Walsall 3–3 Bristol City on aggregate - Walsall won 4-2 on pens to decide who would host the replay. Replay
Fourth Division
Third Division relegation places Team21Rotherham United461216185066–165222Grimsby Town461214204858–105023York City4689294891–433324Doncaster Rovers4689294084–4433 Fourth Division play-off places Team4Scunthorpe United46201797651+25775Torquay United462114116641+25776Swansea City462010166256+670
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Swansea City won 2–1 on aggregate.
Torquay United won 3–2 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Swansea City won 5–4 on aggregate.
External links Football League website