Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Football League Playoff Schedule

First of all, congratulations to West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City for their automatic entry into the Premier League next season, congratulations to Swansea and Nottingham Forest for heading up to the Championship, and congratulations to Paul Ince's MK Dons, Peterborough, and Hereford for their promotions to League One. Also, a shout out to Aldershot for winning the Blue Square Premier division and earning a berth into League Two.

With that out of the way, there are still three more promotion spots in total up for grabs through the playoffs, one in each league. The passion and win-or-go-home attitude displayed at this stage of the season is really a great treat to watch, and if the semifinalists are lucky enough to advance, a one-off, winner-take-all match in front of a massive crowd at Wembley awaits. No pressure or anything...

Here it is, the complete schedule for the Football League playoffs. Games start this weekend, so enjoy. All times are BST, home teams are listed first:

Championship:

Saturday, 10 May 2008
5. Crystal Palace vs. 4. Bristol City -- Semifinal, Leg 1, 12:15

Sunday, 11 May 2008
6. Watford vs. 3. Hull -- Semifinal, Leg 1, 12:00

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Bristol City vs. Crystal Palace -- Semifinal, Leg 2, 19:45

Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Hull vs. Watford -- Semifinal, Leg 2, 19:45

Saturday, 24 May 2008
Winners 3rd vs. 6th vs. Winners 4th vs. 5th -- Final (@ Wembley), 15:00

League One:

Friday, 09 May 2008
6. Southend vs. 3. Doncaster -- Semifinal, Leg 1, 19:45

Monday, 12 May 2008
5. Leeds vs. 4. Carlisle -- Semifinal, Leg 1, 19:45

Thursday, 15 May 2008
Carlisle vs. Leeds -- Semifinal, Leg 2, 19:45

Friday, 16 May 2008
Doncaster vs. Southend -- Semifinal, Leg 2, 19:45

Sunday, 25 May 2008
Winners 3rd vs. 6th vs. Winners 4th vs. 5th -- Final (@ Wembley), 15:00

League Two:

Saturday, 10 May 2008
6. Darlington vs. 4. Rochdale -- Semifinal, Leg 1, 17:35

Sunday, 11 May 2008
7. Wycombe vs. 5. Stockport County -- Semifinal, Leg 1, 18:00

Saturday, 17 May 2008
Rochdale vs. Darlington -- Semifinal, Leg 2, 12:00
Stockport vs. Wycombe -- Semifinal, Leg 2, 18:00

Monday, 26 May 2008
Winners 4th vs. 7th vs. Winners 5th vs. 6th -- Final (@ Wembley), 15:00