1996–97 Sheffield United F.C. season

Sheffield United
1996–97 season
ChairmanMike McDonald
ManagerHoward Kendall
StadiumBramall Lane
First Division5th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Pyotr Kachura/Andy Walker (12)
All:
Andy Walker (14)
Average home league attendance16,638

During the 1996–97 English football season, Sheffield United competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Howard Kendall's first full season in charge, the Blades finished fifth in Division One to qualify for the play-offs. In the play-off final at Wembley, the Blades lost to a last minute goal from David Hopkin and Crystal Palace earned the final promotion spot to the Premier League.[1] In June 1997, Kendall left the club by mutual consent to return to Everton for a third spell as manager.

Players

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Simon Tracey
— GK Republic of Ireland IRL Alan Kelly[notes 1]
— DF England ENG David Holdsworth
— DF England ENG Paul Parker
— DF England ENG Lee Sandford
— DF England ENG Chris Short[notes 2]
— DF England ENG Carl Tiler
— DF Netherlands NED Michel Vonk
— DF Norway NOR Roger Nilsen
— DF Australia AUS Doug Hodgson
— MF England ENG Graham Anthony
— MF England ENG Mark Beard
— MF England ENG John Ebbrell
— MF England ENG Charlie Hartfield
— MF England ENG Steve Hawes
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Nick Henry
— MF England ENG Paul Simpson (on loan from Derby County)
— MF England ENG Nigel Spackman
— MF England ENG Mitch Ward
— MF England ENG David White
— MF England ENG Dane Whitehouse
— MF Scotland SCO Don Hutchison[notes 3]
— FW England ENG Chris Bettney
— FW England ENG Mark Patterson
— FW England ENG Andy Scott
— FW England ENG Phil Starbuck
— FW Wales WAL Gareth Taylor[notes 4]
— FW Scotland SCO Andy Walker
— FW Norway NOR Jan Åge Fjørtoft
— FW Belarus BLR Pyotr Kachura

Final league table

Main article: 1996–97 Football League § First Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 22 10 14 68 51 +17 76 Qualification for the First Division play-offs
4 Ipswich Town 46 20 14 12 68 50 +18 74
5 Sheffield United 46 20 13 13 75 52 +23 73
6 Crystal Palace (O, P) 46 19 14 13 78 48 +30 71
7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 +6 68
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Matches

Source:[3]

Key

  Win   Draw   Loss

Division One

17 August 1996 Reading 1–0 Sheffield United Elm Park
15:00 Bernal Yellow card 80' Yellow-red card
Quinn 81'		 Attendance: 11,081
24 August 1996 Sheffield United 4–4 Birmingham City Bramall Lane
15:00 Taylor 45', 70'
Walker 67', 72'		 Furlong 9'
Newell 37'
Devlin 75' (pen.)
Hunt 83'		 Attendance: 16,332
7 September 1996 Oldham Athletic 0–2 Sheffield United Boundary Park
15:00 Hutchison 27'
Sandford 87'		 Attendance: 7,323
10 September 1996 Sheffield United 3–0 Bradford City Bramall Lane
19:45 Taylor 27'
Whitehouse 45', 58'		 Attendance: 12,591
14 September 1996 Sheffield United 1–3 Ipswich Town Bramall Lane
15:00 Ward 28' (pen.)
Vonk Yellow card 61' Yellow-red card		 14,261 Sedgley 63'
Scowcroft 77', 81'
21 September 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Sheffield United Molineux Stadium
15:00 Thompson 89' (pen.) White 76'
Taylor Red card 82'
Katchouro 90'		 Attendance: 25,170
28 September 1996 Sheffield United 2–0 Manchester City Bramall Lane
15:00 Ward 45' (pen.)
Taylor 49'		 Attendance: 20,867
1 October 1996 Southend United 3–2 Sheffield United Roots Hall
19:45 Boere 33', 71'
Marsh 54' (pen.)		 Walker 7', 34' Attendance: 3,716
12 October 1996 Sheffield United 0–0 Tranmere Rovers Bramall Lane
15:00 Attendance: 15,059
15 October 1996 Sheffield United 3–0 Charlton Athletic Bramall Lane
19:45 Katchouro 52', 54'
Walker 89'		 Attendance: 14,080
19 October 1996 Stoke City 0–4 Sheffield United Victoria Ground
15:00 Vonk 8', 19'
Walker 16'
Taylor 77'		 Attendance: 13,581
26 October 1996 Sheffield United 1–1 Queens Park Rangers Bramall Lane
15:00 Taylor 83' Slade 19' Attendance: 17,096
30 October 1996 Norwich City 1–1 Sheffield United Carrow Road
19:45 Adams 71' Katchouro 24' Attendance: 14,534
3 November 1996 Grimsby Town 2–4 Sheffield United Blundell Park
13:00 Livingstone 33', 50' Hutchison 27'
Whitehouse 44', 82'
Katchouro 80'		 Attendance: 5,935
13 November 1996 West Bromwich Albion 1–2 Sheffield United The Hawthorns
19:45 Coldicott 80' Walker 57'
Hutchison 60'		 Attendance: 12,167
16 November 1996 Port Vale 0–0 Sheffield United Vale Park
15:00 Attendance: 8,352
22 November 1996 Sheffield United 1–1 Bolton Wanderers Bramall Lane
19:45 Taylor 41' Blake 10' Attendance: 17,069
26 November 1996 Sheffield United 2–0 Swindon Town Bramall Lane
19:45 Taylor 6'
Katchouro 61'		 Attendance: 12,301
30 November 1996 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Sheffield United Loftus Road
15:00 Barker 36' (pen.) Attendance: 11,891
3 December 1996 Sheffield United 3–1 Huddersfield Town Bramall Lane
19:45 Sandford 34'
Patterson 38'
White 61'		 Payton 14' Attendance: 14,700
7 December 1996 Sheffield United 1–0 Portsmouth Bramall Lane
15:00 Katchouro 14' Attendance: 16,333
14 December 1996 Oxford United 4–1 Sheffield United Manor Ground
15:00 Aldridge 13', 21', 33'
Jemson 82'		 Walker 88' Attendance: 7,737
17 December 1996 Crystal Palace 0–1 Sheffield United Selhurst Park
19:45 Walker 44' Attendance: 12,801
21 December 1996 Sheffield United 0–1 Barnsley Bramall Lane
15:00 Hendrie 85' Attendance: 24,384
26 December 1996 Bradford City 1–2 Sheffield United Valley Parade
13:00 Jacobs 37'
Dreyer Yellow card 77' Yellow-red card		 Hodgson 26'
Scott 47'		 Attendance: 17,475
28 December 1996 Sheffield United 2–2 Oldham Athletic Bramall Lane
15:00 Taylor 6'
Katchouro 70'		 Henry 35'
Rickers 80'		 Attendance: 16,130
18 January 1997 Sheffield United 3–0 Southend United Bramall Lane
15:00 Katchouro 15'
White 50'
Taylor 61'		 Attendance: 15,049
24 January 1997 Sheffield United 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bramall Lane
19:45 White 24', 82' Atkins 19'
Osborn 25'
Bull 88'		 Attendance: 17,490
29 January 1997 Manchester City 0–0 Sheffield United Maine Road
19:45 Attendance: 26,551
1 February 1997 Swindon Town 2–1 Sheffield United County Ground
15:00 Elkins 57'
Holdsworth 70' (o.g.)		 Holdsworth 80' Attendance: 8,811
9 February 1997 Sheffield United 2–3 Norwich City Bramall Lane
12:00 Katchouro 15'
Walker 79'		 Johnson 55'
Ottosson 74'
Holdsworth 83' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 15,301
15 February 1997 Bolton Wanderers 2–2 Sheffield United Burnden Park
15:00 Paatelainen 4'
Fairclough 20'		 Fjørtoft 7'
Katchouro 55'		 Attendance: 17,922
22 February 1997 Sheffield United 3–1 Grimsby Town Bramall Lane
15:00 Fjørtoft 45', 62', 68' Lester 42' Attendance: 17,502
1 March 1997 Portsmouth 1–1 Sheffield United Fratton Park
15:00 Haul 19' Fjørtoft 54' Attendance: 12,715
4 March 1997 Sheffield United 3–0 Port Vale Bramall Lane
19:45 Ward 62' (pen.)
Taylor 79'
Fjørtoft 82'		 Attendance: 14,950
7 March 1997 Barnsley 2–0 Sheffield United Oakwell
19:45 Hendrie 36'
Eaden 83'		 Attendance: 14,668
15 March 1997 Sheffield United 3–1 Oxford United Bramall Lane
15:00 Whitehouse 11'
Fjørtoft 35'
Walker 43'		 Gilchrist 40' Attendance: 16,226
18 March 1997 Ipswich Town 3–1 Sheffield United Portman Road
19:45 Gregory 1', 11', 37' Fjørtoft 21' Attendance: 10,374
22 March 1997 Birmingham City 1–1 Sheffield United St Andrews
15:00 Legg 53' Katchouro 64' Attendance: 14,969
29 March 1997 Sheffield United 2–0 Reading Bramall Lane
15:00 Bodin 11' (o.g.)
Walker 49'		 Attendance: 15,153
31 March 1997 Huddersfield Town 2–1 Sheffield United Galpharm Stadium
15:00 Dalton 1'
Cowan 18'
Dyson Red card 47'		 Sinnott 16' (o.g.)
Henry Red card 54'		 Attendance: 14,551
5 April 1997 Sheffield United 1–2 West Bromwich Albion Bramall Lane
15:00 Fjørtoft 69' Coldicott 16'
Taylor 72'		 Attendance: 15,004
12 April 1997 Sheffield United 3–0 Crystal Palace Bramall Lane
15:00 Ward 2' (pen.)
Fjørtoft 19'
White 89'		 Attendance: 20,051
19 March 1997 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Sheffield United Prenton Park
15:00 Jones 26' Whitehouse 50' Attendance: 10,027
25 April 1997 Sheffield United 1–0 Stoke City Bramall Lane
15:00 Tiler 66' Attendance: 25,596
4 May 1997 Charlton Athletic 0–0 Sheffield United The Valley
13:00 Attendance: 12,589

Playoffs

10 May 1997 Semi-final first leg Sheffield United 1–1 Ipswich Town Bramall Lane
15:00 Fjørtoft 41' Stockwell 78' Attendance: 22,312
14 May 1997 Semi-final second leg Ipswich Town 2–2
(a.e.t.)		 Sheffield United Portman Road
19:45 Scowcroft 32'
Gudmundsson 73'		 Katchouro 9'
Walker 77'
Henry Red card 110'		 Attendance: 21,467
26 May 1997 Final Crystal Palace 1–0 Sheffield United Wembley Stadium
15:00 Hopkin 90' Attendance: 64,383

FA Cup

4 January 1997 Round 3 Norwich City 1–0 Sheffield United Carrow Road
15:00 Polston 32' Attendance: 12,356

League Cup

20 August 1996 Round 1 Sheffield United 3–0 Bradford City Bramall Lane
19:45 Vonk 8'
White 69'
Walker 76'		 Attendance: 7,575
3 September 1996 Round 1 Bradford City 1–2 Sheffield United Valley Parade
19:45 Stallard 68' Ward 66'
Walker 77' (pen.)		 Attendance: 3,593
17 September 1996 Round 2 Stockport County 2–1 Sheffield United Edgeley Park
19:45 Flynn 23'
Bennett 39'		 Vonk 49' Attendance: 4,004
24 September 1996 Round 2 Sheffield United 2–5 Stockport County Bramall Lane
19:45 Taylor 34'
Katchouro 65'		 Gannon 25'
Armstrong 30', 81'
Bennett 33'
Angell 62'		 Attendance: 6,285

Steel City Cup

27 August 1996 Sheffield United 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday Bramall Lane
19:45 Scott ?'
Walker ?'
Starbuck ?'
Sandford ?'		 Unknown ?' Attendance: 7,271

Friendlies

18 July 1996 Sarawak Malaysia 1–2 Sheffield United Sarawak Stadium
Walker ?'
Hutchison ?'		 Attendance: 10,000
23 July 1996 Sabah Malaysia 0–0 Sheffield United Likas Stadium
25 July 1996 Sarawak XI Malaysia 0–3 Sheffield United Sarawak Stadium
Walker ?'
Hartfield ?'
Starbuck ?'
5 August 1996 Linfield Northern Ireland 0–0 Sheffield United Windsor Park
7 August 1996 Glenavon Northern Ireland 0–4 Sheffield United Mourneview Park
Walker ?'
Hodgson ?', ?'
Ward ?'
12 August 1996 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0–3 Sheffield United Bracken Moor
Walker ?', ?'
Unknown ?' (o.g.)

References

  1. ^ Stenson, Tony (27 May 1997). "COP STEP AND JUMP INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE". The Mirror. London.
  2. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. pp. 296–297. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.

Notes

  1. ^ Kelly was born in Preston, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his father and represented them at U-23 level before making his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1993.
  2. ^ Short was born in Münster, West Germany (now Germany), but was raised in England.
  3. ^ Hutchison was born in Gateshead, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Scotland in March 1999, having previously represented them at B level.
  4. ^ Taylor was born in Weston-super-Mare, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally through his father and made his international debut for Wales in 1995.