1996–97 Hartlepool United F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Hartlepool United F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

Hartlepool United
1996–97 season
ChairmanHarold Hornsey
ManagerKeith Houchen (player-manager until 4 November)
Mick Tait (player-manager from 4 November)
StadiumVictoria Park
Third Division20th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Allon/Cooper (9)
All: Allon (11)
Average home league attendance2,107

Season summary

In the 1996-97 season, Hartlepool started the campaign with wins over Colchester United and Fulham, but Houchen's playing career came to an end after the fifth game of the season, against Wigan Athletic, when he retired due to a persistent knee injury.[1] Houchen continued to bemoan referring decisions which seemed to consistently go against Hartlepool.[2] This in turn led to continued punishments from the FA over his use of foul language towards officials.[3] With Hartlepool on a poor run of results at the foot of the table, he left the club by mutual consent on 4 November 1996.[4] His assistant Mick Tait led the club to a 20th-place finish, and organised a benefit match for Houchen against Middlesbrough, which raised £23,000.[5]

There was also a change of ownership in 1997, when Harold Hornsey sold the club to an oil company called IOR.

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1Wigan Athletic461733532196831308451+3387
2Fulham4613554120127431187238+3487
3Carlisle United461634412189626236744+2384
4Northampton Town461445431768924276744+2372
5Swansea City4613553720831225386258+471
6Chester City461184301678825275543+1270
7Cardiff City461148312495926315654+269
8Colchester United461193362368926286251+1168
9Lincoln City4610853525841135447069+166
10Cambridge United4611573027761023325359–665
11Mansfield Town46986211778826284745+264
12Scarborough469953631761030386568–363
13Scunthorpe United4611393633761023295962–363
14Rochdale4610673424410924345858±058
15Barnet469953223571114284651–558
16Leyton Orient4611662820461322385058–857
17Hull City469862926410915244450–657
18Darlington4611573728351527506478–1452
19Doncaster Rovers469772923531523435266–1452
20Hartlepool United468693332631420345366–1351
21Torquay United4694102424471222384662–1650
22Exeter City466982530631423434873–2548
23Brighton & Hove Albion4612654127141812435370–1747[notes 1]
24Hereford United466892625561224405065–1547
  • Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
  • NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
  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

Results

Hartlepool United's score comes first[6]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Colchester UnitedA2–02,942Allon, McAuley
24 August 1996FulhamH2–12,457Cooper, Davies
27 August 1996Mansfield TownH2–22,750Cooper, Ingram
31 August 1996Leyton OrientA0–24,342
7 September 1996Hereford UnitedA1–02,729Halliday
10 September 1996Carlisle UnitedH1–23,077Cooper
14 September 1996Wigan AthleticH1–12,433Cooper
21 September 1996Hull CityA0–13,886
28 September 1996Chester CityH2–02,042Allon, Cooper (pen)
1 October 1996Doncaster RoversA1–21,471Beech
5 October 1996Cambridge UnitedA0–13,406
12 October 1996DarlingtonH1–23,799Halliday
15 October 1996Swansea CityH1–11,310Halliday
19 October 1996BarnetA0–12,265
26 October 1996Exeter CityA0–23,043
29 October 1996Northampton TownH0–21,254
2 November 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–31,683Mike, Cooper
9 November 1996ScarboroughA4–23,157Howard, Clegg, Halliday (2)
23 November 1996Torquay UnitedA1–01,856Allon
30 November 1996Exeter CityH1–11,419Irvine
3 December 1996Scunthorpe UnitedA1–21,778Clegg
14 December 1996RochdaleA3–11,618Beech, Howard, Allon
21 December 1996Lincoln CityH2–11,344Cooper (pen), Sunderland
26 December 1996Carlisle UnitedA0–16,947
28 December 1996Hereford UnitedH2–11,923Allon, Howard
1 January 1997Hull CityH1–11,944Beech
11 January 1997Chester CityA0–01,885
18 January 1997Doncaster RoversH2–41,708Howard, Cooper (pen)
25 January 1997Northampton TownA0–35,039
1 February 1997ScarboroughH1–01,843Cooper
8 February 1997Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–58,412
11 February 1997Cardiff CityH2–31,120Beech (2)
15 February 1997Torquay UnitedH1–11,548Beech
22 February 1997Cardiff CityA0–22,971
1 March 1997Scunthorpe UnitedH0–11,300
4 March 1997Wigan AthleticA2–23,229Halliday, Howard
8 March 1997Lincoln CityA1–22,915Allon
15 March 1997RochdaleH1–21,448Beech
22 March 1997FulhamA0–17,222
29 March 1997Colchester UnitedH1–02,725Beech
31 March 1997Mansfield TownA0–12,229
5 April 1997Leyton OrientH3–12,576Bradley, Baker, Halliday
12 April 1997Cambridge UnitedH0–23,186
19 April 1997DarlingtonA2–14,662Brown, Allon
26 April 1997BarnetH4–03,070Allon (2), Baker, Halliday
3 May 1997Swansea CityA2–25,423Howard (2)

FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996York CityH0–03,011
R1R26 November 1996York CityA0–33,257

League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996Lincoln CityH2–22,073Davies, Allon
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996Lincoln CityA2–3 (lost 5-6 on agg)2,389Allon, Beech

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR110 December 1996BurnleyH0–2921

Squad

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

No. Position Player
GK Paul O'Connor
GK Stephen Pears
DF Michael Barron (on loan from Middlesbrough)
DF Russell Bradley (on loan from Scunthorpe United)
DF Glen Davies
DF Stephen Hutt
DF Denny Ingram
DF Darren Knowles
DF Graeme Lee
DF Sean McAuley
DF Ian McGuckin
MF Chris Beech
MF Michael Brown (on loan from Manchester City)
MF David Clegg
MF Mark Cooper
MF Jon Cullen
MF Andy Elliott
No. Position Player
MF Kona Hislop
MF Chris Homer
MF Alain Horace
MF Richard Lucas
MF Chris McDonald
MF Mark Proctor
MF Jon Sunderland
MF Mick Tait
MF Paul Walton
MF Craig Winstanley
FW Joe Allon
FW Paul Baker
FW Stephen Halliday
FW Keith Houchen
FW Steve Howard
FW Stuart Irvine
FW Adie Mike (on loan from Stockport County)

References
  1. Strange 2006, p. 222
  2. Strange 2006, p. 224
  3. Strange 2006, p. 226
  4. Strange 2006, p. 232
  5. Strange 2006, p. 236
  6. "Hartlepool United 1996-1997". Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. "All Hartlepool United players: 1997". 11v11.com. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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