1996–97 Stockport County F.C. season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Stockport County F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
Season summary
The 1996-97 season proved to be possibly the most memorable in Stockport County's history. The season began in a forgettable fashion however, recording two draws and four defeats in the first six league matches. A 2nd round League Cup tie against Sheffield United proved to be a catalyst, and Stockport won with a 7–3 aggregate win, including a 5–2 victory at Bramall Lane. Although Stockport reached the northern final of the Auto Windscreens Shield, losing 2–0 on aggregate to Carlisle and just missing out on a visit to Wembley, it was the League Cup which provided the major highlights of the season, with four victories over top-flight opposition. The club, in its third colours for the first and only time in the season, recorded a 1–0 win away at Blackburn Rovers in the 3rd round, due to a colour clash with both the home and away kits. This win was followed by a 4th round 1–1 draw away to West Ham and a 2–1 victory in the replay at Edgeley Park, a quarter final 2–2 draw against Southampton at Edgeley Park followed by a 2–1 victory in the replay at The Dell, and then a semi-final meeting with Middlesbrough. Although County lost the first leg at Edgeley Park 2–0, they won 1–0 at the Riverside Stadium, failing to convert several chances to equalise on aggregate.[1]
After a disappointing start, Stockport also enjoyed a great league campaign, eventually securing promotion from Division Two with a 1–0 victory at Chesterfield in the penultimate match of the season. Had Stockport failed to win the game they would have faced a deciding match away at promotion rivals Luton Town on the final day of the season. As it turned out, County travelled to Kenilworth Road with a chance to win the title, but a 1–1 draw meant that local rivals Bury finished top of the table with Stockport finishing second.[1]
Final league table
- 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).
Key | |
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Division Champions, promoted |
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Promoted |
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Participated in play-offs |
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Promoted through play-offs |
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Relegated |
Results
Stockport County's score comes first[2]
Legend
Football League Second Division
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
17 August 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–1 | 4,310 | |
24 August 1996 | Notts County | H | 0–0 | 5,271 | |
27 August 1996 | Bournemouth | H | 0–1 | 3,446 | |
31 August 1996 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–1 | 6,380 | Jeffers |
7 September 1996 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 7,208 | |
10 September 1996 | Wrexham | H | 0–2 | 4,244 | |
14 September 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–1 | 5,087 | Gannon (2), Armstrong |
21 September 1996 | York City | A | 2–1 | 3,061 | Angell (2) |
28 September 1996 | Gillingham | H | 2–1 | 6,049 | Armstrong, Morris (own goal) |
2 October 1996 | Millwall | A | 4–3 | 7,537 | Durkan, Armstrong (2), Gannon |
5 October 1996 | Burnley | A | 2–5 | 10,332 | Angell, Mutch |
12 October 1996 | Preston North End | H | 1–0 | 8,405 | Angell |
15 October 1996 | Luton Town | H | 1–1 | 5,352 | Angell |
19 October 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 2–0 | 4,017 | Angell (2) |
26 October 1996 | Walsall | A | 1–1 | 3,767 | Durkan |
29 October 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 1–0 | 4,831 | Dinning |
2 November 1996 | Bristol City | H | 1–1 | 6,654 | Bennett |
9 November 1996 | Brentford | A | 2–2 | 5,076 | Angell, Cavaco |
19 November 1996 | Blackpool | H | 1–0 | 4,572 | Bennett |
23 November 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–3 | 2,865 | Angell, Marsden |
30 November 1996 | Walsall | H | 2–0 | 5,333 | Angell (2) |
3 December 1996 | Rotherham United | A | 1–0 | 2,133 | Durkan |
14 December 1996 | Peterborough United | H | 0–0 | 5,748 | |
21 December 1996 | Bury | A | 0–0 | 5,069 | |
26 December 1996 | Wrexham | A | 3–2 | 6,736 | Armstrong, Gannon, Dinning (pen) |
18 January 1997 | Millwall | H | 5–1 | 7,502 | Mutch, Armstrong (pen), Flynn, Cavaco (2) |
1 February 1997 | Brentford | H | 1–2 | 8,650 | Cavaco |
7 February 1997 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | 13,186 | Armstrong |
15 February 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 3–1 | 6,712 | Angell (2), Armstrong |
22 February 1997 | Blackpool | A | 1–2 | 5,772 | Linighan (own goal) |
1 March 1997 | Rotherham United | H | 0–0 | 6,147 | |
8 March 1997 | Bury | H | 2–1 | 8,170 | Mutch, Jeffers |
15 March 1997 | Peterborough United | A | 2–0 | 4,857 | Cavaco, Marsden |
22 March 1997 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | 4,238 | Flynn, Hogg (own goal) |
29 March 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 | 7,411 | Cooper |
1 April 1997 | Bournemouth | A | 0–0 | 5,476 | |
5 April 1997 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–0 | 5,689 | Cooper (pen) |
8 April 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 5,089 | |
12 April 1997 | Burnley | H | 1–0 | 9,187 | Mutch |
14 April 1997 | Watford | H | 1–0 | 7,164 | Jeffers |
16 April 1997 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 4,485 | |
19 April 1997 | Preston North End | A | 0–1 | 10,298 | |
22 April 1997 | York City | H | 2–1 | 6,654 | Bennett, Angell |
26 April 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 9,463 | Armstrong, Forsyth (own goal) |
28 April 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 1–0 | 8,690 | Angell |
3 May 1997 | Luton Town | A | 1–1 | 9,347 | Cooper (pen) |
FA Cup
League Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 2–1 | 3,088 | Mutch (2) |
R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Chesterfield | A | 2–1 (won 4-2 on agg) | 3,334 | Ware, Mutch |
R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1996 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | 4,004 | Flynn, Bennett |
R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1996 | Sheffield United | A | 5–2 (won 7-3 on agg) | 6,285 | Gannon, Armstrong (2), Bennett, Angell |
R3 | 22 October 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–0 | 14,622 | Sherwood (own goal) |
R4 | 27 November 1996 | West Ham United | A | 1–1 | 20,061 | Cavaco |
R4R | 18 December 1996 | West Ham United | H | 2–1 | 9,834 | Dowie (own goal), Angell |
QF | 22 January 1997 | Southampton | H | 2–2 | 9,840 | Armstrong, Cavaco |
QFR | 29 January 1997 | Southampton | A | 2–1 | 13,428 | Angell, Mutch |
SF 1st Leg | 26 February 1997 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–2 | 11,778 | |
SF 2nd Leg | 12 March 1997 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–0 (lost 1-2 on agg) | 29,633 | Connelly |
Football League Trophy
Squad
[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
References
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