1996–97 Wrexham F.C. season

Wrexham
1996–97 season
Chairman Pryce Griffiths
Manager Brian Flynn
Stadium Racecourse Ground
Second Division 8th
FA Cup Quarter finals
League Cup First round
Football League Trophy Second round
Top goalscorer League: Connolly (14)
All: Connolly (15)
Average home league attendance 4,112

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

Season summary

In the 1996-97 season, Wrexham set off on another amazing run in the FA Cup and beating more top flight opposition. Following wins at Colwyn Bay and Scunthorpe United, they were drawn to play West Ham United at home, the game ending in a 1–1 draw on a snow-covered pitch after a well earned draw. The replay at Upton Park ended in a shock 1–0 win to Wrexham as Kevin Russell scored in the dying minutes to send Wrexham into the fourth round.[1] After also beating Peterborough United and Birmingham City in the following rounds, they played Chesterfield in an all-Division-2 FA Cup quarter final, Wrexham narrowly losing to the Spireites 1–0.

The league campaign began very brightly for Wrexham as they lost only one from their first 17 league matches and were in the play-off places heading to Christmas but then a little decline in form with only seven wins in the second half of the campaign wasn't enough for a play-off position and finished 4 points off the top six.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1 Bury 461850397671023316238+2484
2 Stockport County 461553311488728275941+1882
3 Luton Town 461373381488733317145+2678
4 Brentford 4681142622123830215643+1374
5 Bristol City 4614454318761026336951+1873
6 Crewe Alexandra 4615443815731318325647+973
7 Blackpool 4613734121581019266047+1369
8 Wrexham 461193382869817225450+469
9 Burnley 4614364827581023287155+1668
10 Chesterfield 4610942518851017214239+368
11 Gillingham 4613373725671023346059+167
12 Walsall 4612833521721419325453+167
13 Watford 4610852414611621244538+767
14 Millwall 4612472722491023335055–561
15 Preston North End 4614543319421716364955–661
16 Bournemouth 468962420761019254345–260
17 Bristol Rovers 4613463422271413284750–356
18 Wycombe Wanderers 4613463114261520435156–555
19 Plymouth Argyle 4671151918571128404758–1154
20 York City 468692731571120374768–2152
21 Peterborough United 467793834471217395573–1847
22 Shrewsbury Town 468692732371322424974–2546
23 Rotherham United 4647121729371322413970–3135
24 Notts County 4649102025351513343359–2635
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Participated in play-offs
Promoted through play-offs
Relegated

Results

Wrexham's score comes first[2]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996 MillwallA1–19,371Watkin
24 August 1996 Plymouth ArgyleH4–43,920Phillips (2), Connolly (2)
7 September 1996 Peterborough UnitedH1–13,222Connolly
10 September 1996 Stockport CountyA2–04,244Watkin, Skinner
14 September 1996 Crewe AlexandraA1–34,469Ward
17 September 1996 Bristol RoversH1–02,401Cross
21 September 1996 Preston North EndH1–05,299Phillips
24 September 1996 WalsallA1–02,832Cross
28 September 1996 Notts CountyA0–04,216
8 October 1996 Shrewsbury TownH2–15,031Watkin, Brace
12 October 1996 WatfordA1–18,441Humes
15 October 1996 BlackpoolA3–34,014Brammer, Phillips, Chalk (pen)
19 October 1996 BournemouthH2–03,945Skinner, Connolly
26 October 1996 Wycombe WanderersA0–05,548
29 October 1996 BuryH1–13,895Hughes
2 November 1996 ChesterfieldH3–24,160Connolly, Morris, Owen
9 November 1996 GillinghamA2–15,094Morris, Connolly
23 November 1996 BrentfordA0–24,885
30 November 1996 Wycombe WanderersH1–03,280Skinner
3 December 1996 BurnleyA0–28,587
14 December 1996 York CityA0–12,600
21 December 1996 Bristol CityH2–14,488Watkin (pen), Hughes
26 December 1996 Stockport CountyH2–36,736Watkin, Morris
11 January 1997 Notts CountyH3–33,267Connolly (2), Watkin
18 January 1997 Luton TownA0–05,734
1 February 1997 GillinghamH1–13,193Connolly
8 February 1997 ChesterfieldA0–06,738
11 February 1997 Peterborough UnitedA1–02,975Hughes
22 February 1997 Rotherham UnitedA0–02,539
25 February 1997 BuryA0–03,419
1 March 1997 BurnleyH0–06,947
12 March 1997 Luton TownH2–13,342Bennett (2, 1 pen)
15 March 1997 York CityH0–03,874
18 March 1997 Preston North EndA1–28,271Bennett
22 March 1997 Plymouth ArgyleA1–05,468Humes
25 March 1997 BrentfordH0–24,053
28 March 1997 MillwallH3–34,684Humes, Phillips, Bennett
31 March 1997 Bristol RoversA0–26,225
5 April 1997 WalsallH1–23,266Connolly (pen)
8 April 1997 Rotherham UnitedH1–02,002Connolly
12 April 1997 Shrewsbury TownA1–04,553Bennett
15 April 1997 Bristol CityA1–29,817Morris
19 April 1997 York CityH2–16,654Bennett, Angell
22 April 1997 Crewe AlexandraH1–14,643McGregor
26 April 1997 BournemouthA1–24,805Connolly
3 May 1997 BlackpoolH2–15,664Watkin, Humes

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996 Colwyn BayA1–14,679Hughes
R1R26 November 1996 Colwyn BayH2–04,106Hughes (2)
R27 December 1996 Scunthorpe UnitedH2–23,780Morris, Watkin
R2R17 December 1996 Scunthorpe UnitedA3–2 (a.e.t.)3,976Hughes, Morris, Watkin (pen)
R315 January 1997 West Ham UnitedH1–19,747Hughes
R3R25 January 1997 West Ham UnitedA1–016,763Russell
R44 February 1997 Peterborough UnitedA4–28,734Ward, Watkin, Russell (2)
R515 February 1997 Birmingham CityA3–121,511Hughes, Humes, Connolly
QF9 March 1997 ChesterfieldA0–18,735

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Huddersfield TownA0–35,178
R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Huddersfield TownH1–2 (lost 1-5 on agg)1,776Skinner

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR228 January 1997 Crewe AlexandraH0–12,216

Squad

[3] 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 Mark Cartwright
Wales GK Andy Marriott
Wales DF Deryn Brace
Republic of Ireland DF Brian Carey
England DF Jonathan Cross
Republic of Ireland DF Phil Hardy
England DF Tony Humes
England DF Barry Jones
England DF Paul Jones
England DF Mark McGregor
England DF David Ridler
England DF Jason Soloman
England DF Andy Thomas
Wales DF Scott Williams
England MF Dave Brammer
No. Position Player
England MF Martyn Chalk
England MF Bryan Hughes
Wales MF Gareth Owen
Wales MF Wayne Phillips
England MF Craig Skinner
England MF Neil Wainwright
England MF Peter Ward
England FW Gary Bennett
England FW Karl Connolly
Wales FW Lee Jones
England FW Steve Morris
Wales FW Paul Roberts
England FW Kevin Russell
Wales FW Steve Watkin

References

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