1996–97 Football League

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

The Football League
Season1996–97
ChampionsBolton Wanderers
PromotedBolton Wanderers
Barnsley
Crystal Palace
RelegatedHereford United

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
Season1996–97
ChampionsBolton Wanderers (3rd second tier title)
Direct promotion to Premier LeagueBolton Wanderers,
Barnsley
Promoted to Premier League through play-offsCrystal Palace
RelegatedGrimsby Town,
Oldham Athletic,
Southend United
Matches played552
Goals scored1,474 (2.67 per match)
Top goalscorerJohn McGinlay (Bolton Wanderers), 24 [2]
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion
1 Bolton Wanderers 46 18 4 1 60 20 10 10 3 40 33 +47 98 Football League Champions, promoted to FA Premier League
2 Barnsley 46 14 4 5 43 19 8 10 5 33 36 +21 80 Promoted to FA Premier League
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 10 5 8 31 24 12 5 6 37 27 +17 76 Participated in play-offs
4 Ipswich Town 46 13 7 3 44 23 7 7 9 24 27 +18 74
5 Sheffield United 46 13 5 5 46 23 7 8 8 29 29 +23 73
6 Crystal Palace 46 10 7 6 39 22 9 7 7 39 26 +30 71 Promoted to FA Premier League through play-offs
7 Portsmouth 46 12 4 7 32 24 8 4 11 27 29 +6 68
8 Port Vale 46 9 9 5 36 28 8 7 8 22 27 +3 67
9 Queens Park Rangers 46 10 5 8 33 25 8 7 8 31 35 +4 66
10 Birmingham City 46 11 7 5 30 18 6 8 9 22 30 +4 66
11 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 9 4 41 27 7 5 11 21 29 +6 65
12 Stoke City 46 15 3 5 34 22 3 7 13 17 35 −6 64
13 Norwich City 46 9 10 4 28 18 8 2 13 35 50 −5 63
14 Manchester City 46 12 4 7 34 24 5 6 12 25 35 0 61
15 Charlton Athletic 46 11 8 4 36 28 5 3 15 16 38 −14 59
16 West Bromwich Albion 46 7 7 9 37 33 7 8 8 31 39 −4 57
17 Oxford United 46 14 3 6 44 26 2 6 15 20 42 −4 57
18 Reading 46 13 7 3 37 24 2 5 16 21 43 −9 57
19 Swindon Town 46 11 6 6 36 27 4 3 16 16 44 −19 54
20 Huddersfield Town 46 10 7 6 28 20 3 8 12 20 41 −13 54
21 Bradford City 46 10 5 8 29 32 2 7 14 18 40 −25 48
22 Grimsby Town 46 7 7 9 31 34 4 6 13 28 47 −22 46 Relegated
23 Oldham Athletic 46 6 8 9 30 30 4 5 14 21 36 −15 43
24 Southend United 46 7 9 7 32 32 1 6 16 10 53 −43 39
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Play-offs
  Semi-finals
1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 14 May 1997		 Final at Wembley
26 May 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]

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 John McGinlayBolton Wanderers24
2 Steve BullWolverhampton Wanderers23
3 Trevor MorleyReading22
4 Nathan BlakeBolton Wanderers20
5 John AldridgeTranmere Rovers18
= Nigel JemsonOxford United18
= Mike SheronStoke City18

Results
Home \ Away BAR BIR BOL BRA CHA CRY GRI HUD IPS MCI NWC OLD OXF PTV POR QPR REA SHU STD STK SWI TRA WBA WOL
Barnsley 0–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 0–0 1–3 3–1 1–2 2–0 3–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 3–2 1–3 3–0 2–0 3–0 3–0 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–3
Birmingham City 0–0 3–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–3 0–0 2–0 1–2 0–3 0–0 4–1 1–1 2–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 2–3 1–2
Bolton Wanderers 2–2 2–1 2–1 4–1 2–2 6–1 2–0 1–2 1–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 4–2 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 7–0 1–0 1–0 3–0
Bradford City 2–2 0–2 2–4 1–0 0–4 3–4 1–1 2–1 1–3 0–2 0–3 2–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–1
Charlton Athletic 2–2 2–1 3–3 0–2 2–1 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 4–4 1–0 2–0 1–3 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 3–1 1–1 0–0
Crystal Palace 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–2 3–0 3–2 0–1 6–1 2–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–3
Grimsby Town 2–3 1–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 1–4 0–3 0–2 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–4 4–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–3
Huddersfield Town 0–0 3–0 1–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 1–0 0–1 1–3 1–2 1–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–2
Ipswich Town 1–1 1–1 0–1 3–2 2–1 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 2–0 4–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 5–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 5–0 0–0
Manchester City 1–2 1–0 1–2 3–2 2–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–3 0–1 1–1 0–3 3–2 0–0 3–0 2–0 3–0 1–2 3–2 0–1
Norwich City 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 1–0
Oldham Athletic 0–1 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–3 1–2 3–3 2–1 3–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 1–2 5–1 1–2 1–1 3–2
Oxford United 5–1 0–0 0–0 2–0 0–2 1–4 3–2 1–0 3–1 1–4 0–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 2–1 4–1 5–0 4–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1
Port Vale 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–2 6–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–4 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–2
Portsmouth 4–2 1–1 0–3 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 3–1 0–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
Queens Park Rangers 3–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–2 0–1 3–0 2–0 0–1 2–2 3–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–2 1–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–2
Reading 1–2 0–0 3–2 0–0 2–2 1–6 1–1 4–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–1
Sheffield United 0–1 4–4 1–1 3–0 3–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–3 2–2 3–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 2–3
Southend United 1–2 1–1 5–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–1 3–2 2–1 1–3 1–1 2–3 1–1
Stoke City 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 3–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 0–4 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–0
Swindon Town 3–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 0–2 3–3 6–0 0–4 2–0 0–3 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–3 1–2
Tranmere Rovers 1–1 1–0 2–2 3–0 4–0 1–3 3–2 1–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 4–3 2–3 2–2 1–1 3–0 0–0 2–1 2–3 0–2
West Bromwich Albion 1–2 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–3 5–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 4–1 3–2 1–2 4–0 0–2 1–2 1–2 2–4
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–3 1–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–3 1–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 3–2 0–1 3–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 4–1 2–0 1–0 3–2 2–0
Source:
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Locations
Locations of the First Division teams

Second Division
Football League, Second Division
Season1996–97
ChampionsBury (2nd third tier title)
Direct promotionBury,
Stockport County
Promoted through play-offsCrewe Alexandra
RelegatedNotts County,
Peterborough United,
Rotherham United,
Shrewsbury Town
Matches played552
Goals scored1,270 (2.3 per match)
Top goalscorerTony Thorpe (Luton Town), 28 [2]
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Bury 46 18 5 0 39 7 6 7 10 23 31 +24 84 Division Champions, promoted
2 Stockport County 46 15 5 3 31 14 8 8 7 28 27 +18 82 Promoted
3 Luton Town 46 13 7 3 38 14 8 8 7 33 31 +26 78 Participated in play-offs
4 Brentford 46 8 11 4 26 22 12 3 8 30 21 +13 74
5 Bristol City 46 14 4 5 43 18 7 6 10 26 33 +18 73
6 Crewe Alexandra 46 15 4 4 38 15 7 3 13 18 32 +9 73 Promoted through play-offs
7 Blackpool 46 13 7 3 41 21 5 8 10 19 26 +13 69
8 Wrexham 46 11 9 3 38 28 6 9 8 17 22 +5 69
9 Burnley 46 14 3 6 48 27 5 8 10 23 28 +16 68
10 Chesterfield 46 10 9 4 25 18 8 5 10 17 21 +3 68
11 Gillingham 46 13 3 7 37 25 6 7 10 23 34 +1 67
12 Walsall 46 12 8 3 35 21 7 2 14 19 32 +1 67
13 Watford 46 10 8 5 24 14 6 11 6 21 24 +7 67
14 Millwall 46 12 4 7 27 22 4 9 10 23 33 −5 61
15 Preston North End 46 14 5 4 33 19 4 2 17 16 36 −6 61
16 Bournemouth 46 8 9 6 24 20 7 6 10 19 25 −2 60
17 Bristol Rovers 46 13 4 6 34 22 2 7 14 13 28 −3 56
18 Wycombe Wanderers 46 13 4 6 31 14 2 6 15 20 43 −6 55
19 Plymouth Argyle 46 7 11 5 19 18 5 7 11 28 40 −11 54
20 York City 46 8 6 9 27 31 5 7 11 20 37 −21 52
21 Peterborough United 46 7 7 9 38 34 4 7 12 17 39 −18 47 Relegated
22 Shrewsbury Town 46 8 6 9 27 32 3 7 13 22 42 −25 46
23 Rotherham United 46 4 7 12 17 29 3 7 13 22 41 −31 35
24 Notts County 46 4 9 10 20 25 3 5 15 13 34 −26 35
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Play-offs
  Semi-finals
1st leg – 11 May; 2nd leg – 14 May 1997		 Final at Wembley
25 May 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]

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Tony ThorpeLuton Town28
2 Paul BarnesBurnley24
3 Carl AsabaBrentford23
= Shaun GoaterBristol City23
5 Iffy OnuoraGillingham21
6 Kyle LightbourneWalsall20

Results
Home \ Away BLP BOU BRE BRI BRR BUR BRY CHF CRE GIL LUT MIL NTC PET PLY PNE ROT SHR STP WAL WAT WRE WYC YOR
Blackpool 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 1–3 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 5–1 2–2 2–1 4–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 3–3 0–0 3–0
Bournemouth 0–0 2–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 0–1 2–2 3–2 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–1
Brentford 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–3 0–2 1–0 0–2 2–0 3–2 0–0 2–0 0–1 3–2 0–0 4–2 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–3
Bristol City 0–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 0–1 5–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 3–1 2–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–1 3–0 2–0
Bristol Rovers 0–0 3–2 2–1 1–2 1–2 4–3 2–0 2–0 0–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 3–4 1–1
Burnley 2–0 1–0 1–2 2–3 2–2 3–1 0–0 2–0 5–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 5–0 2–1 1–2 3–3 1–3 5–2 2–1 4–1 2–0 2–1 1–2
Bury 1–0 2–1 1–1 4–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 3–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 4–1
Chesterfield 0–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 4–2 2–0
Crewe Alexandra 3–2 2–0 2–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–2 3–2 0–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 5–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 3–1 3–0 0–1
Gillingham 2–3 1–1 1–2 3–2 1–0 1–0 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–3 1–0 2–1 4–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–1
Luton Town 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 6–0 2–1 0–2 2–0 3–0 2–2 5–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–0
Millwall 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–2 0–1 1–0 0–2 0–0 3–2 2–0 2–1 3–4 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1
Notts County 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 2–0 2–3 0–0 1–2 0–1
Peterborough United 0–0 3–1 0–1 3–1 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–1 0–1 3–3 1–3 0–0 2–0 6–2 2–2 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–1 6–3 2–2
Plymouth Argyle 0–1 0–0 1–4 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–3 1–0 2–0 3–3 0–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–1
Preston North End 3–0 0–1 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 3–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 3–2 2–1 2–0 3–4 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0
Rotherham United 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–4 1–2 0–3 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–2
Shrewsbury Town 1–3 1–1 0–3 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 0–3 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–0
Stockport County 1–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 5–1 0–0 0–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–1
Walsall 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 2–1 3–1 4–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1
Watford 2–2 0–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–2 0–0 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 4–0
Wrexham 2–1 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 3–3 3–3 1–1 4–4 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–3 1–2 3–1 1–0 0–0
Wycombe Wanderers 1–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 5–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 4–2 3–0 0–2 0–2 0–0 0–0 3–1
York City 1–0 1–2 2–4 0–3 2–2 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 3–2 1–2 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–0
Source:
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Locations
Locations of the Second Division teams

Third Division
Football League, Third Division
Season1996–97
ChampionsWigan Athletic (1st fourth tier title)
Direct promotionWigan Athletic,
Carlisle United,
Fulham
Promoted through play-offsNorthampton
Relegated to ConferenceHereford United
Matches played552
Goals scored1,385 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorerGraeme Jones (Wigan Athletic), 31 [2]
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Wigan Athletic 46 17 3 3 53 21 9 6 8 31 30 +33 87 Division Champions, promoted
2 Fulham 46 13 5 5 41 20 12 7 4 31 18 +34 87 Promoted
3 Carlisle United 46 16 3 4 41 21 8 9 6 26 23 +23 84
4 Northampton Town 46 14 4 5 43 17 6 8 9 24 27 +23 72 Promoted through play-offs
5 Swansea City 46 13 5 5 37 20 8 3 12 25 38 +4 71 Participated in play-offs
6 Chester City 46 11 8 4 30 16 7 8 8 25 27 +12 70
7 Cardiff City 46 11 4 8 31 24 9 5 9 26 31 +2 69
8 Colchester United 46 11 9 3 36 23 6 8 9 26 28 +11 68
9 Lincoln City 46 10 8 5 35 25 8 4 11 35 44 +1 66
10 Cambridge United 46 11 5 7 30 27 7 6 10 23 32 −6 65
11 Mansfield Town 46 9 8 6 21 17 7 8 8 26 28 +2 64
12 Scarborough 46 9 9 5 36 31 7 6 10 30 38 −3 63
13 Scunthorpe United 46 11 3 9 36 33 7 6 10 23 29 −3 63
14 Rochdale 46 10 6 7 34 24 4 10 9 24 34 0 58
15 Barnet 46 9 9 5 32 23 5 7 11 14 28 −5 58
16 Leyton Orient 46 11 6 6 28 20 4 6 13 22 38 −8 57
17 Hull City 46 9 8 6 29 26 4 10 9 15 24 −6 57
18 Darlington 46 11 5 7 37 28 3 5 15 27 50 −14 52
19 Doncaster Rovers 46 9 7 7 29 23 5 3 15 23 43 −14 52
20 Hartlepool United 46 8 6 9 33 32 6 3 14 20 34 −13 51
21 Torquay United 46 9 4 10 24 24 4 7 12 22 38 −16 50
22 Exeter City 46 6 9 8 25 30 6 3 14 23 43 −25 48
23 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 12 6 5 41 27 1 4 18 12 43 −17 47[lower-alpha 1]
24 Hereford United 46 6 8 9 26 25 5 6 12 24 40 −15 47 Relegated to Conference
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Notes:
  1. Brighton & Hove Albion had two points deducted for failure to control spectators.

Play-offs
  Semi-finals
1st leg – 11 May; 2nd leg – 14 May 1997		 Final at Wembley
24 May 1997
                     
4th Northampton Town 1 3 4  
7th Cardiff City 0 2 2  
    4th Northampton Town 1
  5th Swansea City 0
5th Swansea City 0 3 3
6th Chester City 0 0 0  

[1]

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Graeme JonesWigan Athletic31
2 Gareth AinsworthLincoln City22
3 Mike ConroyFulham21
4 Colin CrambDoncaster Rovers18
5 Adrian FosterHereford United16
= Darren RobertsDarlington16

Locations
Locations of the Third Division teams

See also

References
  1. "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
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