The 2013 Football League Two play-off Final was an association football match played on 18 May 2013 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Bradford City and Northampton Town. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, English football's fourth tier, to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2012–13 Football League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners then competed for the final place for the 2013–14 season in League One. Northampton Town finished in sixth place while Bradford City ended the season in seventh position. Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town were the losing semi-finalists, being defeated by Bradford and Northampton respectively.
The match was refereed by Keith Stroud in front of a crowd of 47,127. In the 15th minute of play, Bradford took the lead after James Hanson headed in a pass from Garry Thompson after James Meredith's cross. Four minutes later, the lead was doubled when Rory McArdle's strong header from a Nathan Doyle cross went low into Northampton's goal. Nahki Wells then volleyed past Lee Nicholls from close range just under the half-hour mark in the first half to make it 3–0 to Bradford. Northampton failed to make a shot on target and the match ended 3–0 to see Bradford promoted to League One.
Bradford ended their following season in 11th place in League One, while Northampton finished in 21st place in League Two in their next season, two places and three points above the relegation zone. Their manager, Aidy Boothroyd, was sacked in December 2013 with the club at the bottom of the division.
Route to the final
Northampton Town finished the regular 2012–13 season in sixth place in Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, one place and four points ahead of Bradford City. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to Football League One and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Northampton Town finished five points behind Port Vale (who were promoted in third place), six behind Rotherham United (who were promoted in second place), and ten behind league winners Gillingham.
Bradford City's opponents in their play-off semi-final were Burton Albion with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at Valley Parade in Bradford on 2 May 2013. Calvin Zola put the visitors ahead midway through the first half with a header, then scored his second in the 29th minute with a curling shot. Damien McCrory was then adjudged to have deflected Garry Thompson's shot with his hand and the referee awarded a penalty to Bradford. Nahki Wells converted the spot kick to make it 2–1 in 38th minute, before Robbie Weir scored from Alex McDonald's pass to make it 3–1 a minute before half-time. With 16 minutes of the game remaining, Thompson scored for Burton making the final score 3–2. The second leg of the semi-final was played three days later at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton upon Trent. Wells opened the scoring for the visitors in the 27th minute when he intercepted Marcus Holness' header and beat Burton goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson. James Hanson made it 2–0 in the 50th minute with a shot from the edge of the Bradford penalty area, and Jacques Maghoma added a third seven minutes later from the penalty spot after Thompson fouled Stephen Darby in the Burton box. Wells made it 3–1 to Bradford less than two minutes later after Hanson knocked down a long free kick from his goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin. With no further goals, Bradford won the semi-final 5–4 on aggregate and secured their place in the final.
Northampton Town faced Cheltenham Town in the other play-off semi-final with the first leg being played at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton on 2 May 2013. Roy O'Donovan scored in the 27th minute to put Northampton into the lead from a Chris Hackett cross; almost immediately, Paul Benson missed a chance to equalise after shooting wide of the post. Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline but the match finished 1–0. The second leg took place three days later at Whaddon Road in Cheltenham. In the 15th minute, Ben Tozer was deemed to have fouled Russell Penn and the referee awarded a penalty: Marlon Pack took the spot kick but it was saved by Lee Nicholls. Before half-time, Luke Guttridge's volley put Northampton into the lead which they did not relinquish. An aggregate score of 2–0 meant that Northampton progressed to the final.