2005–06 A-League
The 2005–06 A-League was the 29th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the inaugural season of the A-League. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition since the close of the 2003–04 National Soccer League season, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005. The competition was made up of a triple round robin league stage before a championship playoff featuring the top four teams.
| Season | 2005–06 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 26 August 2005 – 5 March 2006 |
| Champions | Sydney FC (1st title) |
| Premiers | Adelaide United (1st title) |
| Champions League | Sydney FC Adelaide United |
| Matches played | 84 |
| Goals scored | 232 (2.76 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Alex Brosque Bobby Despotovski Archie Thompson Stewart Petrie (8 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Clint Bolton |
| Biggest home win | Melbourne Victory 5–0 Sydney FC (16 October 2005) |
| Biggest away win | Newcastle Jets 0–5 Queensland Roar (26 January 2006) |
| Highest attendance | 25,557 |
| Lowest attendance | 1,922 |
| Average attendance | 10,955 |
2006–07 → | |
Of the eight participants, four came from the National Soccer League (1977–2004): Perth Glory (established 1995), New Zealand Knights (1999), Newcastle Jets (2000) and Adelaide United (2003). New Zealand Knights had previously entered the NSL as the Auckland Football Kingz, but were significantly restructured and have a vastly different playing roster. Queensland Roar previously competed in the NSL from 1977 to 1988 and had competed in the Queensland State League since then as Brisbane Lions.
Adelaide United were named Premiers after finishing the season seven points clear at the top of the league. The first A-League Grand Final took place on 5 March 2006, with Sydney FC becoming the league's inaugural Champions, defeating the Central Coast Mariners 1–0.