Chairman Graham Simpson Stadium Vicarage Road FA Cup Third round | Manager Aidy Boothroyd Play-offs Winners | |
Championship 3rd (qualified for play-offs) | ||
During the 2005–06 English football season, Watford competed in the Football League Championship.
Contents
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. 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
Squad
Squad at end of seasonNote: 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.