Coventry City 1996–97 football season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Coventry City F.C. competed in the FA Premier League .
Manager Ron Atkinson stepped up to the role of Director of Football at struggling Coventry City in early November, with assistant Gordon Strachan stepping up to the manager's seat. A good run of form saw Coventry climb to 11th place in January, but then a decline set in and defeat in the penultimate game of the season made Coventry's 30-year stay in the top flight appear to be over. However, with a win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season and losses for Sunderland and Middlesbrough , the Sky Blues pulled off a miraculous survival act to book themselves a 31st successive top flight campaign.[ 1] The key player in the great escape act was striker Dion Dublin , who scored 14 Premier League goals to attract attention from several larger clubs and encourage calls for an international call-up from many observers.
However, Coventry only ultimately avoided relegation due to the three-point deduction imposed upon Middlesbrough, who had been penalised in mid-season for cancelling a fixture at short notice.
Source:
Premier League Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Middlesbrough were docked three points for failing to fulfill their original fixture at Blackburn Rovers on 21 December 1996. Coventry City's score comes first [ 2]
Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers 17 August 1996 Nottingham Forest H 0–3 19,468 21 August 1996 West Ham United A 1–1 21,580 McAllister 24 August 1996 Chelsea A 0–2 25,024 4 September 1996 Liverpool H 0–1 23,021 7 September 1996 Middlesbrough A 0–4 29,811 14 September 1996 Leeds United H 2–1 17,297 Salako , Whelan 21 September 1996 Sunderland A 0–1 19,459 28 September 1996 Blackburn Rovers H 0–0 17,032 13 October 1996 Southampton H 1–1 15,485 Dublin 19 October 1996 Arsenal A 0–0 38,140 26 October 1996 Sheffield Wednesday H 0–0 17,267 4 November 1996 Everton A 1–1 31,477 McAllister 16 November 1996 Wimbledon A 2–2 10,307 Whelan , Dublin 23 November 1996 Aston Villa H 1–2 21,340 Dublin 30 November 1996 Derby County A 1–2 18,042 Dublin 7 December 1996 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–2 19,675 Whelan 17 December 1996 Newcastle United H 2–1 21,538 Huckerby , McAllister 21 December 1996 Leicester City A 2–0 20,038 Dublin (2) 26 December 1996 Leeds United A 3–1 36,465 Huckerby , Dublin , McAllister (pen) 28 December 1996 Middlesbrough H 3–0 20,617 Huckerby , McAllister (pen), Liddle (own goal) 1 January 1997 Sunderland H 2–2 17,700 Dublin , Daish 11 January 1997 Blackburn Rovers A 0–4 24,055 18 January 1997 Manchester United H 0–2 23,085 29 January 1997 Nottingham Forest A 1–0 22,619 Huckerby 1 February 1997 Sheffield Wednesday A 0–0 21,793 19 February 1997 Aston Villa A 1–2 30,409 Staunton (own goal) 22 February 1997 Everton H 0–0 19,497 1 March 1997 Manchester United A 1–3 55,230 Huckerby 3 March 1997 Wimbledon H 1–1 15,273 Dublin 8 March 1997 Leicester City H 0–0 19,220 15 March 1997 Newcastle United A 0–4 36,571 22 March 1997 West Ham United H 1–3 22,291 Rieper (own goal) 6 April 1997 Liverpool A 2–1 40,079 Whelan , Dublin 9 April 1997 Chelsea H 3–1 19,917 Dublin , Williams , Whelan 19 April 1997 Southampton A 2–2 15,251 Ndlovu , Whelan 21 April 1997 Arsenal H 1–1 19,998 Dublin 3 May 1997 Derby County H 1–2 22,839 McAllister (pen) 11 May 1997 Tottenham Hotspur A 2–1 33,029 Dublin , Williams
Squad at end of season [ 3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during season [ edit ] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Date Pos. Name From Fee 26 July 1996 MF Gary McAllister Leeds United £3,000,000 10 August 1996 DF Régis Genaux Standard Liège £750,000 23 November 1996 FW Darren Huckerby Newcastle United £1,000,000 30 January 1997 DF Gary Breen Birmingham City £2,500,000 30 January 1997 DF Oleksandr Yevtushok Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk £800,000 21 May 1997 FW Simon Haworth Cardiff City £500,000 19 June 1997 MF Trond Egil Soltvedt Rosenborg £500,000 4 July 1997 FW Kyle Lightbourne Walsall £500,000 7 July 1997 GK Magnus Hedman AIK Free 9 July 1997 MF Martin Johansen Copenhagen Free
Transfers in: £6,550,000 Transfers out: £3,380,000 Total spending: £3,170,000 Appearances and goals [ edit ]
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