The 2005–06 New Zealand Knights FC season was the club's inaugural season in the Australian A-League. Picking up just one win and three draws out of the 21 regular season matches, the Knights finished at the bottom of the table, 20 points behind 7th placed Melbourne Victory. Season overview In their debut season, the Knights scored only 15 goals in their 21 fixtures. Their joint leading scorers were Englishman Simon Yeo and teenage whizkid Jeremy Brockie, with four apiece. Sean Devine scored three goals, while Joshua Rose, Jeremy Christie, Neil Emblen and Xiaobin Zhang all managed to find the back of the net once. Former Walsall right-back Darren Bazeley was the only Knight to start in all 21 of their games.
The club was plunged into turmoil in late 2005, as club captain Danny Hay apparently fell out with Knights bosses and coach John Adshead, and was released just before Christmas. This followed the departures of UK signings Ronnie Bull and former Lincoln City striker Simon Yeo.
The Knights may have had poor crowds in their inaugural A-League season but they did have loyal support from their supporters group, Bloc-5. Supporters who formerly supported the now-defunct Football Kingz franchise, are known for dressing up in the team's colours, chanting loudly and attending all home fixtures.
Immediately after the season, the Knights fired assistant coach Tommy Mason. Former Fulham reserve team and academy head coach Paul Nevin was named head coach to assist current manager John Adshead as Mason's replacement.
One outcome of the Knights' debut season was 17-year-old New Zealander Jeremy Brockie. The midfielder-cum-striker was originally selected as one of the Knights three under-20 players in their squad. By the end of the season though, he had become a regular starter, scoring a double at home against the Newcastle Jets. This was followed up by a strike to earn a draw with Sydney FC, and a goal in the Knights' final game of the season, versus Melbourne Victory.
Transfers In Date Pos. Name From7 March 2005DF Frank van Eijs Hà Nội F.C.14 April 2005DF John TambourasFree agent 14 April 2005GK Danny Milosevic Celtic14 April 2005FW Sean Devine Exeter City14 April 2005MF Neil Emblen Walsall14 April 2005MF Steve FitzsimmonsFree agent14 April 2005FW Naoki Imaya Blacktown City Demons14 April 2005MF Josh Maguire Blacktown City Demons14 April 2005GK Glen Moss Bonnyrigg White Eagles5 May 2005MF Zenon Caravella Sydney Olympic27 May 2005FW Jeremy Brockie Canterbury United27 May 2005DF Cole TinklerFree agent1 June 2005MF Ben Collett Manchester United1 June 2005FW Simon Yeo Lincoln City1 June 2005FW Xiaobin ZhangFree agent21 June 2005FW Kris Bright Waitakere City21 June 2005DF Ronnie Bull Grimsby Town21 June 2005MF Jeremy ChristieFree agent21 June 2005MF Sam Jasper North Shore United21 June 2005DF Joshua RoseFree agent
Mid-Season Losses Date Pos. Name To6 November 2005DF Ronnie Bull Basingstoke Town17 December 2005FW Simon Yeo Lincoln City23 December 2005DF Danny Hay Perth Glory25 January 2006MF Steve FitzsimmonsReleased
Squad statistics
Friendlies and pre-season +DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendance17 July 2005Central Coast MarinersNeutral0–224 August 2005Solomon IslandsHome4–0Devine, Josh Rose (2), Yeo
Competitions
Pre-season Challenge Cup +DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendance24 July 2005Sydney FCAway1-3Fitzsimmons8,71430 July 2005Queensland RoarHome0-53,3976 August 2005Central Coast MarinersHome0-12,269
A-League
+DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendancePosition28 August 2005Queensland RoarAway0-220,72582 September 2005Sydney FCHome1-3Rose9,827810 September 2005Central Coast MarinersAway2-0Yeo, Devine5,261718 September 2005Newcastle JetsAway0-47,495822 September 2005Perth GloryHome0-14,13882 October 2005Adelaide UnitedHome1-2Yeo3,558810 October 2005Melbourne VictoryAway0-311,010816 October 2005Queensland RoarHome0-24,182821 October 2005Sydney FCAway0-211,836829 October 2005Central Coast MarinersHome1-3Yeo2,58384 November 2005Newcastle JetsHome2-4Brockie (2)2,561811 November 2005Perth GloryAway0-39,667820 November 2005Adelaide UnitedAway0-19,676826 November 2005Melbourne VictoryHome2-3Christie, Devine1,92281 December 2005Queensland RoarAway1-1Yeo8,607830 December 2005Sydney FCHome2-2Devine, Brockie4,21288 January 2006Central Coast MarinersAway0-17,257813 January 2006Newcastle JetsAway0-36,862819 January 2006Perth GloryHome1-4Emblen3,024828 January 2006Adelaide UnitedHome1-1Zhang3,07984 February 2006Melbourne VictoryAway1-2Brockie10,0788
References