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 United – Farnborough 7–0 (28 August 2004)
Biggest away win	Farnborough – Hereford United 0–6 (25 March 2005); Leigh RMI – Accrington Stanley 0–6 (11 December 2004)
Highest scoring	Barnet – Farnborough 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)
← 2003–04 2005–06 →

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

• Crawley Town

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League

• Canvey Island

Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football League Third Division

• Carlisle United
• York City

League table

Pos	Team	Pld		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		F	A	GD		Pts	Notes
1	Barnet	42		16	2	3	56	20		10	6	5	34	24		90	44	+ 46		86
2	Hereford United	42		10	7	4	28	14		11	4	6	40	27		68	41	+ 27		74
3	Carlisle United	42		12	5	4	39	18		8	8	5	35	19		74	37	+ 37		73
4	Aldershot Town	42		13	3	5	38	22		8	7	6	30	30		68	52	+ 16		73
5	Stevenage Borough	42		13	2	6	35	21		9	4	8	30	31		65	52	+ 13		72
6	Exeter City	42		11	5	5	39	22		9	6	6	32	28		71	50	+ 21		71
7	Morecambe	42		12	5	4	38	23		7	9	5	31	27		69	50	+ 19		71
8	Woking	42		11	6	4	29	19		7	8	6	29	26		58	45	+ 13		68
9	Halifax Town	42		13	4	4	45	24		6	5	10	29	32		74	56	+ 18		66
10	Accrington Stanley	42		11	6	4	43	26		7	5	9	29	32		72	58	+ 14		65
11	Dagenham & Redbridge	42		12	4	5	39	27		7	4	10	29	33		68	60	+ 8		65
12	Crawley Town	42		13	4	4	35	18		3	5	13	15	32		50	50	± 0		57
13	Scarborough	42		9	12	0	42	17		5	2	14	18	29		60	46	+ 14		56
14	Gravesend & Northfleet	42		7	7	7	34	31		6	4	11	24	33		58	64	– 6		50
15	Tamworth	42		10	3	8	22	22		4	8	9	31	41		53	63	– 10		50	[notes 1]
16	Burton Albion	42		6	7	8	25	29		7	4	10	25	37		50	66	– 16		50
17	York City	42		7	6	8	22	23		4	4	13	17	43		39	66	– 27		43
18	Canvey Island	42		6	10	5	34	31		3	5	13	19	34		53	65	– 12		42
19	Northwich Victoria	42		9	5	7	37	29		5	5	11	21	43		58	72	– 14		42	[notes 2]
20	Forest Green Rovers	42		2	9	10	19	40		4	6	11	22	41		41	81	– 40		33	[notes 3]
21	Farnborough Town	42		4	5	12	20	40		2	6	13	15	49		35	89	– 54		29
22	Leigh RMI	42		2	2	17	18	52		2	4	15	13	46		31	98	–67		18

• Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
• Points scored: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.
• Source:^[1][2][3]

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

Results

Home ╲ Away

Accrington Stanley !ACC

Aldershot !ALD

Barnet !BAR

Burton Albion !BRT

Canvey Island !CAN

Carlisle United !CRL

Crawley Town !CRA

Dagenham & Redbridge !D&R

Exeter City !EXE

Farnborough Town !FAR

Forest Green Rovers !FGR

Gravesend & Northfleet !GRN

Halifax Town !HAL

Hereford United !HER

Leigh RMI !LEI

Morecambe !MOR

Northwich Victoria !NOR

Scarborough !SCA

Stevenage Borough !STB

Tamworth !TAM

Woking !WOK

York City !YOR

Accrington Stanley !Accrington Stanley

3–3

4–1

3–1

1–0

1–2

4–0

0–3

0–0

2–1

2–2

1–2

1–1

2–1

2–1

2–1

5–0

2–1

4–1

2–3

0–0

2–2

Aldershot !Aldershot

0–0

2–3

3–0

2–0

0–5

1–0

4–0

2–1

3–1

1–2

1–0

0–0

0–2

2–0

3–3

2–1

2–0

0–1

4–3

4–0

2–0

Barnet !Barnet

3–0

2–1

2–3

1–0

1–1

3–0

5–0

1–0

7–1

3–1

4–1

3–1

0–2

3–2

5–1

4–0

1–0

2–1

0–3

2–0

4–0

Burton Albion !Burton Albion

2–2

1–3

1–1

1–1

0–1

1–0

1–3

1–0

0–0

4–1

3–2

2–2

3–0

0–0

1–3

1–0

2–3

0–3

1–1

0–1

0–2

Canvey Island !Canvey Island

0–2

2–2

0–1

2–2

0–3

2–2

4–2

2–2

1–1

2–1

1–1

0–1

0–4

3–0

0–0

2–2

1–0

3–0

3–3

2–2

4–0

Carlisle United !Carlisle United

2–0

1–1

1–3

0–0

0–0

1–0

1–0

0–2

7–0

0–1

2–2

1–0

3–1

3–0

3–3

1–0

2–1

1–2

2–1

2–1

6–0

Crawley Town !Crawley Town

2–0

1–0

1–3

4–0

2–1

1–0

2–0

0–1

2–0

4–2

1–1

1–2

1–1

2–2

2–1

0–0

2–1

1–2

3–0

2–1

1–0

Dagenham & Redbridge !Dagenham & Redbridge

0–5

3–0

2–0

3–1

3–1

1–0

1–0

2–3

0–0

2–2

5–0

4–2

3–1

2–0

2–1

2–3

0–3

3–1

0–0

1–1

0–3

Exeter City !Exeter City

1–2

3–1

0–3

3–1

0–1

0–0

3–2

1–1

2–1

2–0

3–0

2–1

4–0

5–1

1–1

2–3

3–1

2–0

2–2

0–0

0–1

Farnborough Town !Farnborough Town

2–1

1–2

0–0

1–3

1–3

1–2

2–3

2–1

2–1

1–1

0–3

3–2

0–6

0–1

1–2

0–2

0–1

0–3

2–2

0–0

1–1

Forest Green Rovers !Forest Green Rovers

1–0

0–0

0–2

3–2

2–2

0–3

1–1

1–4

2–3

1–1

1–5

0–0

1–3

1–1

0–3

1–3

0–1

1–1

1–1

1–3

1–1

Gravesend & Northfleet !Gravesend & Northfleet

2–2

1–3

1–3

0–2

3–2

1–3

0–0

2–1

1–1

2–2

0–0

0–3

1–2

4–1

1–2

2–2

4–0

2–1

2–0

1–1

4–0

Halifax Town !Halifax Town

1–2

2–0

2–3

2–0

4–1

2–2

1–0

2–2

2–1

2–0

4–0

1–0

0–1

5–1

1–3

2–2

2–1

2–1

3–3

3–1

2–0

Hereford United !Hereford United

0–0

2–0

1–1

0–0

1–0

0–0

0–0

0–1

1–2

3–1

2–1

1–0

2–3

3–0

1–1

4–0

1–0

0–1

2–1

2–2

2–0

Leigh RMI !Leigh RMI

0–6

3–3

0–3

1–4

2–1

1–6

1–2

0–1

0–1

1–2

2–0

0–1

0–3

3–4

0–2

0–1

1–1

1–2

2–3

0–3

0–3

Morecambe !Morecambe

1–2

0–0

1–1

3–0

4–0

1–1

1–2

1–0

2–2

1–1

3–1

1–3

2–1

2–1

2–1

3–1

2–1

1–3

3–0

2–1

2–1

Northwich Victoria !Northwich Victoria

3–3

1–2

2–0

4–0

3–1

2–2

1–0

2–2

1–2

2–0

2–1

1–2

1–2

1–4

2–0

2–2

1–0

1–1

1–2

1–3

3–0

Scarborough !Scarborough

4–0

2–2

1–1

1–1

1–1

1–1

2–2

2–0

1–1

4–0

0–0

1–0

3–1

0–0

3–0

1–1

3–0

3–3

2–2

2–0

5–1

Stevenage Borough !Stevenage Borough

5–0

0–1

2–1

0–1

1–4

2–1

1–0

1–0

3–2

3–1

2–2

2–0

2–1

0–1

2–0

0–1

4–1

1–0

2–0

0–2

2–2

Tamworth !Tamworth

1–0

1–2

0–2

0–2

1–0

1–0

1–0

0–4

1–2

0–2

4–0

2–1

2–1

2–2

0–1

0–0

3–0

1–0

0–0

1–3

1–0

Woking !Woking

2–1

1–2

1–1

1–0

1–0

1–1

2–0

2–4

3–3

2–0

0–1

2–0

2–1

1–1

1–0

0–0

2–0

1–1

1–2

2–1

1–0

York City !York City

0–1

0–2

2–1

1–2

0–0

2–1

3–1

0–0

1–2

4–0

1–3

0–0

1–1

0–3

1–1

1–0

0–0

0–2

3–1

2–0

0–2

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	Harrogate – Ashton 5–1 (12 February 2005); Harrogate – Gainsborough Trinity 5–1 (24 August 2004); 4–0: six matches
Biggest away win	Barrow – Redditch 1–6 (11 September 2004); Kettering – Southport 0–5 (22 January 2005)
Highest scoring	Ashton – Runcorn 5–4 (28 August 2004)
Longest winning run	?
Longest unbeaten run	?
Longest losing run	?
Highest attendance	?
Lowest attendance	?
Average attendance	?
← 2003–04 2005–06 →

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

• Hucknall Town
• Droylsden
• Barrow
• Alfreton Town
• Harrogate Town
• Southport
• Worksop Town
• Lancaster City
• Vauxhall Motors
• Gainsborough Trinity
• Stalybridge Celtic
• Altrincham
• Runcorn F.C. Halton
• Bradford Park Avenue (Northern Premier League Premier Division playoff winners)
• Ashton United

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League

• Stafford Rangers
• Nuneaton Borough
• Worcester City
• Hinckley United
• Moor Green
• Redditch United

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League

• Kettering Town

League table

Pos	Team	Pld		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		F	A	GD		Pts	Notes
1	Southport	42		12	6	3	35	20		13	3	5	48	25		83	45	+ 38		84
2	Nuneaton Borough	42		13	3	5	29	17		12	3	6	39	28		68	45	+ 23		81
3	Droylsden	42		13	3	5	46	26		11	4	6	36	26		82	52	+ 30		79
4	Kettering Town	42		10	4	7	22	21		11	3	7	34	29		56	50	+ 6		70
5	Altrincham	42		12	6	3	45	21		7	6	8	21	25		66	46	+ 20		69
6	Harrogate Town	42		13	5	3	40	22		6	6	9	22	27		62	49	+ 13		68
7	Worcester City	42		10	5	6	32	25		6	7	8	27	28		59	53	+ 6		60
8	Stafford Rangers	42		8	10	3	33	20		6	7	8	19	24		52	44	+ 8		59
9	Redditch United	42		11	3	7	36	32		7	5	9	29	27		65	59	+ 6		59	[notes 1]
10	Hucknall Town	42		7	8	6	31	32		8	6	7	28	25		59	57	+ 2		59
11	Gainsborough Trinity	42		7	8	6	27	22		9	1	11	28	33		55	55	± 0		57
12	Hinckley United	42		8	5	8	29	31		7	6	8	26	31		55	62	– 7		56
13	Lancaster City	42		9	4	8	23	22		5	8	8	28	37		51	59	– 8		54
14	Alfreton Town	42		7	5	9	24	23		8	3	10	29	32		53	55	– 2		53
15	Vauxhall Motors	42		7	7	7	20	22		7	4	10	28	35		48	57	– 9		53
16	Barrow	42		8	5	8	32	39		6	5	10	18	25		50	64	– 14		52
17	Worksop Town	42		11	4	6	36	29		5	8	8	23	30		59	59	± 0		50	[notes 2]
18	Moor Green	42		8	4	9	26	28		5	6	10	29	36		55	64	– 9		49
19	Stalybridge Celtic	42		7	6	8	30	36		5	6	10	22	34		52	70	– 18		48
20	Runcorn FC Halton	42		7	6	8	24	26		3	6	12	20	37		44	63	– 19		42	Relegated to the Northern Premier League
21	Ashton United	42		6	2	13	27	39		2	7	12	19	40		46	79	– 33		33	Relegated to the Northern Premier League
22	Bradford Park Avenue	42		3	5	13	20	37		2	4	15	17	33		37	70	– 33		24	Relegated to the Northern Premier League

• Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
• Points scored: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.

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

Alfreton Town !ALF

Altrincham !ALT

Ashton United !ASH

Barrow !BRW

Bradford Park Avenue !BPA

Droylsden !DRO

Gainsborough Trinity !GAI

Harrogate Town !HAR

Hinckley United !HIN

Hucknall Town !HUC

Kettering Town !KET

Lancaster City !LNC

Moor Green !MOG

Nuneaton Borough !NUN

Redditch United !RED

Runcorn !RUN

Southport !SOU

Stafford Rangers !STA

Stalybridge Celtic !STL

Vauxhall Motors !VAU

Worcester City !WRC

Worksop Town !WKS

Alfreton Town !Alfreton Town

0–2

1–1

1–1

2–1

0–1

0–1

2–0

0–2

0–2

1–2

2–3

2–2

2–0

1–2

4–0

2–1

0–1

1–0

3–1

0–0

0–0

Altrincham !Altrincham

1–2

1–2

2–0

0–0

2–2

4–1

3–0

4–1

1–1

3–3

4–0

0–2

1–0

0–0

3–3

2–1

1–0

4–1

3–1

2–0

4–1

Ashton United !Ashton United

3–1

0–1

1–2

0–0

1–0

1–3

3–2

0–2

0–0

0–2

2–0

1–3

2–3

2–3

5–4

0–3

1–2

2–3

0–2

1–0

2–3

Barrow !Barrow

0–3

2–0

1–1

3–2

1–3

2–0

1–0

3–0

0–3

2–1

2–2

3–4

1–3

1–6

1–1

0–2

2–2

2–1

1–2

2–2

2–1

Bradford Park Avenue !Bradford Park Avenue

0–4

1–2

3–3

0–1

2–0

0–3

1–2

1–1

2–4

1–2

1–0

1–1

2–2

0–3

0–1

3–1

3–1

0–1

0–1

0–1

1–1

Droylsden !Droylsden

3–2

2–0

4–0

2–0

3–3

2–1

2–1

1–0

3–1

2–3

3–4

2–2

1–0

1–0

3–0

1–3

4–0

0–0

4–0

2–3

1–3

Gainsborough Trinity !Gainsborough Trinity

1–2

0–1

1–0

1–0

2–0

1–1

0–0

1–1

0–1

1–1

4–2

1–1

1–2

2–1

2–3

1–0

1–1

2–2

1–2

3–0

1–1

Harrogate Town !Harrogate Town

2–1

1–1

5–1

2–1

2–1

2–1

5–1

1–1

0–0

2–1

1–1

1–2

3–1

4–2

1–0

2–5

0–1

2–0

2–1

2–0

0–0

Hinckley United !Hinckley United

1–0

2–1

3–1

1–0

4–0

3–3

3–1

0–1

0–3

0–1

2–2

2–1

2–3

1–2

0–0

0–0

0–2

1–1

1–4

0–4

3–1

Hucknall Town !Hucknall Town

4–0

4–2

2–1

1–2

0–0

0–4

2–5

1–1

1–1

2–1

0–2

1–1

1–3

2–1

0–0

2–4

2–1

3–0

1–1

2–2

0–0

Kettering Town !Kettering Town

1–1

0–1

0–0

2–0

1–0

0–2

0–1

0–0

3–1

3–1

0–2

1–2

1–0

1–0

2–1

0–5

0–1

2–0

1–1

2–1

2–1

Lancaster City !Lancaster City

0–1

1–1

2–0

2–1

0–1

0–1

2–0

0–3

2–3

2–2

1–0

3–1

0–2

0–0

2–1

1–1

1–0

0–1

3–1

0–2

1–0

Moor Green !Moor Green

0–1

2–2

2–0

1–1

1–0

1–2

2–1

2–1

2–1

1–1

1–2

0–2

1–3

1–0

2–1

2–3

0–1

2–2

0–2

1–2

2–0

Nuneaton Borough !Nuneaton Borough

1–1

0–0

1–0

1–1

2–1

3–2

1–0

2–0

0–1

1–3

2–0

2–0

1–0

0–1

3–0

0–1

4–3

1–0

2–1

2–0

0–2

Redditch United !Redditch United

1–3

0–1

3–2

2–0

3–1

1–1

0–1

2–1

3–0

1–1

2–3

0–0

3–1

1–5

1–0

3–2

1–0

2–3

4–1

0–4

3–2

Runcorn !Runcorn

1–0

2–1

2–0

1–0

2–1

1–3

0–1

0–0

1–2

1–2

2–0

2–2

2–1

0–0

0–1

0–2

3–3

1–1

1–1

2–2

0–1

Southport !Southport

3–1

2–1

1–2

0–0

1–0

3–0

2–1

2–3

3–2

1–0

1–3

0–0

2–1

3–0

1–1

3–1

0–0

2–0

2–1

2–2

1–1

Stafford Rangers !Stafford Rangers

3–1

0–1

1–1

2–2

1–0

2–0

2–0

1–1

1–1

1–2

3–0

2–2

2–1

2–3

1–1

0–0

1–1

3–2

1–1

0–0

4–0

Stalybridge Celtic !Stalybridge Celtic

2–3

1–1

2–1

1–2

1–4

1–3

2–2

1–3

0–2

2–0

1–2

2–2

2–2

1–1

1–0

1–0

3–5

1–0

2–1

1–0

2–2

Vauxhall Motors !Vauxhall Motors

2–0

2–0

0–0

0–2

1–0

1–2

1–0

1–1

0–2

1–0

0–2

3–1

1–0

1–1

1–1

1–2

0–3

0–0

1–2

2–2

1–1

Worcester City !Worcester City

0–0

2–1

2–2

0–1

2–1

3–1

1–2

1–2

1–1

3–0

2–2

3–1

4–1

0–2

2–1

2–1

1–3

0–0

2–1

1–0

0–2

Worksop Town !Worksop Town

3–2

1–1

3–1

2–1

2–1

0–2

1–3

2–0

3–1

2–1

0–3

2–0

1–0

2–3

5–3

1–1

1–2

0–0

1–1

2–3

2–0

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 Athletic – Bognor Regis 6–0 (16 November 2004); Hornchurch – Basingstoke 6–0 (4 September 2004); Hornchurch – Maidenhead 6–0 (21 September 2004)
Biggest away win	Dorchester – Grays Athletic 0–7 (23 October 2004)
Highest scoring	Bognor Regis – Welling United 6–5 (11 September 2004)
Longest winning run	?
Longest unbeaten run	?
Longest losing run	?
Highest attendance	?
Lowest attendance	?
Average attendance	?
← 2003–04 2005–06 →

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

• Weymouth
• Newport County
• Cambridge City
• Welling United
• Weston-super-Mare
• Eastbourne Borough
• Havant & Waterlooville
• Dorchester Town(Southern Football League Premier Division playoff winners)

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League

• Sutton United
• Thurrock
• Hornchurch
• Grays Athletic
• Carshalton Athletic
• Hayes
• Bognor Regis Town
• Bishop's Stortford
• Maidenhead United
• Ford United
• St Albans City (Isthmian League Premier Division playoff winners)
• Lewes (Isthmian League Division One South winners, promoted through playoffs)
• Basingstoke (promoted after higher finished Hendon decided not to take part in Conference South)

Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football Conference

• Margate

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	42		15	4	2	60	13		15	4	2	58	18		118	31	+ 87		98
2	Cambridge City	42		10	3	8	29	25		13	3	5	31	19		60	44	+ 16		75
3	Thurrock	42		9	3	9	29	32		12	3	6	32	24		61	56	+ 5		69
4	Lewes	42		11	6	4	42	29		7	5	9	31	35		73	64	+ 9		65	[notes 1]
5	Eastbourne Borough	42		10	5	6	38	26		8	5	8	27	21		65	47	+ 18		64
6	Basingstoke Town	42		12	3	6	37	20		7	3	11	20	32		57	52	+ 5		63
7	Weymouth	42		8	8	5	32	28		9	3	9	30	31		62	59	+ 3		62
8	Dorchester Town	42		11	5	5	40	33		6	6	9	37	48		77	81	– 4		62
9	Bognor Regis Town	42		11	4	6	46	31		6	5	10	24	34		70	65	+ 5		60
10	Bishop's Stortford	42		13	3	5	39	25		4	5	12	31	41		70	66	+ 4		59
11	Weston-super-Mare	42		12	5	4	33	23		3	8	10	22	37		55	60	– 5		58
12	Hayes	42		9	4	8	29	30		6	7	8	26	27		55	57	– 2		56
13	Havant & Waterlooville	42		12	3	6	38	26		4	4	13	26	43		64	69	– 5		55
14	St Albans City	42		8	3	10	34	37		8	3	10	30	39		64	76	– 12		54
15	Sutton United	42		5	6	10	25	38		9	5	7	35	33		60	71	– 11		53
16	Welling United	42		5	5	11	23	30		10	2	9	41	38		64	68	– 4		52
17	Hornchurch	42		11	5	5	44	24		6	5	10	27	39		71	63	+ 8		51	[notes 2]
18	Newport County	42		8	5	8	36	34		5	6	10	20	27		56	61	– 5		50
19	Carshalton Athletic	42		7	3	11	19	31		6	6	9	25	41		44	72	– 28		48
20	Maidenhead United	42		5	7	9	31	41		7	3	11	23	40		54	81	– 27		46	[notes 3]
21	Margate [notes 4]	42		9	3	9	30	29		3	5	13	24	46		54	75	– 21		34	Relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division
22	Redbridge [notes 5]	42		6	3	12	25	40		5	0	16	25	46		50	86	– 36		33	Relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division

• Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
• Points scored: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.

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

Results

Home ╲ Away

Basingstoke Town !BAS

Bishop's Stortford !BST

Bognor Regis Town !BOG

Cambridge City !CAM

Carshalton Athletic !CAR

Dorchester Town !DOR

Eastbourne Borough !EAB

Grays Athletic !GRY

Havant & Waterlooville !H&W

Hayes !HAY

Hornchurch !HOR

Lewes !LEW

Maidenhead United !MAI

Margate !MAR

Newport County !NPC

Redbridge !RED

St Albans City !SAC

Sutton United !SUT

Thurrock !THU

Welling United !WEL

Weston-super-Mare !WSM

Weymouth !WEY

Basingstoke Town !Basingstoke Town

2–3

2–1

2–1

0–1

2–2

0–2

0–3

3–2

2–0

2–0

0–0

0–1

2–1

3–0

3–0

5–1

1–0

3–0

4–0

1–1

0–1

Bishop's Stortford !Bishop's Stortford

1–3

2–3

3–0

2–0

2–1

2–0

1–2

1–1

0–4

3–1

1–0

2–1

3–0

3–0

2–1

2–0

3–2

0–0

4–2

2–2

0–2

Bognor Regis Town !Bognor Regis Town

2–1

3–1

1–2

1–0

7–2

1–0

0–0

1–1

1–2

3–1

1–3

1–2

2–2

0–2

4–1

4–1

0–1

3–2

6–5

3–0

2–2

Cambridge City !Cambridge City

2–1

3–2

1–0

3–0

2–2

2–2

0–2

2–0

1–0

0–3

2–3

0–1

2–1

2–0

2–1

2–0

0–1

0–0

0–1

1–2

4–1

Carshalton Athletic !Carshalton Athletic

2–0

0–3

0–0

0–2

4–3

1–4

0–2

2–1

3–2

0–2

1–0

1–1

0–1

1–0

1–0

1–3

1–2

0–2

0–1

1–1

0–1

Dorchester Town !Dorchester Town

0–1

4–3

1–0

0–0

1–1

3–1

0–7

2–1

1–1

3–1

1–1

4–2

2–0

1–0

4–1

2–3

2–2

0–2

3–2

2–3

4–1

Eastbourne Borough !Eastbourne Borough

2–0

1–1

4–1

1–2

1–4

3–2

2–2

1–2

1–0

4–2

1–2

0–0

1–1

1–0

1–2

1–0

2–2

4–0

0–1

3–0

4–2

Grays Athletic !Grays Athletic

0–1

3–0

6–0

1–2

4–0

2–2

1–1

3–0

1–0

5–1

4–0

4–0

5–0

0–0

4–1

2–0

5–1

2–1

4–2

2–0

2–0

Havant & Waterlooville !Havant & Waterlooville

5–1

0–4

0–0

0–2

4–1

4–0

2–1

1–2

0–0

4–1

2–1

2–1

3–1

1–0

1–0

1–1

2–3

0–2

2–3

3–2

1–0

Hayes !Hayes

0–1

2–3

0–1

4–0

1–3

0–1

1–1

1–1

1–5

1–1

3–2

2–1

1–0

3–1

1–0

3–2

1–0

1–3

1–1

1–0

1–3

Hornchurch !Hornchurch

6–0

3–1

1–1

0–1

2–2

2–3

2–0

1–2

4–0

1–1

3–2

6–0

1–0

1–1

2–0

1–1

3–0

0–1

0–5

3–2

2–1

Lewes !Lewes

0–0

2–1

2–1

2–2

1–1

3–1

1–0

3–2

3–1

3–2

1–2

0–1

7–3

2–2

5–4

1–2

0–1

1–1

2–1

3–1

0–0

Maidenhead United !Maidenhead United

1–1

2–2

2–3

1–5

4–0

0–1

1–2

0–3

1–0

1–1

2–2

1–0

2–4

0–2

4–3

3–3

2–2

0–3

2–1

0–0

2–3

Margate !Margate

2–1

1–0

2–3

0–2

0–1

1–2

2–1

0–6

5–1

3–1

0–1

1–1

2–0

1–1

2–0

2–3

1–1

2–1

1–2

2–0

0–1

Newport County !Newport County

0–1

6–3

1–0

0–1

0–1

3–2

1–3

1–4

1–1

1–1

2–2

2–2

2–1

2–0

2–3

1–0

2–4

1–2

4–1

2–2

2–0

Redbridge !Redbridge

0–3

1–1

1–2

0–0

1–3

4–1

0–3

1–3

3–1

0–1

0–1

0–1

4–1

2–1

0–5

2–1

0–5

1–2

1–2

1–1

3–2

St Albans City !St Albans City

2–1

2–0

4–0

1–0

3–1

1–1

0–0

1–4

3–1

0–1

4–3

2–3

1–2

3–3

0–1

2–3

1–2

1–3

2–5

1–0

0–3

Sutton United !Sutton United

1–0

0–0

0–0

0–3

4–1

3–2

0–0

0–6

1–1

2–4

1–2

3–5

2–2

2–0

0–0

2–3

1–2

1–2

1–0

1–2

0–3

Thurrock !Thurrock

3–1

1–0

0–5

0–1

2–2

1–2

1–0

2–4

1–3

2–1

1–0

2–0

1–2

1–2

2–2

1–0

1–2

1–2

1–1

3–1

2–1

Welling United !Welling United

0–1

0–0

1–1

0–2

4–0

1–4

0–3

1–2

0–1

1–1

1–1

1–0

1–2

1–0

3–1

1–2

2–3

3–2

1–2

1–1

0–1

Weston-super-Mare !Weston-super-Mare

2–1

2–1

2–1

2–1

1–1

2–2

0–2

2–0

2–1

0–1

0–0

1–2

2–1

2–2

3–1

1–0

3–0

2–1

2–1

0–2

2–2

Weymouth !Weymouth

1–1

3–2

2–1

1–2

2–2

1–1

0–1

1–1

3–2

3–1

2–0

3–3

3–1

2–2

0–1

1–0

1–0

1–1

1–2

0–3

1–1

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