1996–97 Barnsley F.C. season

Barnsley
1996–97 season
Chairman John Dennis
Manager Northern Ireland Danny Wilson
Stadium Oakwell
Football League First Division 2nd (promoted)
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League: Redfearn (17)
All: Redfearn (19)
Highest home attendance 18,605 vs. Bradford City (26 April 1997)
Lowest home attendance 6,337 vs. Oxford United (15 October 1996)
Average home league attendance 11,356

During the 1996–97 English football season, Barnsley F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary

Manager Danny Wilson successfully acquired a number of signings in the summer that were to play huge roles, amongst these were the vastly experienced duo Neil Thompson and Paul Wilkinson, as well as youngster Matty Appleby.

Oakwell also gained an international flavour, as Jovo Bosančić and Trinidad and Tobago international Clint Marcelle were to sign, with Marcelle's work permit clearing just a couple of days prior to the Red's first game of the season, an away match at West Bromwich Albion. Fortunately, Marcelle was cleared to play and scored the opening goal of the season in a 2-1 victory. Barnsley went on to equal their best start to a season by winning the next four games. Wilson then further improved the team by bringing in Scottish forward John Hendrie, who had partnered Wilkinson at Middlesbrough.

Bolton Wanderers looked increasingly likely to win the league as the season progressed, the Reds played both games against the Trotters relatively early on in the season, with the two games both resulting in 2-2 draws. As the season neared its closing stages, it looked as if either Barnsley or Mark McGhee's Wolverhampton Wanderers would join Bolton.

In Barnsley's final home game of the season, a Yorkshire derby against Bradford City, the team knew a win would be enough to secure promotion to the top tier of English football for the first time in the club's history. The side dominated the game, but led only 1-0 at half time thanks to a Wilkinson goal. With only a few minutes remaining, Clint Marcelle, the man who had scored the opening goal of the season scored the Red's final goal at home. As the final whistle blew, the fans swarmed onto the pitch amid jubilant celebrations.

The team lost their final game of the season 5-1 away at Oxford United; however the joy of promotion remained throughout the summer and the team later had an open-top bus celebration around the town, culminating at the town hall.

Final league table

Pos Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1. Bolton Wanderers 46 28 14 4 100 53  +47 98
2. Barnsley 46 22 14 10 76 55  +21 80
3. Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 22 10 14 68 51  +17 76
4. Ipswich Town 46 20 14 12 68 50  +18 74
5. Sheffield United 46 20 13 13 75 52  +23 73
6. Crystal Palace 46 19 14 13 78 48  +30 71
7. Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53  +6 68
8. Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55  +3 67
9. Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60  +4 66
10. Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48  +4 66
11. Tranmere Rovers 46 17 14 15 63 56  +7 65
12. Stoke City 46 18 10 18 51 57  -6 64
13. Norwich City 46 17 12 17 63 68  -5 63
14. Manchester City 46 17 10 19 59 60  -1 61
15. Charlton Athletic 46 16 11 19 52 66  -14 59
16. West Bromwich Albion 46 14 15 17 68 72  -4 57
17. Oxford United 46 16 9 21 64 68  -4 57
18. Reading 46 15 12 19 58 67  -9 57
19. Swindon Town 46 15 9 22 52 71  -19 54
20. Huddersfield Town 46 13 15 18 48 61  -13 54
21. Bradford City 46 12 12 22 47 72  -25 48
22. Grimsby Town 46 11 13 22 60 81  -21 46
23. Oldham Athletic 46 10 13 23 51 66  -15 43
24. Southend United 46 8 15 23 42 86  -44 39
Key
Promoted to the Premier League
Qualified for the promotion playoff
Relegated to Division Two

NB In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference

Results

Barnsley's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996 West Bromwich AlbionA2–118,561Marcelle, Liddell
25 August 1996 Huddersfield TownH3–19,787Wilkinson, Redfearn, Marcelle
28 August 1996 ReadingH3–07,523Sheridan, Liddell (2)
7 September 1996 Manchester CityA2–126,464Marcelle (2)
10 September 1996 Stoke CityH3–011,696Davis, Thompson, Liddell
14 September 1996 Queens Park RangersH1–313,003Wilkinson
21 September 1996 Oldham AthleticA1–07,043Redfearn (pen)
28 September 1996 Grimsby TownH1–38,833Liddell
1 October 1996 Ipswich TownA1–19,041Redfearn (pen)
12 October 1996 Crystal PalaceH0–09,183
15 October 1996 Oxford UnitedH0–06,337
19 October 1996 Bradford CityA2–211,477Liddell, Davis
25 October 1996 Bolton WanderersH2–29,413Redfearn (2, 1 pen)
29 October 1996 Port ValeA3–15,231Hendrie, de Zeeuw, Marcelle
2 November 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersA3–322,840de Zeeuw, Redfearn (pen), Eaden
12 November 1996 Norwich CityH3–19,697Moses, Wilkinson, Hendrie
16 November 1996 Swindon TownA0–310,837
23 November 1996 PortsmouthH3–27,449Wilkinson, Hendrie, Davis
30 November 1996 Bolton WanderersA2–216,852Redfearn (2, 1 pen)
3 December 1996 Birmingham CityA0–024,004
7 December 1996 Southend UnitedH3–07,483Hendrie, Wilkinson (2)
14 December 1996 Tranmere RoversH3–08,513Hendrie, Wilkinson, Redfearn (pen)
21 December 1996 Sheffield UnitedA1–024,384Hendrie
26 December 1996 Stoke CityA0–119,025
28 December 1996 Manchester CityH2–017,159Bosančić (pen), Moses
11 January 1997 Queens Park RangersA1–312,058Redfearn
18 January 1997 Ipswich TownH1–29,872Liddell
28 January 1997 Grimsby TownA3–26,323Hendrie (3)
1 February 1997 Norwich CityA1–117,001Eaden
8 February 1997 Port ValeH1–012,246Hendrie
15 February 1997 Charlton AthleticA2–29,104Hendrie (2)
22 February 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–318,024Sheridan
1 March 1997 Southend UnitedA2–14,855Redfearn (2)
4 March 1997 Swindon TownH1–18,518Redfearn
7 March 1997 Sheffield UnitedH2–014,668Hendrie, Eaden
15 March 1997 Tranmere RoversA1–17,347Wilkinson
22 March 1997 Huddersfield TownA0–014,754
28 March 1997 West Bromwich AlbionH2–012,087Redfearn, Thompson (pen)
31 March 1997 ReadingA2–110,244Holsgrove (own goal), Liddell
5 April 1997 Birmingham CityH0–113,092
12 April 1997 Charlton AthleticH4–011,701Marcelle, Thompson (2), Hendrie
15 April 1997 Oldham AthleticH2–017,476Hendrie, Marcelle
19 April 1997 Crystal PalaceA1–120,006Thompson (pen)
22 April 1997 PortsmouthA2–48,328Redfearn (2)
26 April 1997 Bradford CityH2–018,605Wilkinson, Marcelle
4 May 1997 Oxford UnitedA1–58,693Redfearn

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R314 January 1997 Oldham AthleticH2–09,936Bullock, Marcelle
R425 January 1997 Queens Park RangersA2–314,317Redfearn, Hendrie

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 First Leg 20 August 1996 RochdaleA1–22,426Wilkinson
R1 Second Leg 3 September 1996 RochdaleH2–05,638Redfearn, Wilkinson
R2 First Leg 17 September 1996 GillinghamH1–14,491Onuora (own goal)
R2 Second Leg 24 September 1996 GillinghamA0–15,666

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
- England GK David Watson
- England DF Nicky Eaden
- Netherlands DF Arjan de Zeeuw
- England DF Adie Moses
- England DF Neil Thompson
- England MF Neil Redfearn
- Scotland FW John Hendrie
- England MF Martin Bullock
- England DF Steve Davis
- England FW Paul Wilkinson
- England MF Darren Sheridan
No. Position Player
- Trinidad and Tobago FW Clint Marcelle
- England MF Matty Appleby
- Scotland FW Andy Liddell
- England DF Peter Shirtliff
- Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia MF Jovo Bosančić
- England DF Scott Jones
- South Africa FW Glynn Hurst
- Netherlands FW Laurens ten Heuvel
- Netherlands MF Carel van der Velden
- England FW Dave Regis

References

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