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Promotion and relegation are part of the game, and a place in England's third tier is up for grabs through the League Two play-offs where four teams will battle each other in a gruelling contest after the end of the regular season.
Ahead of the 2021-22 edition of the League Two play-offs, GOAL brings you everything you need to know, including the teams involved, fixture dates, how to watch live on TV and more.
What are League Two play-offs?
The teams finishing in the top three spots in the regular League Two season will gain automatic promotion to League One, while the fourth team to make it to England's third tier will be decided between the fourth to seventh-placed teams.
As per the format, the team finishing fourth will face the seventh-best side in the season, while the teams in fifth and sixth places face each other over two-legged semi-finals that will be played on a home and away basis.
The winners of each semi-final will face off in the final.
Which teams could qualify for the League Two play-offs 2023?
Below is the table after the final round of League Two fixtures.
League Two 2022-23 table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leyton Orient (P, C) | 46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | +27 | 91 |
| 2 | Stevenage (P) | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | +22 | 85 |
| 3 | Northampton Town (P) | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | +20 | 83 |
| 4 | Stockport County (Q) | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | +28 | 79 |
| 5 | Carlisle United (Q) | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | +23 | 76 |
| 6 | Bradford City (Q) | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | +18 | 76 |
| 7 | Salford City (Q) | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | +18 | 75 |
Last updated: May 8, 2023
With the 2022-23 League Two regular season at its business end, Leyton Orient won't be caught, while Stevenage also secured automatic promotion. Northampton grabbed the final automatic promotion place on the final day of the season after beating Tranmere.
Stockport County, Carlisle United, Salford City and Bradford City all qualified for the play-offs.
When are the League Two play-offs 2023?
Salford defeated Stockport 1-0 in the opening semi-final first leg on Saturday, May 13. The second leg which was scheduled for Saturday, May 20 ended in a 2-2 aggregate score. In the penalty shootout, Stockport clinched the tie 3-1 to progress to the final.
The first leg of the second semi-final saw Bradford beat Carlisle 1-0 on Sunday, May 14. In the return leg on Saturday, May 20, Carlisle United beat Bradford City 3-1 (3-2 aggregate).
When and where is the League Two play-off 2023 final?
The League Two play-off 2023 final will be played on Sunday, May 28, 2023, and before the League One and Championship play-off finals that will be on the same date.
The 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium traditionally hosts the League Two play-off final and will continue to be the venue in 2023.
Known as 'The Home of Football' in England, Wembley is one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, playing host to some of the biggest games, including the European Championship and Champions League finals.
League One play-off fixtures & results
| Date | Fixture | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Salford 1-0 Stockport | Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football |
| May 14 | Bradford 1-0 Carlisle | Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football |
| May 20 | Stockport 3-1 (2-1) Salford | Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football |
| May 20 | Carlisle 3-1 Bradford | Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football |
League One play-off final
| Date | Fixture | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|
| May 28 | Stockport vs Carlisle | Sky Sports |
Where to watch League Two play-offs 2023 on TV and stream?
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| Country | TV channel | Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Sky Sports | Sky GO |
| U.S. | ESPN | ESPN+ |
Sky Sports Football/Main Event will showcase the League Two play-offs in the United Kingdom (UK), with live streaming available on Sky GO. Sky Sports Main Event can be accessed on channel 401 and Sky Sports Football is on channel 403.
In the United States, games are broadcast live on ESPN.
How much is winning the League Two play-offs worth?
League Two clubs are believed to pocket around £900,000 per season, and that could go up to £1.3 million or more after earning their promotion bonus of around £400,000.
It's obviously not as much as the initial benefit that runs to the tune of £100 million for winning the Championship play-offs, but is nonetheless a handsome reward for making it out of England's lowest professional tier.
Who won the League Two play-offs in 2022?
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(C)Getty ImagesPort Vale secured League One promotion with a 3-0 victory over Mansfield Town in the 2022 League Two play-off final in front of 37,303 spectators at Wembley.
After finishing the regular 2021-22 League Two season in fifth spot and two places above fellow-finalists Mansfield Town, the Valiants were handed a 20th-minute lead through Kian Harratt before James Wilson doubled the lead in four minutes. Malvind Benning sealed the deal late in the second half.
Port Vale hence joined Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers in League One for 2022-23.