Clarets End 33-Year Wait

At London:

Wade Elliot scored the game's only goal at 13 minutes as Burnley defeated Sheffield United 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Monday to win the League Championship promotion final and gain promotion to the top flight of English soccer for the first time since 1976. The Clarets next season will play their first season in the Premiership.

Burnley joins Wolverhampton and Birmingham City in winning promotion to the Premier League.

Burnley To Get Shot At Sheffield United

The semifinal round of England's League Championship promotion playoffs concluded Tuesday.

At Reading:

Goals from Martin Paterson (51') and Steven Thompson (58') lifted Burnley to a 2-0 road win in game two of their two match series with Reading and a 3-0 series win on aggregate. Next for the Clarets will be the promotion final on May 25 at Wembley Stadium in London against Sheffield United with the winner earning promotion to the Premier League. The Clarets have not played in the top flight since 1975. The Blades were in the Premiership for one season, 2006-07, their last top-flight season before that ended in 1992.

Greg Halford Uses His Noggin To Send Blades To Promotion Final

At Sheffield:

Greg Halford's header (59') proved to be the decisive goal as Sheffield United defeated visiting Preston North End 1-0 on Monday in the second game to the clubs' two-match semifinal series in England's League Championship promotion playoffs. The Blades will play in the May 25 final at London's Wembley Stadium against the Reading-Burney winner for the right to be promoted to the Premiership.

Late Goal Lifts Burnley In Series Opener With Royals

At Burnley:

In the opening match of a playoff promotion semifinal series (from England's Football League Championship to the Premiership), Graham Alexander's successful penalty kick (84') lifted Burnley to a 1-0 home win over Reading.