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