HEADING THE PLAY OFFS

If you happen to read the Daily Telegraph, they you will be aware of the "token scheme" which arrives through the post in a tear-off booklet and provides a few months of tokens that any newspaper seller will accept, apparently making my spending cheaper. It's brilliant. Every morning my better half reminds to taken the token, which I carefully tear out usually along the strip provided, making sure that I have got the correct date.

I then put it safely in my phone case or wallet or trouser pocket and then forget where I left it. It could easily be in a litter bin somewhere, when I have emptied out a pocket. If I find it, I then get the paper. Why the DT?

Good sport, easy crosswords (quick one for me!), good obits, lots of pictures and a list of who has got married, engaged, been born, cartoon (Matt) and so on. I am easily pleased.

So today there was a "What happened to them?" section under Sport/Football. It is, of course, an analysis of what has happened to teams that got into the Premier League through winning the Play-Offs. This year you know that Brentford failed in their attempt to reach the top, losing to Fulham. 

This clever idea all began in 1992-3 and this is about "Play Off Winners" and we are keeping an eye on Fulham for the coming season. Getting to the PL is worth £135 million to them!!! Last time they blew it. Its worth more now and the runners up get the "gate receipts".

Working backwards: 

2020: Fulham

2019: Aston Villa won the play off and finished 17th in PL the following season.    

2018: Fulham 19th                        

2017: Huddersfield 16th               

2016: Hull City 18th                     

2015: Norwich City 19th              

2014: QPR 20th                            

2013: Crystal Palace 11th             

2012: West Ham 10th                   

2011: Swansea 11th                      

2010: Blackpool 19th and the rest you can imagine.....I got a bit bored by this time

2009: Burnley 18th.........                            

2008: Hull City                              

2007: Derby C                               

2006: Watford                                

2005: West Ham Utd  now known as the Championship Play Offs.                       

2004: Crystal Palace

2003: Wolves W

2002: Birmingham C

2001: Bolton W

2000: Ipswich T

1999: Watford

1998: Charlton A

1997: Crystal P

1996: Leicester C

1995: Bolton W

1994: Leicester C

1993: Swindon T beating Leicester City in the play off put The Robins into the PL. To 2004 known as the Division One Play Offs

1992: Blackburn R

1991: Notts County

1990: Swindon T there was an issue over legalities here which you may want to read. Glen Hoddle!!

1989: Crystal P

1988: Middlesbrough

1987: Charlton A the first winners of this Play Off v Leeds Utd as the F.L. Second Division Play Off.