Blackpool F.C. 1996–97 football season
The 1996–97 season was Blackpool F.C.' s 89th season (86th consecutive) in the Football League . They competed in the 24-team Division Two , then the third tier of English league football , finishing seventh. 5 September 1996 marked the 100th anniversary of Blackpool's first match in the Football League.
Sam Allardyce was fired after failing to bring the club promotion the previous season . He was replaced by the former Norwich City manager Gary Megson .
Tony Ellis was the club's top scorer for the third consecutive season, with eighteen goals (fifteen in the league and three in the League Cup ).
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation 5 Bristol City 46 21 10 15 69 51 +18 73 Participated in play-offs 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 9 Burnley 46 19 11 16 71 55 +16 68
Source:
[ 1] Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Blackpool's score comes first [ 2]
Legend Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers 17 August 1996 Chesterfield H 0–1 6,014 24 August 1996 Bristol City A 1–0 9,387 Ellis 27 August 1996 Rotherham United A 2–1 2,914 Philpott , Preece 31 August 1996 Wycombe Wanderers H 0–0 4,856 7 September 1996 Walsall H 2–1 5,176 Philpott , Quinn (pen) 10 September 1996 Burnley A 0–2 13,599 14 September 1996 Brentford A 1–1 5,908 Quinn (pen) 21 September 1996 Shrewsbury Town H 1–1 4,452 Ellis 28 September 1996 Luton Town A 0–1 5,303 1 October 1996 Crewe Alexandra A 2–3 4,314 Brabin , Quinn 5 October 1996 Bury A 0–1 5,317 12 October 1996 Gillingham H 2–0 4,320 Ellis , Mellon 15 October 1996 Wrexham H 3–3 4,014 Preece (2), Mellon 19 October 1996 Bristol Rovers A 0–0 5,823 26 October 1996 Watford H 1–1 6,072 Quinn 30 October 1996 Millwall A 1–2 7,179 Malkin 2 November 1996 Peterborough United A 0–0 7,011 9 November 1996 AFC Bournemouth H 1–1 3,744 Quinn 19 November 1996 Stockport County A 0–1 4,572 23 November 1996 Notts County H 1–0 3,598 Quinn (pen) 30 November 1996 Watford A 2–2 12,017 Malkin , Brabin 3 December 1996 Plymouth Argyle H 2–2 2,690 Philpott , Malkin 13 December 1996 Preston North End A 0–3 14,626 21 December 1996 York City H 3–0 3,432 Ellis , Quinn (2, 1 pens) 1 January 1997 Shrewsbury Town A 3–1 2,787 Preece (2), Mellon 18 January 1997 Crewe Alexandra H 1–2 4,760 Ellis 25 January 1997 Millwall H 3–0 4,523 Ellis , Quinn , Darton 1 February 1997 AFC Bournemouth A 0–0 8,201 8 February 1997 Peterborough United H 5–1 4,001 Ellis (3), Preece , Bryan 15 February 1997 Notts County A 1–1 5,281 Quinn 22 February 1997 Stockport County H 2–1 5,772 Quinn , Ellis 25 February 1997 Burnley H 1–3 7,331 Quinn 1 March 1997 Plymouth Argyle A 1–0 5,585 Ellis 8 March 1997 York City A 0–1 3,639 15 March 1997 Preston North End H 2–1 8,017 Clarkson (2) 18 March 1997 Walsall A 1–1 3,459 Clarkson 22 March 1997 Bristol City H 1–0 4,518 Preece 29 March 1997 Chesterfield A 0–0 4,974 31 March 1997 Rotherham United H 4–1 5,524 Linighan , Clarkson , Ellis , Barlow 5 April 1997 Wycombe Wanderers A 0–1 5,619 12 April 1997 Bury H 2–0 6,812 Ellis (2) 15 April 1997 Luton Town H 0–0 4,382 19 April 1997 Gillingham A 3–2 5,151 Quinn , Mellon , Clarkson 22 April 1997 Brentford H 1–0 4,030 Preece 26 April 1997 Bristol Rovers H 3–2 6,673 Preece (2), Bonner 3 May 1997 Wrexham A 1–2 5,664 Ellis
[ 3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992 . Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X .
National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2–4 Level 5 Levels 6–7 Levels 8–9 Isthmian League (Two , Three ) Combined Counties League (level 8 only ) Eastern Counties League (Premier , One ) Essex Senior League (level 8 only ) Hellenic League (Premier , One ) Kent League (level 8 only ) Midland Alliance (level 8 only ) Midland Football Combination (level 9 only ) North West Counties League (One , Two ) Northern Counties East League (Premier , One ) Northern League (One , Two ) South Midlands League (Premier , Senior ) Spartan League (Premier , One ) Sussex County League (One , Two ) United Counties League (Premier , One ) Wessex League (level 8 only ) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 9 only ) Western League (Premier , One )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions