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
Team3Watford46221597753+24814Preston North End46202065930+29805Leeds United462115115738+19786Crystal Palace462112146748+1975
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Leeds United win 3–1 on aggregate.
Watford won 3–0 on aggregate.
Final
League One
Team3Brentford462016107252+20764Huddersfield Town461916117259+13735Barnsley461818106244+18726Swansea City461817117855+2371
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Swansea City won 3–1 on aggregate.
Barnsley won 3–2 on aggregate.
Final
League Two
Team4Grimsby Town462212126444+20785Cheltenham Town461915126553+12726Wycombe Wanderers461817117256+16717Lincoln City461521106553+1266
Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
Grimsby Town won 3–1 on aggregate.
Cheltenham Town won 2–1 on aggregate.
Final
External links Football League website