1996–97 Football League

The Football League
Season 1996–97
Champions Bolton Wanderers
Promoted Bolton Wanderers
Barnsley
Crystal Palace
Relegated Hereford United

The 1996–97 Football League (known as the Nationwide Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 98th completed season of The Football League.

Bolton Wanderers returned to the Premiership in superb fashion, hitting 100 goals and taking 98 points. Barnsley were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history, while Crystal Palace returned after a two-year absence by winning the play-offs.

The decline of Oldham Athletic continued, falling into the third tier for the first time in 23 years, and just three years after being in the Premiership. Grimsby Town and Southend United joined them in relegation to the Second Division.

Bury won their second consecutive promotion, taking the Second Division title, Stockport County joined them in automatic promotion, and play-off winners Crewe Alexandra completed the trio moving up.

Going down were Peterborough United, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United and Notts County. County had been in the top division just five years earlier.

Wigan Athletic won the Third Division title on goals scored from Fulham. Carlisle United and play-off winners Northampton Town also won promotion to the Second Division.

Hereford United were the first club for four years to be relegated to the Conference after finishing bottom. Conference champions Macclesfield Town replaced Hereford (two years after Town had been denied entry to the Third Division). In December, Brighton & Hove Albion were 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Third Division, having had 2 points deducted for a pitch invasion. However a draw in their final game at Hereford kept Brighton in the league, and sent United down.

Final league tables and results

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website,[1] with home and away statistics separated. Play-off results are from the same website.

First Division

Football League, First Division
Season 1996–97
Champions Bolton Wanderers (3rd second tier title)
Direct promotion to FA Premier League Bolton Wanderers,
Barnsley
Promoted to FA Premier League through play-offs Crystal Palace
Relegated Grimsby Town,
Oldham Athletic,
Southend United
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1476 (2.67 per match)
Top goalscorer John McGinlay (Bolton Wanderers), 24 [2]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 Bolton Wanderers 461841602010103403310053+4798
2 Barnsley 4614454319810533367655+2180
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4610583124125637276851+1776
4 Ipswich Town 461373442377924276850+1874
5 Sheffield United 461355462378829297552+2373
6 Crystal Palace 461076392297739267848+3071
7 Portsmouth 4612473224841127295953+668
8 Port Vale 46995362887822275855+367
9 Queens Park Rangers 461058332587831356460+466
10 Birmingham City 461175301868922305248+466
11 Tranmere Rovers 4610944127751121296356+765
12 Stoke City 4615353422371317355157–664
13 Norwich City 4691042818821335506368–563
14 Manchester City 4612473424561225355960–161
15 Charlton Athletic 4611843628531516385266–1459
16 West Bromwich Albion 46779373378831396872–457
17 Oxford United 4614364426261520426468–457
18 Reading 4613733724251621435867–957
19 Swindon Town 4611663627431616445271–1954
20 Huddersfield Town 4610762820381220414861–1354
21 Bradford City 4610582932271418404772–2548
22 Grimsby Town 467793134461328476081–2146
23 Oldham Athletic 466893030451421365166–1543
24 Southend United 467973232161610534286–4439
Key
Football League Champions, promoted to FA Premier League
Promoted to FA Premier League
Participated in play-offs
Promoted to Premier League through play-offs
Relegated

First Division play-offs

  Semifinals
1st leg –May 10th; 2nd leg –May 14th, 1997
Final at Wembley
May 26th, 1997
                     
3rd  Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 2 3  
6th  Crystal Palace 3 1 4  
    5th  Sheffield United 0
  6th  Crystal Palace 1
4th  Ipswich Town 1 2 3
5th  Sheffield United (away goals) 1 2 3  

[1]

First Division Topscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Scotland John McGinlay Bolton Wanderers 24
2 England Steve Bull Wolverhampton Wanderers 23
3 England Trevor Morley Reading 22
4 Wales Nathan Blake Bolton Wanderers 20
5 Republic of Ireland John Aldridge Tranmere Rovers 18
= England Nigel Jemson Oxford United 18
= England Mike Sheron Stoke City 18

First Division results

Home ╲ Away BAR BIR BOLBRACHACRYGRIHUDIPSMCINOROLDOXFPTVPORQPRREASHUSTDSTKSWITRAWBAWOL
Barnsley 01 22 20 40 00 13 31 12 20 31 20 00 10 32 13 30 20 30 30 11 30 20 13
Birmingham City 00 31 30 00 10 00 10 10 20 23 00 20 12 03 00 41 11 21 31 10 00 23 12
Bolton Wanderers 22 21 21 41 22 61 20 12 10 31 31 40 42 20 21 21 22 31 11 70 10 10 30
Bradford City 22 02 24 10 04 34 11 21 13 02 03 20 10 31 30 00 12 00 10 21 10 11 21
Charlton Athletic 22 21 33 02 21 13 21 11 11 44 10 20 13 21 21 10 00 20 12 20 31 11 00
Crystal Palace 11 01 11 31 10 30 11 00 31 20 31 22 11 12 30 32 01 61 20 12 01 00 23
Grimsby Town 23 12 12 11 20 21 22 21 11 14 03 02 11 01 20 20 24 40 11 21 00 11 13
Huddersfield Town 00 30 12 33 20 11 20 20 11 20 32 10 01 13 12 10 21 00 21 00 01 00 02
Ipswich Town 11 11 01 32 21 31 11 13 10 20 40 21 21 11 20 52 31 11 11 32 02 50 00
Manchester City 12 10 12 32 21 11 31 00 10 21 10 23 01 11 03 32 00 30 20 30 12 32 01
Norwich City 11 01 01 20 12 11 21 20 31 00 20 11 11 10 11 11 11 00 20 20 11 24 10
Oldham Athletic 01 22 00 12 11 01 03 12 33 21 30 21 30 00 02 11 02 00 12 51 12 11 32
Oxford United 51 00 00 20 02 14 32 10 31 14 01 31 02 20 23 21 41 50 41 20 21 10 11
Port Vale 13 30 11 11 20 02 11 00 22 02 61 32 20 02 44 10 00 21 11 10 21 22 12
Portsmouth 42 11 03 31 20 22 10 31 01 21 01 10 21 11 12 10 11 10 10 01 13 40 02
Queens Park Rangers 31 11 12 10 12 01 30 20 01 22 32 01 21 12 21 02 10 40 11 11 20 02 22
Reading 12 00 32 00 22 16 11 41 10 20 21 20 20 01 00 21 10 32 22 20 20 22 21
Sheffield United 01 44 11 30 30 30 31 31 13 20 23 22 31 30 10 11 20 30 10 20 00 12 23
Southend United 12 11 52 11 02 21 10 12 00 23 11 11 22 00 21 01 21 32 21 13 11 23 11
Stoke City 10 10 12 10 10 22 31 32 01 21 12 21 21 20 31 00 11 04 12 20 20 21 10
Swindon Town 30 31 22 11 10 02 33 60 04 20 03 10 10 11 01 11 31 21 00 10 21 23 12
Tranmere Rovers 11 10 22 30 40 13 32 11 30 11 31 11 00 20 43 23 22 11 30 00 21 23 02
West Bromwich Albion 12 20 22 00 12 10 20 11 00 13 51 11 33 11 02 41 32 12 40 02 12 12 24
Wolverhampton Wanderers 33 12 12 10 10 03 11 00 00 30 32 01 31 01 01 11 01 12 41 20 10 32 20

Source:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Division

Football League, Second Division
Season 1996–97
Champions Bury (2nd third tier title)
Direct promotion Bury,
Stockport County
Promoted through play-offs Crewe Alexandra
Relegated Notts County,
Peterborough United,
Rotherham United,
Shrewsbury Town
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1257 (2.28 per match)
Top goalscorer Tony Thorpe (Luton Town), 28 [2]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
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

Second Division play-offs

  Semifinals
1st leg –May 11th; 2nd leg –May 14th, 1997
Final at Wembley Stadium
May 5th, 1997
                     
3rd  Luton Town 1 2 3  
6th  Crewe Alexandra 2 2 4  
    4th  Brentford 0
  6th  Crewe Alexandra 1
4th  Brentford 2 2 4
5th  Bristol City 1 1 2  

[1]

Second Division Topscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 England Tony Thorpe Luton Town 28
2 England Paul Barnes Burnley 24
3 England Carl Asaba Brentford 23
= Bermuda Shaun Goater Bristol City 23
5 Scotland Iffy Onuora Gillingham 21
6 Bermuda Kyle Lightbourne Walsall 20

Second Division results

Home ╲ Away BLP BOU BREBRIBROBURBRYCHFCREGILLUTMILNTCPETPLYPNEROTSHRSTPWALWATWREWYCYOR
Blackpool 11 10 10 32 13 20 01 12 20 00 30 10 51 22 21 41 11 21 21 11 33 00 30
AFC Bournemouth 00 21 02 10 00 11 30 01 22 32 11 01 12 10 20 11 00 00 01 12 21 21 11
Brentford 11 10 00 00 03 02 10 02 20 32 00 20 01 32 00 42 00 22 11 11 20 00 33
Bristol City 01 01 12 11 21 10 20 30 01 50 11 40 20 31 21 02 32 11 41 11 21 30 20
Bristol Rovers 00 32 21 12 12 43 20 20 00 32 10 10 10 20 10 12 20 11 01 01 20 34 11
Burnley 20 10 12 23 22 31 00 20 51 02 10 10 50 21 12 33 13 52 21 41 20 21 12
Bury 10 21 11 40 21 10 10 10 30 00 20 20 10 10 30 31 20 00 21 11 00 20 41
Chesterfield 00 11 02 11 10 00 12 10 22 11 10 10 21 12 21 11 21 01 10 00 00 42 20
Crewe Alexandra 32 20 20 12 10 11 20 12 32 00 00 30 11 30 10 10 51 10 10 02 31 30 01
Gillingham 23 11 12 32 10 10 22 01 21 12 23 10 21 41 11 31 20 10 20 31 12 10 01
Luton Town 10 20 10 22 21 12 00 01 60 21 02 20 30 22 51 10 20 11 31 00 00 00 20
Millwall 21 01 00 02 20 21 10 21 20 02 01 10 02 00 32 20 21 34 10 01 11 21 11
Notts County 11 02 11 20 11 11 01 00 01 11 12 12 00 21 21 00 12 12 20 23 00 12 01
Peterborough United 00 31 01 31 12 32 12 11 22 01 01 33 13 00 20 62 22 02 01 21 01 63 22
Plymouth Argyle 01 00 14 00 01 00 20 03 10 20 33 00 00 11 21 10 22 00 20 00 01 00 21
Preston North End 30 01 10 02 00 11 31 01 21 10 32 21 20 34 11 00 21 10 20 11 21 21 10
Rotherham United 12 10 01 22 00 10 11 01 14 12 03 00 22 20 12 01 12 01 12 00 00 21 02
Shrewsbury Town 13 11 03 10 20 21 11 20 01 12 03 11 21 22 23 02 02 32 22 10 01 11 20
Stockport County 10 01 12 11 10 10 21 10 10 21 11 51 00 00 31 10 00 31 20 10 02 21 21
Walsall 11 21 10 20 10 13 31 11 10 10 32 21 31 40 01 10 11 22 11 11 01 22 11
Watford 22 01 20 30 10 22 00 02 01 00 11 02 00 00 02 10 20 20 10 10 11 10 40
Wrexham 21 20 02 21 10 00 11 32 11 11 21 33 33 11 44 10 10 21 23 12 31 10 00
Wycombe Wanderers 10 11 01 20 20 50 01 10 20 11 01 10 10 20 21 01 42 30 02 02 00 00 31
York City 10 12 24 03 22 10 02 00 11 23 11 32 12 10 11 31 21 00 12 02 12 10 20

Source:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division

Football League, Third Division
Season 1996–97
Champions Wigan Athletic (1st fourth tier title)
Direct promotion Wigan Athletic,
Carlisle United,
Fulham
Promoted through play-offs Northampton
Relegated to Conference Hereford United
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1383 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorer Graeme Jones (Wigan Athletic), 31 [2]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 Wigan Athletic 461733532196831308451+3387
2 Fulham 4613554120127431187238+3487
3 Carlisle United 461634412189626236744+2384
4 Northampton 461445431768924276744+2372
5 Swansea City 4613553720831225386258+471
6 Chester 461184301678825275543+1270
7 Cardiff City 461148312495926315654+269
8 Colchester United 461193362368926286251+1168
9 Lincoln City 4610853525841135447069+166
10 Cambridge United 4611573027761023325359–665
11 Mansfield Town 46986211778826284745+264
12 Scarborough 469953631761030386568–363
13 Scunthorpe United 4611393633761023295962–363
14 Rochdale 4610673424410924345858±058
15 Barnet 469953223571114284651–558
16 Leyton Orient 4611662820461322385058–857
17 Hull City 469862926410915244450–657
18 Darlington 4611573728351527506478–1452
19 Doncaster Rovers 469772923531523435266–1452
20 Hartlepool United 468693332631420345366–1351
21 Torquay United 4694102424471222384662–1650
22 Exeter City 466982530631423434873–2548
23 Brighton & Hove Albion 4612654127141812435370–1747[notes 1]
24 Hereford United 466892625561224405065–1547
  1. Brighton & Hove Albion had two points deducted for failure to control spectators.
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Participated in play-offs
Promoted through play-offs
New club in the league (none)
Relegated to Conference

Third Division play-offs

  Semifinals
1st leg –May 11th; 2nd leg –May 14th, 1997
Final at Wembley Stadium
May 24th, 1997
                     
4th  Northampton 1 3 4  
7th  Cardiff City 0 2 2  
    4th  Northampton 1
  5th  Swansea City 0
5th  Swansea City 0 3 3
6th  Chester 0 0 0  

[1]

Third Division Topscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 England Graeme Jones Wigan Athletic 31
2 England Gareth Ainsworth Lincoln City 22
3 Scotland Mike Conroy Fulham 21
4 Scotland Colin Cramb Doncaster Rovers 18
5 England Adrian Foster Hereford United 16
= England Darren Roberts Darlington 16

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. 1 2 3 "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
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