2005–06_Reading_F.C._season

2005–06 Reading F.C. season

2005–06 Reading F.C. season

Reading 2005–06 football season

The 2005–06 season was Reading's 135th year in existence and fourth consecutive season in the Championship, since their promotion from the Second Division in 2002, and covers the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Reading finished the season as Champions, winning promotion to the Premier League for the first time, and registered the highest points total gained in a professional league season with 106, bettering the previous record held by Sunderland by 1 point.[1]

Review and events

See also: 2005–06 in English football

Pre-season

Transfers

Following the completion of the 2004–05 season Reading announced on 11 May that veteran duo Martin Keown and Les Ferdinand, along with Ricky Newman, Bas Savage and youngster Louie Soares would not have their contracts renewed and were free to leave the club.[2] On 22 June striker Nicky Forster left the club after 6 years, opting to sign for Ipswich Town having turned down a new contract at Reading.[3] He was followed in the days after by Paul Brooker and Lloyd Owusu who both moved to Brentford on free transfers.[4][5] On 21 July Andy Hughes moved to Norwich City in a deal thought to be worth £500,000 and the next day Dean Morgan moved to Luton Town on a free transfer.[6][7] The final summer departure from the Madejski was Shaun Goater who agreed to have his contract terminated by mutual consent on 27 July.[8]

The first signings of the summer were Irish pair Kevin Doyle and Shane Long who joined from Cork City on 7 June.[9] Stephen Hunt arrived from Brentford on a free transfer on 29 June and he was followed by Graham Stack who signed on a six-month loan from Arsenal on 7 July.[10][11] Leroy Lita was signed from Bristol City for a then club record £1,000,000 on 14 July and on 22 July Brynjar Gunnarsson transferred from Watford for an undisclosed fee.[12][13] On 2 August Chris Makin and John Oster both arrived on free transfers from Leicester City and Burnley respectively.[14] Eric Obinna signed on a short-term deal on 24 August and Reading's summer transfer business was completed by Sekou Baradji who was signed on loan from West Ham on 1 September.[15][16]

August

Reading's first match in the Championship was a home game against Plymouth Argyle on 6 August and despite dominating the game Reading lost 1 – 2. Having gone one down Leroy Lita equalised with a goal on his debut but a late finish from Nick Chadwick was enough to give Plymouth all the points.[17] On 9 August Reading faced Brighton in the first of two away games with goals in each half for Glen Little and Dave Kitson enough for a 2 – 0 victory.[18] Reading then faced a trip north to Preston on 13 August and a came away with a comfortable 3 – 0 win thanks to a brace from Lita and a second goal in four days from Glen Little.[19] Reading returned to the Madejski on 20 August to face Millwall in a game they won emphatically 5 – 0. Bobby Convey scored two and one each from James Harper, Kitson and Steve Sidwell completed the scoring.[20]

Reading faced Swansea City on 23 August in the first round of the League Cup. Kitson opened the scoring on 13 minutes but an 80th-minute equaliser from Adebayo Akinfenwa saw the game go into extra times with the score at 1–1. A second goal Kitson and one for Lita in extra time were enough to earn a 3–1 victory and progress into the second round.[21] Reading were back in league action on 27 August away at Watford though neither team could make the breakthrough and it ended 0 – 0.[22] The last game in August saw Reading at home in the league against Burnley. Leroy Lita put Reading into the lead on 7 minutes but Burnley equalised through Ade Akinbiyi. Kevin Doyle won the match for Reading with his first goal for the club on 70 minutes with the game finishing 2 – 1.[23]

September

After a 12-day break Reading travelled to the Ricoh Arena to face Coventry City on 10 September. A second goal in two games from Kevin Doyle was only enough for a 1 – 1 draw with Rob Page equalising in the 86th minute.[24] Three days later Reading faced Crystal Palace at home in a game they won 3 – 2. Kevin Doyle opened the scoring for Reading but Andy Johnson equalised shortly after and Clinton Morrison then gave Palace the lead at the start of the second half. However goals from Leroy Lita and Ibrahima Sonko were enough to secure the win for Reading.[25] Next up was the visit of Crewe on 17 September which Reading won 1 – 0 thanks to a 78th-minute header from Ivar Ingimarsson.[26] Reading were back in Football League Cup action on 20 September with a second round home tie against Luton Town. A single John Oster goal was enough to see Reading progress to the third round.[27] On 24 September Reading traveled to Norwich City in the Football League Championship recorded and a third straight 1 – 0 win thanks to a goal from James Harper.[28] The final game in September was at Southampton which finished 0 – 0 with both sides having chances but failing to make the breakthrough.[29]

Squad

As of match played 30 April 2006[30]
More information No., Name ...
  1. Graham Stack was born in Hampstead, England, but qualified to represent Republic of Ireland, making his Republic of Ireland Under-21 debut 2003.
  2. Jamie Young was born in Brisbane, Australia, but qualified to represent England, Representing England at U-18, U-19 and U-20 level.
  3. Graeme Murty was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England, but qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his parents, making his international debut for Scotland in 2004.
  4. John Oster was born in Boston, England, but qualified to represent Wales, making his international debut for Wales in 1997.
  5. Leroy Lita was born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, but qualified to represent England, representing England at U-21 level.
  6. Simieon Howell was born in Reading, England, but qualified to represent Jamaica, representing Jamaica at U-23 level.
  7. Darren Campbell was born in Cambridge, England, but qualified to represent Scotland through his parents, representing Scotland at U-17 level in 2003 after representing the England U-17 in 2002.

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

Transfers

In

More information Date, Position ...

Out

More information Date, Position ...

Loans in

More information Start date, Position ...

Loans out

More information Start date, Position ...

Released

More information Date, Position ...

Competitions

Overview

More information Competition, First match ...

Last updated: 30 April 2006
Source: Competitions

Championship

Main article: 2005–06 Football League Championship

Results summary

More information Overall, Home ...

Results by round

More information Round, Ground ...
Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

6 August 2005 1 Reading 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Lita 54' Report Evans 21'
Chadwick 90'		 Attendance: 16,836
Referee: Paul Taylor
9 August 2005 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–2 Reading Withdean Stadium
19:45 BST (UTC+1) Report Little 15'
Kitson 63'		 Attendance: 6,676
Referee: Kevin Friend
13 August 2005 3 Preston North End 0–3 Reading Deepdale
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Lita 35', 46'
Little 58'		 Attendance: 13,154
Referee: Lee Probert
20 August 2005 4 Reading 5–0 Millwall Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Convey 6', 25'
Harper 38'
Kitson 44'
Sidwell 79'		 Report Marshall Red card 23' Attendance: 14,225
Referee: Steve Tanner
27 August 2005 5 Watford 0–0 Reading Vicarage Road
17:15 BST (UTC+1) Report Attendance: 12,152
Referee: Richard Beeby
29 August 2005 6 Reading 2–1 Burnley Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Lita 8'
Doyle 70'		 Report Akinbiyi 40' Attendance: 14,027
Referee: Ray Olivier
10 September 2005 7 Coventry City 1–1 Reading Ricoh Arena
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Page 86' Report Doyle 68' Attendance: 22,074
Referee: Andy Hall
13 September 2005 8 Reading 3–2 Crystal Palace Madejski Stadium
20:00 BST (UTC+1) Doyle 26'
Lita 68'
Sonko 87'		 Report Johnson 29'
Morrison 47'		 Attendance: 17,562
Referee: Brian Curson
17 September 2005 9 Reading 1–0 Crewe Alexandra Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Ingimarsson 78' Report Attendance: 17,668
Referee: Andy Woolmer
24 September 2005 10 Norwich City 0–1 Reading Carrow Road
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Harper 61' Attendance: 24,850
Referee: Trevor Kettle
28 September 2005 11 Southampton 0–0 Reading St Mary's
19:45 BST (UTC+1) Report Attendance: 24,946
Referee: Graham Poll
1 October 2005 12 Reading 2–1 Sheffield United Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Gunnarsson 3', 88' Report Kabba 15' Attendance: 22,068
Referee: Grant Hegley
16 October 2005 13 Reading 2–0 Ipswich Town Madejski Stadium
13:30 BST (UTC+1) Naylor 18' (o.g.)
Doyle 47'		 Report Attendance: 17,581
Referee: Steve Tanner
18 October 2005 14 Hull City 1–1 Reading KC Stadium
19:45 BST (UTC+1) Brown 56' Report Little 74' Attendance: 17,698
22 October 2005 15 Stoke City 0–1 Reading Britannia Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Kitson 75' (pen.) Attendance: 13,484
29 October 2005 16 Reading 1–1 Leeds United Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Gunnarsson 62' Report Ingimarsson 74' (o.g.) Attendance: 22,012
1 November 2005 17 Reading 2–0 Sheffield Wednesday Madejski Stadium
20:00 GMT Whelan 38' (o.g.)
Kitson 64'		 Report Attendance: 16,188
5 November 2005 18 Queens Park Rangers 1–2 Reading Loftus Road
15:00 GMT Cook 47' Report Harper 10'
Ingimarsson 65'		 Attendance: 15,347
19 November 2005 19 Reading 3–1 Hull City Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Convey 7'
Doyle 69'
Little 70'		 Report Barmby 55' Attendance: 17,864
22 November 2005 20 Ipswich Town 0–3 Reading Portman Road
19:45 GMT Report Sidwell 28'
Lita 53'
Doyle 76'		 Attendance: 22,62
26 November 2005 21 Plymouth Argyle 0–2 Reading Home Park
15:00 GMT Report Little 20'
Doyle 56'		 Attendance: 14,020
3 December 2005 22 Reading 3–0 Luton Town Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Sidwell 43'
Kitson 75'
Doyle 88'		 Report Attendance: 19,478
10 December 2005 23 Reading 5–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Oatway 27' (o.g.)
Kitson 51' (pen.), 70', 90'
Hunt 76'		 Report Elphick Red card 48'
Kazim-Richards 84'		 Attendance: 18,546
17 December 2005 24 Millwall 0–2 Reading The Den
15:00 GMT Report Sidwell 40'
Doyle 68'		 Attendance: 12,920
26 December 2005 25 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 Reading Molineux
15:00 GMT Report Kitson 29'
Convey 64'		 Attendance: 27,980
28 December 2005 26 Reading 2–0 Leicester City Madejski Stadium
20:00 GMT Doyle 60'
Gunnarsson 87'		 Report Attendance: 22,061
31 December 2005 27 Derby County 2–2 Reading Pride Park
17:15 GMT Johnson 32', 62'
Davies Yellow card Yellow-red card 71'		 Report Doyle 34'
Long 88'		 Attendance: 21,434
2 January 2006 28 Reading 5–1 Cardiff City Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Sidwell 10', 70'
Sonko 31'
Kitson 50', 75'		 Report Jerome 61' Attendance: 22,668
14 January 2006 29 Reading 2–0 Coventry City Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Kitson 46', 78' Report Attendance: 22,813
20 January 2006 30 Crystal Palace 1–1 Reading Selhurst Park
19:45 GMT Johnson 79' (pen.) Report Harper 81' Attendance: 19,888
31 January 2006 31 Reading 4–0 Norwich City Madejski Stadium
20:00 GMT Shorey 6'
Sidwell 17'
Lita 55'
Convey 69'		 Report Attendance: 21,442
4 February 2006 32 Crewe Alexandra 3–4 Reading Alexandra Stadium
15:00 GMT Bell 14'
Taylor 50'
Lunt 68' (pen.)		 Report Shorey 24'
Sidwell 26'
Lita 43', 53'		 Attendance: 6,484
10 February 2006 33 Reading 2–0 Southampton Madejski Stadium
19:45 GMT Lita 16'
Doyle 38'		 Report Attendance: 23,845
14 February 2006 34 Sheffield United 1–1 Reading Bramall Lane
19:45 GMT Dyer 9' Report Kitson 12' Attendance: 25,011
17 February 2006 35 Luton Town 3–2 Reading Kenilworth Road
19:45 GMT Vine 20', 26'
Morgan 51'		 Report Doyle 1', 90' Attendance: 8,705
25 February 2006 36 Reading 2–1 Preston North End Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Sidwell 6'
Lita 45+1'		 Report Davidson 8' Attendance: 23,011
4 March 2006 37 Burnley 0–3 Reading Turf Moor
15:00 GMT Report Convey 10'
Sonko 55'
Kitson 90'		 Attendance: 12,888
11 March 2006 38 Reading 0–0 Watford Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Report Attendance: 23,724
18 March 2006 39 Reading 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Convey 22' Report Miller 64' Attendance: 23,502
25 March 2006 40 Leicester City 1–1 Reading Walkers Stadium
15:00 GMT Hume 38' Report Doyle 85' Attendance: 25,578
1 April 2006 41 Reading 5–0 Derby County Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Harper 59'
Doyle 65'
Oster 69'
Long 73', 83'		 Report Attendance: 22,981
8 April 2006 42 Cardiff City 2–5 Reading Ninian Park
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Jerome 40'
Parry 79'		 Report Harper 10', 90'
Kitson 40'
Loovens 52' (o.g.)
Doyle 87'		 Attendance: 11,866
15 April 2006 43 Leeds United 1–1 Reading Elland Road
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Hulse 47' Report Hunt 85' Attendance: 24,535
17 April 2006 44 Reading 3–1 Stoke City Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Sidwell 25'
Doyle 56' (pen.)
Halls 62'		 Report Rooney 59' Attendance: 22,119
22 April 2006 45 Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Reading Hillsborough
15:00 BST (UTC+1) MacLean 59' (pen.) Report Kitson 34' Attendance: 27,307
30 April 2006 46 Reading 2–1 Queens Park Rangers Madejski Stadium
13:30 BST (UTC+1) Kitson 40'
Murty 84' (pen.)		 Report Furlong 72' Attendance: 23,156

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Updated to match(es) played on 2 December 2011. Source: RSSSF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

FA Cup

Main article: 2005–06 FA Cup
7 January 2006 Third Round West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Reading The Hawthorns
15:00 GMT Gera 82' (pen.) Report Doyle 84' (pen.) Attendance: 19,197
Referee: Matt Messias
17 January 2006 Third Round Replay Reading 3–2 (a.e.t.) West Bromwich Albion Madejski Stadium
20:00 GMT Lita 50', 65', 93' Report Chaplow 9', 32' Attendance: 16,737
Referee: Paul Taylor
28 January 2006 Fourth Round Reading 1–1 Birmingham City Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Long 32' Report Dunn 67' Attendance: 23,762
Referee: Rob Styles
7 February 2006 Fourth Round Replay Birmingham City 2–1 Reading St. Andrews
19:45 GMT Forssell 30'
Gray 67'		 Report Hunt 51' Attendance: 16,644
Referee: Peter Walton

Football League Cup

Main article: 2005–06 Football League Cup
23 August 2005 First Round Reading 3–1 (a.e.t.) Swansea City Madejski Stadium
20:00 BST (UTC+1) Kitson 13', 95'
Lita 114'		 Report Akinfenwa 80'
Anderson Red card 85'		 Attendance: 7,603
Referee: Keith Stroud
20 September 2005 Second Round Reading 1–0 Luton Town Madejski Stadium
20:00 BST (UTC+1) Oster 80' Report Attendance: 6,941
Referee: Mick Fletcher
25 October 2005 Third Round Reading 2–0 Sheffield United Madejski Stadium
20:00 BST (UTC+1) Kitson 53', 75' Report Attendance: 11,607
Referee: Rob Styles
29 November 2005 Fourth Round Arsenal 3–0 Reading Highbury
19:45 GMT Reyes 12'
Van Persie 41'
Lupoli 65'		 Report Attendance: 36,167
Referee: Lee Mason

Squad statistics

As of match played 30 April 2006

Appearances and goals

More information No., Pos ...

Goal scorers

More information Place, Position ...

Clean sheets

More information Place, Position ...

References

  • General: Official Yearbook Reading FC 2006/07 (ISBN 1-903073-57-X)
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