2000 Football League Trophy Final

The 1999–2000 season saw both Bristol City and Stoke City involved in the race for promotion to the First Division. Stoke had been in the top six for most of the campaign whilst Bristol battled with city rivals Bristol Rovers to gain a play-off spot. The two sides had played each other twice before the final.[2] Firstly on 14 November 1999 at Stoke's Britannia Stadium the score ending 1–1 with goals from Nicky Mohan and Brian Tinnion. The second match at Ashton Gate also ended in a draw this time 2–2 with goals from Kyle Lightbourne, Graham Kavanagh and a brace from Tony Thorpe.[2]

Both sides had a fairly easy route to the final, Bristol City were handed a first round bye whilst Stoke over came Darlington 3–2 thanks to a Kyle Lightbourne golden goal. Bristol City beat Cheltenham Town 3–1 in the second round and Stoke overcame Oldham Athletic again via a golden goal.[2] In the quarters Bristol City eased past Bournemouth on penalties as Stoke beat Blackpool 2–1. The semi-finals saw Bristol City cruise past Reading 4–0 whilst Stoke needed a late goal from James O'Connor to progress. In the area finals Bristol City beat Exeter City 5–1 over two legs and Stoke won equality as easily beating Rochdale 4–1.[2]

Over 75,000 fans packed into Wembley to see Bristol City take on Stoke City in the Football League Trophy final for which Stoke fans dedicated to Stanley Matthews who had died in February 2000.[2] Stoke made the bright start of the two sides enjoying a decent amount of possession and took the lead through Graham Kavanagh after 32 minutes after his shot beat the Robins 'keeper Billy Mercer at his near post. Leading 1–0 Stoke dropped deeper in the second half as they looked to cancel out the threat from the dangerous Scott Murray and Tony Thorpe. It looked to be working but with 15 minutes left Paul Holland headed in a corner to make the scores 1–1.[2] However it was Stoke who had the final say, a counterattack by Stoke was halted when Bjarni Guðjónsson was fouled by Louis Carey to conceded a free-kick. Whilst Bristol complied about the awarding of the free-kick, Guðjónsson played a quick pass to Kavanagh who crossed in to Peter Thorne to earn Stoke their third win at Wembley.[2]