The story of the Football League's playoffs is a fascinating one, filled with drama, innovation, and a bit of chaos. It's a tale that began in the mid-1980s, when English football was in turmoil, and a group of officials sought to save the league from financial ruin and fan apathy. This is the story of how a brilliant idea, born out of necessity, became one of the most cherished fixtures in English football.
In the mid-1980s, English football was in crisis. Hooliganism was rampant, attendances were falling, and the threat of a breakaway Super League loomed. The Football League was on the brink of collapse, with bigger clubs demanding more power and revenue, while smaller clubs struggled to survive. The situation was so dire that the BBC and ITV had reached an impasse over broadcasting rights, leading to a season without televised football. Sponsors were losing interest, and the league's future was uncertain.
It was against this backdrop that a group of 10 officials from all four divisions met at the Post House hotel near Heathrow in December 1985. Gordon Taylor, the Professional Footballers' Association chair, acted as an intermediary during a six-hour meeting. It was here that the idea of the playoffs was born. Martin Lange, the chair of Brentford, proposed the concept as a way to generate revenue for Third and Fourth Division clubs, who would lose money under the new deal. Second Division clubs liked the idea so much that they adopted it, too.
The idea was not entirely new. It had been first floated in 1972 by Alan Hardaker, the then Football League secretary, but it had not received the same reception. As part of what became known as the Heathrow Agreement, the First Division would shrink from 22 to 20 teams. To make a fair and equitable transition, a system of staggered promotion and relegation was proposed, supplemented by a system of play-offs.
The exact format for these play-offs was still to be worked out, but it was inspired by American leagues. Initially, the play-offs would operate for two years, but if they proved popular with spectators, they could become a permanent part of the calendar. In the first iteration, the fourth-bottom team in the First Division would compete with the third, fourth, and fifth-placed teams in the Second Division. The wider membership still had to vote on the plans, which were not universally liked.
Before an EGM at the Cumberland hotel on April 28, 1986, the 22 First Division chairmen threatened to break away if the Heathrow Agreement were not adopted. Faced with this ultimatum, the plans were reluctantly accepted. The Football League had survived, and work began on finalizing the playoff format.
On May 23, 1986, the structure was confirmed. The semi-finals and final would be decided over two legs, with away goals. If scores were still level after this, a replay would be played the next day, going to extra time and penalties. Initially, teams would toss a coin for venue, but this was later replaced by neutral grounds. Semi-final replays were dropped.
Despite the agreement, the backlash began when the consequences were felt at the end of the 1986-87 season. Swindon's manager, Lou Macari, called for the format to be abolished after winning the inaugural Third Division playoff final. Joe Royle was furious after Oldham went out on away goals to Leeds in the first Division Two playoff semi-finals, despite finishing seven points above them.
Despite the complaints and an initially indifferent reaction from the media, the end-of-season drama quickly took hold. In 1986-87, promoted Charlton battled to stay in the First Division and were forced to fight for their lives again after finishing fourth-bottom. The players were unsure how to feel, but Charlton's Peter Shirtliff says, 'It's end of the season, you're knackered, you just want to put your feet up on a sunbed. But we were up for it.'
Charlton beat Ipswich 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, then faced Leeds in a final that could not be separated over two legs, each winning 1-0 at home. The competition was proving popular, with crowds of about 30,000 packing Elland Road for both Leeds home games. A replay at Birmingham's St Andrew's followed, a playoff to decide the playoffs.
The score was level after 90 minutes, and Charlton looked doomed when John Sheridan scored in extra time. But Shirtliff struck twice in four delirious minutes. It remains the only playoff final to go to a replay, after that idea was dropped. The Charlton coach hurtled down the M6 until the players, starving, demanded to stop. They pulled into a service station and tucked into cheap fast food.
Shirtliff, now 65, says, 'I’m thinking: ‘We’ve just managed to stay in the First Division and we’re all eating chips and god knows what in a services.’ Every time I think about it, I think: ‘What would they be doing now?’ They’d probably be in five-star restaurants or in a hotel with their own chef cooking for them.'
There was no celebration when they returned to their training ground late that night. 'Everyone’s got into their cars and just gone. That was it. See you later. There were no mobiles in those days, no social media or anything like that. That’s it, well done lads, we’ll let you know when pre-season starts. Unbelievable.'
Shirtliff still enjoys watching the playoffs, and the competition continues to evolve. Last summer's Championship, League One, and League Two finals drew a record 211,858 fans to Wembley. The concept is not standing still; from next season, the Championship playoffs will expand from four to six teams. Fifth through to eighth will play 'eliminator ties', with the winners facing third and fourth in the semi-finals.
The new idea is proving almost as controversial as the original concept, all those years ago. The playoffs have become a cherished part of English football, adding drama and excitement to the end of the season. They have also become a vital source of revenue for lower-league clubs, helping to keep the pyramid structure of English football alive. As the playoffs continue to evolve, they will undoubtedly remain a central part of the English football calendar, providing a platform for underdogs to dream and for fans to create unforgettable memories.
