BBC Sport is marking a significant milestone this season: the 40th edition of the Football League play‑offs, the dramatic two‑legged contests that decide which clubs ascend to the Premier League.
The play‑offs: a gateway to the Premier League
Since the format’s inception, the play‑offs have turned modest stadiums into arenas of high stakes, where a single night can rewrite a club’s destiny and reshape the top‑flight landscape.
To commemorate the anniversary, the BBC has launched an interactive quiz that challenges supporters to recall which teams have secured promotion through this route, testing everything from historic underdogs to recent surprise packages.
The quiz draws on a rich archive of results, reminding fans of the clubs that have risen multiple times and the seasons in which they did so, a testament to the competition’s unpredictable nature.
Over four decades, the play‑offs have produced stories of triumph and heartbreak, from under‑dog victories that captured national imagination to the steady rise of clubs that have become perennial contenders.
As the quiz goes live, BBC Sport invites readers to pit their knowledge against the facts, celebrating a competition that continues to be a cornerstone of English football’s narrative.