Paul Ogden
Huddersfield Town commentator for BBC Radio Leeds

Image source, Rex Features

Huddersfield Town still have some very fresh memories of play-off triumphs, from both Wembley and Cardiff, but the Championship play-off final? It's something we usually watch others do, en route to our half-term beach.

Reading are a respected opponent, but as the only play-off participant to have been defeated by Huddersfield during the regular season, the Royals have been regarded throughout as more desirable than free-scoring Fulham or, until the semi-final, indomitable Sheffield Wednesday.

After a season dominated by nail-biting victories (22 of Huddersfield's 25 regular-season wins were by a single goal margin), it was so very Huddersfield to reach Wembley by a penalty shoot-out.

Image source, Empics

Crystal Palace got over the disappointment of their 1996 defeat by Leicester to go up via the play-offs in 1997 - and in similarly dramatic circumstances.

This time it was Sheffield United on the wrong end of some late Wembley drama, as Palace captain David Hopkin curled a shot into the top corner from 25 yards in the final minute of normal time to seal a 1-0 victory for the Eagles.

Palace have won four second-tier play-off finals, more than any other club.

Image source, Getty Images

Today marks the culmination of the English Football League season and a play-off campaign which has again provided so much drama.

In the League One play-off final, Millwall and Bradford were holding each other to a goalless draw, right up until Steve Morison's 85th-minute volley took the Lions up to the Championship.

Meanwhile in the fourth tier there were a couple of outrageously silly semi-finals - both finishing 6-5 on aggregate thanks to 95th-minute winners.

Blackpool and Exeter played out the final at Wembley, and despite only 6,000 Tangerines fans being there to watch, Gary Bowyer's side beat the Grecians 2-1 thanks to Mark Cullen's rather scrappy, but rather important, finish.

Image source, Getty Images

Less than 90 minutes until kick-off now, and fans of both sides are beginning to make the famous walk up Wembley Way to the most iconic stadium in English football.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, Empics

Steve Claridge developed a habit of scoring big goals for Leicester City. Less than a year before his 1997 League Cup final winner for the Foxes, he had sent them back up to the top division at the expense of Crystal Palace.

Garry Parker's penalty cancelled out Palace's opener from Andy Roberts, and the game was deadlocked until the final minute of extra-time, when Claridge found the corner with a shot from 20 yards.

Even Leicester manager Martin O'Neill had been expecting a shoot-out. Seconds before Claridge's winner, he had substituted goalkeeper Kevin Poole for giant Australian Zeljko Kalac, believing he would be a better bet at saving penalties.

Kalac did not touch the ball during his brief cameo at Wembley.

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Image source, Rex Features

Since being in the play-off places, Reading have not lost more than two matches on the bounce, showing some proper good old grit to stunt any wobble.

The Royals came up against Fulham in the play-offs, who many fancied for promotion after a tremendous run to get into the top six.

But Stam's team duly saw off Slavisa Jokanovic's side with a second-leg victory at the Madejski Stadium, thanks to Yann Kermorgant's penalty.

Image source, Getty Images

Eyebrows were certainly raised when Reading appointed former Manchester United and Netherlands defender Jaap Stam as the replacement for Brian McDermott.

Stam had never managed before and he was tasked with turning Reading into a force in the Championship once more after a 17th-placed finish in 2015-16.

The Dutchman has put a focus on possession, which his side took a little of time to adapt to, with an inconsistent start.

The start of the campaign looks a bit rocky, as high as third and as low as 21st, but a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in late October put them into the play-off places, where they have stayed ever since.

Image source, Empics

The English league structure was being reorganised in 1994-95, so only one team was promoted automatically from the second tier that season.

Reading, who had finished second in the table behind champions Middlesbrough, were 2-0 ahead after 12 minutes against Bolton and also had a penalty saved just before half-time.

Wanderers pegged them back in the closing stages, as Owen Coyle and substitute Fabian de Freitas sent the game into extra-time.

Mixu Paatelainen and De Freitas' second extended their advantage, although Jimmy Quinn fired in Reading's third before Bolton's promotion was confirmed.

And there's also a good luck message from one of Town's famous fans...

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Image source, Rex Features

A 2-1 win over Bristol City at home in mid-December may not sound particularly key to a season, but looking back this was probably the turning point in Huddersfield's campaign.

Victory over the Robins was the first in a run of 12 wins from 14, all the way through to March. I mean, that's not bad is it?

That pretty much secured them a place in the play-offs, where they met Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

After a goalless draw at the John Smith's Stadium, the Terriers came back from 1-0 down at Hillsborough to take it to penalties, where one of their main men - goalkeeper Danny Ward - saved two penalties to take them to Wembley.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

We'll regale you with memorable moments along the way before kick off, but we also have a match today... So how did our two teams get here?

Well, it has to be said that all casual Championship observers outside of Huddersfield had rather low expectations for the Terriers this season.

Huddersfield finished 19th in 2015-16 so embarked on a summer spree, bringing in a totally new spine of the team: On-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward, defender Michael Hefele, on-loan Manchester City midfielder Aaron Mooy and forward Elias Kachunga among various others.

The tactic worked. The Terriers were surprise early leaders after five wins from their opening six.

But they dropped off top spot in October, starting a dramatic slide all the way down to eighth in December. David Wagner had some thinking to do.

Image source, Empics

To kick us off...

Swindon had won the second-tier play-offs three years earlier, but were denied promotion to the top flight having admitted 36 breaches of league rules - 35 of them concerning illegal payments made to players.

They were back at Wembley in 1993 under player-manager Glenn Hoddle, who scored the first goal as Swindon went 3-0 up against Leicester.

Back came the Foxes. Julian Joachim, Steve Walsh and Steve Thompson all scored in a 12-minute spell to level the match at 3-3, and it took a late penalty from Paul Bodin to secure Swindon's promotion.

Four days later, Hoddle resigned to take charge of Chelsea.

Image source, Getty Images

Before we get complaints about our vote and people start asking why Manchester City's comeback against Gillingham in 1999 isn't included on our list of options - we've gone with memorable second-tier final moments only.

HOWEVER...

There is a platform to tell us about your favourite play-off final moment, whatever division your team were in at the time.

Get in touch using #bbcefl on social media and your memories, good or bad, could appear on this very page.

Image source, Empics

Few games in English football have provided more drama over the past 30 years than some of those in the play-offs.

There have been changes in format and final venues since their inception in 1987, but they are now a staple of the football calendar that offer delirium and desolation in equal measure.

To mark the 30-year anniversary of the play-offs, BBC Sport is asking you to vote on your most memorable Championship play-off final moment.

The vote - which you can find under the "Vote" tab (mobile/tablet) or on the right side of the page (desktop) - will end at 17:30 BST and we will announce the winner in this live text commentary shortly afterwards.

Click here to view BBC Sport's voting terms and conditions.

Yes, unless you've forgotten it's the £170m game, or whatever astronomical figure it is this year.

And we will have every cough, spit and memorable moment along the way.

Speaking of which, our vote has just opened for you to choose your most memorable final moment...

Adam Whitty
BBC Berkshire

It is likely that when we see the players arriving at Wembley this afternoon, many of Reading's players will be accompanied by huge headphones over their ears, and of course, wearing a tie with a year 9-style thick knot.

What are they listening to, I hear you ask?

Well, probably this absolute banger by Zimbabwean Reading fan Tapiwa Gutu, who sent his song "I am a Reading fan" into BBC Radio Berkshire ahead of this play off final.

Is it set to match the classic FA Cup final tunes we have heard in recent decades? It's unlikely.

Is it an oddly addictive and catchy tune that will be in your head late this evening? Yes, indeed it is.

Tom Airey
Reporter, BBC News Online

BBC Radio Leeds' sport team have been preparing themselves for the play-off final in their customary fashion this morning.

While commentator Adam Pope used an exercise bike as a stool, ex-Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Matt Glennon racked up the miles on the treadmill.

The team say they are both mentally and physically prepared for the afternoon ahead.

Adam Whitty
BBC Berkshire

Jaap Stam has taken Reading to the play-off final, and to the so-called 'richest game in football'.

One more step, and the ex-Manchester United centre-back will have taken his side to the promised land.

"It's a very great achievement," Stam told BBC Radio Berkshire. "Everybody wants to play at that stage, and show themselves to the world.

"I think for the club it's great because of the money involved, so it's good for everybody."

Tom Airey
Reporter, BBC News Online

I know the M1 can be bad sometimes, but this is just ridiculous.

David Elliott has done a marathon a day for the past week from Huddersfield to London to raise money for charity.

Superb effort David, hope the blisters aren't too painful.

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