1996–97 Walsall F.C. season

Walsall
1996–97 season
ChairmanScott Davidson
ManagerChris Nicholl
StadiumBescot Stadium
Second Division12th
FA CupSecond round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Lightbourne (20)
All: Lightbourne (25)
Average home league attendance3,892

During the 1996–97 English football season, Walsall F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Walsall had another satisfying mid-table finish under Nicholl, ending the season in 12th place. At the end of the season, Nicholl resigned because of family reasons.

Final league table

Main article: 1996–97 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
10 Chesterfield 46 18 14 14 42 39 +3 68
11 Gillingham 46 19 10 17 60 59 +1 67
12 Walsall 46 19 10 17 54 53 +1 67
13 Watford 46 16 19 11 45 38 +7 67
14 Millwall 46 16 13 17 50 55 −5 61
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Walsall's score comes first[2]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1996 Rotherham United H 1–1 4,040 Butler
24 August 1996 Burnley A 1–2 10,322 Wilson
27 August 1996 Chesterfield A 0–1 3,561
7 September 1996 Blackpool A 1–2 5,176 Blake
10 September 1996 Wycombe Wanderers H 2–2 2,659 Wilson, Watson
14 September 1996 Gillingham H 1–0 3,419 Viveash
21 September 1996 Bristol City A 1–4 7,412 Lightbourne
24 September 1996 Wrexham H 0–1 2,832
28 September 1996 Bury H 3–1 3,254 Viveash, Lightbourne, Blake
1 October 1996 Bournemouth A 1–0 2,747 Hodge
5 October 1996 Luton Town A 1–3 5,002 Lightbourne
12 October 1996 Plymouth Argyle H 0–1 3,720
15 October 1996 Preston North End H 1–0 3,224 Wilson
19 October 1996 Brentford A 1–1 5,419 Lightbourne
26 October 1996 Stockport County H 1–1 3,767 Wilson (pen)
29 October 1996 Notts County A 0–2 3,127
2 November 1996 Millwall A 0–1 9,176
9 November 1996 Peterborough United H 4–0 3,921 Lightbourne (2), Wilson (pen), Donowa
23 November 1996 Crewe Alexandra H 1–0 3,653 Wilson
30 November 1996 Stockport County A 0–2 5,333
3 December 1996 Bristol Rovers H 1–0 4,084 Viveash
14 December 1996 Watford H 1–1 3,674 Keister
20 December 1996 Shrewsbury Town A 2–2 3,007 Viveash, Wilson
26 December 1996 Wycombe Wanderers A 2–0 5,073 Blake, Lightbourne
18 January 1997 Bournemouth H 2–1 3,037 Viveash, Lightbourne
25 January 1997 Notts County H 3–1 3,261 Viveash, Ntamark, Hodge
1 February 1997 Peterborough United A 1–0 4,940 Watson
8 February 1997 Millwall H 2–1 3,833 Watson, Viveash
11 February 1997 York City A 2–0 2,136 Lightbourne, Viveash
15 February 1997 Crewe Alexandra A 0–1 4,648
22 February 1997 York City H 1–1 3,664 Lightbourne
1 March 1997 Bristol Rovers A 1–0 5,891 Watson
4 March 1997 Bristol City H 2–0 4,322 Lightbourne (2)
8 March 1997 Shrewsbury Town H 2–2 4,819 Lightbourne, Ricketts
15 March 1997 Watford A 0–1 7,818
18 March 1997 Blackpool H 1–1 3,459 Hodge
22 March 1997 Burnley H 1–3 6,306 Lightbourne
29 March 1997 Rotherham United A 2–1 2,428 Lightbourne, Viveash
1 April 1997 Chesterfield H 1–1 3,784 Blake
5 April 1997 Wrexham A 2–1 3,266 Lightbourne, Watson
8 April 1997 Bury A 1–2 4,082 Lightbourne
12 April 1997 Luton Town H 3–2 5,415 Lightbourne (2), Hodge
19 April 1997 Plymouth Argyle A 0–2 5,535
26 April 1997 Brentford H 1–0 5,359 Lightbourne
29 April 1997 Gillingham A 0–2 4,095
3 May 1997 Preston North End A 0–2 10,800

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 16 November 1996 Northwich Victoria A 2–2 3,142 Wilson, Lightbourne
R1R 26 November 1996 Northwich Victoria H 3–1 3,491 Lightbourne (2), Wilson (pen)
R2 7 December 1996 Burnley H 1–1 5,031 Lightbourne
R2R 23 December 1996 Burnley A 1–1 (lost 2–4 on pens) 5,799 Viveash

League Cup

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Watford H 1–0 2,659 Lightbourne
R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Watford A 0–2 (lost 1–2 on agg) 5,325

Football League Trophy

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
SR2 21 January 1997 Peterborough United A 0–2 2,274

Squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Jimmy Walker
— GK Northern Ireland NIR Trevor Wood
— DF England ENG Ray Daniel
— DF Wales WAL Wayne Evans
— DF England ENG Chris Marsh
— DF England ENG Derek Mountfield
— DF England ENG Darren Rogers
— DF England ENG Ian Roper
— DF England ENG Stuart Ryder
— DF England ENG Adi Viveash
— MF England ENG Mark Blake
— MF England ENG Darren Bradley
— MF England ENG Louie Donowa
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Dean Keates
— MF Sierra Leone SLE John Keister
— MF Cameroon CMR Charlie Ntamark
— MF England ENG Wayne Thomas
— FW England ENG Darren Beckford
— FW England ENG Martin Butler
— FW England ENG John Hodge
— FW Bermuda BER Kyle Lightbourne
— FW England ENG Clive Platt
— FW England ENG Michael Ricketts
— FW England ENG Andy Watson
— FW England ENG Kevin Wilson

References

  1. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Walsall results for the 1996-1997 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. ^ "All Walsall players: 1997".