The
2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive
football in England
.
Overview
- The
rebuilt Wembley
Stadium
was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August
2005, The Football
Association reserved the Millennium Stadium
as a backup, as there was some doubt whether
Wembley would be ready. The doubts were confirmed on
21 February 2006,
when The FA announced that the final would indeed be held at
Millennium Stadium. On 31 March 2006 The FA confirmed that the new Wembley would not be
opened until 2007.
- Two clubs opened new stadiums at the beginning of this season:
- F.C. United of Manchester, formed by
disgruntled Manchester United
fans played their first competitive season, competing in the
North West Counties
Football League Division Two (level 10 of the English football league
system), from which they gained promotion at the first time of
asking.
- Reading, broke the previous points
record of 105 points, taking 106 points from 46 games, scoring 99
goals to earn promotion to the
Premiership.
- Wigan Athletic, who earned
promotion to the Premiership by finishing second in the
Football League
Championship, played their first ever season in the top
division of English football and comfortably stayed up, staying
clear from the threat of relegation all season.
Diary of the season
- June 29 2005 -
Chelsea sell Mateja Kezman to Atletico Madrid for £5.3million.
- July 1 2005 -
Tottenham Hotspur sign
18-year-old Leeds United winger
Aaron Lennon for £1million.
- July 4 2005 - Liverpool sign goalkeeper Jose Reina from Villareal for £6million and Mark Gonzalez from Albacete
for
£4.5million.
- July 5 2005 -
Ji-Sung Park becomes Manchester
United's first Asian player in a £4million move
from PSV Eindhoven.
- July 8 2005 -
Blackburn Rovers sign Craig Bellamy
from Newcastle United for £5million.
- July 12 2005 -
Arsenal sign VfB Stuttgart and
Belarus midfielder
Aleksander Hleb for
£11.2million.
- July 15 2005 -
Patrick Vieira ends nine years at
Arsenal in a £13.7million move to Juventus.
- July 18 2005 -
Chelsea sign Shaun
Wright-Phillips from Manchester
City for £21million.
- July 20 2005 -
Liverpool sign Peter Crouch from
Southampton for £7million.
- July 27 2005 -
Manchester City sign Darius Vassell
from Aston Villa for £2million.
- August 4 2005 -
Phil Neville who has spent his entire
12-year career at Manchester United, is sold to Everton for
£3.5million.
- August 7 2005 —
Chelsea claim the first silverware of
the season when they beat Arsenal 2–1
at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to win the FA Community Shield.
- August 8 2005 - Manchester United misfit Jose Kleberson is sold to Besiktas
of Turkey
for
£2.5million.
- August 18 2005 - Tottenham Hotspur sell Frederic Kanoute to Seville
for
£4.4million.
- August 19 2005 - Chelsea pay a club record £24.4million to
Olympique Lyonnais for Ghanaian
midfielder Michael
Essien.
- August 23 2005 -
Tiago leaves Chelsea for Olympique Lyonnais in
a £6.5million deal, while Milan Baros
moves from Liverpool to Aston Villa for the same fee.
- August 26 2005 -
Liverpool F.C. win the UEFA Super Cup beating PFC CSKA Moscow 3-1.
- August 31 2005 -
August draws to a close with Chelsea looking well placed to defend
their Premier League title having won their first four games of the
season. Stuart Pearce's Manchester City have made an impressive
start to the season as they occupy second place. Charlton Athletic, Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers complete the top
five. Newly promoted Sunderland
are bottom after losing their first four games of the league
season, with Newcastle United
and Portsmouth completing the bottom
three. Newcastle United break their club record fee by paying
£17million to Real Madrid for Michael Owen. [77547]
- September 7
2005 — Northern Ireland
take a historic 1–0 over England at Windsor Park
, Belfast
. Strengthening calls for Sven-Göran Eriksson's
resignation.
- September 8 2005
- Noel Cantwell, who captained
Manchester United to FA Cup glory in 1963 and managed Coventry
City through their only European campaign (the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup) eight years
later, dies of cancer aged 72.
- September 30 2005 - Chelsea's 100% start to the season continues
after seven games as they finish September with their Premier
League leadership intact. Charlton Athletic are their nearest
challengers in second place, with Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United (newly promoted) and
Manchester United completing
the top five. Sunderland remain bottom with just one point so far
this season, while Everton and West Bromwich Albion complete the
bottom three. [77548]
- October 8 2005 — England defeat Austria 1–0 at Old
Trafford
, with the Netherlands' defeating
the Czech
Republic the same night, thus assuring England automatic
qualification for the 2006 World
Cup, either as the top team in their qualifying group or one of
the top two second-placed European teams.
- October 12 2005 —
England defeat Poland
2–1 at Old Trafford to finish top of their World Cup qualifying
group.
- October 17 2005 -
Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier is banned from all football after
failing a drugs test.
- October 18
2005 - Johnny
Haynes, the former Fulham and
England player who
became Britain's first £100-a-week player in 1961, dies aged 71, the day after he suffered a
Brain haemorrhage at the wheel of
his car in Edinburgh
.
- October 26 2005 -
George Swindin, former goalkeeper and
manager of Arsenal, dies aged 90.
- October 28
2005 - Deputy Prime
Minister John Prescott gives final
approval for Brighton
& Hove Albion to build Falmer Stadium
, now scheduled to open in 2008.
- October 29 2005 -
Manchester United become the
first team to score 1000 Premier League goals, in its 14th
season.
- October 31 2005 -
October draws to a close with Chelsea now runaway leaders with 10
wins and a draw from their first 11 games, while their nearest
challengers are Wigan Athletic -
playing their first top division season and only their 28th as a
professional league club. Tottenham Hotspur, Bolton Wanderers
and Charlton Athletic complete the top five, while a disappointing
Manchester United and Arsenal are sixth and seventh respectively.
Sunderland have at last recorded their first league win of the
season but still occupy bottom place, with Birmingham City and
Everton completing the bottom three. [77549]
- November 6 2005 -
Manchester United become the first team to beat Chelsea in 41
Premier League games, with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, after a
Darren Fletcher header.
- November 18 2005
- Roy Keane leaves Manchester United by
mutual consent, ending his 12-year association with the club.
- November 24 2005
- Alain Perrin is sacked as manager of
Portsmouth after eight months in
charge.
- November 25
2005 - Football mourns the legendary George Best, formerly of Manchester United and
Northern
Ireland, who died today in London's
Cromwell
Hospital
from multiple
organ failure at the age of 59. [77550]
- November 30 2005
- November ends with Chelsea still top of the Premier League, their
nearest contenders now being Manchester United who are 10 points
behind and with a game in hand. Arsenal, Wigan Athletic and
Tottenham Hotspur complete the top five. Sunderland remain bottom
with a mere five points and one win so far, with Birmingham City
and Portsmouth completing the bottom three.[77551]
- December 3 2005 -
Harry Redknapp walks out of Southampton after being refused permission
to discuss terms with Portsmouth over returning as manager.
- December 7 2005 -
Harry Redknapp is appointed manager of Portsmouth for the second
time with a contract until the end of the season.
- December 22 2005
- George Burley is appointed Harry
Redknapp's replacement at Southampton.
- December 31 2005
- Chelsea's Premier League continues into 2006 by 11 points over
Manchester United, while Liverpool's good run of form has taken
them into third place. Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic
complete the top five. Sunderland, Birmingham City and Portsmouth
occupy the relegation places. [77552]
- January 4 2006 -
Alexandre Gaydamak takes a 50%
stake in Portsmouth alongside Milan
Mandaric. Manchester United pay Spartak Moscow £7million for Serbian
defender Nemanja
Vidic.
- January 6 2006 - Portsmouth sign
Benjani from Auxerre
for £4.1million.
- January 8 2006 -
Burton Albion of the Conference National hold Manchester United to a historic 0-0 draw
in the FA Cup Third Round, earning a
lucrative replay at Old Trafford on January
18, 2006 which they lose 5-0.
- January 10
2006 - Manchester United sign French
defender
Patrice Evra from AS Monaco for £5.5million.
- January 12
2006 - Liverpool sign Daniel Agger from Brondby
for £5.8million.
- January 13 2006 -
Arsenal sign Emmanuel Adebayor
from AS Monaco for £7million.
- January 20 2006 -
The Premiership formally charges
Portsmouth with "tapping up" Harry Redknapp. Arsenal pay £5million
to Southampton for striker Theo Walcott, who turns 17 on 16 March.
- January 22 2006 -
West Ham United pay £7.25million for Norwich City striker Dean Ashton.
- January 23 2006 -
The FA announces that Sven-Göran Eriksson will leave his
post as England national coach after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- January 25 2006 -
Craig Levein is sacked as manager of
Leicester City.
- January 30 2006 -
Phil Brown is
sacked as manager of Derby County.
Academy boss Terry Westley is
appointed interim manager, with player Paul Peschisolido acting as his assistant.
Manchester City sign Greek
midfielder
Georgios Samaras from SC Heerenveen for £6million.
- January 31 2006 -
Chelsea now lead the Premier League by 14 points ahead of
Manchester United and 18 points ahead of Liverpool, with Tottenham
Hotspur and Arsenal completing the top five. Sunderland, Portsmouth
and Birmingham City occupy the three relegation places. [77553]
- February 2 2006 -
Graeme Souness is sacked as manager
of Newcastle United, and
Glenn Roeder was made caretaker manager
with Alan Shearer his assistant
manager.
- February 4 2006 -
Alan Shearer becomes Newcastle United's top goalscorer of all time,
scoring his 201st goal for the club, against Portsmouth at St.
James' Park, beating Jackie Milburn's
200 goal tally which had stood for 49 years.
- February 9 2006 -
Former West Ham United and
England manager Ron Greenwood dies
aged 84.
- February 11 2006
- Middlesbrough comfortably
defeat reigning premiership champions Chelsea 3-0 at the Riverside
Stadium - the first time ever José Mourinho's Chelsea have lost by
more than a single goal.
- February 18 2006
- Liverpool beat Manchester United in the F.A. Cup for
the first time since 1921. The draw was a 5th round matchup.
- February 21 2006
- The FA announce that the 2006 FA Cup final, set for May 13, will be held at Millennium Stadium, as the
builders of the new Wembley Stadium are unable to assure that it
will be ready for the match. They also announce that the national team's pre-World Cup
friendlies originally scheduled for Wembley will instead be held at
Old Trafford.
- February 21
2006 - A Football
League under-21 team, composed of players from the Football
League's three divisions, beats a Lega Nazionale Professionisti
under-21 team, composed of players from Serie
B, 1-0 at the KC
Stadium
.
- February 26 2006
- Manchester United defeat
Wigan Athletic 4-0 at the Millennium Stadium to win the Carling Cup. Should they finish in the top five
this season, there will be a UEFA Cup place for the league's sixth
highest placed team.
- February 28 2006
- The month ends with Chelsea's lead over Manchester United at the
top of the Premier League narrowed slightly to 12 points.
Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal once again complete the
top five, while Bolton Wanderers occupy the now sought after sixth
place. Sunderland continue to prop up the top flight, havin gained
just nine points so far this season. Portsmouth and Birmingham City
complete the bottom three, with Portsmouth now eight points adrift
of safety. [77554]
- March 1 2006 -
Former Chelsea striker Peter Osgood dies of a heart attack aged 59.
- March 6 2006 -
Mick McCarthy is sacked as manager of
Sunderland after his team
accumulated just 10 points in 28 matches, with Kevin Ball made caretaker manager for the
remainder of the season.
- March 25 2006 -
Reading became the first side to be
promoted to the 2006-07
FA Premier League campaign after
drawing 1-1 at Leicester.
2006-07 will be the Berkshire club's first
ever season in England's top flight (though they would have been
automatically promoted in 1995 as Division One
runners-up had it not been for a reorganisation of the league which
saw them forced into the playoffs where they had lost to Bolton
Wanderers in the final).
- March 31 2006 -
March draws to a close with Chelsea now nine points ahead of
Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. Liverpool,
Tottenham, Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal complete the top six, while
Wigan Athletic are now eighth and their dreams of European football
are fading fast. Sunderland are still bottom with 10 points though
their relegation has yet to be confirmed. Portsmouth and Birmingham
City complete the bottom three, both of them being three points
behind 17th-placed West Bromwich Albion and with a game in hand.
[77555]
- April 1 2006 -
Reading win the Football League Championship
title after the combination of Reading defeating Derby County and Sheffield United being held to a draw
means that Reading can not be overtaken.
- April 14 2006 - Sunderland are
relegated from the Premiership after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old
Trafford
. This is the first relegation in the
league.
- April 15 2006 -
Sheffield United become the
second side to secure promotion to the Premiership after they beat Cardiff City while Watford and Leeds United only drew with Wolves and champions Reading respectively.
- April 15 2006 -
Accrington Stanley regain
their Football League status 44
years after the previous club of the same name lost it due to
bankruptcy, after they beat Woking to
win the Conference title.
- April 17 2006 - Sheffield
Wednesday's 2-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion
ensures that the trio of Brighton, Crewe Alexandra
and Millwall are all
relegated from the Championship.
- April 17 2006 -
Alan Shearer plays his last competitive
match against, rather fittingly, Sunderland, after a Julio Arca tackle tore his medial collateral ligament.
- April 18 2006 -
John Lyall, former Ipswich Town and West Ham United manager, dies of a
heart attack aged 66.
- April 20 2006 -
Altrincham of the Conference have 18 points deducted for
fielding an ineligible player thirteen times. This points deduction
relegates the club to the Conference
North.
- April 22 2006 -
Carlisle United secure
promotion to League One after a
1-1 draw at Mansfield while
Leyton Orient were also held to a
draw by the same scoreline at Lincoln
City. This promotion comes just one season after Carlisle
returned to the Football League
following a one-season exile.
- April 22 2006 -
Walsall were relegated to League Two after losing 1-3 at home to
Huddersfield Town and
Rotherham United drew with
Scunthorpe United.
- April 29 2006 -
Chelsea successfully retained their
Premiership title after they
beat Manchester United
3-0.
- April 29 2006 -
West Bromwich Albion are
relegated from the Premiership
after Portsmouth won 2-1 away at
Wigan Athletic. Birmingham City are also relegated
after Portsmouth's victory combined with their 0-0 draw with
Newcastle United.
- April 29 2006 - Charlton
Athletic manager Alan Curbishley
announces that he will resign at the end of the season, ending a
15-year long tenure as manager at The Valley
.
- April 29 2006 -
Southend United secured
promotion from League One after
they drew 2-2 at Swansea City
while Brentford also drew against
Hartlepool United. Also in
League One, Swindon Town are
relegated to League Two after
they could only draw 1-1 against Bristol City.
- April 29 2006 -
Northampton Town secured
promotion from League Two after
beating Chester City 1-0. Rushden & Diamonds were
relegated to the Conference when
they lost 2-0 away to Boston
United and other results went against them.
- April 30 2006 -
Reading broke Sunderland's record for most points in any
professional English league, beating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 to finish
on 106 points.
- April 30 2006 -
April draws to a close with Chelsea confirmed as champions, while
Manchester United and Liverpool are the next highest teams level on
points. Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers complete
the top six. Sunderland are bottom and were relegated two weeks
ago, while West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City's relegation
has just been confirmed. It is a brilliant time for Portsmouth, who
looked dead and buried barely two months ago. [77556]
- May 4 2006 - Current
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren signs a four-year contract
agreeing to succeed Sven-Göran
Eriksson as England head coach after the
World Cup. The contract begins
on August 1.
- May 4 2006 - Newcastle United are refused
permission to appoint caretaker manager Glenn Roeder on a permanent basis as he does
not possess the required coaching qualifications.
- May 6 2006 - Southend United, after defeating
Bristol City, become League One champions, while Colchester United secure the second
automatic place to The
Championship, they will play in the top two tiers in English
football for the first time in their history after their promotion.
Hartlepool United and
Milton Keynes Dons are
relegated to League Two.
- May 6 2006 - Oxford United lose their league status
after 44 years following a 3-2 defeat by Leyton Orient, who are promoted to
League One.
- May 7 2006 - Sunderland finish the season on 15 points,
the lowest points total ever in top flight English football since 3
points for a win was introduced in the 1981-82 season.
- May 9 2006 - Roy Keane's testimonial is played at Old
Trafford
, with Manchester
United beating Celtic 1-0 thanks to
a second half Cristiano Ronaldo
goal.
- May 10 2006 - Middlesbrough
lose the UEFA Cup final 4-0 to Sevilla in Steve
McClaren's last game in charge at the Philips
Stadion
in Eindhoven
. On the same day, the Premier League change
their mind over the Glenn Roeder situation at Newcastle United and
give him permission to take on the manager's role on a permanent
basis despite him not having the requiring coaching qualifications.
[77557]
- May 11 2006 - Alan Shearer's
testimonial is played at St James'
Park
, with a Newcastle XI beating Celtic 3-2, with Shearer scoring the winning
penalty.
- - Joe Royle leaves Ipswich "by mutual consent"
- May 13 2006 -
Liverpool won the 125th FA Cup final beating West Ham 3-1 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw after
extra time.
- May 16 2006 -
Lincoln City became the first team
to lose four consecutive play-off competitions following a 3-1
aggregate defeat to neighbours Grimsby
Town in the League Two
semi-finals.
- May 17 2006 - Arsenal lost in the
UEFA Champions League final to
Barcelona 2-1 in the Stade de
France
. Jens Lehmann
was sent off controversially after fouling Samuel Eto'o and Ludovic Giuly put the ball into the back off
the net.
- May 20 2006 -
Hereford United gain promotion
to League Two after beating
Halifax Town 3-2 in the Conference Playoff
Final, after extra time.
- May 21 2006 -
Watford gain promotion to the FA Premier League after defeating Leeds 3-0 in the Championship play-off
final.
- May 23 2006 - Arsenal
sign Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund for £6.8million.
- May 27 2006 -
Barnsley win promotion to the Championship after overcoming
Swansea City in the League One play-off final. They won 4-3
on penalties after both sides remained level at 2-2 after extra
time.
- May 28 2006 -
Cheltenham Town wins promotion
to the League One by defeating
Grimsby Town 1-0 in the League Two play-off final.
- May 30 2006 - Everton
pay a club record £8.6million for Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson, and Chelsea sign Salomon Kalou from Feyenoord for £8million.
- May 31 2006 - Chelsea
pay a national record £30million for AC
Milan and Ukraine
striker Andriy Shevchenko.
- June 2 2006 -
Billy Davies leaves Preston North End to become manager
of Derby County.
- June 4 2006 -
Scarborough are relegated from the
Nationwide Conference for a
breach of league rules. They take Altrincham's relegation place.
- June 8 2006 - The
BBC's Match of the
Day will show Premier League
highlights for at least another four seasons after £171.6million
bid for television rights was accepted. [77558]
- June 10 2006 -
England open their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Paraguay.
- June 14 2006 -
Everton sign defender Joleon Lescott
from Wolverhampton
Wanderers for £5million, and Chelsea sell striker Eiður Guðjohnsen to FC Barcelona for £8million.
- June 15 2006 -
England beat Trinidad and
Tobago 2-0 to confirm their qualification for the last 16 of
the World Cup.
- June 20 2006 -
England draw 2-2 with Sweden in their final group
game.
- June 22 2006 -
Liverpool pay £6million to Blackburn Rovers for winger Craig Bellamy.
- June 25 2006 -
England reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the second
tournament in succession with a 1-0 win over Ecuador in the second
round.
- July 1 2006 - England
lose on penalties to Portugal after a goalless
draw in the World Cup quarter-finals. Tottenham Hotspur
sign Bulgarian
striker Dimitar
Berbatov from Bayer Leverkusen
for £10.9million. Former Tottenham Hotspur and England
manager Glenn Hoddle resigns at
Wolverhampton Wanderers.
National team
England qualified for
the
Football World Cup 2006,
after finishing top of
European Qualifying
Group 6.
| Date |
Venue |
Opponents |
Score |
Competition |
England scorers |
Match Report |
| August 17, 2005 |
Parken Stadion , Copenhagen (A) |
|
1-4 |
F |
Wayne Rooney |
BBC |
| September 3, 2005 |
Millennium Stadium , Cardiff (A) |
|
1-0 |
WCQ |
Joe Cole |
BBC |
| September 7, 2005 |
Windsor Park , Belfast (A) |
|
0-1 |
WCQ |
|
BBC |
| October 8, 2005 |
Old Trafford , Manchester (H) |
|
1-0 |
WCQ |
Frank Lampard (pen) |
BBC |
| October 12, 2005 |
Old Trafford, Manchester (H) |
|
2-1 |
WCQ |
Michael Owen, Frank Lampard |
BBC |
| November 12, 2005 |
Stade de Genève , Geneva
(N) |
|
3-2 |
F |
Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen (2) |
BBC |
| March 1, 2006 |
Anfield , Liverpool (H) |
|
2-1 |
F |
Peter Crouch, Joe Cole |
BBC |
| May 25, 2006 |
Madejski Stadium , Reading (H) |
|
1-2 |
F ('B'
team) |
Jermaine Jenas |
BBC |
| May 30, 2006 |
Old Trafford, Manchester (H) |
|
3-1 |
F |
Steven Gerrard,
John Terry,
Peter Crouch |
BBC |
| June 3, 2006 |
Old Trafford, Manchester (H) |
|
6-0 |
F |
Frank Lampard,
Jermaine Taylor
(o.g.),
Michael Owen,
Peter Crouch (3) |
BBC |
| June 10, 2006 |
FIFA WM Stadion Frankfurt , Frankfurt (N) |
|
1-0 |
WCF |
Carlos Gamarra (o.g.) |
BBC |
| June 15, 2006 |
Frankenstadion , Nuremberg (N) |
|
2-0 |
WCF |
Peter Crouch,
Steven Gerrard |
BBC |
| June 20, 2006 |
FIFA WM Stadion Köln , Cologne (N) |
|
2-2 |
WCF |
Joe Cole,
Steven Gerrard |
BBC |
| June 25, 2006 |
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion , Stuttgart (N) |
|
1-0 |
WCF |
David Beckham |
BBC |
| July 1, 2006 |
Veltins-Arena , Gelsenkirchen (N) |
|
0-0 (FT), 0-0 (aet), 1-3 (P) |
WCF |
|
BBC |
|
- Key
- H = Home match
- A = Away match
- N = Neutral site match
- F = Friendly
- WCQ = FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying, European zone Group
6
- WCF = FIFA World Cup 2006 Finals
Honours
European qualification
League tables
FA Premier League
Chelsea won the Premiership title by an 8-point margin after
fighting off a late challenge by runners-up Manchester United. The
other five European places went to Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham
Hotspur, West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers.
Middlesbrough dipped seven places to 14th place in the final table,
but did reach the
UEFA Cup Final
- the first European final in their history - where they were
absolutely smashed by
Sevilla. Also
dipping seven places were Manchester City, who finished 15th, while
Aston Villa slipped six places to 16th.
Sunderland were relegated with a Premiership record low of 3 wins
and 15 points, breaking the record previously set by Sunderland in
2002-03, while
West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City both hit the 30-point mark
but were unable to avoid relegation. Portsmouth had spent almost
the entire season in the relegation zone, but they stayed up after
assuring their safety in their penultimate match of the season.
The Football League
Football League Championship
Reading entered the top flight for the first time in their history,
breaking Sunderland's points record in the process.
(Coincidentally, Sunderland were relegated from the Premiership
while breaking the record for
lowest number of points
under the current scoring system). Sheffield United joined them,
returning to the Premiership after twelve years.
Surprise package
Watford, initially tipped for relegation, entered the play-offs and
beat Leeds United 3-0 in the Millennium Stadium
final, who were unable to shake off a bad run of
form (worse than any of the three relegated sides) that saw them
lose out in the race for automatic promotion.
Crystal Palace fared the best out of the Premiership teams
relegated the previous season, by getting to the play-offs but
losing in the semi finals. Norwich never managed better than
mid-table, while Southampton endured an awful season that saw
Sir Clive Woodward take up a
much-criticised role as
director of
football, manager
Harry Redknapp
return to local rivals Portsmouth and the side looking in danger of
relegation for much of the season, only managing a mid-table finish
with a late surge in form, thanks to the appointment of
George Burley. Chairman
Rupert Lowe ultimately paid the price by being
forced to resign after the end of the season.
The relegation battle was principally fought by four sides, Crewe,
Brighton, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday ultimately
won the battle, and the remaining three were relegated all on the
same day, after Wednesday beat Brighton 2-0. While Crewe and
Brighton had not spent long in the division and were considered to
be punching above their weight, Millwall underwent a disastrous
season, getting through five managers and four chairmen before
relegation.
Football League One
Southend United surprised many by winning a second successive
promotion, returning to the Championship after nearly a decade
(when it was called Division One). Colchester United also made the
Championship for the first time in their history, but their
promotion was tempered by the loss of manager
Phil Parkinson to Hull City.
A highly competitive
play-off race saw Barnsley emerge as winners, beating Swansea City
at the Millennium
Stadium
4-3 on penalties after both normal time and
extra-time finished 2-2, to return to the Championship after three
seasons of struggle in Division Two/League One. Following
relegation and becoming the first former European champions to be
subsequently relegated to the third year of their domestic league,
Nottingham Forest struggled for most of the season and were in
danger of the unthinkable and suffering a second successive
relegation. The departure of Gary Megson saw a late upturn in form
and surge towards the play-offs, however they missed out on the
last day of the season, finishing 7th.
At the bottom, Walsall endured their second relegation in three
seasons, Swindon became the first former Premiership side to slip
to the bottom division (MK Dons were relegated a few weeks later,
and it is debatable whether they can be considered a "former
Premiership" team), Hartlepool crashed out of the division the
season after they nearly earned promotion to the Championship,
while MK Dons suffered the relegation they only avoided the
previous season when Wrexham were docked points for entering
administration.
Football League Two
Carlisle United were another side who earned a second successive
promotion, only two years after a relegation from the League that
some predicted would see the end of the club. Northampton Town
joined them, making up for two seasons of play-off disappointment,
and Leyton Orient ended a decade in the bottom division by earning
promotion on nearly the last minute of the season. Wycombe started
the season with a 21 game unbeaten run that saw 5 of their players
named in the PFA LG2 team of the year. Two tragic off the fields
events however saw them fall away in the second part of the season
before losing to Cheltenham Town in the playoff semi-finals.
Grimsby
Town lost 1-0 to Cheltenham in the final at the Millennium
Stadium
.
Rushden and Diamonds failed to improve on the previous season, and
paid the price with relegation to the Conference. Oxford United
joined them, despite the return of manager
Jim Smith, and became the first
former winners of a major trophy to be relegated to the Conference.
|
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| C |
1 |
Carlisle
United |
46 |
25 |
11 |
10 |
84 |
42 |
+42 |
86 |
| P |
2 |
Northampton
Town |
46 |
22 |
17 |
7 |
63 |
37 |
+26 |
83 |
| P |
3 |
Leyton
Orient |
46 |
22 |
15 |
9 |
67 |
51 |
+16 |
81 |
| |
4 |
Grimsby Town |
46 |
22 |
12 |
12 |
64 |
44 |
+20 |
78 |
| P |
5 |
Cheltenham
Town |
46 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
65 |
53 |
+12 |
72 |
| |
6 |
Wycombe
Wanderers |
46 |
18 |
17 |
11 |
72 |
56 |
+16 |
71 |
| |
7 |
Lincoln City |
46 |
15 |
21 |
10 |
65 |
53 |
+12 |
66 |
| |
8 |
Darlington |
46 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
58 |
52 |
+6 |
63 |
| |
9 |
Peterborough
United |
46 |
17 |
11 |
18 |
57 |
49 |
+8 |
62 |
| |
10 |
Shrewsbury
Town |
46 |
16 |
13 |
17 |
55 |
55 |
+0 |
61 |
| |
11 |
Boston
United |
46 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
50 |
60 |
-10 |
61 |
| |
12 |
Bristol
Rovers |
46 |
17 |
9 |
20 |
59 |
67 |
-8 |
60 |
| |
13 |
Wrexham |
46 |
15 |
14 |
17 |
61 |
54 |
+7 |
59 |
| |
14 |
Rochdale |
46 |
14 |
14 |
18 |
66 |
69 |
-3 |
56 |
| |
15 |
Chester City |
46 |
14 |
12 |
20 |
53 |
59 |
-6 |
54 |
| |
16 |
Mansfield
Town |
46 |
13 |
15 |
18 |
59 |
66 |
-7 |
54 |
| |
17 |
Macclesfield
Town |
46 |
12 |
18 |
16 |
60 |
71 |
-11 |
54 |
| |
18 |
Barnet |
46 |
12 |
18 |
16 |
44 |
57 |
-13 |
54 |
| |
19 |
Bury*||46||12||17||17||45||57||-12||52 |-
align="right" | ||20||align="left"|[[Torquay United
F.C.|Torquay United]]||46||13||13||20||53||66||-13||52 |-
align="right" | ||21||align="left"|[[Notts County F.C.|Notts
County]]||46||12||16||18||48||63||-15||52 |- align="right"
| ||22||align="left"|[[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport
County]]||46||11||19||16||57||78||-21||52 |- align="right"
style="background:#ffcccc;" |'''R'''||23||align="left"|[[Oxford
United F.C.|Oxford United]]||46||11||16||19||43||56||-14||49 |-
align="right" style="background:#ffcccc;"
|'''R'''||24||align="left"|[[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden
& Diamonds]]||46||11||12||23||44||76||-32||45 |} * Deducted 1
point for fielding an ineligible player
Non-League Football
Transfer deals
Summer transfer window
The summer transfer window ran from the end of the previous season
until 31 August.
January transfer window
The mid-season transfer window ran from 1 to 31 January 2006.
For subsequent transfer deals see List of English
football transfers 2006-07
End of season retirements
Famous Debutants
Deaths
- 18 October 2005:
Johnny Haynes, 71, former England and Fulham midfielder, who became the first English
footballer to be paid £100 a week, died after suffering a brain
haemorrhage at the wheel of his car which resulted in a head-on
collision with another vehicle.
- 26 October 2005:
George Swindin, 90, was a former
goalkeeper of Arsenal in the immediate
postwar years. He helped them win two league titles and one F.A
Cup. After hanging up his gloves, he served Arsenal as manager but
was less successful.
- 25 November 2005: George Best, 59,
Northern Irish born striker who enjoyed the early and most
successful years of his career Manchester United, died as a result
of multiple organ failure three years after he underwent a liver
transplant, the result of more than 30 years of heavy drinking.
Personal problems meant that he played his last game for United at
the age of 27, but he continued at various smaller clubs -
including a brief spell with the Los Angeles Aztecs in America -
until the age of 37, when he played his last professional game at
AFC Bournemouth. His death dominates
news bulletins and his funeral is unusually shown live on the
BBC.
- 9 February 2006:
Ron Greenwood, 84, former West Ham and England manager. He managed
West Ham to F.A Cup glory in 1964 and Cup Winners Cup success a
year later, as well as providing the 1966 England World Cup winning
team with three key players. Greenwood later managed the England
team, achieving qualification for Euro 80 and the 1982 World Cup
before retiring from football.
- 1 March 2006:Peter Osgood, 59,
former England,
Chelsea and Southampton player, died of a heart attack
while attending a family funeral. He was a key player in Chelsea's
1970 F.A Cup and 1971 Cup Winners Cup triumphs, and won another F.A
Cup medal in 1976 with his next club Southampton.
- 18 April 2006:
John Lyall, 66, former West Ham United and Ipswich Town manager, died of a heart
attack. He completed his first season in management at West Ham
with F.A Cup glory in 1975, winning the trophy again in 1980 and
taking West Ham to their highest ever league position - third - in
1986. He was sacked when West Ham were relegated in 1989, but make
a comeback the following year with Ipswich Town. Lyall took Ipswich
into the inaugural Premier League as Second Division champions in
1992, and remained in charge for another two-and-half years before
he was sacked in December 1994. Lyall never returned to management
after his dismissal from Ipswich.
- 24 April 2006:
Brian Labone, 66, former Everton captain who played in Harry Catterick's
successful 1960s side, died of a heart attack. He helped them win
the F.A Cup in 1964 and 1966 as well as the league title in 1963
and 1970. Labone was also capped 26 times by England between 1962
and 1970, but did not make the squad for England's victorious 1966
World Cup campaign.
References
- BBC.
- England score given first
|