2005–06 Watford F.C. season
During the 2005–06 English football season, Watford competed in the Football League Championship.
Season summary
Against the odds, Watford managed to gain promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs, comprehensively defeating Leeds United 3-0 in the play-off final to return to the top flight after an absence of six years.[1] Crucial to Watford's promotion was striker Marlon King, who was the Championship's top scorer. Striker Darius Henderson and young winger Ashley Young also chipped in with 15 and 14 league goals respectively; between them, the three scored 51 of the club's 77 goals scored in the league. Promotion was a fine way for young manager Aidy Boothroyd, only in his mid-thirties, to celebrate his first full season in club management.
Final league table
Updated to games played on 30 April 2006.
Source:
Rules for classification:
1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Results
Watford's score comes first[2]
Legend
Football League Championship
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
6 August 2005 | Preston North End | H | 1-2 | 12,597 | Henderson |
9 August 2005 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 3-3 | 13,813 | King, Young (2) |
12 August 2005 | Cardiff City | A | 3-1 | 10,102 | King (2), Henderson |
20 August 2005 | Burnley | H | 3-1 | 16,802 | King, Mahon, Spring |
27 August 2005 | Reading | H | 0-0 | 12,152 | |
29 August 2005 | Derby County | A | 2-1 | 23,664 | Spring, Carlisle |
10 September 2005 | Stoke City | A | 3-0 | 14,565 | Devlin, Young, King (pen) |
13 September 2005 | Norwich City | H | 2-1 | 13,502 | King, Young |
17 September 2005 | Sheffield United | H | 2-3 | 15,399 | Henderson (2) |
24 September 2005 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0-0 | 6,258 | |
28 September 2005 | Coventry City | A | 1-3 | 16,978 | Young |
1 October 2005 | Leeds United | H | 0-0 | 16,050 | |
15 October 2005 | Leicester City | H | 1-2 | 16,224 | Young |
18 October 2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1-1 | 21,187 | Young |
22 October 2005 | Ipswich Town | A | 1-0 | 24,069 | Young |
29 October 2005 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3-1 | 14,561 | DeMerit, King, Devlin |
1 November 2005 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 3-1 | 16,476 | Spring, McNamee, Young |
5 November 2005 | Hull City | A | 2-1 | 18,444 | Mahon, Spring |
19 November 2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2-1 | 16,988 | Carlisle, King |
22 November 2005 | Leicester City | A | 2-2 | 18,856 | King, Mackay |
26 November 2005 | Preston North End | A | 1-1 | 14,638 | Spring |
3 December 2005 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1-1 | 14,455 | King |
10 December 2005 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1-1 | 12,884 | King |
17 December 2005 | Burnley | A | 1-4 | 13,815 | King |
26 December 2005 | Southampton | H | 3-0 | 16,972 | Henderson, Carlisle, Hajto (own goal) |
28 December 2005 | Millwall | A | 0-0 | 8,450 | |
31 December 2005 | Crystal Palace | H | 1-2 | 15,856 | Henderson |
2 January 2006 | Luton Town | A | 2-1 | 10,248 | Henderson, Mackay |
14 January 2006 | Stoke City | H | 1-0 | 12,247 | Eagles |
21 January 2006 | Norwich City | A | 3-2 | 25,384 | Henderson (2), Spring |
28 January 2006 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 4-1 | 11,722 | Spring (2), King, Young |
6 February 2006 | Sheffield United | A | 4-1 | 20,791 | Eagles, King (2), Bouazza |
11 February 2006 | Coventry City | H | 4-0 | 19,842 | Young, King, Henderson, DeMerit |
14 February 2006 | Leeds United | A | 1-2 | 22,007 | Young |
18 February 2006 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1-0 | 6,658 | Eagles |
25 February 2006 | Cardiff City | H | 2-1 | 17,419 | Mackay, King |
4 March 2006 | Derby County | H | 2-2 | 16,769 | King, Bangura |
11 March 2006 | Reading | A | 0-0 | 23,724 | |
20 March 2006 | Southampton | A | 3-1 | 19,202 | Mahon, Henderson (2) |
25 March 2006 | Millwall | H | 0-2 | 16,654 | |
31 March 2006 | Crystal Palace | A | 1-3 | 18,619 | King |
9 April 2006 | Luton Town | H | 1-1 | 15,922 | King |
14 April 2006 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1-1 | 22,584 | King |
17 April 2006 | Ipswich Town | H | 2-1 | 16,721 | Henderson (2) |
22 April 2006 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2-1 | 16,152 | Young, Santos (own goal) |
30 April 2006 | Hull City | H | 0-0 | 19,041 | |
Championship play-offs
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
R3 | 7 January 2006 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0-3 | 13,239 | |
League Cup
Squad
- Squad at end of season[3][4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Statistics
Appearances, goals and cards
- (Starting appearances + substitute appearances)
References
- ↑ "Leeds 0-3 Watford". BBC Sport. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ↑ http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/2005-2006/results
- ↑ http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2005-2006/flcham/watford.htm
- ↑ http://www.11v11.com/teams/watford/tab/players/season/2006
- ↑ King was born in Dulwich, England, but also qualifies to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 2004.
- ↑ Doyley was born in Whitechapel, England, but also qualifies to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in March 2013.
- ↑ Bouazza was born in Évry, France, but qualifies to represent Algeria internationally and would make his international debut for Algeria in February 2007.
- ↑ Mariappa was born in Harrow, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica and Fiji internationally through his grandparents and father respectively; he would make his international debut for Jamaica in June 2012.
- ↑ Grant was born in Ealing, England, but also qualifies to represent Jamaica internationally and would represent them at U-20 level.
- ↑ O'Cearuill was born in Edmonton, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and would make his full international debut for the Republic of Ireland in May 2007.
- ↑ Robinson was born in Birmingham, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in February 2013.
- ↑ Devlin was born in Birmingham, England, but also qualifies to represent Scotland internationally and made his international debut for Scotland in October 2002.
- ↑ Benjamin was born in Kettering, England, and has represented England at level, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in November 2002.