After a gruelling campaign, the 2024/25 EFL season crescendoed to a thrilling finale. There was all sorts to be settled, including league titles and relegation battles. These were the key stories from a day that may prove crucial in the history of many clubs.
Championship
Starting in the Championship, and there was drama at the top of the table. Despite the automatic promotion places being settled, the title race came down to the final day with Leeds United and Burnley heading into their games level on 97 points.
Leeds held the advantage through their superior goal difference, and an injury time winner from Manor Solomon was enough to see them win 2-1 against Plymouth Argyle and secure the title. Burnley also earned a 3-1 victory against Millwall to become the first EFL team to finish second despite earning 100 points in a season.
Sheffield United and Sunderland had already secured their playoff births, but there was a five way battle behind them as Bristol City, Coventry City, Middlesborough, Blackburn Rovers and Millwall sought to extend their season.
Bristol City and Coventry headed into their matches against Preston and Middlesborough respectively knowing that victory would likely secure their place in the top six.
Two goals from Jack Rudoni saw Coventry win 2-0 to clinch their place, whilst a brace from Ross McCrorie saw the Robins come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Preston and finish sixth.
These scores mean that Sheffield United will take on Bristol City whilst Sunderland will face Coventry for a place in the final at Wembley.
There was also a hectic battle to avoid joining Cardiff City in League One for next season, as six teams still held a chance of survival. Plymouth Argyle harboured very slim hopes, as the Pilgrims needed to win against Leeds and have Luton lose with a 14 goal swing to stay up. In the event, Plymouth took the lead against Leeds, but their 2-1 defeat saw them relegated.
The battle above them was much tighter, as Hull City, Luton Town, Preston, Derby County and Stoke City were all separated by just two points. Hull City started the day in 22nd and they needed at least a point away to Portsmouth to have a chance at survival, and they earned that with a 1-1 draw.
That result meant that they moved above Luton Town on goal difference, who lost 5-3 against West Brom in a thrilling contest, ensuring that The Hatters suffered back to back relegations following their fall out of the top flight last season.
League One
There was very little to play for in League One, as the title, automatic promotion and relegation places, as well as three of the four playoff places, had already been confirmed.
Champions Birmingham City extended their record of points in an EFL season to 111 with a 2-1 victory against already relegated Cambridge United, whilst second placed Wrexham rounded off a third consecutive promotion campaign with a 2-0 win against Lincoln City.
Wycombe Wanderers suffered a third consecutive defeat as they lost 3-1 against playoff rivals Stockport County, whilst Charlton Athletic returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Burton Albion.
In the battle for sixth place, Leyton Orient and Reading headed into their final fixtures locked level on points.
Orient held the advantage as they had the superior goal difference heading into their match with Huddersfield Town, and they held onto their place as they thrashed The Terriers 4-1 whilst Reading were beaten 4-2 by Barnsley.
These results mean that the semi-final matchups will be Stockport County against Leyton Orient, whilst Wycombe Wanderers will take on Charlton Athletic.
The relegation battle had been done and dusted before the final matches of the season as Burton Albion earned a 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic in midweek. That meant that Crawley Town and Bristol Rovers were consigned to relegation to League Two alongside Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United.
League Two
There was a plethora of positions still to be settled in League Two, and the drama did not disappoint.
Starting with the automatic promotion race, where Bradford City knew that victory against Fleetwood Town would secure a return to League One for the first time since 2019.
However, if they slipped up then Walsall would be able to capitalise if they could end a 13 match winless run against Crewe Alexandra. If both teams faltered, Notts County also had slim hopes as they hosted a Doncaster Rovers side who would secure the league title with victory.
Notts County quickly slipped out of contention as they went 2-0 down against Doncaster, eventually succumbing to a 2-1 defeat that saw Rovers secure the league title.
However, Walsall took the lead against Crewe thanks to a goal from George Hall. As the game at the University of Bradford Stadium headed into a sixth minute of added time, it looked like The Saddlers would secure promotion.
However, a late Neil Byrne strike deflected off of Antoni Sarcevic and into the Fleetwood net to send the Bantams back up to League One.
The playoff race was also intense, as five teams were jousting for two top six births.
The pick of the fixtures was eighth place Grimsby Town at home AFC Wimbledon who were sixth, as both sides knew victory would confirm their playoff place. A second half strike from Sam Hutchinson was enough for Wimbledon to win 1-0 to secure their place in the playoffs, consigning Grimsby to another season in League Two.
Salford City were the other team in the driving seat as they started the day seventh, knowing that victory over already relegated Carlisle United would extend their season.
However, they went 2-0 down, and whilst they were able to snatch 2-2 draw they could find a winner. That allowed Chesterfield, who beat Accrington Stanley 1-0, to sneak into seventh and claim that final playoff spot.
This means that the playoff semi finals will be Chesterfield against Walsall and AFC Wimbledon against Notts County.
Carlisle United and Morecambe played their final EFL games as they rounded out their torrid campaigns before a return to the National League.
