2011 Football League Championship play-off Final
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Football League Championship play-off final was a football match contested by Reading
and Swansea City
on 30 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium
to decide the third team to be promoted
from the Championship
to the Premier League for the 2011–12 season
.
Under Championship play-off
rules, the final is contested by the two teams which secured an aggregate victory over two-legged semi-finals, with the team that finished sixth in the league table (Nottingham Forest
) having played third (Swansea City
), and fifth (Reading
) having played fourth (Cardiff City
).
Swansea City won the final by a scoreline of 4–2. The Welsh side went into half-time 3–0 up thanks to two goals from Scott Sinclair
and a third from Stephen Dobbie
. Reading came close to bringing the score level in the early stages of the second-half through a Joe Allen
own goal
and a headed goal from Matthew Mills
. Swansea however, secured victory in the 80th minute with their second penalty kick
of the game, converted by Sinclair for his second career hat-trick.
2011 final
being held at Wembley Stadium
on 28 May 2011, it appeared that the three Football League play-off finals may have to be played at a different venue for the first time since 2007 due to the double-booking of Wembley.
Manchester United
's Old Trafford
had been confirmed as a possible alternative, while Arsenal
's Emirates Stadium
and the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff
were also said to be under consideration to host the Championship, League One
and League Two
play-off finals.
It was later confirmed that Wembley would host the Championship play-off final on 30 May, while Old Trafford
would host the League Two and League One finals on 28 and 29 May respectively.
and Swansea City
.
----
Reading won 3–0 on aggregate.
A win would also see Reading return to the Premier League after a three-year absence. Swansea City last played in England's top-flight in 1983, but a victory would make them the first Welsh
team to enter the contemporary 'Premier League' since its establishment in 1992.
s from Scott Sinclair
helped Swansea City secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 1983. Two goals in two first-half minutes for Sinclair, the first a penalty, and a third from Stephen Dobbie
saw the Welsh side go into the dressing room at half-time with a seemingly comfortable 3–0 advantage.
Television reports suggested that in the tunnel at half-time, Reading's assistant manager Nigel Gibbs
and unused substitute Jay Tabb
were both sent off by referee Phil Dowd
.
Reading struck back early in the second half, however, through a Noel Hunt
header which deflected in off Joe Allen for an own goal
and a headed goal by Matthew Mills
to pull the score back to 3–2. Reading came close to an equaliser when Jem Karacan
's shot was deflected onto the post, but Sinclair sealed it for the Swans with an 80th-minute penalty, and in doing so completing his second career hat-trick.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center>
SWANSEA CITY:
|
GK
1
Dorus de Vries
RB
22
Àngel Rangel
CB
16
Garry Monk
(c)
CB
2
Ashley Williams
LB
5
Alan Tate
CM
37
Leon Britton
CM
24
Joe Allen
RW
12
Nathan Dyer
AM
14
Stephen Dobbie
LW
21
Scott Sinclair
CF
15
Fabio Borini
Substitutes:
GK
25
Yves Makabu-Makalambay
DF
17
Albert Serrán
MF
8
Darren Pratley
MF
27
Mark Gower
MF
29
Ashley Richards
FW
9
Craig Beattie
FW
19
Luke Moore
Manager:
Brendan Rodgers
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on 30 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
to decide the third team to be promoted
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
to the Premier League for the 2011–12 season
2011–12 Premier League
The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...
.
Under Championship play-off
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
rules, the final is contested by the two teams which secured an aggregate victory over two-legged semi-finals, with the team that finished sixth in the league table (Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
) having played third (Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
), and fifth (Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
) having played fourth (Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
).
Swansea City won the final by a scoreline of 4–2. The Welsh side went into half-time 3–0 up thanks to two goals from Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair
Scott Andrew Sinclair is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Swansea City as a winger, having previously played for Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic...
and a third from Stephen Dobbie
Stephen Dobbie
Stephen Dobbie is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Swansea City.Dobbie began his career with Rangers in 2002, but did not play in a first team match. He had more opportunities at Hibernian, whom he joined in 2003 and then St. Johnstone whom he joined, initially on loan, in 2005....
. Reading came close to bringing the score level in the early stages of the second-half through a Joe Allen
Joe Allen
Joseph Michael "Joe" Allen is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Swansea City as a midfielder.-Club career:Allen has been a part of the Swansea City youth setup since he was nine years old...
own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
and a headed goal from Matthew Mills
Matthew Mills
Matthew Claude "Matt" Mills is an English footballer who currently plays for and is the current captain of Leicester City in the Npower Championship.-Southampton and Manchester City:...
. Swansea however, secured victory in the 80th minute with their second penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
of the game, converted by Sinclair for his second career hat-trick.
Venue controversy
Due to the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
2011 final
2011 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2011 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match played on 28 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London that decided the winner of the 2010–11 season of the UEFA Champions League. The winners received the European Champion Clubs' Cup...
being held at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 28 May 2011, it appeared that the three Football League play-off finals may have to be played at a different venue for the first time since 2007 due to the double-booking of Wembley.
Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
's Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
had been confirmed as a possible alternative, while Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
and the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
were also said to be under consideration to host the Championship, League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
play-off finals.
It was later confirmed that Wembley would host the Championship play-off final on 30 May, while Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
would host the League Two and League One finals on 28 and 29 May respectively.
Route to the final
The two-legged semi-finals determined that the final would be contested by ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
.
First legs
----Second legs
Swansea City won 3–1 on aggregate.----
Reading won 3–0 on aggregate.
Build-up
Accountancy firm Deloitte calculated that the Championship play-off final would again be worth about £90,000,000 to the winner, including over £40,000,000 of higher broadcast income, gate receipts and commercial income in the 2011-12 Premier League.A win would also see Reading return to the Premier League after a three-year absence. Swansea City last played in England's top-flight in 1983, but a victory would make them the first Welsh
Football in Wales
Association football in Wales is governed by the Football Association of Wales , which was established in 1876. The FAW oversees the Wales national football team and the Welsh football league system....
team to enter the contemporary 'Premier League' since its establishment in 1992.
Summary
A hat-trick which included two penalty kickPenalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
s from Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair
Scott Andrew Sinclair is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Swansea City as a winger, having previously played for Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic...
helped Swansea City secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 1983. Two goals in two first-half minutes for Sinclair, the first a penalty, and a third from Stephen Dobbie
Stephen Dobbie
Stephen Dobbie is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Swansea City.Dobbie began his career with Rangers in 2002, but did not play in a first team match. He had more opportunities at Hibernian, whom he joined in 2003 and then St. Johnstone whom he joined, initially on loan, in 2005....
saw the Welsh side go into the dressing room at half-time with a seemingly comfortable 3–0 advantage.
Television reports suggested that in the tunnel at half-time, Reading's assistant manager Nigel Gibbs
Nigel Gibbs
Nigel James Gibbs , is a former English footballer. A Watford supporter, as well as a product of their youth system, Gibbs spent his entire professional career as a right back for the club. He was voted Watford F.C. Player of the Season in 1992, and later captained them...
and unused substitute Jay Tabb
Jay Tabb
Jay Anthony Tabb is an English-born Irish professional footballer who plays for Reading.Tabb has played as right back, on both wings, in central midfield, and as centre forward...
were both sent off by referee Phil Dowd
Phil Dowd
Philip Dowd is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League. He is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire....
.
Reading struck back early in the second half, however, through a Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Football League Championship side Reading. His brother is Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C...
header which deflected in off Joe Allen for an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
and a headed goal by Matthew Mills
Matthew Mills
Matthew Claude "Matt" Mills is an English footballer who currently plays for and is the current captain of Leicester City in the Npower Championship.-Southampton and Manchester City:...
to pull the score back to 3–2. Reading came close to an equaliser when Jem Karacan
Jem Karacan
Jem Paul Karacan is an English-born Turkish footballer who plays for Reading as a midfielder. He has played internationally for the Turkish youth team, and has captained the U-21 side.-Early life:...
's shot was deflected onto the post, but Sinclair sealed it for the Swans with an 80th-minute penalty, and in doing so completing his second career hat-trick.
Details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | READING: | |||
| GK | 1 |  Adam FedericiAdam Federici Adam Jay Federici is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League Championship club Reading and has featured for the Australian national team.-Club career:... |
||
| RB | 2 | Andy Griffin Andy Griffin Andrew "Andy" Griffin is an English footballer, currently playing for Championship team, ReadingGriffin began his career at Stoke City, where he established a reputation as a solid wing-back defender... |
||
| CB | 5 | Matthew Mills Matthew Mills Matthew Claude "Matt" Mills is an English footballer who currently plays for and is the current captain of Leicester City in the Npower Championship.-Southampton and Manchester City:... (c) |
||
| CB | 15 |  Zurab KhizanishviliZurab Khizanishvili Zurab Khizanishvili is a Georgian footballer who plays for Turkish club Kayserispor as a defender.-Early career:Khizanishvili started his career at Dinamo Tbilisi where he remained for just one season, before joining FC Tbilisi to improve his chances of playing regular first team football.In 1999... |
||
| LB | 23 |  Ian HarteIan Harte Ian Patrick Harte is an Irish international footballer who plays for Reading in the Football League Championship. Best known for his spell at Leeds United and also his ability to score goals from long range, including being a free kick specialist... |
||
| CM | 4 |  Jem KaracanJem Karacan Jem Paul Karacan is an English-born Turkish footballer who plays for Reading as a midfielder. He has played internationally for the Turkish youth team, and has captained the U-21 side.-Early life:... |
||
| CM | 8 |  Mikele LeigertwoodMikele Leigertwood Mikele Benjamin Leigertwood is an English-born Antiguan footballer who plays for Reading in the Football League Championship. He also plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.- Club career :... |
||
| RW | 14 |  Jimmy KébéJimmy Kébé Jimmy Boubou Kébé is a France-born Malian footballer who plays for Reading as a winger.-Reading:On 16 January 2008, Kébé agreed to join Reading, but his then club US Boulogne initially refused to let him end his season-long loan early... |
||
| LW | 11 |  Jobi McAnuffJobi McAnuff Joel Joshua Frederick Dave "Jobi" McAnuff is a professional footballer who plays for and captains Reading F.C.. He is a midfielder and has played for Jamaica.-Early career:... |
||
| CF | 9 | Shane Long Shane Long Shane Patrick Long is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League team West Bromwich Albion and the Republic of Ireland national football team. With Ireland he was part of the team that secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.Long began his career at Cork City... |
||
| CF | 10 | Noel Hunt Noel Hunt Noel Hunt is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Football League Championship side Reading. His brother is Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C... |
||
| Substitutes: | ||||
| GK | 41 | Alex McCarthy Alex McCarthy Alex Simon McCarthy is an English footballer who plays for Leeds United as a goalkeeper on loan from Reading.-Club career:... |
||
| DF | 24 | Shaun Cummings Shaun Cummings Shaun Michael Cummings is an English footballer who plays for Reading as a defender.-Career:Born in Hammersmith, London, Cummings joined Chelsea's academy as a 12-year-old in 2002 and was the Blues' leading appearance-maker at reserve team level in the 2007–08 season, playing 18 games and scoring... |
||
| DF | 26 | Alex Pearce Alex Pearce Alexander James Pearce is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Reading, where he has played his entire career, interspersed with loan periods at various clubs... |
||
| MF | 7 | Jay Tabb Jay Tabb Jay Anthony Tabb is an English-born Irish professional footballer who plays for Reading.Tabb has played as right back, on both wings, in central midfield, and as centre forward... |
||
| MF | 19 | Hal Robson-Kanu Hal Robson-Kanu Hal Robson-Kanu is an international footballer who plays for Reading and the Wales national team as a forward.-Reading:... |
||
| MF | 20 | Brian Howard Brian Howard (footballer) Brian Richard William Howard is an English footballer who is contracted to Reading and is currently on loan to Millwall in the Football League Championship as a midfielder... |
||
| FW | 18 | Simon Church Simon Church Simon Richard Church is a Wales international footballer who plays for Football League Championship club Reading as a striker.-Club:Church was spotted as a youngster while playing at a youth tournament and joined hometown club Wycombe Wanderers Centre of Excellence as a nine-year-old upon... |
||
| Manager: | ||||
| Brian McDermott Brian McDermott (footballer) Brian James McDermott is an English football manager and former player.He joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1977 and went on to play for Fulham, IFK Norrköping, Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Exeter City and Yeovil Town in a 14-year playing career during the 1980s and 1990s... |
||||
Dorus de VriesDorus de Vries
Dorus de Vries is a Dutch football goalkeeper signed to English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.De Vries began his professional career in his native Holland with Telstar, before spending three seasons with ADO Den Haag. He moved to Britain in 2006, when he spent a season at Scottish...
Àngel RangelÀngel Rangel
Àngel Rangel Zaragoza is a Spanish footballer who plays for Swansea City in the Premier League, as a right back.-Football career:...
Garry MonkGarry Monk
Garry Alan Monk is an English professional footballer, currently playing as a central defender for Swansea City. He has played for England at Under-17 level.-Early career:...
(c)
Ashley WilliamsAshley Williams (footballer)
Ashley Errol Williams is a Wales international footballer who plays for Swansea City as a defender.-Stockport County:He began his career at West Bromwich Albion as a youth player but was released by the club at 16 and went on to join Hednesford Town...
Alan Tate Leon BrittonLeon Britton
Leon James Britton is an English professional football player, who plays for Swansea City following a short lived spell for Sheffield United.- Youth career :...
Joe Allen Nathan DyerNathan Dyer
Nathan Antone Jonah Dyer is an English footballer who plays for Swansea City A.F.C. as a midfielder.-Southampton:Dyer was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and joined the Southampton F.C. Academy as a teenager...
Stephen DobbieStephen Dobbie
Stephen Dobbie is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Swansea City.Dobbie began his career with Rangers in 2002, but did not play in a first team match. He had more opportunities at Hibernian, whom he joined in 2003 and then St. Johnstone whom he joined, initially on loan, in 2005....
Scott SinclairScott Sinclair
Scott Andrew Sinclair is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Swansea City as a winger, having previously played for Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic...
Fabio BoriniFabio Borini
Fabio Borini is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Roma on loan from Parma. He started his career at Bologna, before moving to Chelsea in 2007...
Yves Makabu-Makalambay Albert SerránAlbert Serrán
Albert Serrán Polo is a Spanish footballer who plays for AEK Larnaca F.C. in Cyprus, as a defender.-Football career:...
Darren PratleyDarren Pratley
Darren Anthony Pratley is an English footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League.-Career:-Early career:...
Mark GowerMark Gower
Mark Gower is an English footballer who plays for Swansea City. He joined Swansea from Southend United in the summer of 2008. He also played for the England schoolboys team.-Career:...
Ashley RichardsAshley Richards
Ashley Darel Jazz Richards is a Welsh professional footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Swansea City.-Club career:Richards made his professional debut for Swansea City in a Championship match against Middlesbrough in the 3–0 loss on 15 August 2009, replacing Shaun MacDonald as a substitute in...
Craig BeattieCraig Beattie
Craig Beattie is a Scottish footballer who has played for Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Celtic as a striker.-Celtic:...
Luke MooreLuke Moore
Luke Moore is an English football striker who currently plays for Swansea City. Moore has represented England at U21 level and is the younger brother of fellow former professional footballer, Stefan Moore.-Aston Villa:...
Brendan RodgersBrendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers is a Northern Irish former footballer, who is currently the manager of Swansea City.After retiring as a footballer at the age of 20, Rodgers stayed at Reading and was appointed as youth team coach. He joined Chelsea, under the leadership of José Mourinho, as youth team manager in...
MATCH OFFICIALS
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MATCH RULES
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