2005–06 Football Conference

The 2005–06 season was the 27th season of the Football Conference.

Overview

This season saw the return of Accrington Stanley (albeit as a reformed club) and Hereford United to the Football League. Accrington replaced Oxford United, who had replaced them when they resigned from the League in 1962.

Northwich Victoria, Stafford Rangers and Weymouth returned to the Conference National, the latter for the first time since 1989, whilst St Albans City won promotion to the fifth tier for the first time.

As with the previous season, Grays Athletic were the winners of the FA Trophy.

Conference National

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two, two promoted from the Conference North and one promoted from the Conference South.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2004–05 Conference North

Teams promoted from 2004–05 Conference South

Grays Athletic

Teams relegated from 2004–05 Football League Two

League table

Source: ^[1]^[3]
Notes:

^ Grays Athletic were the FA Trophy winners.
^ Scarborough had come out of administration and would have been reprieved due to the voluntary demotion of Canvey Island and Altrincham being below them in the table, but they did not fulfil the Conferences financial guidelines and were thus relegated.
^ Altrincham were docked 18 points for fielding an ineligible player.
^ Altrincham were reprieved from relegation due to the enlargement of the Conference to 24 teams and the voluntary demotion of Canvey Island (whose main financial backer, Jeff King, had moved to Chelmsford City). It was the first of three successive seasons in which the club finished in the relegation zone, but were spared demotion due to financial issues at other clubs.

Locations

Exeter City-->

Gravesend & Northfleet

Grays Athletic

Halifax Town

Hereford United

Kidderminster Harriers

Locations of the Conference National 2005–06 teams

Dagenham & Redbridge

Gravesend & Northfleet

Grays Athletic

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the Football Conference National London teams 2005–2006

Results

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [2] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

Semi-finals

7 May 2006

17:35 BST

First leg

Christie Park, Morecambe

Attendance: 5,208

Referee: Richard Hewitt

11 May 2006

19:45 BST

Second leg

Edgar Street, Hereford

Attendance: 6,278

Referee: Graham Scott

Hereford United won 4–3 on aggregate.

6 May 2006

15:00 BST

First leg

The Shay, Halifax

Attendance: 3,848

Referee: Rob Shoebridge

10 May 2006

19:45 BST

Second leg

New Recreation Ground, Grays

Attendance: 2,886

Referee: Robert Lewis

Halifax Town won 5–4 on aggregate.

Final

20 May 2006

17:30 BST

Walkers Stadium, Leicester

Attendance: 15,499

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Top scorers in order of league goals

Source:^[1]

Conference North

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides from last season, one promoted from Southern Football League, two promoted from the Northern Premier League and two relegated from the Conference National.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2004–05 Northern Premier League

Teams promoted from 2004–05 Southern Football League

Hednesford Town

Teams relegated from 2004–05 Conference National

League table

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

^ a b c New club in Conference North
^ Leigh RMI had 1 point deducted.
^ Leigh RMI were reprieved from relegation due to Canvey Island's voluntary three-level demotion.

Locations

Locations of the Football Conference North 2005–2006 teams

Results

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2006–2007. Glenda Rollin & Jack Rollin (eds.). Headline, 2006.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

Semifinals

1 May 2006

Manor Park, Nuneaton

Attendance: 2,005

2 May 2006

Marston Road, Stafford

Attendance: 1,665

Play-Off Final

6 May 2006

15:00 BST

Pirelli Stadium, Burton

Attendance: 2,704

Topscorers

Source:^[1]

Conference South

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 18 sides from last season, two promoted from the Isthmian League, one promoted from the Southern Football League and one relegated from Conference National.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2004–05 Southern Football League

Histon

Teams promoted from 2004–05 Isthmian League

Teams relegated from 2004–05 Conference National

Farnborough Town

League table

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

^ Weymouth had 4 points deducted.
^ Lewes could not participate in the play-offs due to ground issues.
^ a b c New club in Conference South
^ Havant & Waterlooville had 3 points deducted.
^ Cambridge City had 3 points deducted.
^ Maidenhead United had 2 points deducted.

Locations

Havant & Waterlooville

Locations of the Football Conference South 2005–2006 teams

Locations of the Football Conference South London teams 2005–2006

Results

Play-offs

^ Lewes did not take part in the play-offs as they could not be promoted to the Conference National
due to ground grading issues. As a result, St Albans City were given a bye to the play-off final.

Semifinal

1 May 2006

Cherrywood Road, Farnborough

Attendance: 1,081

Play-Off Final

7 May 2006

14:00

Broadhall Way, Stevenage

Attendance: 3,175

Referee: J Farries

Topscorers

Source:^[1]

References

^ a b c d e f g Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2005–2006. Glenda Rollin & Jack Rollin (eds.). Headline, 2005.
^ a b c [1] Soccerbase
^ "England 2005–06". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 November 2010.

External links

Nationwide Conference