2011 Football League One play-off Final
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Football League One play-off final was a football match contested by Huddersfield Town
and Peterborough United
on 29 May 2011 at Old Trafford
to decide the third team to be promoted
from League One
to the Championship
for the 2011–12 season
.
Under League One 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 (Bournemouth
) having played third (Huddersfield Town
), and fifth (Milton Keynes Dons
) having played fourth (Peterborough United
).
Peterborough United won the match by a scoreline of 3–0, with goals from Tommy Rowe
, Craig Mackail-Smith
and Grant McCann
in the later stages of the second half.
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 Peterborough United
.
----
Peterborough United won 4–3 on aggregate.
in third place. This was Huddersfield's sixth venture in the play-offs and their second consecutive; the two years that they reached the final (1995 and 2004) they secured promotion.
For Peterborough United, a final win would mean an immediate return to the Championship, having spent only one of their last seventeen seasons in League One. The London Road club were the top-scoring club in the country this campaign, with 106 goals (their 46 league games generated a total of 181 goals, or 3.93 per game). Manager Darren Ferguson
, who returned in January 2011, two years after leaving them at the end of the first managerial appointment of his career, will oversee his club's third play-off campaign; 1992 and 2000 were both successful attempts at promotion via the play-offs for the eastern England side.
broke the deadlock with a header from a Grant McCann
free-kick
. Two minutes later, Craig Mackail-Smith
's shot deflected in off Antony Kay
, and any remaining Huddersfield hopes were dashed when McCann curled in an 85th-minute free-kick to seal Town's first league defeat of 2011 and United's third play-off success in as many attempts.
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
and Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on 29 May 2011 at 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:...
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 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....
to 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...
for the 2011–12 season
2011–12 Football League Championship
The 2011–12 Football League Championship is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format....
.
Under League One play-off
Football League One play-offs
The Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
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 (Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
) having played third (Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
), and fifth (Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
) having played fourth (Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
).
Peterborough United won the match by a scoreline of 3–0, with goals from Tommy Rowe
Tommy Rowe
Thomas Malcolm "Tommy" Rowe is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Peterborough United.-Stockport County:Rowe was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and started his football career as a boy with Manchester United...
, Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Anthony Robert Mackail-Smith is a footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion as a striker. He has also played for England C and at full international level for Scotland...
and Grant McCann
Grant McCann
Grant Samuel McCann is a Northern Irish international footballer who currently plays for Peterborough United who play in The Championship in England where he is the captain.-Club career:...
in the later stages of the second half.
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 will be contested by Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
and Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
.
First legs
----Second legs
Huddersfield Town 4–4 Bournemouth on aggregate. Huddersfield Town won 4–2 on penalties.----
Peterborough United won 4–3 on aggregate.
Pre-match
A victory would see Huddersfield Town return to the second tier of English football for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Terriers went into the final unbeaten in twenty-three games in all competitions, including thirteen wins. Manager Lee Clark saw his team finish ninth and sixth in the two seasons prior to concluding the 2010-11 campaign2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
in third place. This was Huddersfield's sixth venture in the play-offs and their second consecutive; the two years that they reached the final (1995 and 2004) they secured promotion.
For Peterborough United, a final win would mean an immediate return to the Championship, having spent only one of their last seventeen seasons in League One. The London Road club were the top-scoring club in the country this campaign, with 106 goals (their 46 league games generated a total of 181 goals, or 3.93 per game). Manager Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
, who returned in January 2011, two years after leaving them at the end of the first managerial appointment of his career, will oversee his club's third play-off campaign; 1992 and 2000 were both successful attempts at promotion via the play-offs for the eastern England side.
Summary
Despite the form of both teams, the match appeared to be heading for extra-time until the 78th minute when Peterborough's Tommy RoweTommy Rowe
Thomas Malcolm "Tommy" Rowe is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Peterborough United.-Stockport County:Rowe was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and started his football career as a boy with Manchester United...
broke the deadlock with a header from a Grant McCann
Grant McCann
Grant Samuel McCann is a Northern Irish international footballer who currently plays for Peterborough United who play in The Championship in England where he is the captain.-Club career:...
free-kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
. Two minutes later, Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Anthony Robert Mackail-Smith is a footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion as a striker. He has also played for England C and at full international level for Scotland...
's shot deflected in off Antony Kay
Antony Kay
Antony Roland Kay is an English professional footballer. He currently plays for Huddersfield Town in Football League One, as a defender and a midfielder.-Barnsley:...
, and any remaining Huddersfield hopes were dashed when McCann curled in an 85th-minute free-kick to seal Town's first league defeat of 2011 and United's third play-off success in as many attempts.
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