to improve on the previous season, and paid the price with relegation to the Conference. Oxford United joined them, despite the return of manager Jim Smith, and became the first former winners of a major trophy to be relegated to the Conference, doing so on the last day of the season. Leading goalscorer: Rickie Lambert (Rochdale) – 22 Non-League football Transfer deals Summer transfer window The summer transfer window ran from the end of the previous season until 31 August. January transfer window The mid-season transfer window ran from 1 to 31 January 2006.For subsequent transfer deals see List of English football transfers 2006–07'' Famous debutants Micah Richards, 17-year-old defender, makes his debut for Manchester City against Arsenal in a 1–0 Premier League defeat at Highbury on 22 October 2005. Theo Walcott, 16-year-old forward, makes his debut for Southampton on the opening day of the Championship season as a substitute in the goalless home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers – the club's first game outside the top flight for nearly 30 years. Retirements 22 April 2006 — Alan Shearer, 35, retires after being ruled out for the rest of the season by an injury suffered on 17 April in his 404th appearance for Newcastle United since joining them in 1996. He was due to retire at the end of the season but the injury meant that the game against Sunderland was his last. 8 May 2006 — Duncan Ferguson, 34, leaves Everton on a free transfer at the end of his playing career which has also taken in spells at Dundee United, Glasgow Rangers and Newcastle United, the last of which came between his two spells with Everton. 17 May 2006 — Dennis Bergkamp, 37, decided to retire after the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona, ending an 11-year stint at Arsenal. He also had experience playing for Ajax and Internazionale. He was ranked 2nd on the list of 50 greatest players to play for Arsenal, behind record Arsenal goalscorer, Thierry Henry. 8 June 2006 — Nigel Martyn, 39, retires due to an ankle injury. He spent the final three seasons of his career at Everton having signed from Leeds United in September 2003, and earlier in his career had spells with Bristol Rovers and Crystal Palace, as well as being an England goalkeeper. 12 June 2006 — Roy Keane, 34, who until 18 November spent more than 12