:2001 Football League Third Division play-off final

{{main|2000–01 Football League Third Division}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

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|teamwidth=auto

|title=Football League Third Division final table, leading positions

|team1=BHA|name_BHA=Brighton & Hove Albion

|team2=CAR|name_CAR=Cardiff City

|team3=CHF|name_CHF=Chesterfield

|team4=HAR|name_HAR=Hartlepool United

|team5=LEY|name_LEY=Leyton Orient

|team6=HUL|name_HUL=Hull City

|team7=BLP|name_BLP=Blackpool

|win_BHA=28|draw_BHA=8|loss_BHA=10|gf_BHA=73|ga_BHA=35

|win_CAR=23|draw_CAR=13|loss_CAR=10|gf_CAR=95|ga_CAR=58

|win_CHF=25|draw_CHF=14|loss_CHF=7|gf_CHF=79|ga_CHF=42|adjust_points_CHF=-9

|win_HAR=21|draw_HAR=14|loss_HAR=11|gf_HAR=71|ga_HAR=54

|win_LEY=20|draw_LEY=15|loss_LEY=11|gf_LEY=59|ga_LEY=51

|win_HUL=19|draw_HUL=17|loss_HUL=10|gf_HUL=47|ga_HUL=39

|win_BLP=22|draw_BLP=6|loss_BLP=18|gf_BLP=74|ga_BLP=58

|hth_CHF=Chesterfield had 9 points deducted.

|update=complete|title_source={{Cite web | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2000-2001/regular-season/r1946/ | website = Soccerway | access-date = 5 April 2021 | title = League Two – 2000/2001 – Regular season | publisher = Perform Group | archive-date = 15 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210415210005/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2000-2001/regular-season/r1946/ | url-status = live }}

}}

Leyton Orient finished the regular 2000–01 season in fifth position in the Third Division, the fourth tier of the English football league system, two places and three points ahead of Blackpool. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to the Second Division and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Leyton Orient finished five points behind Chesterfield (who were promoted in third place, despite having been deducted nine points for financial irregularities),{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1311131.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 5 April 2021 | date = 3 May 2001 | title = Chesterfield's points deduction confirmed | archive-date = 5 November 2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021105101215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/1311131.stm | url-status = live }} seven behind Cardiff City and seventeen behind league winners Brighton & Hove Albion. Blackpool were in fifteenth position in the league in mid-November and secured their play-off place on the final day of the season.{{sfn|Foster|2015|p=168}} Leyton Orient lost just one of their final eleven league matches prior to the play-offs.{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A75053297/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=1cbfc2d4 | work = Racing Post | access-date = 6 April 2021 | date = 26 May 2001 | title = Blackpool to illuminate final thriller | first = Paul | last = Johnson | via = Gale | url-access = subscription | page = 127 | archive-date = 19 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202804/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA75053297&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=1cbfc2d4 | url-status = live }}

Blackpool's opponents in their play-off semi-final were Hartlepool United with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool on 13 May 2001.{{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-hartlepool-united-13-may-2001-7136/ | website = 11v11 | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 8 May 2021 | title = Blackpool v Hartlepool United, 13 May 2001 | archive-date = 1 June 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170601171913/http://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-hartlepool-united-13-may-2001-7136/ | url-status = live }} After a goalless first half, the home side took the lead on the hour mark when Brett Ormerod received a pass from Gary Parkinson and struck the ball past Hartlepool goalkeeper Anthony Williams. Seventeen minutes later Ormerod scored his and Blackpool's second goal to secure a 2–0 victory.{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1325166.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = Ormerod raises Blackpool hopes | date = 12 May 2001 | archive-date = 25 February 2003 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030225131351/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1325166.stm | url-status = live }} The return leg was held three days later at Victoria Park in Hartlepool. The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when Ormerod headed a free kick from Parkinson past Williams. Three minutes into the second half, Hartlepool made it 1–1 when Kevin Henderson scored with a volley from Paul Stephenson's pass. John Hills restored Blackpool's lead a minute later when he headed Ormerod's cross in before Jermaine Easter, a second-half substitute for Hartlepool, was sent off for a foul on Brian Reid. In the 67th minute, Richie Wellens passed to Hills whose cross was converted by Ormerod to make it 3–1. Blackpool secured a 5–1 aggregate victory and progressed to the final.{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1332499.stm | title = Blackpool reach play-off final | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 6 April 2021 | date = 16 May 2001 | archive-date = 25 February 2003 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030225131422/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1332499.stm | url-status = live }}

In the second semi-final, Leyton Orient faced Hull City and the first match was played at Boothferry Park, Hull's home ground, on 13 May 2001.{{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/hull-city-v-leyton-orient-13-may-2001-7137/ | website = 11v11 | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 8 May 2021 | title = Hull City v Leyton Orient, 13 May 2001 | archive-date = 8 May 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210508142012/https://www.11v11.com/matches/hull-city-v-leyton-orient-13-may-2001-7137/ | url-status = live }} The first half ended goalless with the best chance coming when a flick-on from Kevin Francis found Mark Greaves whose shot struck the Leyton Orient crossbar. John Eyer came on as a substitute for Francis midway through the second half and within minutes had put Hull ahead. Leyton Orient failed to clear a Hull corner and Eyre's shot from the edge of the penalty area beat Ashley Bayes to make it 1–0.{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1325168.stm | title = Eyre puts Hull on top | date = 13 May 2001 | access-date = 6 April 2021 | publisher = BBC Sport | archive-date = 25 December 2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021225102155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1325168.stm | url-status = live }} The second leg took place three days later at Brisbane Road in Leyton. The home side took the lead a minute before half-time when Steve Watts headed in a cross from Scott Houghton from around {{convert|10|yd}}. Leyton Orient dominated the game and doubled their lead midway through the second half when Matt Lockwood scored from {{convert|30|yd}} direct from a free kick. It gave them a 2–1 aggregate victory and saw them progress to the final.{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1332280.stm | title = Orient see off Hull challenge | date = 16 May 2001 | access-date = 6 April 2021 | publisher = BBC Sport | archive-date = 25 December 2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021225094747/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1332280.stm | url-status = live }}

File:Brett Ormerod.jpg

This was Blackpool's fourth appearance in the play-offs and their third final: they lost to Torquay United on penalties in the 1991 Football League Fourth Division play-off final at the old Wembley Stadium and defeated Scunthorpe United in a penalty shootout in the following season's final. Blackpool had been relegated to the fourth tier of English football the previous season and were aiming for an immediate return to the Second Division.{{Cite web | url = https://www.fchd.info/BLACKPOO.HTM | title = Blackpool | website = Football Club History Database | access-date = 6 April 2021 | archive-date = 8 August 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200808183005/http://fchd.info/BLACKPOO.HTM | url-status = live }} Leyton Orient were making their third appearance in the final of the play-offs, and had won just once, in the 1989 Football League Fourth Division play-off final which was played over two legs against Wrexham.{{Cite web| url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-wrexham-03-june-1989-306790/| website = 11v11.com| publisher = AFS Enterprises| access-date = 12 June 2020| title = Leyton Orient v Wrexham, 03 June 1989| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200612144641/https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-wrexham-03-june-1989-306790/| archive-date = 12 June 2020| url-status = live}} Orient's defeat came in the 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final against Scunthorpe United at the old Wembley Stadium.{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/355955.stm | title = Garcia strike takes Iron up | date = 29 May 1999 | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 12 June 2020}} Leyton Orient had played in the fourth tier of English football since being relegated in the 1994–95 season.{{Cite web | url = https://www.fchd.info/LEYTONOR.HTM | title = Leyton Orient | website = Football Club History Database | access-date = 6 April 2021 | archive-date = 28 January 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210128014400/https://www.fchd.info/LEYTONOR.HTM | url-status = live }}

In the matches between the sides during the regular season, the first ended in a 2–2 at Bloomfield Road in August 2000 while Leyton Orient won their home game 1–0 the following March.{{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/leyton-orient/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Blackpool/ | website = 11v11 | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = Leyton Orient football club: record v Blackpool | archive-date = 18 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210418221023/https://www.11v11.com/teams/leyton-orient/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Blackpool/ | url-status = live }} Carl Griffiths was the leading scorer for Leyton Orient with 19 goals in the regular season (15 in the league and 4 in the FA Cup) followed by Watts on 9 (8 in the league and 1 in the League Cup).{{Cite web | url = https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1537&teamTabs=stats&season_id=130 | website = Soccerbase | publisher = Centurycomm | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = Leyton Orient squad details – 2000/01 – Player appearances}} John Murphy led the scoring for Blackpool with 23 goals (18 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 4 in the League Cup) followed by Ormerod with 22 (18 in the league, 2 in the FA Cup, 1 in the League Cup and 1 in the Football League Trophy).{{Cite web | url = https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=317&teamTabs=stats&season_id=130 | website = Soccerbase | publisher = Centurycomm | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = Blackpool squad details – 2000/01 – Player appearances | archive-date = 19 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202801/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=317&teamTabs=stats&season_id=130 | url-status = live }}

The referee for the match was David Pugh. Both sides adopted a 4–4–2 formation for the final.{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A75080676/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=2db95b2d | work = The Guardian | access-date = 6 April 2021 | date = 28 May 2001 | title = Blackpool's winning day trip is perfect end to roller-coaster season | first = John | last = Brodkin | via = Gale | url-access = subscription | page = 4 | archive-date = 19 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202743/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA75080676&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=2db95b2d | url-status = live }} Blackpool were considered favourites to win the match by the Racing Post. As a result of the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium, it was the first time the English Football League play-offs had taken place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.{{Cite web | url = https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/68990979/the-guardian/ | work = The Guardian | via = Newspapers.com | access-date = 31 January 2021 | date = 4 January 2001 | page = 28 | first1 = Paul | last1 = Rees | first2 = Vivek | last2 = Chaudhary | url-access = subscription | title = Cardiff to host next three FA Cup finals | archive-date = 4 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210204224731/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/68990979/the-guardian/ | url-status = live }}

The match kicked off around 3{{nbsp}}p.m. on 26 May 2001 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of 23,600 spectators.{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-leyton-orient-26-may-2001-7279/ | newspaper = 11V11.Com | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = Blackpool v Leyton Orient, 26 May 2001 | publisher = AFS Enterprises | archive-date = 19 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202805/https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-leyton-orient-26-may-2001-7279/ | url-status = live }} After 27 seconds, an error from Blackpool's goalkeeper Phil Barnes following a backpass from Reid allowed Chris Tate to score, putting Leyton Orient into an early lead. In the sixth minute, Tate's header from an Andy Harris cross went over the Blackpool crossbar. Three minutes later Bayes saved Danny Coid's attempt to score from close range, before diving to keep out a {{convert|25|yd|adj=on}} strike from Coid in the 13th minute. Parkinson's free kick from {{convert|35|yd}} went high over the Leyton Orient bar in the 19th minute before Barnes tipped over a diving header from David McGhee. Another McGhee header was saved by Barnes in the 27th minute. Seven minutes later the scores were level as Ian Hughes headed in Paul Simpson's corner to make it 1–1. Two minutes later, Houghton restored Leyton Orient's lead with a strike from around {{convert|20|yd}} which beat Barnes. A minute before half-time, Blackpool equalised once again as Reid converted Parkinson's cross, and the half ended 2–2.{{Cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1353336.stm| title = Clockwatch: Blackpool 4–2 Orient| publisher = BBC Sport| access-date = 6 April 2021| date = 26 May 2001| archive-date = 24 February 2003| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030224185805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1353336.stm| url-status = live}}

Neither side made any change to their personnel during the interval and three minutes into the second half, Jabo Ibehre's strike from inside the Blackpool penalty area struck the goalpost. In the 58th minute, Murphy's shot from around {{convert|20|yd}} cleared the Leyton Orient crossbar. Seven minutes later, Leyton Orient made their first substitutions of the game, with Tate and Wim Walschaerts being replaced by Ahmet Brković and Steve Castle. With 13 minutes of the match remaining, Blackpool took the lead for the first time, after Simpson scored following Ormerod's through ball. In the 82nd minute, Houghton was then substituted for John Martin. Six minutes later Omerod converted a cross from Hills from around {{convert|6|yd}} to make it 4–2 to Blackpool. With a minute to go, Mike Milligan and Jamie Milligan were brought on for Ormerod and Simpson and after three minutes of injury time, the final whistle was blown, with Blackpool securing promotion to the Second Division with a 4–2 victory.

{{football box

|date = 26 May 2001

|time = 15:00 BST

|team1 = Blackpool

|score = 4–2

|report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1352122.stm (Report)]

|team2 = Leyton Orient

|goals1 = Hughes {{goal|35}}
Reid {{goal|45}}
Simpson {{goal|77}}
Ormerod {{goal|88}}

|goals2 = Tate {{goal|1}}
Houghton {{goal|37}}

|stadium = Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

|attendance = 23,600

|referee = David Pugh}}

|valign="top" width="50%"|

|}

The Blackpool manager Steve McMahon "was in total disbelief when the first goal went in" but suggested although his side "didn't play brilliantly but I think we were the best team."{{Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1353736.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = McMahon: The best team won | date = 26 May 2001 | archive-date = 24 February 2003 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030224175623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1353736.stm | url-status = live }} His counterpart Tommy Taylor said that his opponents were "the better side in the second half" and that they "deserved to win it." The opening goal, timed at 27 seconds, was the fastest ever scored in a play-off final.{{sfn|Foster|2015|p=168}}

Blackpool ended their following season in sixteenth position in the Second Division, five places and twelve points ahead of the relegation zone.{{Cite web | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2001-2002/regular-season/r93/ | website = Soccerway | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = League Two – 2001/2002 – Regular season | publisher = Perform Group }} Leyton Orient's next season saw them finish in eighteenth place in the Third Division.{{Cite web | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2001-2002/regular-season/r313/ | website = Soccerway | access-date = 6 April 2021 | title = League One – 2001/2002 – Regular season | publisher = Perform Group }}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book | title = The Agony & The Ecstasy (A Comprehensive History of the Football League play-offs)| first = Richard | last = Foster | isbn= 978-1-910906-00-2| publisher = Ockley Books | date = 2015}}

{{EFL League Two play-offs}}

{{2000–01 in English football}}

{{Blackpool F.C. matches}}

{{Leyton Orient F.C. matches}}

play

Category:Football League Third Division play-off finals

Category:EFL League Two play-off finals

3

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