Royce Franklin, a life member of the Association of Football Statisticians, digs up yet more fascinating facts about football
AT THE end of the 1986/87 season Oldham Athletic finished third in the old Second Division.
Until then, and after three up and three down had been introduced at the end of the 1973/74 season, Latics would automatically have been promoted.
Not this year, however, when the play offs were introduced, but not in the format we know today, but with a team from a higher division being in the mix with three teams from the lower one.
Latics played Leeds away in the first leg of the semi final losing 1-0 to a late goal by Keith Edwards. They won the second leg 2-1 after extra time but Leeds went through to the final on the away goals’ rule. Edwards again scored late in the game after Latics had led 2-0.
The final involving Leeds and Charlton Athletic was also a two-legged affair which ended 1-1 on aggregate. A replay was necessary which Charlton won 2-1 to retain their Division One status with Leeds remaining in the Second Division.
Preston have participated in the most play offs, but they are also the most unsuccessful. When they lost to Rotherham in the League One play offs in May this year, it was the ninth time they had lost out of nine.
Blackpool are the only team to have won all three divisional play offs. They have also gained the most promotions – four through the play offs and they have played in the most play off finals – six. Sheffield United have lost the most play off finals – four.
Four teams have played in the finals only once and won – Dagenham and Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Away goals have not counted in determining the winner in two-legged semi-finals since the 1998/99 season.
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