# 2005–06 FA Women's Premier League

The 2005–06 FA Women's Premier League season was the 15th season of the FA Women's Premier League.

## National Division

The season started on 14 August 2005 and ended on 14 May 2006. Arsenal were the defending champions, while Sunderland and Chelsea entered as the promoted teams from the 2004–05 Northern and Southern Divisions. Bristol Rovers changed their name to Bristol Academy to reflect the added investment and commitment of the Bristol Academy of Sport. Arsenal won their third consecutive league title, and eight overall. The National Division was expanded from 10 to 12 clubs ahead of the 2006–07 season.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Arsenal (C) | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 20 | +63 | 50 | Qualification for the European Cup |
| 2 | Everton | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 20 | +26 | 44 | |
| 3 | Charlton Athletic | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 13 | +28 | 39 | |
| 4 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 32 | 34 | −2 | 23 | |
| 5 | Bristol Academy | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 29 | −10 | 20 | |
| 6 | Birmingham City | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 24 | 40 | −16 | 20 | |
| 7 | Leeds United | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 36 | −9 | 18 | |
| 8 | Fulham | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 45 | −21 | 14 | |
| 9 | Sunderland | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 57 | −35 | 13 | Relegation Playoffs |
| 10 | Chelsea | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 22 | 46 | −24 | 12 | Relegation Playoffs |

### Playoffs

| National Division | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Regional Division Runners-Up |
| Sunderland (9th place National Division) | 1–3 | 4–2 | Bristol City (2nd place Southern Division) |
| Chelsea (10th place National Division) | 3–0 | 1–1 | Liverpool (2nd place Northern Division) |
No relegations.

### Top goalscorers

    As of 14 May 2006.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Kelly Smith | Arsenal | 18 |
| 2 | Lianne Sanderson | Arsenal | 17 |
| 3 | Jody Handley | Everton | 12 |
| 3 | Jayne Ludlow | Arsenal | 12 |
| 5 | Eniola Aluko | Charlton Athletic | 11 |

## Northern Division

The season started on 14 August 2005 and ended on 14 May 2006. Oldham Curzon changed their name to Curzon Ashton.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1. | Blackburn Rovers (C) | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 12 | +43 | 62 | Promotion to the National Division |
| 2. | Liverpool | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 17 | +22 | 48 | Playoffs |
| 3. | Tranmere Rovers | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 29 | +12 | 43 | |
| 4. | Lincoln City | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 36 | |
| 5. | Nottingham Forest | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 30 | |
| 6. | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 22 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 29 | 33 | -4 | 28 | |
| 7. | Aston Villa | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 33 | 38 | -5 | 26 | |
| 8. | Newcastle United | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 25 | |
| 9. | Stockport County | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 31 | -7 | 22 | |
| 10. | Curzon Ashton | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 64 | -37 | 18 | |
| 11. | Manchester City | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 31 | -12 | 16 | |
| 12. | Middlesbrough (R) | 22 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 41 | -23 | 12 | Relegation |

### Top goalscorers

    As of 14 May 2006.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Vicky Abbott | Tranmere Rovers | 21 |
| 2 | Katie Anderton | Blackburn Rovers | 18 |
| 3 | Stacey Aisthorpe | Lincoln City | 13 |
| 4 | Natalie Clarke | Nottingham Forest | 12 |
| 5 | Jade Thomas | Liverpool | 10 |

## Southern Division

The season started on 14 August 2005 and ended on 7 May 2006. Reading Royals were affiliated with Reading until May 2006. Cardiff City qualified for the European Cup by winning the Welsh Women's Cup.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1. | Cardiff City (C) | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 53 | 17 | +36 | 49 | Promotion to the National Division, Qualification for the European Cup |
| 2. | Bristol City | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 51 | 30 | +21 | 49 | Playoffs |
| 3. | Watford | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 59 | 28 | +31 | 47 | |
| 4. | Portsmouth | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 58 | 39 | +19 | 40 | |
| 5. | Millwall Lionesses | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 51 | 31 | +20 | 38 | |
| 6. | West Ham United | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 33 | -2 | 28 | |
| 7. | AFC Wimbledon | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 39 | 52 | -13 | 27 | |
| 8. | Reading Royals | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 34 | 42 | -8 | 23 | |
| 9. | Crystal Palace | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 38 | 52 | -14 | 22 | |
| 10. | Southampton Saints | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 30 | 70 | -40 | 18 | |
| 11. | Brighton & Hove Albion | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 33 | 53 | -20 | 17 | |
| 12. | Langford (R) | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 60 | -30 | 17 | Relegation |

### Top goalscorers

    As of 7 May 2006.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Helen Ward | Watford | 30 |
| 2 | Claire Williams | Millwall Lionesses | 16 |
| 3 | Charley Wilson | Portsmouth | 15 |
| 4 | Gwennan Harries | Cardiff City | 13 |
| 5 | Julie Bygrave | AFC Wimbledon | 12 |