2006 Football League play-offs

Football League play-offs 2005–06 Watford(Championship)Barnsley(League One)Cheltenham Town(League Two) Grimsby 2–1 Lincoln(League Two) Crystal Palace 0–3 Watford(Championship) Hud'field 1–3 BarnsleyBarnsley 2–2 Swansea(4 goals) 15 31 64,736 – Leeds v Watford(Championship final) 5,936 – Wycombe v Cheltenham(League Two semi-final) 22,720 2005 2007 The Football League play-offs for the 2005–06 season were held in May 2006, with the finals taking place at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the last time. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finished in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League Championship and League One and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the League Two table. The winners of the semi-finals advanced to the finals, with the winners of these matches gaining promotion for the following season. Background The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places. In the Championship, Watford, who were aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 2000, finished 9 points behind second placed Sheffield United, who in turn finished 16 points behind champions Reading, who were promoted to the top flight for the first time in the club's history. Preston North End who missed out on promotion from playoffs the season before and have not been in the top flight since 1961, finished in fourth place in the table. Leeds United who are aiming to bounce back to the Premier League at the second attempt, finished in fifth place. Crystal Palace finished 3 points behind Leeds United and were looking for a place back in the Premiership after relegation on final day of last season. Championship 2005–06 Football League Championship Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Watford46221597753+24814Preston North End46202065930+29805Leeds United462115115738+19786Crystal Palace462112146748+1975 Semi-finals First leg 5 May 2006 19:45 Leeds United 1–1 Report Preston North End Lewis 74 Nugent 48 Elland Road, Leeds 35,239 Phil Crossley 6 May 2006 12:15 Crystal Palace 0–3 Report Watford King 46Young 67Spring 85 Selhurst Park, London 22,880 Mike Jones Second leg 8 May 2006 19:45 Preston North End 0–2 Report Leeds United Hulse 56Richardson 61 Deepdale, Preston 20,383 Mike Thorpe Leeds United win 3–1 on aggregate. 9 May 2006 19:45 Watford 0–0 Report Crystal Palace Vicarage Road, Watford 19,041 Steve Tanner Watford won 3–0 on aggregate. Final 2006 Football League Championship play-off final 21 May 2006 15:00 Leeds United 0–3 Report Watford DeMerit 25Sullivan 57 o.g. Henderson 84 pen. Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 64,736 Mike Dean League One 2005–06 Football League One Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points3Brentford462016107252+20764Huddersfield Town461916117259+13735Barnsley461818106244+18726Swansea City461817117855+2371 Semi-finals First leg 11 May 2006 19:45 Barnsley 0–1 Report Huddersfield Town Taylor-Fletcher 85 Oakwell, Barnsley 16,127 Paul Taylor 11 May 2006 19:45 Swansea City 1–1 Report Brentford Ricketts 87 Tabb 29 Liberty Stadium, Swansea 19,060 Keith Stroud Second leg 14 May 2006 12:15 Brentford 0–2 Report Swansea City Knight 8 15 Griffin Park, Brentford 10,652 Graham Laws Swansea City won 3–1 on aggregate. 15 May 2006 19:45 Huddersfield Town 1–3 Report Barnsley Heckingbottom 65 o.g. Hayes 58 pen.Reid 71Nardiello 78 Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield 19,223 Chris Foy Barnsley won 3–2 on aggregate. Final 2006 Football League One play-off final 27 May 2006 15:00 Barnsley 2–2 yes Report Swansea City Hayes 19Nardiello 62 Fallon 28Robinson 40 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 55,419 Lee Mason Hayes McPhail Heckingbottom Kay 4–3 Trundle Britton Akinfenwa Tudur Jones Tate League Two 2005–06 Football League Two Pos PositionTeam Pld Played W Won D Drawn L Lost GF Goals for GA Goals against GD Goal difference Pts Points4Grimsby Town462212126444+20785Cheltenham Town461915126553+12726Wycombe Wanderers461817117256+16717Lincoln City461521106553+1266 Semi-finals First leg 13 May 2006 12:05 Lincoln City 0–1 Report Grimsby Town Jones 22 Sincil Bank, Lincoln 8,037 Lee Mason 13 May 2006 18:05 Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Report Cheltenham Town Mooney 90 Finnigan 43Guinan 75 Adams Park, High Wycombe 5,936 Andy Hall Second leg 16 May 2006 19:45 Grimsby Town 2–1 Report Lincoln City Futcher 60Jones 82 Robinson 27 Blundell Park, Grimsby 8,062 Mike Dean Grimsby Town won 3–1 on aggregate. 18 May 2006 19:45 Cheltenham Town 0–0 Report Wycombe Wanderers Whaddon Road, Cheltenham 6,813 Nigel Miller Cheltenham Town won 2–1 on aggregate. Final 2006 Football League Two play-off final 28 May 2006 15:00 Cheltenham Town 1–0 Report Grimsby Town Guinan 63 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 29,196 Paul Taylor External links Football League website Category:English Football League play-offs Category:May 2006 sports events in the United Kingdom