The 2005–06 season was the 97th season in the Football League played by Barnsley F.C., a professional football club based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England.

Season summary Having appointed Andy Ritchie as manager after a successful spell as caretaker manager, the Reds started the season in mixed form, picking up 14 points in their first 11 games. A run of 10 games unbeaten followed, as Barnsley found themselves in 4th place and 3 points off the promotion places. Barnsley continued their strong form into the second half of the season, finishing fifth in the league, on 72 points. This meant Barnsley would face Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town in a play-off semi-final.

After losing the first leg at home 1–0 it appeared that Barnsley were resigned to another season in League One. However, Barnsley took the lead in the away leg, with Paul Hayes scoring a penalty after being fouled by Danny Schofield. Huddersfield went on to equalise but goals from captain Paul Reid and a 77th-minute winner from Daniel Nardiello meant Barnsley would be playing in the play-off final against Swansea City who had beaten third placed Brentford. This was also the first time in the history of the playoffs in all three divisions that a side had overturned a first leg deficit after losing the first leg at home.

The final was played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 27 May 2006 in front of a crowd of 55,419. Barnsley took the lead through a Paul Hayes opener but Swansea replied with goals from ex-Red Rory Fallon and Andy Robinson following a blunder by keeper Nick Colgan. A Barnsley equaliser came from a Daniel Nardiello free kick, but neither team could find a winner in either normal time or extra time, despite Swansea's Lee Trundle coming close late on.

As the match was tied 2–2, it was decided on penalties, with Nick Colgan redeeming himself for his earlier mistake and saving Swansea's final penalty from Alan Tate, to give the Reds a 4–3 shootout victory and a place in the Championship.

Competitions

League One

Table

Match details + League One match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceSwindon TownHW2–0Hayes 11', Shuker 47'9,358Scunthorpe UnitedAL1–2Hayes 16'7,152Colchester UnitedAL0–12,721Yeovil TownHW1–0Williams 79' (pen.)8,153BrentfordHD1–1Turner 24' (o.g.)7,462Swansea CityAL1–3Burns 35'12,554Nottingham ForestHW2–0Conlon 41', Shuker 45'10,080GillinghamAW3–0Shuker 40', Hayes 43', Nardiello 85'5,283Milton Keynes DonsAD0–04,620Doncaster RoversHL0–212,002Bristol CityAL0–310,771Oldham AthleticHW4–0Nardiello 8', Devaney 12', Shuker 14', 54'8,077BlackpoolHD2–2Richards 81', Howard 84'7,945Southend UnitedAD1–1Richards 61'6,986Rotherham UnitedAW1–0Devaney 73'5,401WalsallHW2–1Hayes 13', Howard 66'8,145Bradford CityAD0–09,486Rotherham UnitedHD1–1Watt 90'9,894Swindon TownAW3–0Devaney 8', Shuker 51', 69'5,422Tranmere RoversHW2–1Devaney 58', Richards 77' (pen.)6,996Scunthorpe UnitedHW5–2Devaney 2', Hassell 7', Richards 33', Shuker 71', Hayes 90'8,197Yeovil TownAL1–2Williams 15'5,620Hartlepool UnitedHD1–1Richards 28' (pen.)9,715Huddersfield TownHD2–2Burns 42', Nardiello 81'13,063ChesterfieldAD0–06,046GillinghamHW1–0Shuker 15'7,090Port ValeAL2–3Burns 56', Carbon 67'4,468Milton Keynes DonsHW2–0Richards 77', Hassell 79'7,588Nottingham ForestAW2–0Richards 15', 31'16,237Bristol CityHW2–0Richards 27', 81' (pen.)8,092Doncaster RoversAL0–28,144Port ValeHD1–1Hayes 56'7,709Tranmere RoversAW1–0Heckingbottom 16'6,802Colchester UnitedHW1–0Howard 72'9,411BournemouthAD1–1McPhail 21'5,191Swansea CityHD2–2Nardiello 56', Richards 61' (pen.)9,743BrentfordAL1–3Wright 68'7,352Hartlepool UnitedAD1–1Kay 36'5,122BournemouthHD0–09,180Huddersfield TownAL0–119,052ChesterfieldHD1–1Howard 31'8,303Oldham AthleticAW3–0Shuker 49', McPhail 62', Devaney 79'7,772Southend UnitedHD2–2Hunt 18' (o.g.), Maher 45' (o.g.)10,663BlackpoolAD1–1Howard 53'6,912Bradford CityHD0–011,178WalsallAW2–1Richards 31', Nardiello 83' (pen.)7,195

Play-offs + League One play-offs match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceSemi-final first legHuddersfield TownHL0–116,127Semi-final second legHuddersfield TownAW3–1Hayes 58' (pen.), Reid 71', Nardiello 78'19,223finalSwansea CityND2–2 4–3 pens.Hayes 19', Nardiello 62'55,419

FA Cup + FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundDarlingtonHW1–0Hayes 5'6,059Second roundBradford CityHD1–1Hayes 43'7,051Second round replayBradford CityAW5–3 Hayes 51', 78', Reid 59', Devaney 96', 109'4,738Third roundWalsallHD1–1Hayes 77'6,884Third round replayWalsallAL0–24,074

League Cup

+ League Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundPreston North EndAD2–2 5–4 pens.Burns 81', 108'3,137Second roundBurnleyAL0–34,501

Football League Trophy + Football League Trophy match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst round – northern section18 October 2005Doncaster RoversHL2–5Foster 6' (o.g.), Nardiello 90'4,095

Players

NameDate of birthSigned fromNatPlace of birthNoteGoalkeepers1Nick Colgan19 September 1973HibernianDrogheda22Scott Flinders12 June 1986noneRotherham30David Scarsella12 October 1982AdelaideOn loan at Tooting & Mitcham UnitedDefenders2Bobby Hassell4 June 1980Mansfield TownDerby3Steven Watt1 May 1985ChelseaAberdeenOn loan from Chelsea3Paul Heckingbottom17 July 1977Sheffield WednesdayBarnsleySigned from Sheffield Wednesday4Paul Reid18 February 1982Northampton TownCarlisle5Matt Carbon8 June 1975WalsallNottingham6Tony Vaughan11 October 1975Mansfield TownManchesterOn loan at Stockport County14Neil Austin26 April 1983noneBarnsley15Antony Kay21 October 1982noneBarnsley20Robbie Williams2 October 1984nonePontefract31Rob Atkinson29 April 1987noneBarnsley32Ryan Laight16 November 1985noneBarnsley33Thomas Harban12 November 1985noneBarnsleyMidfielders7Jacob Burns21 April 1978Leeds UnitedSydneySigned for Wisla Krakow10Stephen McPhail9 December 1979Leeds UnitedWestminster11Brian Howard23 January 1983Swindon TownWinchester12Anthony McParland20 September 1982CelticRutherglen16Richard Kell15 September 1979Scunthorpe UnitedBishop Auckland17Nicky Wroe28 September 1985noneSheffield19Dale Tonge7 May 1985noneBarnsley25Martin Devaney1 June 1980WatfordCheltenham26Simon Heslop1 May 1987noneYork34Kyle Nix21 January 1986Sheffield UnitedSydneyOn loan from Sheffield UnitedForwards8Paul Hayes20 September 1983Scunthorpe UnitedDagenham9Barry Conlon1 October 1978DarlingtonDrogheda18Chris Shuker9 May 1982Manchester CityHuyton21Marc Richards8 July 1982Northampton TownWolverhampton23Daniel Nardiello22 October 1982Manchester UnitedCoventry27Nathan Jarman19 September 1986noneScunthorpe28Nathan Joynes7 August 1985noneBarnsley29Tommy Wright28 September 1984Leicester CityKirby Muxloe

References