2001 Football League Third Division play-off final

Last updated

2001 Football League Third Division play-off final
Millennium Stadium (aerial view).jpg
The Millennium Stadium hosted the final.
Date26 May 2001
Venue Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee David Pugh
Attendance23,600
2000
2002

The 2001 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2001 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Blackpool and Leyton Orient. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 2000–01 Football League Third Division, Brighton & Hove Albion, Cardiff City and Chesterfield, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2001–02 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Hartlepool United and Hull City who had been defeated by Blackpool and Leyton Orient respectively. It was the first season that the play-off finals were contested at the Millennium Stadium during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

Contents

The match was refereed by David Pugh in front of a crowd of 23,600. After 27 seconds, an error from Blackpool's goalkeeper Phil Barnes following a backpass from Brian Reid allowed Chris Tate to score, putting Leyton Orient into an early lead. In the 35th minute, the scores were level as Ian Hughes headed in Paul Simpson's corner to make it 11. Two minutes later, Houghton restored Leyton Orient's lead with a strike from around 20 yards (18 m) which beat Barnes. A minute before half-time, Blackpool equalised once again as Reid converted Gary Parkinson's cross, and the half ended 22. With 13 minutes of the match remaining, Blackpool took the lead for the first time, after Simpson scored following Brett Ormerod's through ball. In the 88th minute Omerod converted a cross from John Hills from around 6 yards (5.5 m) to make it 42 to Blackpool who secured promotion to the Second Division.

Blackpool ended their following season in sixteenth position in the Second Division, five places and twelve points ahead of the relegation zone. Leyton Orient's next season saw them finish in eighteenth place in the Third Division.

Route to the final

Football League Third Division final table, leading positions [1]
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 Brighton & Hove Albion 46288107335+3892
2 Cardiff City 462313109558+3782
3 Chesterfield 46251477942+3780 [lower-alpha 1]
4 Hartlepool United 462114117154+1777
5 Leyton Orient 462015115951+875
6 Hull City 461917104739+874
7 Blackpool 46226187458+1672
Notes:
  1. Chesterfield had 9 points deducted.

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), [2] seven behind Cardiff City and seventeen behind league winners Brighton & Hove Albion. [1] Blackpool were in fifteenth position in the league in mid-November and secured their play-off place on the final day of the season. [3] Leyton Orient lost just one of their final eleven league matches prior to the play-offs. [4]

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. [5] 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 20 victory. [6] 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 11 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 31. Blackpool secured a 51 aggregate victory and progressed to the final. [7]

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. [8] 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 10. [9] 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 10 yards (9.1 m). Leyton Orient dominated the game and doubled their lead midway through the second half when Matt Lockwood scored from 30 yards (27 m) direct from a free kick. It gave them a 21 aggregate victory and saw them progress to the final. [10]

Match

Background

Brett Ormerod (pictured in 2010) scored four times in the play-off semi-finals and once in the final. Brett Ormerod.jpg
Brett Ormerod (pictured in 2010) scored four times in the play-off semi-finals and once in the final.

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. [11] 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. [12] Orient's defeat came in the 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final against Scunthorpe United at the old Wembley Stadium. [13] Leyton Orient had played in the fourth tier of English football since being relegated in the 1994–95 season. [14]

In the matches between the sides during the regular season, the first ended in a 22 at Bloomfield Road in August 2000 while Leyton Orient won their home game 10 the following March. [15] 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). [16] 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). [17]

The referee for the match was David Pugh. [18] Both sides adopted a 4–4–2 formation for the final. [19] Blackpool were considered favourites to win the match by the Racing Post . [4] 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. [20]

Summary

The match kicked off around 3 p.m. on 26 May 2001 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of 23,600 spectators. [18] 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 25-yard (23 m) strike from Coid in the 13th minute. Parkinson's free kick from 35 yards (32 m) 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 11. Two minutes later, Houghton restored Leyton Orient's lead with a strike from around 20 yards (18 m) which beat Barnes. A minute before half-time, Blackpool equalised once again as Reid converted Parkinson's cross, and the half ended 22. [21]

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 20 yards (18 m) 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 6 yards (5.5 m) to make it 42 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 42 victory. [21]

Details

Blackpool 4–2 Leyton Orient
Hughes Soccerball shade.svg35'
Reid Soccerball shade.svg45'
Simpson Soccerball shade.svg77'
Ormerod Soccerball shade.svg88'
(Report) Tate Soccerball shade.svg1'
Houghton Soccerball shade.svg37'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 23,600
Referee: David Pugh
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body vneckwhite.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Blackpool
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body vneckwhite.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Leyton Orient
GK1 Phil Barnes
DF3 John Hills Yellow card.svg
DF33 Gary Parkinson
DF5 Ian Hughes
DF6 Brian Reid
MF12 Danny Coid
MF14 Richie Wellens Sub off.svg 88'
MF8 Phil Clarkson
MF25 Paul Simpson Sub off.svg 88'
FW16 Brett Ormerod Sub off.svg 89'
FW9 John Murphy
Substitutes:
DF23 Neil Murphy
DF17 Phil Thompson Sub on.svg 89'
MF4 Steve Bushell
MF7 Mike Milligan Sub on.svg 88'
MF32 Jamie Milligan Sub on.svg 88'Yellow card.svg
Manager:
Steve McMahon
GK1 Ashley Bayes
DF2 Matt Joseph
DF3 Matt Lockwood
DF4 Dean Smith
DF6 Simon Downer
MF15 Wim Walschaerts Sub off.svg 67'
MF7 Andy Harris
MF5 David McGhee
MF27 Scott Houghton Sub off.svg 82'
MF8 Jabo Ibehre
FW30 Chris Tate Sub off.svg 66'
Substitutes:
GK12 Scott Barrett
MF17 John Martin Sub on.svg 82'
MF14 Steve Castle Sub on.svg 67'
MF10 Ahmet Brković Sub on.svg 66'
MF16 Billy Beall
Manager:
Tommy Taylor

Post-match

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." [22] His counterpart Tommy Taylor said that his opponents were "the better side in the second half" and that they "deserved to win it." [22] The opening goal, timed at 27 seconds, was the fastest ever scored in a play-off final. [3]

Blackpool ended their following season in sixteenth position in the Second Division, five places and twelve points ahead of the relegation zone. [23] Leyton Orient's next season saw them finish in eighteenth place in the Third Division. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyton Orient F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

Leyton Orient Football Club is a professional association football club based in Leyton, Waltham Forest, Greater London, England. The team compete in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Ayre</span> English footballer and manager

William Ayre was an English footballer who played for three clubs in a sixteen-year professional career, making over three hundred League appearances in the process. After retiring from the playing side of the game, he became a manager, and took the helm at five clubs between 1984 and 2000. He guided Blackpool to two successive play-off finals, in 1991 and 1992, during his four years in charge of the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabo Ibehre</span> English footballer

Jabo Oshevire Michael Ibehre is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. Due to his lethal finishing throughout his professional career, he earned the nickname, Islington Assassin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Ormerod</span> English football player (born 1976)

Brett Ryan Ormerod is an English retired professional footballer.

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.

The 2001–02 Football League was the 103rd completed season of The Football League.

The 2000–01 Football League was the 102nd completed season of The Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Football League One play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2007 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2007 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Yeovil Town and Blackpool to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2006–07 Football League One season, Scunthorpe United and Bristol City, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2007–08 season in the Championship. The losing semi-finalists were Nottingham Forest and Oldham Athletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Football League Two play-off final</span> Football match

The 2006 Football League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 2006 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Grimsby Town and Cheltenham Town. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, English football's fourth tier, to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2005–06 Football 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 2006–07 season in League One. Grimsby Town finished in fourth place while Cheltenham Town ended the season in fifth position. They beat Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2004 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 31 May 2004 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2003–04 Third Division season, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Torquay United, gained automatic promotion to League One, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2004–05 season in Football League One. Huddersfield and Mansfield defeated Lincoln City and Northampton Town, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Football League One play-off final</span> Football match

The 2005 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 2005 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday. It determined the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2004–05 Football League One season, Luton Town and Hull City, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-off semi-finals. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2005–06 season in the Championship. The losing semi-finalists were Tranmere Rovers and Brentford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Football League Second Division play-off final</span> Football match

The 2004 Football Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 30 May 2004 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Brighton & Hove Albion and Bristol City to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2003–04 Second Division season, Plymouth Argyle and Queens Park Rangers, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2004–05 season in the Championship. Brighton and Bristol defeated Swindon Town and Hartlepool United, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Football League One play-off final</span> Football match

The 2014 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 25 May 2014 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Leyton Orient and Rotherham United to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship. The top two teams of the 2013–14 Football League One season gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2014–15 season in the Championship.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2002 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match played on 6 May 2002 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Cheltenham Town and Rushden & Diamonds. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division, English football's fourth tier, to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 2001–02 Third Division season gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2002–03 season in the Second Division. Cheltenham Town finished in fourth place while Rushden & Diamonds ended the season in sixth position. Hartlepool United and Rochdale were the losing semi-finalists, being defeated by Cheltenham and Rushden respectively.

The 1989 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match played over two legs between Wrexham and Leyton Orient on 30 May and 3 June 1989. The final was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division, the fourth tier of English football, to the Third Division. The top three teams of the 1988–89 Football League Fourth Division season, Rotherham United, Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, gained automatic promotion to the Third Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh in the league competed in the play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals played against each other for the final place in the Third Division for the 1989–90 season. Leyton Orient ended the season in sixth position, one place ahead of Wrexham, while Scarborough and Scunthorpe United were the other semi-finalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Football League Fourth Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1991 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match played on 31 May 1991 at the Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Torquay United. The match determined the fifth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division, English football's fourth tier, to the Third Division. The top four teams of the 1990–91 Fourth Division season gained automatic promotion to the Third Division, while those placed from fifth to eighth in the table took part in play-offs, the semi-final winners of which competed for the final place for the 1991–92 season in the Third Division. Blackpool finished in fifth place while Torquay ended the season in seventh position. Burnley and Scunthorpe United were the losing semi-finalists, being defeated by Torquay and Blackpool respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1992 Football League Fourth Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 23 May 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Scunthorpe United to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Fourth Division to the Third Division. The top three teams of the 1991–92 Football League Fourth Division, Burnley, Rotherham United and Mansfield Town, gained automatic promotion, while those placed from fourth to seventh place took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place in the Third Division for the 1992–93 season. Blackpool and Scunthorpe United beat Barnet and Crewe Alexandra, respectively, in the semi-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Football League Third Division play-off final</span> Association football match

The 1999 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 1999 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Scunthorpe United and Leyton Orient. It was to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1998–99 Football League Third Division, Brentford, Cambridge United and Cardiff City, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while those placed from fourth to seventh place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1999–2000 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Rotherham United and Swansea City who had been defeated by Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 EFL League One play-off final</span> Association football match

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "League Two – 2000/2001 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. "Chesterfield's points deduction confirmed". BBC Sport. 3 May 2001. Archived from the original on 5 November 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 Foster 2015, p. 168.
  4. 1 2 Johnson, Paul (26 May 2001). "Blackpool to illuminate final thriller" . Racing Post . p. 127. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021 via Gale.
  5. "Blackpool v Hartlepool United, 13 May 2001". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. "Ormerod raises Blackpool hopes". BBC Sport. 12 May 2001. Archived from the original on 25 February 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. "Blackpool reach play-off final". BBC Sport. 16 May 2001. Archived from the original on 25 February 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  8. "Hull City v Leyton Orient, 13 May 2001". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  9. "Eyre puts Hull on top". BBC Sport. 13 May 2001. Archived from the original on 25 December 2002. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  10. "Orient see off Hull challenge". BBC Sport. 16 May 2001. Archived from the original on 25 December 2002. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  11. "Blackpool". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  12. "Leyton Orient v Wrexham, 03 June 1989". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  13. "Garcia strike takes Iron up". BBC Sport. 29 May 1999. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  14. "Leyton Orient". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. "Leyton Orient football club: record v Blackpool". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  16. "Leyton Orient squad details 2000/01 Player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  17. "Blackpool squad details 2000/01 Player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Blackpool v Leyton Orient, 26 May 2001". 11V11.Com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  19. Brodkin, John (28 May 2001). "Blackpool's winning day trip is perfect end to roller-coaster season" . The Guardian . p. 4. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021 via Gale.
  20. Rees, Paul; Chaudhary, Vivek (4 January 2001). "Cardiff to host next three FA Cup finals" . The Guardian . p. 28. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 "Clockwatch: Blackpool 4–2 Orient". BBC Sport. 26 May 2001. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  22. 1 2 "McMahon: The best team won". BBC Sport. 26 May 2001. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  23. "League Two – 2001/2002 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  24. "League One – 2001/2002 – Regular season". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 April 2021.

Bibliography