2004–05 Football Conference

The 2004–05 season was the 26th season of the Football Conference, and the 1st season following its expansion from one division to three divisions.

Overview

This season saw the Conference expanded to three divisions with the addition of the Conference North and Conference South added to the existing (and renamed) Conference National. The North and South Divisions were filled by teams finishing 1st–13th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and 2nd–13th in the Isthmian League Premier Division and Southern League Premier Division the previous season (the champions were all promoted to the Conference National), together with winners of play-offs between the 14–18th placed clubs in the Southern League Premier, 14th–20th in the Isthmian and Northern Premier League Premier, as well as the top clubs from the divisions immediately below.

The Conference National was joined by Carlisle United and York City, who had been relegated from the Football League. Carlisle became the first club to compete in all top five tiers of English football, having reached the old First Division in 1974–75.

In addition to the winners and the teams that qualified for the play-offs, Exeter City fought gallantly in the FA Cup against Manchester United, holding them to a goalless draw in the third round on Old Trafford and finally going down 0–2 on home turf.

Conference National

Conference National
Season 2004–05[1]
Champions Barnet (2nd Football Conference title)
Direct promotion Barnet
Promoted through play-offs Carlisle United
Relegated to Conference North/Conference South Farnborough Town,
Leigh RMI,
Northwich Victoria
Promoted for the next season Altrincham,
Grays Athletic,
Southport
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1311 (2.84 per match)
Top goalscorer Giuliano Grazioli (Barnet), 29
Biggest home win Carlisle UnitedFarnborough 7–0 (28 August 2004)
Biggest away win FarnboroughHereford United 0–6 (25 March 2005);
Leigh RMIAccrington Stanley 0–6 (11 December 2004)
Highest scoring BarnetFarnborough 7–1 (19 March 2005)
Longest winning run ?
Longest unbeaten run ?
Longest losing run ?
Highest attendance Carlisle v Barnet, 9,215 (16 Oct)
Lowest attendance Canvey Island v Leigh RMI, 201 (5 April 2005)
Average attendance 1,922 (Conference record, + 0.9% compared with the previous season)

A total of 22 teams contest the division, including 18 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two, one promoted from the Southern Football League and one promoted from the Isthmian League. Winners and runners-up of Northern Premier League were unable to qualify in Conference National.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League

Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football League Third Division

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 Barnet 4216235620106534249044+ 4686
2 Hereford United 4210742814114640276841+ 2774
3 Carlisle United 421254391888535197437+ 3773
4 Aldershot Town 421335382287630306852+ 1673
5 Stevenage Borough 421326352194830316552+ 1372
6 Exeter City 421155392296632287150+ 2171
7 Morecambe 421254382379531276950+ 1971
8 Woking 421164291978629265845+ 1368
9 Halifax Town 4213444524651029327456+ 1866
10 Accrington Stanley 421164432675929327258+ 1465
11 Dagenham & Redbridge4212453927741029336860+ 865
12 Crawley Town 4213443518351315325050± 057
13 Scarborough 4291204217521418296046+ 1456
14 Gravesend & Northfleet 427773431641124335864– 650
15 Tamworth 421038222248931415363– 1050[notes 1]
16 Burton Albion 426782529741025375066– 1650
17 York City 427682223441317433966– 2743
18 Canvey Island 4261053431351319345365– 1242
19 Northwich Victoria 429573729551121435872– 1442[notes 2]
20 Forest Green Rovers 4229101940461122414181– 4033[notes 3]
21 Farnborough Town 4245122040261315493589– 5429
22 Leigh RMI 4222171852241513463198–6718
  1. Tamworth deducted 3 points—breach of League rules.
  2. Northwich Victoria had 10 points deducted due to entering administration and ground requirements, eventually relegated due to ground concerns.
  3. Forest Green Rovers were reprieved due to Northwich's relegation.
Key
Football Conference Champions, promoted to League Two
Promoted to League Two through play-offs (none)
Participated in play-offs
Relegated from The Football League, see also Carlisle United
Conference League Cup winners
New club in the Conference
Relegated to Conference North/Conference South

Locations

Locations of the Football Conference National London teams 2004–2005

Results

Home ╲ Away ACC ALD BARBRTCANCRLCRAD&REXEFARFGRGRNHALHERLEIMORNORSCASTBTAMWOKYOR
Accrington Stanley 33 41 31 10 12 40 03 00 21 22 12 11 21 21 21 50 21 41 23 00 22
Aldershot 00 23 30 20 05 10 40 21 31 12 10 00 02 20 33 21 20 01 43 40 20
Barnet 30 21 23 10 11 30 50 10 71 31 41 31 02 32 51 40 10 21 03 20 40
Burton Albion 22 13 11 11 01 10 13 10 00 41 32 22 30 00 13 10 23 03 11 01 02
Canvey Island 02 22 01 22 03 22 42 22 11 21 11 01 04 30 00 22 10 30 33 22 40
Carlisle United 20 11 13 00 00 10 10 02 70 01 22 10 31 30 33 10 21 12 21 21 60
Crawley Town 20 10 13 40 21 10 20 01 20 42 11 12 11 22 21 00 21 12 30 21 10
Dagenham & Redbridge 05 30 20 31 31 10 10 23 00 22 50 42 31 20 21 23 03 31 00 11 03
Exeter City 12 31 03 31 01 00 32 11 21 20 30 21 40 51 11 23 31 20 22 00 01
Farnborough Town 21 12 00 13 13 12 23 21 21 11 03 32 06 01 12 02 01 03 22 00 11
Forest Green Rovers 10 00 02 32 22 03 11 14 23 11 15 00 13 11 03 13 01 11 11 13 11
Gravesend & Northfleet 22 13 13 02 32 13 00 21 11 22 00 03 12 41 12 22 40 21 20 11 40
Halifax Town 12 20 23 20 41 22 10 22 21 20 40 10 01 51 13 22 21 21 33 31 20
Hereford United 00 20 11 00 10 00 00 01 12 31 21 10 23 30 11 40 10 01 21 22 20
Leigh RMI 06 33 03 14 21 16 12 01 01 12 20 01 03 34 02 01 11 12 23 03 03
Morecambe 12 00 11 30 40 11 12 10 22 11 31 13 21 21 21 31 21 13 30 21 21
Northwich Victoria 33 12 20 40 31 22 10 22 12 20 21 12 12 14 20 22 10 11 12 13 30
Scarborough 40 22 11 11 11 11 22 20 11 40 00 10 31 00 30 11 30 33 22 20 51
Stevenage Borough 50 01 21 01 14 21 10 10 32 31 22 20 21 01 20 01 41 10 20 02 22
Tamworth 10 12 02 02 10 10 10 04 12 02 40 21 21 22 01 00 30 10 00 13 10
Woking 21 12 11 10 10 11 20 24 33 20 01 20 21 11 10 00 20 11 12 21 10
York City 01 02 21 12 00 21 31 00 12 40 13 00 11 03 11 10 00 02 31 20 02

Source: Soccerbase
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

  Semifinals
1st leg 2 May, 2nd leg 6 May
Final at Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
14 May 2005
                     
2nd  Hereford United 1 0 1  
5th  Stevenage Borough 1 1 2  
    3rd  Carlisle United 1
  5th  Stevenage Borough 0
3rd  Carlisle United (pen.) 0 2 2 (5)
4th  Aldershot Town 1 1 2 (4)  

Topscorers

Pos Player Club League Play-offs FA Cup LDV FA Trophy Total
1 Giuliano Grazioli Barnet 29 0 0 0 0 29
2 Michael Twiss Morecambe 22 0 3 0 0 25
3 Paul Mullin Accrington Stanley 20 0 0 0 0 20
4 Anthony Elding Stevenage Borough 19 0 1 1 0 21
= Chris Moore Dagenham & Redbridge 19 0 1 1 0 21
= Adam Stansfield Hereford United 19 0 1 0 1 21
= Bob Taylor Tamworth 19 0 0 0 0 19
9 Charlie Griffin Forest Green Rovers 17 0 1 0 0 18
10 Lee McEvilly Accrington Stanley 15 0 0 2 0 17
= Jonny Allan Northwich Victoria 15 0 0 0 1 16
12 Lee Boylan Canvey Island 14 0 0 0 3 17
= Tim Sills Aldershot Town 14 0 2 0 0 16
= Justin Richards Woking 14 0 1 0 1 16
= Neil Redfearn Scarborough 14 0 0 0 0 14
16 Karl Hawley Carlisle United 13 0 1 0 1 15
= Paul Brayson Northwich Victoria 13 0 0 0 0 13

Source:[1]

Conference North

Conference North
Season 2004–05[1][3]
Champions Southport (1st Football Conference North title)
Direct promotion Southport
Promoted through play-offs Altrincham
Relegated to Level 7 Ashton United,
Bradford Park Avenue,
Runcorn F.C. Halton
Promoted for the next season Hednesford,
Hyde United,
Workington
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1257 (2.72 per match)
Biggest home win HarrogateAshton 5–1 (12 February 2005);
HarrogateGainsborough Trinity 5–1 (24 August 2004);
4–0: six matches
Biggest away win BarrowRedditch 1–6 (11 September 2004);
KetteringSouthport 0–5 (22 January 2005)
Highest scoring AshtonRuncorn 5–4 (28 August 2004)
Longest winning run ?
Longest unbeaten run ?
Longest losing run ?
Highest attendance ?
Lowest attendance ?
Average attendance ?

First Conference North/South season saw competition of best 44 teams by the results of previous season from Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, except Crawley Town and Canvey Island, promoted directly to Conference National. Teams were divided by geographical criteria.

Promotion

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Northern Premier League

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 Southport 4212633520133548258345+ 3884
2Nuneaton Borough 4213352917123639286845+ 2381
3Droylsden 4213354626114636268252+ 3079
4Kettering Town 4210472221113734295650+ 670
5Altrincham 421263452176821256646+ 2069
6Harrogate Town 421353402266922276249+ 1368
7Worcester City 421056322567827285953+ 660
8Stafford Rangers 428103332067819245244+ 859
9Redditch United 421137363275929276559+ 659[notes 1]
10Hucknall Town 42786313286728255957+ 259
11Gainsborough Trinity 427862722911128335555± 057
12Hinckley United 42858293176826315562– 756
13Lancaster City 42948232258828375159– 854
14Alfreton Town 427592423831029325355– 253
15Vauxhall Motors 427772022741028354857– 953
16Barrow 428583239651018255064– 1452
17Worksop Town 421146362958823305959± 050 [notes 2]
18Moor Green 428492628561029365564– 949
19Stalybridge Celtic 427683036561022345270– 1848
20Runcorn FC Halton 427682426361220374463– 19 42Relegated to the Northern Premier League
21Ashton United 4262132739271219404679– 3333Relegated to the Northern Premier League
22Bradford Park Avenue 4235132037241517333770– 3324Relegated to the Northern Premier League
  1. Redditch United had 3 points deducted.
  2. Worksop Town had 10 points deducted.
Key
Conference North Champions, promoted to Conference National
Promoted to Conference National through play-offs
Participated in play-offs
Relegated to Level 7

Locations

Results

Home ╲ Away ALF ALT ASHBRWBPADROGAIHARHINHUCKETLNCMOGNUNREDRUNSOUSTASTLVAUWRCWKS
Alfreton Town 02 11 11 21 01 01 20 02 02 12 23 22 20 12 40 21 01 10 31 00 00
Altrincham 12 12 20 00 22 41 30 41 11 33 40 02 10 00 33 21 10 41 31 20 41
Ashton United 31 01 12 00 10 13 32 02 00 02 20 13 23 23 54 03 12 23 02 10 23
Barrow 03 20 11 32 13 20 10 30 03 21 22 34 13 16 11 02 22 21 12 22 21
Bradford Park Avenue 04 12 33 01 20 03 12 11 24 12 10 11 22 03 01 31 31 01 01 01 11
Droylsden 32 20 40 20 33 21 21 10 31 23 34 22 10 10 30 13 40 00 40 23 13
Gainsborough Trinity 12 01 10 10 20 11 00 11 01 11 42 11 12 21 23 10 11 22 12 30 11
Harrogate Town 21 11 51 21 21 21 51 11 00 21 11 12 31 42 10 25 01 20 21 20 00
Hinckley United 10 21 31 10 40 33 31 01 03 01 22 21 23 12 00 00 02 11 14 04 31
Hucknall Town 40 42 21 12 00 04 25 11 11 21 02 11 13 21 00 24 21 30 11 22 00
Kettering Town 11 01 00 20 10 02 01 00 31 31 02 12 10 10 21 05 01 20 11 21 21
Lancaster City 01 11 20 21 01 01 20 03 23 22 10 31 02 00 21 11 10 01 31 02 10
Moor Green 01 22 20 11 10 12 21 21 21 11 12 02 13 10 21 23 01 22 02 12 20
Nuneaton Borough 11 00 10 11 21 32 10 20 01 13 20 20 10 01 30 01 43 10 21 20 02
Redditch United 13 01 32 20 31 11 01 21 30 11 23 00 31 15 10 32 10 23 41 04 32
Runcorn 10 21 20 10 21 13 01 00 12 12 20 22 21 00 01 02 33 11 11 22 01
Southport 31 21 12 00 10 30 21 23 32 10 13 00 21 30 11 31 00 20 21 22 11
Stafford Rangers 31 01 11 22 10 20 20 11 11 12 30 22 21 23 11 00 11 32 11 00 40
Stalybridge Celtic 23 11 21 12 14 13 22 13 02 20 12 22 22 11 10 10 35 10 21 10 22
Vauxhall Motors 20 20 00 02 10 12 10 11 02 10 02 31 10 11 11 12 03 00 12 22 11
Worcester City 00 21 22 01 21 31 12 12 11 30 22 31 41 02 21 21 13 00 21 10 02
Worksop Town 32 11 31 21 21 02 13 20 31 21 03 20 10 23 53 11 12 00 11 23 20

Source: Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2005–2006. Glenda Rollin & Jack Rollin (eds.). Headline, 2006.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

Pos Player Club Goals
1 Terry Fearns Southport 28
2 Colin Little Altrincham 24
3 Norman Sylla Redditch United 22
= Adam Webster Worcester City 22
5 Peter Duffield Alfreton Town 20

Source:[1]

Conference South

Conference South
Season 2004–05[1][3]
Champions Grays Athletic (1st Football Conference South title)
Direct promotion Grays Athletic
Promoted through play-offs None
Relegated to Level 7 or folded Margate,
Redbridge;
Hornchurch (folded)
Promoted for the next season Eastleigh,
Histon,
Yeading
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1404 (3.04 per match)
Biggest home win Grays AthleticBognor Regis 6–0 (16 November 2004);
HornchurchBasingstoke 6–0 (4 September 2004);
HornchurchMaidenhead 6–0 (21 September 2004)
Biggest away win DorchesterGrays Athletic 0–7 (23 October 2004)
Highest scoring Bognor RegisWelling United 6–5 (11 September 2004)
Longest winning run ?
Longest unbeaten run ?
Longest losing run ?
Highest attendance ?
Lowest attendance ?
Average attendance ?

First Conference North/South season saw competition of best 44 teams by the results of previous season from Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, except Crawley Town and Canvey Island, promoted directly to Conference National. Teams were divided by geographical criteria.

Promotion

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League

Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football Conference

At the start of the season Ford United was given new name Redbridge F.C.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 Grays Athletic 42154260131542581811831+ 8798
2 Cambridge City 4210382925133531196044+ 1675
3 Thurrock 429392932123632246156+ 569
4 Lewes 421164422975931357364+ 965[notes 1]
5 Eastbourne Borough 421056382685827216547+ 1864
6 Basingstoke Town 4212363720731120325752+ 563
7 Weymouth 42885322893930316259+ 362
8 Dorchester Town 421155403366937487781– 462
9 Bognor Regis Town 4211464631651024347065+ 560
10 Bishop's Stortford 4213353925451231417066+ 459
11 Weston-super-Mare 4212543323381022375560– 558
12 Hayes 42948293067826275557– 256
13 Havant & Waterlooville 4212363826441326436469– 555
14 St Albans City 4283103437831030396476– 1254
15 Sutton United 425610253895735336071– 1153
16 Welling United 4255112330102941386468– 452
17 Hornchurch 4211554424651027397163+ 851[notes 2]
18 Newport County 428583634561020275661– 550
19 Carshalton Athletic 427311193166925414472– 2848
20 Maidenhead United 425793141731123405481– 2746[notes 3]
21 Margate [notes 4]429393029351324465475– 2134Relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division
22 Redbridge [notes 5]4263122540501625465086– 3633Relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division
  1. Lewes could not participate in the play-offs due to ground issues.
  2. Hornchurch had 10 points deducted. The club folded at end of the season.
  3. Maidenhead United were reprieved due to Hornchurch folding.
  4. Margate had 10 points deducted.
  5. Redbridge had 3 points deducted.
Key
Conference South Champions, promoted to Conference National
Promoted to Conference National through play-offs
Participated in play-offs
FA Trophy winners, see Grays Athletic
Relegated to Level 7
Folded

Locations

Locations of the Football Conference South London teams 2005–2006

Results

Home ╲ Away BAS BST BOGCAMCARDOREABGRYH&WHAYHORLEWMAIMARNPCREDSACSUTTHUWELWSMWEY
Basingstoke Town 23 21 21 01 22 02 03 32 20 20 00 01 21 30 30 51 10 30 40 11 01
Bishop's Stortford 13 23 30 20 21 20 12 11 04 31 10 21 30 30 21 20 32 00 42 22 02
Bognor Regis Town 21 31 12 10 72 10 00 11 12 31 13 12 22 02 41 41 01 32 65 30 22
Cambridge City 21 32 10 30 22 22 02 20 10 03 23 01 21 20 21 20 01 00 01 12 41
Carshalton Athletic 20 03 00 02 43 14 02 21 32 02 10 11 01 10 10 13 12 02 01 11 01
Dorchester Town 01 43 10 00 11 31 07 21 11 31 11 42 20 10 41 23 22 02 32 23 41
Eastbourne Borough 20 11 41 12 14 32 22 12 10 42 12 00 11 10 12 10 22 40 01 30 42
Grays Athletic 01 30 60 12 40 22 11 30 10 51 40 40 50 00 41 20 51 21 42 20 20
Havant & Waterlooville 51 04 00 02 41 40 21 12 00 41 21 21 31 10 10 11 23 02 23 32 10
Hayes 01 23 01 40 13 01 11 11 15 11 32 21 10 31 10 32 10 13 11 10 13
Hornchurch 60 31 11 01 22 23 20 12 40 11 32 60 10 11 20 11 30 01 05 32 21
Lewes 00 21 21 22 11 31 10 32 31 32 12 01 73 22 54 12 01 11 21 31 00
Maidenhead United 11 22 23 15 40 01 12 03 10 11 22 10 24 02 43 33 22 03 21 00 23
Margate 21 10 23 02 01 12 21 06 51 31 01 11 20 11 20 23 11 21 12 20 01
Newport County 01 63 10 01 01 32 13 14 11 11 22 22 21 20 23 10 24 12 41 22 20
Redbridge 03 11 12 00 13 41 03 13 31 01 01 01 41 21 05 21 05 12 12 11 32
St Albans City 21 20 40 10 31 11 00 14 31 01 43 23 12 33 01 23 12 13 25 10 03
Sutton United 10 00 00 03 41 32 00 06 11 24 12 35 22 20 00 23 12 12 10 12 03
Thurrock 31 10 05 01 22 12 10 24 13 21 10 20 12 12 22 10 12 12 11 31 21
Welling United 01 00 11 02 40 14 03 12 01 11 11 10 12 10 31 12 23 32 12 11 01
Weston-super-Mare 21 21 21 21 11 22 02 20 21 01 00 12 21 22 31 10 30 21 21 02 22
Weymouth 11 32 21 12 22 11 01 11 32 31 20 33 31 22 01 10 10 11 12 03 11

Source: Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2005–2006. Glenda Rollin & Jack Rollin (eds.). Headline, 2005.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Topscorers

Pos Player Club Goals
1 Luke Nightingale Bognor Regis 32
2 Lee Clarke St Albans City 25
3 Matt Groves Dorchester 24
4 Dean Holdsworth Havant & Waterlooville 23
5 Paul Booth Welling United 20

Source:[1]

North/South play-offs

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
2nd Nuneaton Borough 1 (2)
5th Altrincham ( pen.) 1 (4)
4th Kettering Town 2
5th Altrincham 3
3rd Droylsden 1
4th Kettering Town 2
5th Altrincham 2
5th Eastbourne Borough 1
2nd Cambridge City WO
[notes4 1]
2nd Cambridge City 0
5th Eastbourne Borough 3
3rd Thurrock 2
5th Eastbourne Borough 4
  1. Lewes could not take part in the play-offs as their ground was not passed fit for promotion to the Conference National, and Cambridge City thus went through on a walkover.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2004–2005. Glenda Rollin & Jack Rollin (eds.), Headline, 2004.
  2. "England 2004–05". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Soccerbase
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