I've watched every Championship play-off final and these are the 5 greatest of all time

We've had 38 years of play-off finals since they were first brought in during the 1986-87 season. Originally, the teams fourth to sixth in the old Championship (then Division Two) would be joined by the club who finished 19th in the top flight in a brutal knockout battle.

Back in '87 Charlton from the old Division One saw off Ipswich in the semi-final before facing Leeds United over two legs (home and away). With both sides winning their home legs 1-0 the league ordered a replay to be played at Birmingham City's St Andrews.

The sides couldn't be separated in 90 minutes before a John Sheridan free-kick put Leeds in front in extra time. With just minutes left the game was turned on its head thanks to a brace from Charlton captain and true Yorkshireman Peter Shirtliff.

That scintillating battle convinced league bosses they had found a winning formula to ensure the season ended with a real bang.

A year later saw Chelsea fans riot on the Stamford Bridge pitch after Middlesbrough beat them, meaning the sides would swap places in the top flight. Perhaps that violence saw an end to Division One involvement because from then on only second tier clubs would compete in the match.

League bosses also made the final one-leg match and moved it to Wembley to increase the pressure. The match is now worth a whopping £220million to the victors.

Ahead of these are my best five of all time...

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