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| Date | 24 May 1997 | ||||||
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| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Referee | Terry Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe) | ||||||
| Attendance | 46,804 | ||||||
The 1997 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 24 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Northampton Town and Swansea City to determine the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1996–97 Football League Third Division, Carlisle United, Fulham and league winners Wigan Athletic, gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1997–98 season in the Second Division. The losing semi-finalists were Chester City and Cardiff City.
The match, refereed by Terry Heilbron, was played in front of 46,804 supporters. In a goalless first half, Carl Heggs came close to scoring with a volley which Andy Woodman, the Northampton Town goalkeeper, saved. Late in the second half, Northampton Town were awarded a free kick which John Frain struck against the Swansea wall, but the referee ordered it be re-taken. On the second attempt, Frain scored to give his side a 1–0 victory and promotion to the Second Division.
In their next season, Northampton Town finished in fourth place in the Second Division to qualify for the play-offs. There, they lost 1–0 to Grimsby Town in the 1998 Football League Second Division play-off final. Swansea City ended their following season in 21st position in the Third Division.