![]() The match took place at Wembley Stadium. | |||||||
Event | 2016–17 EFL League Two | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
Date | 28 May 2017 | ||||||
Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
Referee | Darren England | ||||||
Attendance | 23,380 | ||||||
The 2017 EFL League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 2017 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Exeter City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two, English football's fourth tier, to EFL League One. The top three teams of the 2016–17 EFL League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2017–18 season in League One. Blackpool finished in seventh place while Exeter ended the season in fifth position. Luton Town and Carlisle United were the losing semi-finalists.
The match kicked off around 3 p.m in front of 23,380 spectators and was refereed by Darren England. Three minutes into the game, Potts put Blackpool ahead: Jack Payne made a long pass to Mark Cullen, who played it to Potts. He ran on and struck the ball first-time into the far corner of the Exeter goal. With five minutes of the half remaining, David Wheeler scored the equaliser with a lob over Sam Slocombe from just inside the Blackpool penalty area to make it 1–1 at half-time. In the 64th minute, Cullen put Blackpool back into the lead. Potts made a run into the Exeter penalty area and crossed the ball: Pym deflected it with his foot only for Cullen to finish it with an outstretched leg. Late pressure from Exeter failed to produce any goals, and despite five minutes of injury time, the match ended 2–1 to Blackpool who were promoted to League One.
Blackpool finished their following season in twelfth place in League One. In their next season, Exeter City finished in fourth position in League Two and qualified for the play-offs where they lost 3–1 against Coventry City in the final.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Portsmouth | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 79 | 40 | +39 | 87 |
2 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 71 | 46 | +25 | 87 |
3 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 85 | 55 | +30 | 85 |
4 | Luton Town | 46 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 70 | 43 | +27 | 77 |
5 | Exeter City | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 75 | 56 | +19 | 71 |
6 | Carlisle United | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 69 | 68 | +1 | 71 |
7 | Blackpool | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 69 | 46 | +23 | 70 |
Exeter City finished the regular 2016–17 season in fifth place in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, two places ahead of Blackpool. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to EFL League One and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Exeter City finished fourteen points behind Doncaster Rovers (who were promoted in third place), and sixteen behind Plymouth Argyle (promoted in second) and league winners Portsmouth. Blackpool ended the season two places and one point behind Exeter City. [1]
Blackpool's opponents for their play-off semi-final were Luton Town with the first match of the two-legged tie being held at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool on 14 May 2017. Mark Cullen put the home side ahead after 19 minutes with a low shot but Luton replied, first through Dan Potts and then Isaac Vassell, to make it 2–1 at half-time. Two minutes into the second half, Cullen levelled the game with his second goal, a strike from around 25 yards (23 m). He completed his hat-trick midway through the half with a penalty and the match ended 3–2 to Blackpool. [2] The second leg of the semi-final took place at Kenilworth Road in Luton four days later. Nathan Delfouneso opened the scoring for the visitors midway through the first half before Kelvin Mellor's own goal made it 1–1. Scott Cuthbert's header just before half-time made it 2–1 to Luton and twelve minutes after the break, Danny Hylton converted a penalty to increase his side's lead. Armand Gnanduillet's header made it 3–2 with less than 15 minutes remaining, and in the fifth minute of injury time, an own goal from Stuart Moore ensured the match ended 3–3. With an aggregate victory of 6–5, Blackpool progressed to the final. [3]
Exeter City faced Carlisle United in their play-off semi-final, the first leg being played at Brunton Park in Carlisle on 14 May 2017. The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes when Joel Grant scored but Exeter's Jordan Moore-Taylor scored an own goal to level the match. Ryan Harley restored Exeter's lead just before half-time and David Wheeler made it 3–1 eleven minutes into the second half. John O'Sullivan's cross floated into the Exeter goal to make it 3–2 midway through the second half and Shaun Miller's header levelled the match which ended 3–3. [4] The second leg of the semi-final was played St James Park in Exeter four days later. Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the first half to put Exeter ahead on aggregate. With eleven minutes of the game remaining, Watkins scored his and Exeter's second, but Jason Kennedy pulled one back for the visitors two minutes later. O'Sullivan scored in the 90th minute to make it 2–2, but five minutes into injury time, Jack Stacey scored for Exeter to make it 3–2, and Exeter won the tie 6–5 on aggregate. [5]
Blackpool had been relegated to League Two the previous season and were thus aiming for an instant return to League One. [6] Exeter City had played in League Two since being relegated at the end of the 2011–12 season. [7] During the regular season, Blackpool were undefeated in the two matches between the clubs, winning 2–0 at Bloomfield Road in August 2016 and drawing 2–2 at St James Park the following February. [8] Blackpool's top scorers during the regular season were Potts with 12 (10 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup) followed by Vassell with 11 (all in the league). [9] Exeter's leading marksmen were Wheeler who had 17 goals for the season (all in the league), followed by Reid with 14 (13 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup) and Watkins with 13 (all in the league). [10]
Exeter City were allocated 20,000 tickets for the match. [11] Blackpool supporters were allocated the east end of Wembley Stadium while Exeter City fans occupied the west end. [12] Due to an ongoing dispute with Blackpool owner, Owen Oyston and his family, Blackpool Supporters' Trust called on the club to donate its share of its gate receipts to charity so they could attend the match without their money going towards the Oyston family. [13]
The referee for the match was Darren England, who was assisted by James Bell and Lee Venamore. The fourth official was David Webb while the reserve assistant referee was Helen Byrne. [12] Hawk-Eye was also in use for the final. [12] Before the match, a minute's silence was held to commemorate the Manchester Arena bombing which had taken place six days prior to the final. Faryl Smith performed the national anthem before kick-off. Sky Sports was the exclusive live broadcaster for the final in the UK. [12]
Watkins had been voted the EFL Young Player of the Season at the EFL Awards. [14] Blackpool adopted a 3–5–2 formation while Exeter played as a 4–4–2. [14] Exeter played in luminous yellow shirts, shorts and socks, while Blackpool's kit was tangerine and white shirts, white shorts and tangerine socks. [12]
Exeter kicked off the match around 3 p.m on 28 May 2017 in front of 23,380 spectators. Three minutes into the game, Potts put Blackpool ahead: Jack Payne made a long pass to Cullen, who played it to Potts. He ran on and struck the ball first-time into the far corner of the Exeter goal. In the 11th minute, Wheeler headed to Watkins whose shot from inside the penalty area was saved by Sam Slocombe. Seven minutes later, Jake Taylor's shot from 8 yards (7.3 m) was blocked by Blackpool's Tom Aldred. Lloyd James then struck a shot wide of Blackpool's goal from 25 yards (23 m). In the 31st minute, Blackpool were forced to make their first substitution of the match as Aldred was unable to continue with an ankle injury, and he was replaced by Bright Osayi-Samuel. [14] With five minutes of the half remaining, Wheeler scored the equaliser. Woodman played a long ball towards him, which he controlled on the run. As Slocombe came out, Wheeler lobbed him from just inside the area to make it 1–1 at half-time. [15]
Three minutes into the second half, Osayi-Samuel struck a shot wide of the Exeter goal. In the 50th minute, a half-volley from Vassell from a tight angle was saved by the Exeter goalkeeper Christy Pym. In the 57th minute Exeter's Grant was replaced by Reuben Reid before Troy Brown limped off, with Pierce Sweeney coming on as a substitute. In the 59th minute, Cullen received the first yellow card of the game. Pym then caught Mellor's header from a corner. Blackpool made their second substitution of the game in the 62nd minute when Ian Black came on for Payne. Two minutes later, Cullen put Blackpool back into the lead. Potts made a run into the Exeter penalty area and crossed the ball: Pym deflected it with his foot only for Cullen to finish it with an outstretched leg. In the 71st minute, Exeter made their final personnel change of the afternoon with Lee Holmes replacing Craig Woodman. Danns shot then flew over the Exeter crossbar and with fifteen minutes to go, Cullen was replaced by Jordan Flores. In the 78th minute, Reid's shot from the edge of the Blackpool box went just wide. Late pressure from Exeter failed to produce any goals, and despite five minutes of injury time, the match ended 2–1 to Blackpool who were promoted to League One. [15]
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Blackpool | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Exeter City |
| ![]() |
|
Statistic | Blackpool | Exeter City |
---|---|---|
Goals scored | 2 | 1 |
Total shots | 16 | 13 |
Shots on target | 5 | 2 |
Ball possession | 36% | 64% |
Corner kicks | 8 | 3 |
Fouls committed | 7 | 11 |
Yellow cards | 5 | 0 |
Red cards | 0 | 0 |
The Blackpool manager said: "It was a massive team effort ... Exeter, a great footballing team, put us on the back foot." [16] His counterpart Paul Tisdale said: "I'm disappointed, clearly. I'm disappointed that we probably didn't do our best in the last half an hour ... It's a tough environment to play in – the pressure – and the performance doesn't always get the result." [16] Winning the final made Blackpool the most successful team in the history of the play-offs, having won five finals in eight attempts. [17]
Blackpool finished their following season in twelfth place in League One. [18] In their next season, Exeter City finished in fourth position in League Two and qualified for the play-offs where they lost 2–1 against Coventry City in the final. [19]
The EFL League Two play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from fourth to seventh in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They are part of the annual English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing seventh, and the team finishing fifth plays the team finishing sixth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.
Daniel Thomas Hylton is an English professional footballer who most recently played as a striker for EFL League One club Northampton Town.
Mark Cullen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Bamber Bridge. A player with excellent finishing skills, he has scored in each of the top five divisions of the English football league system.
Daniel Potts is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for Premier League club Luton Town. He was capped by the United States under-20 team and the England under-18, under-19 and under-20 teams.
Bradley Potts is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder and wing-back for Preston North End.
Elliot Robert Lee is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Wrexham.
Kevin Linford Levi Stewart is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Jack David Marriott is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Wrexham.
Oliver James Palmer is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Wrexham.
Jack William Stacey is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back or a defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Norwich City.
The 2016–17 season was Colchester United's 80th season in their history and their first season competing in League Two following their relegation from League One in the 2015–16 season. It was their first season in the fourth tier of English football for 18-years. Along with competing in League Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The 2016–17 season was the 131st in the history of Luton Town Football Club, a professional association football club based in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Their 11th-place finish in 2015–16 meant it was the club's third consecutive season in League Two and 91st season in the English Football League. The season ran from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.
The 2016–17 season was Exeter City's 115th year in existence and their fifth consecutive season in League Two. Along with competing in League Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. Exeter finished the season in 5th place, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. In September, Exeter City broke their all-time record for consecutive home league losses by losing their first five home matches of the season. Exeter City did not record their first league win at their home ground St James Park until mid-December, after 10 attempts. A dramatic upturn in form saw the team rise from the bottom of the league table to a high of 4th. From 31 December 2016 to 4 February 2017, Exeter won all seven of their fixtures, with David Wheeler scoring in each match. With this feat, he equalled and then broke records set by Henry Poulter, Roderick Williams and Alan Beer. Two other records were broken this season because no Exeter City team had ever won seven league games in a row. Exeter City also broke their record for most away wins in the league within one season, after their twelfth away triumph at Mansfield Town on 1 April. This season was first in which City qualified for the promotion play-offs in League Two since their relegation from League One in 2012. Exeter overcame Carlisle United to qualify for the play-off final against Blackpool at Wembley. Blackpool beat Exeter 2–1 in the play-off final to earn promotion to the 2017–18 EFL League One.
James Michael Justin is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL Championship club Leicester City and the England national team.
The 2017 EFL Trophy Final was an association football match that was played on 2 April 2017 at Wembley Stadium, London. It was played between League One teams Coventry City and Oxford United. The match decided the winners of the 2016–17 EFL Trophy, a 64-team knockout tournament comprising clubs from League One and League Two of the English Football League (EFL), as well as 16 Category One academy sides representing Premier League and Championship clubs. It was Coventry's first appearance in the final and the second for Oxford, who were beaten by Barnsley in the previous season's match.
The 2017–18 season was the 132nd in the history of Luton Town Football Club, a professional association football club based in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Their fourth-place finish in 2016–17 and defeat to Blackpool in the play-offs meant it was the club's fourth consecutive season in League Two and 92nd season in the English Football League. The season ran from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
The 2018–19 season was the 133rd in the history of Luton Town Football Club, a professional association football club based in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Their promotion from League Two in 2017–18 meant it was the club's first season in League One after a 10-year absence and 93rd season in the English Football League. The season ran from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
The 2018 EFL League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 2018 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Coventry City and Exeter City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two, English football's fourth tier, to EFL League One. The top three teams of the 2017–18 EFL League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2018–19 season in League One. Exeter finished in fourth place while Coventry ended the season in sixth position. Lincoln City and Notts County were the losing semi-finalists.
The 2020 EFL League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 29 June 2020 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Exeter City and Northampton Town to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two to EFL League One. The top three teams of the 2019–20 EFL League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2020–21 season in League One.
The 2021 EFL League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 30 May 2021 at Wembley Stadium, London, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from EFL League One, the third tier of English football, to the EFL Championship. The top two teams of 2020–21 EFL League One, Hull City and Peterborough United, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the clubs placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in the 2021 English Football League play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2021–22 season in the Championship.