1999 Football League Third Division play-off final

1999 Football League Third Division play-off final
The final took place at Wembley Stadium.
Date29 May 1999
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeClive Wilkes
Attendance36,985
WeatherWarm
1998
2000

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.

The referee for the final, which was played in front of 36,985 spectators, was Clive Wilkes. In the sixth minute, Gareth Sheldon took the ball round Dean Smith, the Leyton Orient captain, and played a chipped cross to the near post: Scunthorpe's Alejandro Calvo García scored with a header past Scott Barrett. Scunthorpe dominated the first half but Leyton Orient made two substitutions at half-time and started the second half with more pressure. Scunthorpe's goalkeeper Tom Evans made a number of saves and Martin Ling cleared Darryn Stamp's shot in the final minute of the game. The match ended 1–0 to Scunthorpe who were promoted to the Second Division.

Scunthorpe United finished their following season in 23rd place in the Second Division, losing four of their last five matches, and were relegated back to the Third Division. Leyton Orient ended their following season in 19th position in the Third Division.