1996–97 Sheffield United F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Sheffield United competed in the Football League First Division.

Sheffield United
1996–97 season
ChairmanMike McDonald
ManagerHoward Kendall
StadiumBramall Lane
First Division5th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Pyotr Kachura/Andy Walker (12)
All:
Andy Walker (14)
Average home league attendance16,638

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Howard Kendall's first full season in charge, the Blades finished fifth in Division One to qualify for the play-offs. In the play-off final at Wembley, the Blades lost to a last minute goal from David Hopkin and Crystal Palace earned the final promotion spot to the Premier League.[1] In June 1997, Kendall left the club by mutual consent to return to Everton for a third spell as manager.

Players

First-team squad

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

No. Position Player
GK Simon Tracey
GK Alan Kelly[notes 1]
DF David Holdsworth
DF Paul Parker
DF Lee Sandford
DF Chris Short[notes 2]
DF Carl Tiler
DF Michel Vonk
DF Roger Nilsen
DF Doug Hodgson
MF Graham Anthony
MF Mark Beard
MF John Ebbrell
MF Charlie Hartfield
MF Steve Hawes
No. Position Player
MF Nick Henry
MF Paul Simpson (on loan from Derby County)
MF Nigel Spackman
MF Mitch Ward
MF David White
MF Dane Whitehouse
MF Don Hutchison[notes 3]
FW Chris Bettney
FW Mark Patterson
FW Andy Scott
FW Phil Starbuck
FW Gareth Taylor[notes 4]
FW Andy Walker
FW Jan Åge Fjørtoft
FW Pyotr Kachura

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League § First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 22 10 14 68 51 +17 76 Participated in play-offs
4 Ipswich Town 46 20 14 12 68 50 +18 74
5 Sheffield United 46 20 13 13 75 52 +23 73
6 Crystal Palace 46 19 14 13 78 48 +30 71 Promoted to FA Premier League through play-offs
7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 +6 68
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Matches

Source:[2]

Key

  Win   Draw   Loss

Division One
17 August 1996 Reading1–0Sheffield UnitedElm Park
15:00 Bernal  80' 
Quinn  81'		 Attendance: 11,081
24 August 1996 Sheffield United4–4Birmingham CityBramall Lane
15:00 Taylor  45', 70'
Walker  67', 72'		 Furlong  9'
Newell  37'
Devlin  75' (pen.)
Hunt  83'		 Attendance: 16,332
7 September 1996 Oldham Athletic0–2Sheffield UnitedBoundary Park
15:00 Hutchison  27'
Sandford  87'		 Attendance: 7,323
10 September 1996 Sheffield United3–0Bradford CityBramall Lane
19:45 Taylor  27'
Whitehouse  45', 58'		 Attendance: 12,591
14 September 1996 Sheffield United1–3Ipswich TownBramall Lane
15:00 Ward  28' (pen.)
Vonk  61' 		 14,261 Sedgley  63'
Scowcroft  77', 81'
21 September 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2Sheffield UnitedMolineux Stadium
15:00 Thompson  89' (pen.) White  76'
Taylor  82'
Katchouro  90'		 Attendance: 25,170
28 September 1996 Sheffield United2–0Manchester CityBramall Lane
15:00 Ward  45' (pen.)
Taylor  49'		 Attendance: 20,867
1 October 1996 Southend United3–2Sheffield UnitedRoots Hall
19:45 Boere  33', 71'
Marsh  54' (pen.)		 Walker  7', 34' Attendance: 3,716
12 October 1996 Sheffield United0–0Tranmere RoversBramall Lane
15:00 Attendance: 15,059
15 October 1996 Sheffield United3–0Charlton AthleticBramall Lane
19:45 Katchouro  52', 54'
Walker  89'		 Attendance: 14,080
19 October 1996 Stoke City0–4Sheffield UnitedVictoria Ground
15:00 Vonk  8', 19'
Walker  16'
Taylor  77'		 Attendance: 13,581
26 October 1996 Sheffield United1–1Queens Park RangersBramall Lane
15:00 Taylor  83' Slade  19' Attendance: 17,096
30 October 1996 Norwich City1–1Sheffield UnitedCarrow Road
19:45 Adams  71' Katchouro  24' Attendance: 14,534
3 November 1996 Grimsby Town2–4Sheffield UnitedBlundell Park
13:00 Livingstone  33', 50' Hutchison  27'
Whitehouse  44', 82'
Katchouro  80'		 Attendance: 5,935
13 November 1996 West Bromwich Albion1–2Sheffield UnitedThe Hawthorns
19:45 Coldicott  80' Walker  57'
Hutchison  60'		 Attendance: 12,167
16 November 1996 Port Vale0–0Sheffield UnitedVale Park
15:00 Attendance: 8,352
22 November 1996 Sheffield United1–1Bolton WanderersBramall Lane
19:45 Taylor  41' Blake  10' Attendance: 17,069
26 November 1996 Sheffield United2–0Swindon TownBramall Lane
19:45 Taylor  6'
Katchouro  61'		 Attendance: 12,301
30 November 1996 Queens Park Rangers1–0Sheffield UnitedLoftus Road
15:00 Barker  36' (pen.) Attendance: 11,891
3 December 1996 Sheffield United3–1Huddersfield TownBramall Lane
19:45 Sandford  34'
Patterson  38'
White  61'		 Payton  14' Attendance: 14,700
7 December 1996 Sheffield United1–0PortsmouthBramall Lane
15:00 Katchouro  14' Attendance: 16,333
14 December 1996 Oxford United4–1Sheffield UnitedManor Ground
15:00 Aldridge  13', 21', 33'
Jemson  82'		 Walker  88' Attendance: 7,737
17 December 1996 Crystal Palace0–1Sheffield UnitedSelhurst Park
19:45 Walker  44' Attendance: 12,801
21 December 1996 Sheffield United0–1BarnsleyBramall Lane
15:00 Hendrie  85' Attendance: 24,384
26 December 1996 Bradford City1–2Sheffield UnitedValley Parade
13:00 Jacobs  37'
Dreyer  77' 		 Hodgson  26'
Scott  47'		 Attendance: 17,475
28 December 1996 Sheffield United2–2Oldham AthleticBramall Lane
15:00 Taylor  6'
Katchouro  70'		 Henry  35'
Rickers  80'		 Attendance: 16,130
18 January 1997 Sheffield United3–0Southend UnitedBramall Lane
15:00 Katchouro  15'
White  50'
Taylor  61'		 Attendance: 15,049
24 January 1997 Sheffield United2–3Wolverhampton WanderersBramall Lane
19:45 White  24', 82' Atkins  19'
Osborn  25'
Bull  88'		 Attendance: 17,490
29 January 1997 Manchester City0–0Sheffield UnitedMaine Road
19:45 Attendance: 26,551
1 February 1997 Swindon Town2–1Sheffield UnitedCounty Ground
15:00 Elkins  57'
Holdsworth  70' (o.g.)		 Holdsworth  80' Attendance: 8,811
9 February 1997 Sheffield United2–3Norwich CityBramall Lane
12:00 Katchouro  15'
Walker  79'		 Johnson  55'
Ottosson  74'
Holdsworth  83' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 15,301
15 February 1997 Bolton Wanderers2–2Sheffield UnitedBurnden Park
15:00 Paatelainen  4'
Fairclough  20'		 Fjørtoft  7'
Katchouro  55'		 Attendance: 17,922
22 February 1997 Sheffield United3–1Grimsby TownBramall Lane
15:00 Fjørtoft  45', 62', 68' Lester  42' Attendance: 17,502
1 March 1997 Portsmouth1–1Sheffield UnitedFratton Park
15:00 Haul  19' Fjørtoft  54' Attendance: 12,715
4 March 1997 Sheffield United3–0Port ValeBramall Lane
19:45 Ward  62' (pen.)
Taylor  79'
Fjørtoft  82'		 Attendance: 14,950
7 March 1997 Barnsley2–0Sheffield UnitedOakwell
19:45 Hendrie  36'
Eaden  83'		 Attendance: 14,668
15 March 1997 Sheffield United3–1Oxford UnitedBramall Lane
15:00 Whitehouse  11'
Fjørtoft  35'
Walker  43'		 Gilchrist  40' Attendance: 16,226
18 March 1997 Ipswich Town3–1Sheffield UnitedPortman Road
19:45 Gregory  1', 11', 37' Fjørtoft  21' Attendance: 10,374
22 March 1997 Birmingham City1–1Sheffield UnitedSt Andrews
15:00 Legg  53' Katchouro  64' Attendance: 14,969
29 March 1997 Sheffield United2–0ReadingBramall Lane
15:00 Bodin  11' (o.g.)
Walker  49'		 Attendance: 15,153
31 March 1997 Huddersfield Town2–1Sheffield UnitedGalpharm Stadium
15:00 Dalton  1'
Cowan  18'
Dyson  47'		 Sinnott  16' (o.g.)
Henry  54'		 Attendance: 14,551
5 April 1997 Sheffield United1–2West Bromwich AlbionBramall Lane
15:00 Fjørtoft  69' Coldicott  16'
Taylor  72'		 Attendance: 15,004
12 April 1997 Sheffield United3–0Crystal PalaceBramall Lane
15:00 Ward  2' (pen.)
Fjørtoft  19'
White  89'		 Attendance: 20,051
19 March 1997 Tranmere Rovers1–1Sheffield UnitedPrenton Park
15:00 Jones  26' Whitehouse  50' Attendance: 10,027
25 April 1997 Sheffield United1–0Stoke CityBramall Lane
15:00 Tiler  66' Attendance: 25,596
4 May 1997 Charlton Athletic0–0Sheffield UnitedThe Valley
13:00 Attendance: 12,589

Play offs
10 May 1997 Semi-final first legSheffield United1–1Ipswich TownBramall Lane
15:00 Fjørtoft  41' Stockwell  78' Attendance: 22,312
14 May 1997 Semi-final second legIpswich Town2–2
(a.e.t.)		Sheffield UnitedPortman Road
19:45 Scowcroft  32'
Gudmundsson  73'		 Katchouro  9'
Walker  77'
Henry  110'		 Attendance: 21,467
26 May 1997 FinalCrystal Palace1–0Sheffield UnitedWembley Stadium
15:00 Hopkin  90' Attendance: 64,383

FA Cup
4 January 1997 Round 3Norwich City1–0Sheffield UnitedCarrow Road
15:00 Polston  32' Attendance: 12,356

League Cup
20 August 1996 Round 1Sheffield United3–0Bradford CityBramall Lane
19:45 Vonk  8'
White  69'
Walker  76'		 Attendance: 7,575
3 September 1996 Round 1Bradford City1–2Sheffield UnitedValley Parade
19:45 Stallard  68' Ward  66'
Walker  77' (pen.)		 Attendance: 3,593
17 September 1996 Round 2Stockport County2–1Sheffield UnitedEdgeley Park
19:45 Flynn  23'
Bennett  39'		 Vonk  49' Attendance: 4,004
24 September 1996 Round 2Sheffield United2–5Stockport CountyBramall Lane
19:45 Taylor  34'
Katchouro  65'		 Gannon  25'
Armstrong  30', 81'
Bennett  33'
Angell  62'		 Attendance: 6,285

Steel City Cup
27 August 1996 Sheffield United4–1Sheffield WednesdayBramall Lane
19:45 Scott  ?'
Walker  ?'
Starbuck  ?'
Sandford  ?'		 Unknown  ?' Attendance: 7,271

Friendlies
18 July 1996 Sarawak 1–2Sheffield UnitedSarawak Stadium
Walker  ?'
Hutchison  ?'		 Attendance: 10,000
23 July 1996 Sabah 0–0Sheffield UnitedLikas Stadium
25 July 1996 Sarawak XI 0–3Sheffield UnitedSarawak Stadium
Walker  ?'
Hartfield  ?'
Starbuck  ?'
5 August 1996 Linfield 0–0Sheffield UnitedWindsor Park
7 August 1996 Glenavon 0–4Sheffield UnitedMourneview Park
Walker  ?'
Hodgson  ?', ?'
Ward  ?'
12 August 1996 Stocksbridge Park Steels0–3Sheffield UnitedBracken Moor
Walker  ?', ?'
Unknown  ?' (o.g.)

References
  1. Stenson, Tony (27 May 1997). "COP STEP AND JUMP INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE". The Free Library. The Mirror. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. pp. 296–297. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.

Notes
  1. Kelly was born in Preston, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his father and represented them at U-23 level before making his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1993.
  2. Short was born in Münster, West Germany (now Germany), but was raised in England.
  3. Hutchison was born in Gateshead, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Scotland in March 1999, having previously represented them at B level.
  4. Taylor was born in Weston-super-Mare, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally through his father and made his international debut for Wales in 1995.

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