# 2005–06 Football League

The 2005–06 Football League (known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 107th completed season of The Football League.
This season saw Reading promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history, after winning the Championship with 106 points – a record for a 46-match season with three points for a win. Southend United were the champions of League One, while Carlisle United, having played in the Conference in 2004–05, completed a double promotion by winning League Two.

## Promotion and Relegation

These are the changes that happened last season.

### From Premier League

Relegated to Championship
* Norwich City
* Crystal Palace
* Southampton

### From Championship

Promoted to Premier League
* Sunderland
* Wigan Athletic
* West Ham United
Relegated to League 1
* Gillingham
* Nottingham Forest
* Rotherham United

### From Football League One

Promoted to Championship
* Luton Town
* Hull City
* Sheffield Wednesday
Relegated to League 2
* Peterborough United
* Stockport County
* Torquay United
* Wrexham

### From Football League Two

Promoted to League 1
* Yeovil Town
* Scunthorpe United
* Swansea City
* Southend United
Relegated to Conference National
* Cambridge United
* Kidderminster Harriers

### From Conference National

Promoted to League 2
* Barnet
* Carlisle United

## Final league tables and results

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website, with home and away statistics separated. Play-off results are from the same website.

## Championship

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Reading (C, P) | 46 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 99 | 32 | +67 | 106 | Promotion to the FA Premier League |
| 2 | Sheffield United (P) | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 76 | 46 | +30 | 90 | Promotion to the FA Premier League |
| 3 | Watford (O, P) | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 77 | 53 | +24 | 81 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Preston North End | 46 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 59 | 30 | +29 | 80 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Leeds United | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 57 | 38 | +19 | 78 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 75 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 67 | |
| 8 | Coventry City | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 63 | |
| 9 | Norwich City | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 56 | 65 | −9 | 62 | |
| 10 | Luton Town | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 66 | 67 | −1 | 61 | |
| 11 | Cardiff City | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 58 | 59 | −1 | 60 | |
| 12 | Southampton | 46 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 49 | 50 | −1 | 58 | |
| 13 | Stoke City | 46 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 54 | 63 | −9 | 58 | |
| 14 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 56 | |
| 15 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 53 | 66 | −13 | 56 | |
| 16 | Leicester City | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 54 | |
| 17 | Burnley | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 46 | 54 | −8 | 54 | |
| 18 | Hull City | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 52 | |
| 19 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 52 | |
| 20 | Derby County | 46 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 53 | 67 | −14 | 50 | |
| 21 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 50 | 65 | −15 | 50 | |
| 22 | Crewe Alexandra (R) | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 57 | 86 | −29 | 42 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 23 | Millwall (R) | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 35 | 62 | −27 | 40 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 24 | Brighton & Hove Albion (R) | 46 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 71 | −32 | 38 | Relegation to Football League One |

### Play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg – 5/6 May; 2nd leg – 8/9 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 5/6 May; 2nd leg – 8/9 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 5/6 May; 2nd leg – 8/9 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 5/6 May; 2nd leg – 8/9 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 5/6 May; 2nd leg – 8/9 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 21 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 21 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 21 May 2006 |
| 3rd | Watford | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | |
| 6th | Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 6th | Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3rd | Watford | 3 |
| | | | | | 5th | Leeds United | 0 |
| 4th | Preston North End | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5th | Leeds United | 0 |
| 5th | Leeds United | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Marlon King | Watford | 21 |
| 2 | Dave Kitson | Reading | 18 |
| = | Kevin Doyle | Reading | 18 |
| = | Cameron Jerome | Cardiff City | 18 |
| 5 | Darius Henderson | Watford | 15 |
| = | Andrew Johnson | Crystal Palace | 15 |
| = | Gary McSheffrey | Coventry | 15 |
| = | Ade Akinbiyi | Sheffield United | 15 |
| 9 | Ashley Young | Watford | 14 |
| = | Steve Howard | Luton Town | 14 |

## League One

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Southend United (C, P) | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 72 | 43 | +29 | 82 | Promotion to the Championship |
| 2 | Colchester United (P) | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 79 | Promotion to the Championship |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 72 | 52 | +20 | 76 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 4 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 73 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 5 | Barnsley (O, P) | 46 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 72 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 6 | Swansea City | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 78 | 55 | +23 | 71 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 52 | +15 | 69 | |
| 8 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 55 | 51 | +4 | 69 | |
| 9 | Bristol City | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 66 | 62 | +4 | 65 | |
| 10 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 58 | 60 | −2 | 65 | |
| 11 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 61 | |
| 12 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 68 | 73 | −5 | 60 | |
| 13 | Port Vale | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 54 | −5 | 60 | |
| 14 | Gillingham | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 50 | 64 | −14 | 60 | |
| 15 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 54 | 62 | −8 | 56 | |
| 16 | Chesterfield | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 63 | 73 | −10 | 56 | |
| 17 | Bournemouth | 46 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 49 | 53 | −4 | 55 | |
| 18 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 52 | −2 | 54 | |
| 19 | Blackpool | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 53 | |
| 20 | Rotherham United | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 52 | 62 | −10 | 52 | |
| 21 | Hartlepool United (R) | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 50 | Relegation to League Two |
| 22 | Milton Keynes Dons (R) | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 45 | 66 | −21 | 50 | Relegation to League Two |
| 23 | Swindon Town (R) | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 46 | 65 | −19 | 48 | Relegation to League Two |
| 24 | Walsall (R) | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 47 | 70 | −23 | 47 | Relegation to League Two |

### Play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg − 17 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg − 17 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg − 17 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg − 17 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg − 17 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2006 |
| 3rd | Brentford | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 6th | Swansea City | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| 6th | Swansea City | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5th | Barnsley (pens.) | 2 (4) |
| | | | | | 6th | Swansea City | 2 (3) |
| 4th | Huddersfield Town | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6th | Swansea City | 2 (3) |
| 5th | Barnsley | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | |

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Billy Sharp | Scunthorpe United | 23 |
| = | Freddy Eastwood | Southend United | 23 |
| 3 | James Hayter | AFC Bournemouth | 20 |
| = | Lee Trundle | Swansea City | 20 |
| 5 | Luke Beckett | Oldham Athletic | 18 |
| 6 | Rory Fallon | Swansea City | 17 |
| = | Izale McLeod | Milton Keynes Dons | 17 |
| = | Chris Iwelumo | Colchester United | 17 |
| 9 | Dean Windass | Bradford City | 16 |
| = | Steve Brooker | Bristol City | 16 |
| = | Chris Greenacre | Tranmere Rovers | 16 |

## League Two

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Carlisle United (C, P) | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 84 | 42 | +42 | 86 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 2 | Northampton Town (P) | 46 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 63 | 37 | +26 | 83 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Leyton Orient (P) | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 81 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 64 | 44 | +20 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town (O, P) | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 72 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 72 | 56 | +16 | 71 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Lincoln City | 46 | 15 | 21 | 10 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 66 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 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 | |
| 20 | Torquay United | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 53 | 66 | −13 | 52 | |
| 21 | Notts County | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 48 | 63 | −15 | 52 | |
| 22 | Stockport County | 46 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 57 | 78 | −21 | 52 | |
| 23 | Oxford United (R) | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 49 | Relegation to Football Conference |
| 24 | Rushden & Diamonds (R) | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 44 | 76 | −32 | 45 | Relegation to Football Conference |
* ↑ Bury deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000002B-QINU`"'

### Play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg – 16/18 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg – 16/18 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg – 16/18 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg – 16/18 May 2006 | Semi-finals 1st leg − 13 May; 2nd leg – 16/18 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2006 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2006 |
| 4th | Grimsby Town | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| 7th | Lincoln City | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 7th | Lincoln City | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4th | Grimsby Town | 0 |
| | | | | | 5th | Cheltenham Town | 1 |
| 5th | Cheltenham Town | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5th | Cheltenham Town | 1 |
| 6th | Wycombe Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Rickie Lambert | Rochdale | 22 |
| = | Karl Hawley | Carlisle United | 22 |
| 3 | Richard Walker | Bristol Rovers | 20 |
| 4 | Tommy Mooney | Wycombe Wanderers | 18 |
| = | Richard Barker | Mansfield Town | 18 |
| 6 | Scott McGleish | Northampton Town | 17 |
| 7 | Junior Agogo | Bristol Rovers | 16 |
| 8 | Danny Crow | Peterborough United | 15 |
| = | Gary Jones | Grimsby Town | 15 |
| = | Michael Bridges | Carlisle United | 15 |