2005–06 Wigan Athletic F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 2005–06 Wigan Athletic F.C. season was the club's 28th season in the Football League
and their inaugural season in the Premier League, following their promotion from the Championship
the season before.
Despite starting the season as one of the favourites for relegation, Wigan managed to exceed expectations with a nine-match unbeaten run early in the season. The club eventually finished the season in tenth place.
Wigan also reached the final of the Carling Cup
- the club's first ever appearance in a major cup final. They lost the match 4-0 to Manchester United
.
were a team that had spent the majority of their history in the third and fourth tier of English football since the club's election into the Football League in 1978. In 1995, when the club was playing football in Division Three and struggling due to financial difficulties and declining attendances, Wigan was taken over by local businessman Dave Whelan, who ambitiously proclaimed that Wigan would be playing Premier League football within ten years. With the help of Whelan's financial backing, the club rapidly rose through the divisions, gaining promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in 2003, and culminating with their promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the 2004–05 Championship season
. Despite this success, the club was predicted by many to be relegated straight back down to the Championship, including The Times
newspaper, who suggested Wigan "will need a miracle if they are to survive".
. They played two friendlies against local opposition behind closed doors, and won both games 5–0. Midfielder Jimmy Bullard
also agreed a new three-year contract with the club, ending speculation that he would leave before the end of the transfer window.
. The home side played well and despite missing opportunities to score themselves, it looked as though they would manage an impressive draw, but were denied by a spectacular injury time winner from Hernan Crespo
. After losing 1–0 to Charlton Athletic
on 20 August, Wigan's next game was a crucial home match against relegation rivals Sunderland
. Wigan won the match 1–0, their first ever Premier League win, with Jason Roberts
scoring the goal – a penalty which had been awarded within the first 15 seconds of the game.
2-1, claiming their first Premier League win away from home, and scoring their first Premier League goals from open play. Following a draw in the next game against Middlesbrough
, Wigan played their first cup game of the season against Bournemouth
in the Carling Cup, winning the match 1–0. On 24 September, Wigan extended their unbeaten run with a 1–0 away against Everton
. As a result of the club's impressive form, manager Paul Jewell
received the September Manager of the Month award.
FA Cup
in the second round and were drawn against Bournemouth
. Manager Paul Jewell made 11 changes to the side, with several players making their debuts. Bournemouth, suffering from an injury crisis, could only name four substitutes, but held Wigan until Jason Roberts
broke the deadlock four minutes from time to send his team into the next round. Wigan played Watford
in the third round, and the game was taken to extra time with neither side able to score after 90 minutes. Ryan Taylor scored the opening goal from the penalty spot
in the 98th minute before Andreas Johansson sealed the victory with two goals late in the second half of extra time. In the fourth round, Wigan were drawn at home against Newcastle United
, but despite being drawn against stronger opposition, Jewell reiterated that he would continue to use his fringe players in the cup, as Premier League survival was still the main priority for the club. Wigan beat their opponents 1–0 through a penalty from David Connolly
late in the game, with Newcastle manager Graham Souness conceding that Wigan were "totally dominant". The club then met local rivals Bolton Wanderers
in the quarter final, where Roberts' two goals late in the first half were enough to take Wigan to their first ever major cup semi final.
Wigan's next opponents were Arsenal
, with the first match of the two-legged tie to be played at the JJB Stadium
. Wigan won the match 1–0 against a weakened Arsenal side, with debutant Paul Scharner
scoring the goal. The attendance of 12,181, the lowest figure for a League Cup semi-final for almost ten years, was criticised by several media outlets, but club officials argued that the poor attendance was caused by a busy fixture list – the match was Wigan's fifth home game in the space of three weeks. Arsenal fielded their "strongest available line-up" for the return leg at Highbury
, but struggled to beat Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, who made "a string of outstanding saves", including a first-half penalty
against José Antonio Reyes
. Arsenal made their first breakthrough around the halfway point of the second half, with Thierry Henry
scoring the goal to tie the game on aggregate. The game went into extra time, and Arsenal took a 2–1 aggregate lead through a Robin van Persie
free kick, before Wigan's Jason Roberts scored in the final two minutes to clinch a place in the cup final on the away goal rule
.
The final was played at the Millennium Stadium
against Manchester United
, with Wigan going into the final as "huge underdogs". Mike Pollitt, a former youth player at Manchester United, picked up an injury early in the first half and was replaced by John Filan. Although Manchester United finished the game as comfortable 4–0 winners, Paul Jewell was "proud" of his players and felt the team "didn't get the breaks" they needed to beat their opponents.
right-back
Pascal Chimbonda
, Ryan Taylor of Tranmere Rovers
and experienced defender Stéphane Henchoz
. Nicky Eaden and Ian Breckin
, who both featured regularly in the previous season's promotion winning side, were sold to Nottingham Forest
. On 6 August 2005, Wigan signed Senegal
ese international Henri Camara
for £3 million, smashing the club's previous record transfer fee of £2 million paid for striker
Jason Roberts
. Former player Arjan De Zeeuw
also returned to the club after being signed from Portsmouth
, and was made the club's captain. Just before the start of the season, West Bromwich Albion
made a £3 million bid for previous season's Championship top goalscorer Nathan Ellington
. This met the minimum fee release clause in the player's contract, meaning the bid had to be accepted, and Ellington completed the move a few days later. Wigan signed David Connolly
for a fee of £2 million as a replacement for Ellington on transfer deadline day.
Wigan strengthened the side further during the January transfer window with new signings Paul Scharner
and David Thompson, as well as bringing in Neil Mellor
and Reto Ziegler
on loan. In April, Fulham
had a £2.5 million bid accepted for Jimmy Bullard
after the offer had triggered the player's release clause, and a deal was agreed which would be officially completed after the season had finished. After the final match against Arsenal
, Pascal Chimbonda almost immediately handed in a transfer request, resulting in a transfer saga that would last for the entire duration of the summer transfer window. Henchoz and Thompson, whose contracts were due to expire, were both released.
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
1.West Ham qualified for the UEFA Cup as FA Cup finalists
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and their inaugural season in the Premier League, following their promotion from the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
the season before.
Despite starting the season as one of the favourites for relegation, Wigan managed to exceed expectations with a nine-match unbeaten run early in the season. The club eventually finished the season in tenth place.
Wigan also reached the final of the Carling Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
- the club's first ever appearance in a major cup final. They lost the match 4-0 to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Background
Prior to the club's promotion to the Premier League, Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
were a team that had spent the majority of their history in the third and fourth tier of English football since the club's election into the Football League in 1978. In 1995, when the club was playing football in Division Three and struggling due to financial difficulties and declining attendances, Wigan was taken over by local businessman Dave Whelan, who ambitiously proclaimed that Wigan would be playing Premier League football within ten years. With the help of Whelan's financial backing, the club rapidly rose through the divisions, gaining promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in 2003, and culminating with their promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the 2004–05 Championship season
2004–05 Football League Championship
The Football League 2004–05 , was the thirteenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2004 and concluded in May 2005, with the promotion play-off finals. This was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League...
. Despite this success, the club was predicted by many to be relegated straight back down to the Championship, including The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper, who suggested Wigan "will need a miracle if they are to survive".
Pre-season
The squad began their pre-season preparations with a training camp in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. They played two friendlies against local opposition behind closed doors, and won both games 5–0. Midfielder Jimmy Bullard
Jimmy Bullard
James Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is a footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town. He played youth football at West Ham before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet in 1998...
also agreed a new three-year contract with the club, ending speculation that he would leave before the end of the transfer window.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Scorers | Attendance | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/07/2005 | Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
1–1 | Away | McCulloch 9' | - | Report |
| 30/07/2005 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
0–4 | Away | Johansson 39', Bullard 57', Teale 81', Mahon 87' | 1,024 | Report |
| 02/08/2005 | Morecambe Morecambe F.C. Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park... |
0–1 | Away | Ellington 77' | - | Report |
| 03/08/2005 | Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... |
1–1 | Away | McCulloch 74' | - | Report |
| 06/08/2005 | Boavista | 1–0 | Home | Ellington 21' (pen) | - | Report |
August
Wigan's opening league game was at home against reigning Premier League champions ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. The home side played well and despite missing opportunities to score themselves, it looked as though they would manage an impressive draw, but were denied by a spectacular injury time winner from Hernan Crespo
Hernán Crespo
Hernán Jorge Crespo is an Argentine footballer who plays for Parma in the Italian Serie A. Crespo has scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 18 years. His honors include an Olympic Games silver medal, a Copa Libertadores, an English Premier League title and three Scudettos. He was topscorer in...
. After losing 1–0 to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 20 August, Wigan's next game was a crucial home match against relegation rivals Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. Wigan won the match 1–0, their first ever Premier League win, with Jason Roberts
Jason Roberts (footballer)
Jason Andre Davis Roberts MBE is an English-born Grenadian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Park Royal, London, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not...
scoring the goal – a penalty which had been awarded within the first 15 seconds of the game.
September
On 10 September, Wigan came from behind to beat West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
2-1, claiming their first Premier League win away from home, and scoring their first Premier League goals from open play. Following a draw in the next game against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, Wigan played their first cup game of the season against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in the Carling Cup, winning the match 1–0. On 24 September, Wigan extended their unbeaten run with a 1–0 away against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. As a result of the club's impressive form, manager Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
received the September Manager of the Month award.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Scorers | Attendance | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/08/2005 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
0-1 | Home | 23,575 | Report | |
| 20/08/2005 | Charlton Athletic Charlton Athletic F.C. Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,... |
1-0 | Away | 23,453 | Report | |
| 27/08/2005 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
1-0 | Home | Roberts 2' (pen) | 17,223 | Report |
| 10/09/2005 | West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
1-2 | Away | Connolly 40', Bullard 90+2' | 25,617 | |
| 18/09/2005 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
1-1 | Home | Camara 68' | 16,641 | |
| 24/09/2005 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
0-1 | Away | Francis 47' | 37,189 | |
| 02/10/2005 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
2-1 | Home | Camara 48', McCulloch 63' | 20,553 | |
| 15/10/2005 | Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
1-0 | Home | Roberts 40' | 22,374 | |
| 22/10/2005 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
0-2 | Away | Hughes 32' (og), Mahon 82' | 32,294 | |
| 29/10/2005 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
1-0 | Home | Chimbonda 90+2' | 17,266 | |
| 05/11/2005 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
0-2 | Away | Chimbonda 48', Roberts 79' | 19,102 | |
| 19/11/2005 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
2-3 | Home | Camara 28', Bullard 45' | 25,004 | |
| 26/11/2005 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
1-2 | Home | McCulloch 88' | 22,611 | |
| 03/12/2005 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
3-0 | Away | 44,098 | ||
| 10/12/2005 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
1-0 | Away | 42,060 | ||
| 14/12/2005 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
4-0 | Away | 67,793 | ||
| 17/12/2005 | Charlton Athletic Charlton Athletic F.C. Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,... |
3-0 | Home | Camara 9', 51', 63' | 17,074 | |
| 26/12/2005 | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
4-3 | Home | Roberts 11', 45', McCulloch 23', Camara 71' | 25,017 | |
| 28/12/2005 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
0-2 | Away | Roberts 43', Camara 45' | 34,131 | |
| 31/12/2005 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
0-3 | Home | 20,639 | ||
| 02/01/2006 | Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
2-0 | Away | 29,189 | ||
| 15/01/2006 | West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
0-1 | Home | 17,421 | ||
| 21/01/2006 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
2-3 | Away | Roberts 2', Thompson 29', Mellor 90+3' | 27,208 | |
| 31/01/2006 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
1-1 | Home | Scharner 45' | 21,731 | |
| 04/02/2006 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
1-1 | Away | Johansson 77' | 25,854 | |
| 11/02/2006 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
0-1 | Home | 25,023 | ||
| 19/02/2006 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
2-2 | Away | Johansson 10', 67' | 35,676 | |
| 06/03/2006 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
1-2 | Home | Scharner 60' | 23,574 | |
| 11/03/2006 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
0-1 | Away | Camara 8' | 31,194 | |
| 18/03/2006 | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
0-1 | Away | McCulloch 55' | 42,444 | |
| 25/03/2006 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
1-2 | Home | McCulloch 45+1' | 18,736 | |
| 03/04/2006 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
1-1 | Away | Roberts 53' | 20,410 | |
| 08/04/2006 | Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
1-1 | Home | Johansson 49' | 18,669 | |
| 15/04/2006 | Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
3-1 | Away | Bullard 5' | 52,302 | |
| 18/04/2006 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
3-2 | Home | Bullard 25', Camara 56', 60' | 17,330 | |
| 24/04/2006 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
1-0 | Away | 17,149 | ||
| 29/04/2006 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
1-2 | Home | Camara 34' | 21,126 | |
| 07/05/2006 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
4-2 | Away | Scharner 10', Thompson 33' | 38,359 |
FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
| Date | Round | Opponent | Result | Venue | Scorers | Attendance | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/01/2006 | Third Round | Leeds United | 1-1 | Home | Connolly 47' | 10,980 | Report |
| 17/01/2006 | Third Round (replay) | Leeds United | 3-3 (aet) | Away | Johansson 24', Roberts 50', 103' | 15,243 | Report |
| (Wigan Athletic win 4-2 on penalties) | |||||||
| 28/01/2006 | Fourth Round | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
1-0 | Away | 30,811 | Report | |
Carling Cup
Wigan entered the Carling CupFootball League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in the second round and were drawn against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. Manager Paul Jewell made 11 changes to the side, with several players making their debuts. Bournemouth, suffering from an injury crisis, could only name four substitutes, but held Wigan until Jason Roberts
Jason Roberts (footballer)
Jason Andre Davis Roberts MBE is an English-born Grenadian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Park Royal, London, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not...
broke the deadlock four minutes from time to send his team into the next round. Wigan played Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the third round, and the game was taken to extra time with neither side able to score after 90 minutes. Ryan Taylor scored the opening goal from the penalty spot
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
in the 98th minute before Andreas Johansson sealed the victory with two goals late in the second half of extra time. In the fourth round, Wigan were drawn at home against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, but despite being drawn against stronger opposition, Jewell reiterated that he would continue to use his fringe players in the cup, as Premier League survival was still the main priority for the club. Wigan beat their opponents 1–0 through a penalty from David Connolly
David Connolly
David James Connolly is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. He has previously played for various clubs including Feyenoord and Excelsior in the Netherlands as well as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland in the Premier League.Although born in England, Connolly has...
late in the game, with Newcastle manager Graham Souness conceding that Wigan were "totally dominant". The club then met local rivals Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in the quarter final, where Roberts' two goals late in the first half were enough to take Wigan to their first ever major cup semi final.
Wigan's next opponents were Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, with the first match of the two-legged tie to be played at the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
. Wigan won the match 1–0 against a weakened Arsenal side, with debutant Paul Scharner
Paul Scharner
Paul Josef Herbert Scharner is an Austrian footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. He usually plays as a central defender or midfielder...
scoring the goal. The attendance of 12,181, the lowest figure for a League Cup semi-final for almost ten years, was criticised by several media outlets, but club officials argued that the poor attendance was caused by a busy fixture list – the match was Wigan's fifth home game in the space of three weeks. Arsenal fielded their "strongest available line-up" for the return leg at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, but struggled to beat Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, who made "a string of outstanding saves", including a first-half penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
against José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes Calderón is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.Mainly a left winger but also a forward, he made his professional debuts for hometown's Sevilla at only 16, signing with England's Arsenal aged 20.After a relatively successful career abroad, Reyes...
. Arsenal made their first breakthrough around the halfway point of the second half, with Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
scoring the goal to tie the game on aggregate. The game went into extra time, and Arsenal took a 2–1 aggregate lead through a Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal and the Dutch national team. He is a youth product of Feyenoord. Having joined Arsenal in 2004, Van Persie became the club captain on 16 August 2011...
free kick, before Wigan's Jason Roberts scored in the final two minutes to clinch a place in the cup final on the away goal rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
.
The final was played at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, with Wigan going into the final as "huge underdogs". Mike Pollitt, a former youth player at Manchester United, picked up an injury early in the first half and was replaced by John Filan. Although Manchester United finished the game as comfortable 4–0 winners, Paul Jewell was "proud" of his players and felt the team "didn't get the breaks" they needed to beat their opponents.
| Date | Round | Opponent | Result | Venue | Scorers | Attendance | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/09/2005 | Second Round | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
1-0 | Home | Roberts 86' | 3,346 | Report |
| 25/10/2005 | Third Round | Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
3-0 (aet) | Home | Taylor 98' (pen), Johansson 117', 120+1' | 4,531 | Report |
| 30/11/2005 | Fourth Round | Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
1-0 | Home | Connolly 88' (pen) | 11,574 | Report |
| 20/12/2005 | Quarter Final | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
2-0 | Home | Roberts 40', 45+3' | 13,401 | Report |
| 10/01/2006 | Semi Final (1st leg) | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
1-0 | Home | Scharner 78' | 12,181 | Report |
| 24/01/2006 | Semi Final (2nd leg) | Arsenal | 2-1 (aet) | Away | Roberts 119' | 34,692 | Report |
| (2-2 on aggregate - Wigan Athletic go through on away goals.) | |||||||
| 26/02/2006 | Final | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
0-4 | Neutral Millennium Stadium The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage... |
66,866 | Report | |
Squad statistics
| # | League 2010–11 Premier League The 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011... | FA Cup 2010–11 FA Cup The 2010–11 FA Cup was the 130th season of the world's oldest association football knock-out competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short... | League Cup 2010–11 Football League Cup The 2010–11 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling, was the 51st season of the Football League Cup, a knock-out competition for England's top 92 football clubs.... | 
| 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 19 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | DF |  |
37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 42 (1) | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | DF |  |
0 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF |  |
11 (5) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 (5) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF |  |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF |  |
26 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 30 (2) | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | FW |  |
25 (4) | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | 27 (5) | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF |  |
6 (10) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 (2) | 2 | 13 (12) | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | |
27 (3) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 31 (4) | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 11 | MF |  |
32 (3) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 37 (5) | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | |
23 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 29 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | |
5 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | |
1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF |  |
31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | MF |  |
16 (4) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 (4) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | DF |  |
14 (2) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 (1) | 1 | 17 (3) | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | |
3 (8) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 (8) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | |
20 (4) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 | 27 (6) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | MF | |
35 (1) | 4 | 0 (2) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 (3) | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | |
4 (13) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 (1) | 1 | 7 (14) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | |
5 (5) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 6 (7) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | |
3 (2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | |
35 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 40 (3) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | |
7 (3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (3) | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | FW |  |
34 | 8 | 1 (2) | 2 | 4 (2) | 4 | 39 (4) | 14 | 4 | 1 |
| 32 | MF | |
0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | |
3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Transfers
After initially struggling to attract players to the club, Mike Pollitt became the club's first signing of the summer. This was followed by the signing of little-known FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
right-back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Pascal Chimbonda
Pascal Chimbonda
Pascal Chimbonda is a French footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers, having been released early from a short term deal by Queens Park Rangers...
, Ryan Taylor of Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
and experienced defender Stéphane Henchoz
Stéphane Henchoz
Stéphane Henchoz is a former Swiss international footballer who last played for Blackburn Rovers as a defender. He has been capped 72 times and played for his country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2004.- Early career :...
. Nicky Eaden and Ian Breckin
Ian Breckin
Ian Breckin is an English professional footballer who plays for Chesterfield. He previously played in the Football League for Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic and Nottingham Forest.-Early career:...
, who both featured regularly in the previous season's promotion winning side, were sold to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. On 6 August 2005, Wigan signed Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese international Henri Camara
Henri Camara
Henri Camara is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a striker for Greek Superleague side Panetolikos.-Early career:Camara was born in Dakar to a Guinean father and a Senegalese mother...
for £3 million, smashing the club's previous record transfer fee of £2 million paid for striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
Jason Roberts
Jason Roberts (footballer)
Jason Andre Davis Roberts MBE is an English-born Grenadian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Park Royal, London, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not...
. Former player Arjan De Zeeuw
Arjan de Zeeuw
Adrianus "Arjan" de Zeeuw is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a centre-back.-Club career:...
also returned to the club after being signed from Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, and was made the club's captain. Just before the start of the season, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
made a £3 million bid for previous season's Championship top goalscorer Nathan Ellington
Nathan Ellington
Nathan Levi Fontaine Ellington is an English footballer who plays a striker for Championship side Ipswich Town.-Non-league and Bristol Rovers:...
. This met the minimum fee release clause in the player's contract, meaning the bid had to be accepted, and Ellington completed the move a few days later. Wigan signed David Connolly
David Connolly
David James Connolly is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. He has previously played for various clubs including Feyenoord and Excelsior in the Netherlands as well as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland in the Premier League.Although born in England, Connolly has...
for a fee of £2 million as a replacement for Ellington on transfer deadline day.
Wigan strengthened the side further during the January transfer window with new signings Paul Scharner
Paul Scharner
Paul Josef Herbert Scharner is an Austrian footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. He usually plays as a central defender or midfielder...
and David Thompson, as well as bringing in Neil Mellor
Neil Mellor
Neil Andrew Mellor is an English professional footballer who plays for Preston North End. He made his name in 2004 by scoring a stunning last-minute goal from long range to give Liverpool a 2–1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield...
and Reto Ziegler
Reto Ziegler
Reto Ziegler is a Swiss footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.-Early career:Ziegler was in the summer of 2004 signed by Tottenham Hotspur to a contract initially meant to begin on 1 January 2005, when his contract with Grasshoppers expired...
on loan. In April, Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
had a £2.5 million bid accepted for Jimmy Bullard
Jimmy Bullard
James Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is a footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town. He played youth football at West Ham before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet in 1998...
after the offer had triggered the player's release clause, and a deal was agreed which would be officially completed after the season had finished. After the final match against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Pascal Chimbonda almost immediately handed in a transfer request, resulting in a transfer saga that would last for the entire duration of the summer transfer window. Henchoz and Thompson, whose contracts were due to expire, were both released.
In
| Player | From | Fee | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Pollitt |
Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
£200,000 | 30-06-2005 | |
| Pascal Chimbonda Pascal Chimbonda Pascal Chimbonda is a French footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers, having been released early from a short term deal by Queens Park Rangers... |
Bastia SC Bastia Sporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2... |
£500,000 | 08-07-2005 | |
| Ryan Taylor Ryan Taylor Ryan Anthony David Taylor is an English footballer from Liverpool who plays for Newcastle United of the Premier League. He usually plays on the right wing as a right back or right midfielder but has most recently been playing in a less familiar left back role for Newcastle United.-Tranmere... |
Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
£750,000 | 13-07-2005 | |
| Stéphane Henchoz Stéphane Henchoz Stéphane Henchoz is a former Swiss international footballer who last played for Blackburn Rovers as a defender. He has been capped 72 times and played for his country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2004.- Early career :... |
Unattached | Free | 29-07-2005 | |
| Damien Francis Damien Francis Damien Jerome Francis is a retired Jamaican international footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.-Early career:As a child Francis followed Wimbledon, and was a ball boy at their ground... |
Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
£1,000,000 | 05-08-2005 | |
| Henri Camara Henri Camara Henri Camara is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a striker for Greek Superleague side Panetolikos.-Early career:Camara was born in Dakar to a Guinean father and a Senegalese mother... |
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
£3,000,000 | 06-08-2005 | |
| Arjan De Zeeuw Arjan de Zeeuw Adrianus "Arjan" de Zeeuw is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a centre-back.-Club career:... |
Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
Undisclosed | 12-08-2005 | |
| Josip Skoko Josip Skoko Josip Skoko is a former Australian football player who last played as a Central Midfielder for A-League club Melbourne Heart.-Early career:... |
 Gençlerbirliği |
Undisclosed | 23-08-2005 | |
| David Connolly David Connolly David James Connolly is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. He has previously played for various clubs including Feyenoord and Excelsior in the Netherlands as well as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland in the Premier League.Although born in England, Connolly has... |
Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
£2,000,000 | 31-08-2005 | |
| Paul Scharner Paul Scharner Paul Josef Herbert Scharner is an Austrian footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. He usually plays as a central defender or midfielder... |
 Brann |
£2,000,000 | 01-01-2006 | |
| David Thompson |
Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
Free | 19-01-2006 |
- Total spending: £9,450,000
Out
| Player | To | Fee | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicky Eaden |
Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
Free | 01-07-2005 | |
| Ian Breckin Ian Breckin Ian Breckin is an English professional footballer who plays for Chesterfield. He previously played in the Football League for Rotherham United, Wigan Athletic and Nottingham Forest.-Early career:... |
Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
£350,000 | 05-07-2005 | |
| Magno Vieira Magno Vieira Magno Silva Vieira is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Fleetwood Town as a striker.-Career:Born in Brasília, Central-West Region, Vieira started his career in England with Wigan Athletic in 2003 but failed to get into the first team and went out on loan to Northampton Town and Carlisle United... |
Unattached | Free | 08-07-2005 | |
| David Graham |
Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... |
£250,000 | 12-08-2005 | |
| Nathan Ellington Nathan Ellington Nathan Levi Fontaine Ellington is an English footballer who plays a striker for Championship side Ipswich Town.-Non-league and Bristol Rovers:... |
West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
£3 million | 15-08-2005 | |
| Phil Edwards Phil Edwards (footballer) Philip Lee Edwards is a defender who plays for League One side Stevenage.Edwards started his football career at Wigan Athletic, progressing through the club's youth system before signing a professional contract at the age of 18. In September 2004, Edwards joined Morecambe on a month's loan,... |
Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... |
Free | 12-01-2006 | |
| Emerson Thome Emerson Thome Emerson Augusto Thome is a Brazilian former football player who last played for Vissel Kobe.He first came to England towards the end of the 1997-1998 season when moving to Sheffield Wednesday from Portuguese club S.L. Benfica, who signed him from Tirsense in 94/95, when the "jesuítas" stood one... |
Unattached | Free | 07-02-2006 | |
| Luke Joyce Luke Joyce Luke James Joyce is an English professional footballer who plays for Accrington Stanley as a central midfielder.-Wigan Athletic:... |
Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
Free | 04-04-2006 | |
| Jimmy Bullard Jimmy Bullard James Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is a footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town. He played youth football at West Ham before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet in 1998... |
Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
£2.5 million | End of season | |
| Stéphane Henchoz Stéphane Henchoz Stéphane Henchoz is a former Swiss international footballer who last played for Blackburn Rovers as a defender. He has been capped 72 times and played for his country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2004.- Early career :... |
Unattached | Free | End of season | |
| David Thompson |
Unattached | Free | End of season |
- Total income: £6,100,000
Loans in
| Player | From | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Mellor Neil Mellor Neil Andrew Mellor is an English professional footballer who plays for Preston North End. He made his name in 2004 by scoring a stunning last-minute goal from long range to give Liverpool a 2–1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield... |
Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
19-01-2006 | End of season | |
| Reto Ziegler Reto Ziegler Reto Ziegler is a Swiss footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.-Early career:Ziegler was in the summer of 2004 signed by Tottenham Hotspur to a contract initially meant to begin on 1 January 2005, when his contract with Grasshoppers expired... |
Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
23-01-2006 | End of season |
Loans out
| Player | To | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson Thome Emerson Thome Emerson Augusto Thome is a Brazilian former football player who last played for Vissel Kobe.He first came to England towards the end of the 1997-1998 season when moving to Sheffield Wednesday from Portuguese club S.L. Benfica, who signed him from Tirsense in 94/95, when the "jesuítas" stood one... |
Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
27-10-2005 | 26-11-2005 | |
| David Wright David Wright (footballer) David Wright is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Crystal Palace. During his professional career, he has also played for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town, and had a loan spell at Norwich City.... |
Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
17-11-2005 | 16-12-2005 | |
| Josip Skoko Josip Skoko Josip Skoko is a former Australian football player who last played as a Central Midfielder for A-League club Melbourne Heart.-Early career:... |
Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
07-02-2006 | End of season | |
| Kevin Lee |
Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
23-03-2006 | End of season | |
| Alan Mahon Alan Mahon Alan Joseph Mahon is an Irish footballer who plays a midfielder and has been capped by the Republic of Ireland.-Early career: Tranmere Rovers and Sporting Clube de Portugal:... |
Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... |
23-03-2006 | End of season |
Final league table
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 38 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 72 | 22 | +50 | 91 | 2006-07 UEFA Champions League Group stage |
| 2 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 72 | 34 | +38 | 83 | |
| 3 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 57 | 25 | +32 | 82 | 2006-07 UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round |
| 4 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 68 | 31 | +37 | 67 | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 53 | 38 | +15 | 65 | UEFA Cup 2006–07 First round |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 51 | 42 | +9 | 63 | |
| 7 | Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 58 | 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup Third round |
| 8 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 56 | |
| 9 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 55 | -3 | 55 | UEFA Cup 2006–07 First round1 |
| 10 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 45 | 52 | -7 | 51 | |
| 11 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 34 | 49 | -15 | 50 | |
| 12 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 48 | 58 | -10 | 48 | |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic Charlton Athletic F.C. Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,... |
38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 41 | 55 | -14 | 47 | |
| 14 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 48 | 58 | -10 | 45 | |
| 15 | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 43 | 48 | -5 | 43 | |
| 16 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 42 | 55 | -13 | 42 | |
| 17 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 37 | 62 | -25 | 38 | |
| 18 | Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 28 | 50 | -22 | 34 | Relegated to Football League Championship 2006-07 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 58 | -27 | 30 | |
| 20 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
38 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 26 | 69 | -43 | 15 |
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
1.West Ham qualified for the UEFA Cup as FA Cup finalists