1996–97 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season

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

Crewe Alexandra
1996–97 season
ChairmanJohn Bowler
ManagerDario Gradi
StadiumGresty Road
Second Division6th (promoted via play-offs)
Play-offsWinners
FA CupThird round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophyNorthern semi finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Adebola (16)
All: Adebola (18)
Average home league attendance3,978

Season summary

In the 1996-97 season, Crewe had a great season by reaching the play-offs by finishing in the final play-off position, which was achieved on the final day by earning a 1-1 draw at York that was required as Blackpool had scored more goals which meant knowing a defeat and a Blackpool win at Wrexham would see Crewe slip out of the top six and Blackpool would have still had a chance of promotion. Blackpool though lost 2-1 so it didn't matter in the end with Crewe's result. In the play-offs, they beat Luton, who just missed out on automatic promotion, 4-3 on aggregate to get to Wembley and achieved promotion with a 1-0 win against Brentford.[1]

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League § Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
4 Brentford 46 20 14 12 56 43 +13 74 Participated in play-offs
5 Bristol City 46 21 10 15 69 51 +18 73
6 Crewe Alexandra 46 22 7 17 56 47 +9 73 Promoted through play-offs
7 Blackpool 46 18 15 13 60 47 +13 69
8 Wrexham 46 17 18 11 55 50 +5 69
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Crewe Alexandra's score comes first[2]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Stockport CountyH1–04,310Tierney
24 August 1996Peterborough UnitedA2–26,357Ellison (2)
27 August 1996Preston North EndA1–29,498Murphy
31 August 1996WatfordH0–23,655
7 September 1996BournemouthA1–03,218Savage
10 September 1996BuryH2–03,627Tierney, Barr
14 September 1996WrexhamH3–14,469Adebola (2), Tierney
21 September 1996MillwallA0–29,320
28 September 1996Plymouth ArgyleH3–03,797Barr, Adebola, Murphy
1 October 1996BlackpoolH3–24,314Rivers, Adebola, Macauley
4 October 1996Bristol RoversA0–26,211
12 October 1996BrentfordH2–04,313Rivers, S Smith (pen)
15 October 1996York CityH0–13,463
19 October 1996ChesterfieldA0–14,030
26 October 1996Shrewsbury TownA1–03,878Murphy
29 October 1996Rotherham UnitedH1–03,162Barr
2 November 1996Wycombe WanderersH3–03,636Adebola, Whalley, Murphy
9 November 1996BurnleyA0–29,459
23 November 1996WalsallA0–13,653
30 November 1996Shrewsbury TownH5–14,035Murphy, S Smith, Rivers (2), Whalley
3 December 1996GillinghamA1–23,575Rivers
14 December 1996Luton TownA0–65,455
20 December 1996Notts CountyH3–03,125Adebola (2), Charnock
28 December 1996BournemouthH2–03,687Adebola (2)
11 January 1997Plymouth ArgyleA0–15,036
18 January 1997BlackpoolA2–14,760Murphy, Adebola
25 January 1997Rotherham UnitedA4–12,832Adebola (2), Murphy, S Smith
1 February 1997BurnleyH1–14,734Macauley
8 February 1997Wycombe WanderersA0–24,902
15 February 1997WalsallH1–04,648Murphy
22 February 1997Bristol CityA0–311,306
1 March 1997GillinghamH3–23,555Barr (2), Murphy
8 March 1997Notts CountyA1–04,047Rivers
15 March 1997Luton TownH0–04,475
18 March 1997MillwallH0–03,695
22 March 1997Peterborough UnitedH1–13,565Murphy
25 March 1997Bristol CityH1–23,687Westwood
29 March 1997Stockport CountyA0–17,411
31 March 1997Preston North EndH1–04,407Adebola
5 April 1997WatfordA1–012,441Whalley
12 April 1997Bristol RoversH1–04,281Adebola
15 April 1997BuryA0–14,725
19 April 1997BrentfordA2–06,183Adebola, S Smith
22 April 1997WrexhamA1–14,643Johnson
26 April 1997ChesterfieldH1–24,858Adebola
3 May 1997York CityA1–14,366Westwood

Second Division play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SF 1st Leg11 May 1997Luton TownH2–15,467Rivers, Little
SF 2nd Leg14 May 1997Luton TownA2–2 (won 4-3 on agg)8,168Little, S Smith
F25 May 1997BrentfordN1–034,149S Smith

FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996Kidderminster HarriersH4–14,651Macauley, Murphy (2), Lightfoot
R27 December 1996Hull CityA5–13,756Garvey, Murphy, Adebola, S Smith, Brien (own goal)
R314 January 1997WimbledonH1–15,011Westwood
R3R21 January 1997WimbledonA0–24,951

League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996Port ValeA0–15,236
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996Port ValeH1–5 (lost 1-6 on agg)4,471Adebola

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR228 January 1997Plymouth ArgyleA1–02,216
NQF4 February 1997BlackpoolH1–03,033
NSF28 January 1997Stockport CountyH1–1 (lost 3-5 on pens)3,529

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
GK Ademola Bankole
GK Neil Cutler
GK Mark Gayle
GK Jason Kearton
GK Steve Mautone (on loan from West Ham United)
GK Martin Taylor (on loan from Derby County)
DF Billy Barr
DF Peter Billing
DF Ryan Kirby
DF Chris Lightfoot
DF Steve Macauley
DF Steve Pope
DF Shaun Smith
DF Lee Unsworth
DF Ashley Westwood
MF Phil Charnock
No. Position Player
MF Jamie Collins
MF Steve Garvey
MF Seth Johnson
MF Brian Launders
MF Danny Murphy
MF Robbie Savage
MF Kevin Street
MF Francis Tierney
MF Gareth Whalley
FW Dele Adebola
FW Steve Anthrobus
FW Lee Ellison
FW Colin Little
FW Jamie Moralee
FW Mark Rivers
FW Peter Smith

References
  1. Rowbottom, Mike (26 May 1997). "Gradi dreams on no more". The Independent. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-29. Retrieved 2015-07-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "All Crewe Alexandra players: 1997".
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