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The 1996 Football League Third Division play-off final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 1996, to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Third Division to the Second Division of the Football League in the 1995–96 season. It was contested by Plymouth Argyle, who finished fourth in the Third Division table, and Darlington, who finished fifth. The teams reached the final by defeating Colchester United and Hereford United respectively in the two-legged semi-finals. Plymouth Argyle won the match 1–0 thanks to a headed goal from Ronnie Mauge to gain promotion back to the third tier of English football one season after being relegated. For the club's manager, Neil Warnock, it was his fourth success in the play-offs as a manager, having achieved it twice with Notts County and once with Huddersfield Town. His counterpart, Jim Platt, would leave full-time management at the end of that year. ==Route to the final== Plymouth Argyle had finished the 1995–96 Football League season in fourth place in the Third Division, one place ahead of Darlington. Therefore, both missed out on the three automatic promotion places and instead took part in the play-offs to determine who would join Preston North End, Gillingham, and Bury as the fourth promoted team.〔("Final 1995–96 Football League Two Table" ) Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 On the final day of the league season, Plymouth Argyle had the opportunity to finish third in the table and thereby clinch the final automatic promotion place but a 3–0 win at Home Park against Hartlepool United was not enough to overtake Bury,〔("Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Hartlepool United" ) Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 after they also won 3–0 at home to Cardiff City.〔("Bury 3–0 Cardiff City" ) Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 In the play-off semi-finals, Darlington were paired with sixth-placed Hereford United and Plymouth Argyle with seventh-place finishers Colchester United. Darlington won their first leg tie 2–1 at Edgar Street courtesy of goals from Robbie Blake and Sean Gregan.〔("Darlington stage fightback" ) The Independent. 13 May 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 They also won the second leg by the same scoreline at Feethams with Matty Appleby and Robbie Painter on the scoresheet.〔("Hereford fall to Painter" ) The Independent. 16 May 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 Plymouth Argyle lost the first leg of their semi-final tie 1–0 at Layer Road after a goal from Mark Kinsella,〔("Kinsella lifts Colchester" ) The Independent. 13 May 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 but they responded in the second leg at Home Park. Goals from Michael Evans, Chris Leadbitter and Paul Williams were enough to secure a 3–1 win and a 3–2 victory on aggregate.〔("Plymouth land knockout blow" ) The Independent. 16 May 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2010.〕 The results set up a first visit to Wembley Stadium for the supporters of both clubs.〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「1996 Football League Third Division play-off Final」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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