2004–05 Football League
# 2004–05 Football League

The 2004–05 Football League (known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 106th completed season of The Football League.

2004–05 was the first season of the rebranded Football League, with the First, Second and Third Divisions becoming the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League Two respectively. Coca-Cola replaced the Nationwide Building Society as title sponsor.

Wigan Athletic were promoted to the Premier League as Championship runners-up. They had only been elected to the Football League in 1978, had been the league's fourth-lowest placed club in the 1993–94 season, and before 2003 had never reached the second tier of English football.

Nottingham Forest were relegated from the Championship to League One, becoming the first former European Cup winners to be relegated to the third tier of their domestic league – having won two straight European Cups a quarter of a century earlier. Only ten seasons previously, in 1994–95, they had finished third in the Premier League, and had reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup the following season.

## Events

* 3 December 2004 – League One side Wrexham enters financial administration. Under new Football League rules, the club is penalised 10 league points, placing the club in relegation danger.
* 21 January 2005 – Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates finalises a deal to buy a controlling interest in the debt-riddled Championship club Leeds United.
* 2 April 2005 – Stockport County become the first League team this season to be relegated.
* 29 April 2005 – League Two side Cambridge United enters financial administration, six days after being formally relegated from the Football League.
* 7 June 2005 – George Burley resigns as manager of Derby County, citing differences with the club’s board.
* 24 June 2005 – Former Bolton Wanderers assistant manager Phil Brown becomes Derby County’s fifth manager in four years.

## Final league tables and results

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website, with home and away statistics separated. Play-off results are from the same website.

## Championship

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sunderland (C, P) | 46 | 29 | 7 | 10 | 76 | 41 | +35 | 94 | Promotion to the FA Premier League |
| 2 | Wigan Athletic (P) | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 79 | 35 | +44 | 87 | Promotion to the FA Premier League |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 85 | 56 | +29 | 85 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Derby County | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 71 | 60 | +11 | 76 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Preston North End | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 67 | 58 | +9 | 75 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 6 | West Ham United (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 66 | 56 | +10 | 73 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 51 | 44 | +7 | 70 | |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 57 | 56 | +1 | 67 | |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 21 | 10 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 66 | |
| 10 | Millwall | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 51 | 45 | +6 | 66 | |
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 54 | 58 | −4 | 62 | |
| 12 | Stoke City | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 36 | 38 | −2 | 61 | |
| 13 | Burnley | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 60 | |
| 14 | Leeds United | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 49 | 52 | −3 | 60 | |
| 15 | Leicester City | 46 | 12 | 21 | 13 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 57 | |
| 16 | Cardiff City | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 48 | 51 | −3 | 54 | |
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 53 | |
| 18 | Watford | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 52 | |
| 19 | Coventry City | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 61 | 73 | −12 | 52 | |
| 20 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 40 | 65 | −25 | 51 | |
| 21 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 66 | 86 | −20 | 50 | |
| 22 | Gillingham (R) | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 45 | 66 | −21 | 50 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 23 | Nottingham Forest (R) | 46 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 42 | 66 | −24 | 44 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 5 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 69 | −34 | 29 | Relegation to Football League One |

### Play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 18/19 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 18/19 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 18/19 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 18/19 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 18/19 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 30 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 30 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 30 May 2005 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | Ipswich Town | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 6th | West Ham United | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | |
| 6th | West Ham United | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5th | Preston North End | 0 |
| | | | | | 6th | West Ham United | 1 |
| 4th | Derby County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6th | West Ham United | 1 |
| 5th | Preston North End | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | |

### Topscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | League |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Nathan Ellington | Wigan Athletic | 24 |
| 2 | Jason Roberts | Wigan Athletic | 21 |
| = | Teddy Sheringham | West Ham | 21 |
| 4 | Shefki Kuqi | Ipswich Town | 20 |
| = | Darren Bent | Ipswich Town | 20 |
| 6 | Kenny Miller | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 19 |
| = | Dave Kitson | Reading | 19 |
| 8 | Marlon Harewood | West Ham | 18 |
| = | Paul Furlong | Queens Park Rangers | 18 |
| 10 | Richard Cresswell | Preston North End | 17 |
| = | Dean Ashton | Crewe Alexandra | 17 |
| 12 | Marcus Stewart | Sunderland | 16 |

## League One

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Luton Town (C, P) | 46 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 87 | 48 | +39 | 98 | Promotion to 2005–06 Football League Championship |
| 2 | Hull City (P) | 46 | 26 | 8 | 12 | 80 | 53 | +27 | 86 | Promotion to 2005–06 Football League Championship |
| 3 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 73 | 55 | +18 | 79 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 4 | Brentford | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 57 | 60 | −3 | 75 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday (P) | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 77 | 59 | +18 | 72 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 6 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 76 | 66 | +10 | 71 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 7 | Bristol City | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 74 | 57 | +17 | 70 | |
| 8 | Bournemouth | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 77 | 64 | +13 | 70 | |
| 9 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 74 | 65 | +9 | 70 | |
| 10 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 65 | 60 | +5 | 66 | |
| 11 | Bradford City | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 64 | 62 | +2 | 65 | |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 66 | 68 | −2 | 63 | |
| 13 | Barnsley | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 69 | 64 | +5 | 61 | |
| 14 | Walsall | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 65 | 69 | −4 | 60 | |
| 15 | Colchester United | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 59 | |
| 16 | Blackpool | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 54 | 59 | −5 | 57 | |
| 17 | Chesterfield | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 55 | 62 | −7 | 57 | |
| 18 | Port Vale | 46 | 17 | 5 | 24 | 49 | 59 | −10 | 56 | |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 60 | 73 | −13 | 52 | |
| 20 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 54 | 68 | −14 | 51 | |
| 21 | Torquay United (R) | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 55 | 79 | −24 | 51 | Relegation to 2005–06 Football League Two |
| 22 | Wrexham (R) | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 62 | 80 | −18 | 43 | Relegation to 2005–06 Football League Two |
| 23 | Peterborough United (R) | 46 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 49 | 73 | −24 | 39 | Relegation to 2005–06 Football League Two |
| 24 | Stockport County (R) | 46 | 6 | 8 | 32 | 49 | 98 | −49 | 26 | Relegation to 2005–06 Football League Two |

* ↑ Wrexham deducted 10 points for entering administration.

### Play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg – 12/13 May; 2nd leg – 16/17 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 12/13 May; 2nd leg – 16/17 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 12/13 May; 2nd leg – 16/17 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 12/13 May; 2nd leg – 16/17 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 12/13 May; 2nd leg – 16/17 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 29 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 29 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 29 May 2005 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 2 | 2 (5) | | | |
| 6th | Hartlepool United (pens.) | 2 | 0 | 2 (6) | | | |
| 6th | Hartlepool United (pens.) | 2 | 0 | 2 (6) | 5th | Sheffield Wednesday (a.e.t.) | 4 |
| | | | | | 6th | Hartlepool United | 2 |
| 4th | Brentford | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6th | Hartlepool United | 2 |
| 5th | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |

### Topscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | League |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Dean Windass | Bradford City | 27 |
| = | Stuart Elliott | Hull City | 27 |
| 3 | Paweł Abbott | Huddersfield Town | 26 |
| 4 | Adam Boyd | Hartlepool United | 24 |
| = | Leroy Lita | Bristol City | 24 |
| 6 | Sam Parkin | Swindon Town | 23 |
| 7 | Steve Brooker | Bristol City | 21 |
| 8 | Steven MacLean | Sheffield Wednesday | 19 |
| = | James Hayter | AFC Bournemouth | 19 |
| = | Luke Beckett | Oldham Athletic | 19 |

## League Two

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Yeovil Town (C, P) | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 90 | 65 | +25 | 83 | Promotion to League One |
| 2 | Scunthorpe United (P) | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 69 | 42 | +27 | 80 | Promotion to League One |
| 3 | Swansea City (P) | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 62 | 43 | +19 | 80 | Promotion to League One |
| 4 | Southend United (P) | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 65 | 46 | +19 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 75 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Lincoln City | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 64 | 47 | +17 | 72 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Northampton Town | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 62 | 51 | +11 | 72 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Darlington | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 57 | 49 | +8 | 72 | |
| 9 | Rochdale | 46 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 66 | |
| 10 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 65 | |
| 11 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 65 | 67 | −2 | 63 | |
| 12 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 13 | 21 | 12 | 60 | 57 | +3 | 60 | |
| 13 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 60 | |
| 14 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 60 | |
| 15 | Oxford United | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 50 | 63 | −13 | 59 | |
| 16 | Boston United | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 58 | |
| 17 | Bury | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 58 | |
| 18 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 52 | −1 | 58 | |
| 19 | Notts County | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 52 | |
| 20 | Chester City | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 43 | 69 | −26 | 52 | |
| 21 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 48 | 53 | −5 | 49 | |
| 22 | Rushden & Diamonds | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 42 | 63 | −21 | 44 | |
| 23 | Kidderminster Harriers (R) | 46 | 10 | 8 | 28 | 39 | 85 | −46 | 38 | Relegation to Conference National |
| 24 | Cambridge United (R) | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 30 | Relegation to Conference National |

* ↑ Cambridge United deducted 10 points for entering administration

### Play-offs

| Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 21 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 21 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 21 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 21 May 2005 | Semi-finals 1st leg – 14/15 May; 2nd leg – 21 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2005 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2005 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4th | Southend United | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 7th | Northampton Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 7th | Northampton Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4th | Southend United (a.e.t.) | 2 |
| | | | | | 6th | Lincoln City | 0 |
| 5th | Macclesfield Town | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6th | Lincoln City | 0 |
| 6th | Lincoln City | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |

### Topscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | League |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Phil Jevons | Yeovil Town | 27 |
| 2 | Andy Kirk | Northampton Town | 26 |
| 3 | Jon Parkin | Macclesfield Town | 22 |
| = | Lee Trundle | Swansea City | 22 |
| = | Nathan Tyson | Wycombe Wanderers | 22 |
| 6 | Freddy Eastwood | Southend United | 21 |
| = | Simon Yeo | Lincoln City | 21 |
| 8 | Junior Agogo | Bristol Rovers | 19 |
| 9 | Paul Hayes | Scunthorpe United | 17 |
| = | Grant Holt | Rochdale | 17 |
