SCOTT SINCLAIR scored a hat-trick as Swansea City became the first Welsh club to be promoted to the Premier League after they beat Reading in a pulsating playoff final at Wembley.
The Swans raced into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to two goals from Sinclair and a fine strike from Stephen Dobbie.
But two set-pieces early in the second half brought Reading right back into the game. Joe Allen could only divert the ball into his own net before Matt Mills reduced the deficit to 3-2 with more than 30 minutes to play.
Swansea were on the ropes and, as the Royals poured forward in search of an equaliser, Jem Karacan struck the base of the post and Gary Monk blocked Stephen Hunt's shot on the rebound.
But, with that chance gone, Brendan Rogers' men could breathe a little easier as the Reading comeback began to run out of steam.
Swansea gradually regained composure and Fabio Borini won a penalty after he was unceremoniously bundled over in the box by Andy Griffin.
Former Chelsea youngster Sinclair kept his composure and hit the ball right in the corner out of Adam Federici's reach to fire the Swans into the top-flight for the first time since 1983.
On Sunday, Peterborough United beat Huddersfield Town 3-0 to regain their place in the Championship which they lost 12 months ago.
Tommy Rowe, Craig Mackail-Smith and Grant McCann scored the three goals in the last 12 minutes of the game as Posh broke Huddersfield hearts.
The score was harsh on Lee Clark's men who had gone 27 matches unbeaten in the league since December, only to see their good work undone in a matter of minutes at Old Trafford.
But Peterborough deserve a lot of credit for their ultra-attacking approach which saw them score 106 goals in the regular season with Mackail-Smith hitting 35 of them.
The goals continued to flow in the playoffs for Posh and Darren Ferguson's men are worthy of their place back in the second flight.
While Peterborough are making a return to the Championship, Stevenage will play at their highest level ever next season after gaining back-to-back promotions.
The Boro, who only went up from the Blue Square Premier last season, beat Torquay United 1-0 in a tight League Two playoff final at Old Trafford.
John Mousinho scored the only goal towards the end of the first half which Stevenage had dominated.
The Gulls went close of an equaliser through Jake Robinson but Graham Westley's side held on to cap a meteoric recent rise through the divisions.
The curtain now comes down on Season 2010/11 though football-starved fans will be encouraged to hear there are numerous tournaments throughout the summer.
After Euro 2012 qualifiers for the senior team next weekend, England Under-21s will be play in Euro 2011 which takes place in Denmark between 11-25 June.
Stuart Pearce's men face Spain, Czech Republic and Ukraine in Group B with the top two qualifying for the semi finals. Denmark, Belarus, Iceland and Switzerland are in the other pool.
England have a good recent record in the Championships having reached the Final in 2009 and the semi finals in 2007 when they lost 13-12 to Netherlands in an epic penalty shootout.
Then, in July, there is the Copa America, hosted in Argentina, and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.
At this point, though, this seems a fitting time to provide a list of ups and downs, for the record:
ENGLAND
PREMIER LEAGUE
Champions: Manchester United
Runners-up: Chelsea
Champions League: Manchester City, Arsenal
Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur, Birmingham City, Stoke City, Fulham (fair-play award)
Relegated: Birmingham City, Blackpool, West Ham United
CHAMPIONSHIP
Champions: Queens Park Rangers
Runners-up: Norwich City
Playoff winners: Swansea City (beat Reading 4-2 in the Final)
Relegated: Preston North End, Sheffield United, Scunthorpe United
LEAGUE ONE
Champions: Brighton & Hove Albion
Runners-up: Southampton
Playoff winners: Peterborough United (beat Huddersfield Town 3-0 in the Final)
Relegated: Dagenham & Redbridge, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town
LEAGUE TWO
Champions: Chesterfield
Runners-up: Bury. Also promoted automatically: Wycombe Wanderers
Playoff winners: Stevenage (beat Torquay United 1-0 in the Final)
Relegated: Lincoln City, Stockport County
BLUE SQUARE PREMIER
Champions: Crawley Town
Playoff winners: AFC Wimbledon (beat Luton Town 4-3 on penalties in the Final after 0-0 draw)
Relegated: Southport, Altrincham, Eastbourne Borough, Histon
BLUE SQUARE NORTH
Champions: Alfreton Town
Playoff winners: Telford United (beat Guiseley 3-2 in the Final)
Relegated: Hyde United, Stafford Rangers, Redditch United
BLUE SQUARE SOUTH
Champions: Braintree Town
Playoff winners: Ebbsfleet United (beat Farnborough 4-2 in the Final)
Relegated: Thurrock, Lewes, St Albans City
DOMESTIC TROPHY FINALS
All matches played at Wembley
FA Cup Final: Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City
League Cup Final: Birmingham City 2-1 Arsenal
FA Community Shield: Manchester United 3-1 Chelsea
Johnstone's Paint Trophy: Carlisle United 1-0 Brentford
FA Trophy: Darlington 1-0 Mansfield Town (after extra time)
FA Vase: Whitley Bay 3-2 Coalville Town
SCOTLAND
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Champions: Rangers
Europa League: Celtic (runners-up), Hearts, Dundee United
Relegated: Hamilton Academicals
SCOTTISH DIVISION ONE
Champions: Dunfermline
Runners-up (not promoted): Raith Rovers
Relegated: Cowdenbeath, Stirling Albion
SCOTTISH DIVISION TWO
Champions: Livingston
Playoff winners: Ayr United (beat Brechin City 3-2 on aggregate in the Final)
Relegated: Alloa Athletic, Peterhead
SCOTTISH DIVISION THREE
Champions: Arbroath
Playoff winners: Albion Rovers (beat Annan Athletic 4-3 on aggregate in the Final)
DOMESTIC TROPHY FINALS
FA Cup: Celtic 3-0 Motherwell
League Cup: Rangers 2-1 Celtic (after extra time)
Challenge Cup: Ross County 2-0 Queen of the South
WALES/NORTHERN IRELAND
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE
Champions: Bangor City
Europa League: Llanelli AFC (cup winners), The New Saints (runners-up), Neath
Relegated: Haverfordwest County
IFA PREMIERSHIP
Champions: Linfield
Europa League: Crusaders (runners-up), Glentoran (third), Cliftonville (fourth)
Relegated: Newry City
DOMESTIC TROPHY FINALS
Welsh FA Cup: Llanelli 4-1 Bangor City
Welsh League Cup: The New Saints 4-3 Llanelli (after extra time)
IFA Cup: Linfield 2-1 Crusaders
Irish League Cup: Lisburn Distillery 2-1 Portadown
EUROPE
UEFA FINALS
Champions League: Barcelona (Spa) 3-1 Manchester United (Eng)
Europa League: FC Porto (Por) 1-0 Sporting Braga (Por)
Super Cup: Atletico Madrid (Spa) 2-0 Inter Milan (Ita)
MAJOR EUROPEAN LEAGUE WINNERS
Spain: Barcelona
Italy: AC Milan
Germany: Borussia Dortmund
France: Lille
Portugal: FC Porto
Holland: Ajax Amsterdam
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