The Football League play-offs for the 1996–97 season were held in May 1997, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs and will be contested by the teams who finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals will go through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season.
First Division
Team3Wolverhampton Wanderers462210146851+17764Ipswich Town462014126850+18745Sheffield United462013137552+23736Crystal Palace461914137848+3071
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Ipswich Town 3–3 Sheffield United on aggregate. Sheffield United won on away goals.
Crystal Palace won 4–3 on aggregate.
Final
Second Division
Team3Luton Town462115105941+18784Brentford462014125643+13745Bristol City462110156951+18736Crewe Alexandra46227175647+973
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Brentford won 4–2 on aggregate.
Crewe Alexandra won 4–3 on aggregate.
Final
Third Division
Team4Northampton Town462012146744+23725Swansea City46218176258+4716Chester City461816125543+12707Cardiff City46209175654+269
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Swansea City won 3–0 on aggregate.
Northampton Town won 4–2 on aggregate.
Final
External links Football League website