The Footy PlayOffs Thread!

[Admin]

As there are loads of playoff games starting soon, thought we'd dedicate a thread to them!
I have a vested interest as my scottish team, Berwick Rangers are in the playoffs after finishing 2nd on goal diff . They play stenhousemuir away weds and at home saturday, which I'm going to! Come on your 'Gers/Borderes!
Also, Harroaget Town are in the playoffs against Stafford, and of course Leeds United are in there.
Going to be loads of heartbreak and loads of action, all the way down the pyramid!

[Zodiac]

I take it it's

Leeds Vs Preston
C Palace Vs Watford

in the Championship play-offs then. I hope Leeds are disposed of quickly.

Sadly, my lovely Ks narrowly missed out on a play-off place...

Ryman League Division One

C Ramsgate 44 24 14 6 84 38 +46 86
P Horsham 44 25 11 8 94 55 +39 86
-------------------------------------------------------
3 Tonbridge Angels 44 24 8 12 71 48 +23 80
4 Metropolitan Police 44 24 7 13 72 46 +26 79
5 Dover Athletic 44 21 14 9 69 46 +23 77
6 Tooting & Mitcham 44 22 9 13 93 62 +31 75
---------------------------------------------------------
7 Kingstonian 44 20 14 10 82 56 +26 74

Another year in the doldrums then

[Robbie]

It's a pity about Berwick missing out on automatic promotion, but after such a good start to the season (excellent, in fact), they sort of lost their way in November / December. Fortunately, they found form again but that mid-season blip cost them automatic promotion.

I do hope they get through the play-offs though.

In the Championship, I hope Leeds get can get promoted. Not that they will survive with the team they have, but at least it's a local-ish team, and we're always good for 3 points at Elland Road - Newcastle's best away Premiership record is against Leeds...

[frag]

Play-off fixtures...

Championship
5 May: Leeds v Preston, 19:45
6 May: Crystal Palace v Watford, 12:15
8 May: Preston v Leeds, 19:45
9 May: Watford v Crystal Palace, 19:45
21 May: Final, 15:00

League One
11 May: 5th Place v 4th Place, 19:45
11 May: 6th Place v 3rd Place, 19:45
14 May: 3rd Place v 6th Place, 15:00
14 May: 4th Place v 5th Place, 15:00
27 May: Winners 3rd v 6th v Winners 4th v 5th, 15:00

League Two
13 May: 6th Place v 5th Place, 15:00
13 May: 7th Place v 4th Place, 15:00
16 May: 4th Place v 7th Place, 19:45
16 May: 5th Place v 6th Place, 19:45
28 May: Winners 4th v 7th v Winners 5th v 6th, 15:00

Conference
6 May: Halifax v Grays Athletic, 15:00
6 May: Morecambe v Hereford, 15:00
11 May: Grays Athletic v Halifax, 19:45
11 May: Hereford v Morecambe, 19:45
20 May: Final, 17:30

Conference North:
1 May: Nuneaton v Droylsden (1500 BST)
2 May: Stafford v Harrogate Town (1945 BST)
6 May: Final - Nuneaton/Droylsden v Stafford/Harrogate Town (1500 BST)

Conference South:
1 May: Farnborough v Histon (1500 BST)
7 May: Final - St Albans v Farnborough/Histon (1400 BST)

[greendemon]

i'd really like leeds to come up, actually... doubt they'll get past preston, though

[dynamoe88]

So The Championship playoffs are a week earlier than usual - to release player for the World Cup I imagine.
Are the Football League playoffs at The Millenium Stadium and the Conference Final(s) at Stoke's Britannia Stadium?

Does Andy or anyone know how the Scottish League playoffs work - with 3 rather than 4 teams?

[Robbie]

dynamoe88 said:

So The Championship playoffs are a week earlier than usual - to release player for the World Cup I imagine.
Are the Football League playoffs at The Millenium Stadium and the Conference Final(s) at Stoke's Britannia Stadium?

Does Andy or anyone know how the Scottish League playoffs work - with 3 rather than 4 teams?

I thought there were 4 teams in the Scottish play-offs. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams and the team that finished 2nd bottom in the higher league?

[Admin]

Yep, there is robbie, 2nd and 3rd play each other, 4th placed team in the lower league plays the team in the 2nd relegation spot from the higher league, very convoluted imo.
I do hope berwick can do it. Can anyone confirm the scottish playoffs are this weds and sat, and then the following weds and saturday?
And zodiac, kingstonian have fallen haven't they, thought they were conference a few years ago?
And the championship playoffs start next week, blimey!

[Robbie]

Going slightly off-topic, but I was sad to see Scarborough get relegated from the Conference. They are still close enough to be considered a north east team. They've been relegated, Hartlepool could be down. It's a bad season for some of the regional teams.

Thank Goodness for Sunderland!

[greendemon]

yeah, it is a shame about scarborough disappointed about york as well; failing to make the playoffs again after a promising start to the season... oh well...

[Zodiac]

admin said:

And zodiac, kingstonian have fallen haven't they, thought they were conference a few years ago?

Indeed. We were in the Conference-it's been an absolute DISASTROUS last few years. Going into administration, having a total tosser of a chairman who f***ed us over some more, selling the ground to AFC Wimbledon (who have overtaken us in the league pyramid and who have kept us on as tenants). We're now three tiers below the Nationwide Conference Thankfully, the current chairman seems to be doing a decent job, and we've achieved a bit of stability, both financially and on the pitch.

[Dj]

greendemon said:

i'd really like leeds to come up, actually... doubt they'll get past preston, though

Leeds were awful yesterday - they were playing like they were just there to take their money and that was it. Saying that though North End were closing em down at every opportunity - although, granted, Leeds had made changes to their side... but so had we, can't see the likes of Dichio, Hill, Stock, Wilson, playing in the two legs... well not starting anyway.

Should be a good couple of games - they are 11 with only one win, we are 11 with only one defeat. Makes for an intersting tie! Even more interesting now Nugent is back for us too!

[frag]

dynamoe88 said:

So The Championship playoffs are a week earlier than usual - to release player for the World Cup I imagine.

Yeah, and FIFA have given clearance for any world cup players involved in the Championship final to play there before going to meet up with their squads.

Are the Football League playoffs at The Millenium Stadium and the Conference Final(s) at Stoke's Britannia Stadium?

The football league playoffs are all at the millennium stadium, but the conference final is at the Walker's Stadium (Leicester City)
The conf. north final is at Martson Road, and the south final is at Broadhall Way. Not sure where those grounds are.

[Thor]

fragolata said:

dynamoe88 said:

So The Championship playoffs are a week earlier than usual - to release player for the World Cup I imagine.

Yeah, and FIFA have given clearance for any world cup players involved in the Championship final to play there before going to meet up with their squads.

Are the Football League playoffs at The Millenium Stadium and the Conference Final(s) at Stoke's Britannia Stadium?

The football league playoffs are all at the millennium stadium, but the conference final is at the Walker's Stadium (Leicester City)
The conf. north final is at Martson Road, and the south final is at Broadhall Way. Not sure where those grounds are.

Marston Road is Stafford's ground, quite why they would ahve home advantage I don't know. Broadhall is Stevenage

[Admin]

I want the winners of leeds v preston to be in the prem next season, simple as.

[Thor]

admin said:

I want the winners of leeds v preston to be in the prem next season, simple as.

I'll go with that. Not nearly enough Northern teams in the Prem

[Admin]

So do some of these start tonight or tomorrow?

[dynamoe88]

Cheers for the info.

I think we don't need any more NW teams in the Premier, if Preston get promoted that would make 8 from the old Lancashire county. Although there would be plenty of interesting derbies - especially between Preston, Blackburn, Bolton & Wigan. I have a feeling Wigan may struggle next season. A bit like Ipswich a few years ago - the 2nd season blues.

To be fair I'd say Leeds to go up given the size of the city and fan base.

Just little off topic - what about Gretna making a third straight promotion charge next season?
In the Cup they battered Dundee and even beat Premier bound St Mirren.
Personally I think it's great they made the cup final and to the Uefa Cup.
Is it the same set-up as in England?
Will Gretna still play in Europe if they lose the final because Hearts will qualify through the league?

[Razzle Dazzle]

it depends for example in this country although wigan got to the carling cup final and manu already are in the champions leage they havent qualified...

but west have thru the FA cup...strange

[Admin]

Not sure on gretna, the thing holding them back is their ground, it's capacity is only 1500, or something? I mean berwick's can hold 3600! They need to get the crowd improved rapidly to cope with bigger crowds, it is great what they have managed though and I see no reason why they wont do well next year as well.
be interesting to see what they do against Hearts in the cup!