Leicester City were likely already on their summer holidays when they turned up at Hillsborough for the final game of the 1999-2000 season.
Sheffield Wednesday were already relegated, so it was a bizarre time for them to turn in one of their best performances of the season. Four goals from Alan Quinn (an excellent solo goal), Andy Booth, Niclas Alexandersson and Gilles De Bilde gave the rampant Owls the win.
So, it was some unwanted history for Wednesday as they became the first side to be relegated as England's Unofficial Champions.
Bradford City cemented their position as English Champions with a 3-0 win over fellow relegation battlers Wimbledon.
Their next game was away at Filbert Street to play Leicester City. The Foxes were in a comfortable mid-table position and had already booked their place in next seasons UEFA cup after winning the League Cup against Tranmere Rovers.
So, they had nothing to play for. Except the Unofficial English Championship, of course.
Bradford held on for an hour but were then undone by 3 goals in nine minutes. Two headed goals from Matt Elliott and a third from Tony Cottee won Leicester their 6th Championship to go along with their League Cup.
Sunderland had no time to enjoy their time as champions as they were back in action just two days later at the Stadium of the Light, taking on the visitors Bradford City.
Like previous opponents Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford were also desperate for points in their relegation battle.
One goal was all that was required for Bradford to take three vital points and the English Championship. John Dreyer was the hero, heading in from Peter Beagrie's second-half cross.
Sheffield Wednesday may have been English Champions but they were in no position to celebrate as they were involved in a huge relegation battle.
Sunderland were in no mood to make life any easier for the Owls. Sunderland had surprised many with their good form following promotion the previous season. This owed no small part to the leagues leading scorer Kevin Phillips, who had outscored the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Andy Cole.
It was Phillips again who was the Black Cat's hero, scoring with two more predatory finishes to win Sunderland's third Unofficial Championship and inflict more misery on Wednesday supporters.
When Chelsea turned up at Hillsborough, they were on a good run of domestic form having been unbeaten in 20 games including six as English Champions. They had even picked up wins over Marseille, Feyenoord and Barcelona in that time and booked a place in the FA Cup final. Relegation battlers Sheffield Wednesday should have been a foregone conclusion.
The Owls had different ideas though. Points were desperately needed by Wednesday and they were set on their way through a second half penalty. Gilles De Bilde was adjudged to have been brought down by Chelsea goalkeeper Ed De Goey, who was a tad fortunate to escape a red card. Wim Jonk stepped up to dispatch the penalty kick for Wednesday.
Chelsea had their chances but it just wasn't their day.
Sheffield Wednesday may have been stuck near the bottom but at least they were Champions.
Newcastle United were riding high after their victory over Manchester United and cemented their place as English Champions with hard fought victories over Sheffield Wednesday and er, Tranmere Rovers.
Game three was a visit from Chelsea. Chelsea were in a similar position to the Magpies of threatening to break into the top echelon but hadn't quite made it (yet).
One goal was all that was needed, Gustavo Poyet heading in from Jody Morris's cross in the 22nd minute. Gianluca Vialli's Blues were English Champions for the 6th time.
Having secured their place as English Champions, Manchester United started the new millenium with a trip to South America to play in the World Club Championship where they had mixed results. On returning to England, they saw off challenges from Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City.
Next up was a trip to St James' Park to play Newcastle United.
The Toon Army had threatened to be a major player in English football in the mid-nineties but had fallen just short. Following a disastrous run under manager Ruud Gullitt they had lost a lot of their lustre but the appointment of former England manager Bobby Robson had brought new optimism to the club.
Man United started well but it was the Magpies struck first, a rare non-headed goal from Duncan Ferguson who scored a delightful volley from the edge of the box.
Had goal-line technology existed United may have had an equaliser but Andy Cole's effort was ruled not to have crossed the line. It got worse for United when captain Roy Keane was sent off for a second yellow card.
It only got better for Newcastle though when Alan Shearer scored a brace, the first a curling effort from outside the box and the second a sliding effort from inside the penalty area.
New optimism for Newcastle, the new Champions of England.
Bradford City's reign as English Champions started well with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United but their second match brought the daunting prospect of a visit to the home of Treble winners Manchester United.
Played on a horrible Old Trafford pitch, for a time the Bantams may have felt the United players had overdone the Christmas turkey the day before. It took 75 minutes to break the dead-lock, Quinton Fortune sliding in to convert Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's low cross.
The goals flowed after that with one each for the deadly strike duo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.
The win was rounded off with a typical bursting run and finish from United's iconic captain Roy Keane.
With their title reclaimed for the 7th time, a 2-2 draw with Sunderland two days later guaranteed Manchester United would enter the new millenium as both England's Official and Unofficial Champions.
Bradford on their way to FA Cup glory (apologies for low quality, only footage I could find)
Crewe Alexandra's time at the top of the English football tree was short lived but they did manage one successful defence, with an admirable 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
The FA Cup brought Premier League side Bradford City to Gresty Road. Bradford were struggling in the Premier League as many had predicted they would, so the FA Cup was a good distraction for Paul Jewell's men.
The Division One side kept the Bantams at bay for 53 minutes before eventually, Robbie Blake found a way through.
Crewe weren't giving up easily though as they forced an equaliser in the 75th minute through Colin Little.
It was all for ought though as veteran striker Dean Saunders came off the bench to score for Bradford, putting them through to the Fourth Round and more crucially, making Bradford City Champions of England for the first time.
