1996–97 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season

Crewe Alexandra
1996–97 season
Chairman John Bowler
Manager Dario Gradi
Stadium Gresty Road
Second Division 6th (promoted via play-offs)
Play-offs Winners
FA Cup Third round
League Cup First round
Football League Trophy Northern semi finals
Top goalscorer League: Adebola (16)
All: Adebola (18)
Average home league attendance 3,978

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

Season summary

In the 1996-97 season, Crewe had a great season by reaching the play-offs by finishing in the final play-off position, which was achieved on the final day by earning a 1-1 draw at York that was required as Blackpool had scored more goals which meant knowing a defeat and a Blackpool win at Wrexham would see Crewe slip out of the top six and Blackpool would have still had a chance of promotion. Blackpool though lost 2-1 so it didn't matter in the end with Crewe's result. In the play-offs, they beat Luton, who just missed out on automatic promotion, 4-3 on aggregate to get to Wembley and achieved promotion with a 1-0 win against Brentford.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1 Bury 461850397671023316238+2484
2 Stockport County 461553311488728275941+1882
3 Luton Town 461373381488733317145+2678
4 Brentford 4681142622123830215643+1374
5 Bristol City 4614454318761026336951+1873
6 Crewe Alexandra 4615443815731318325647+973
7 Blackpool 4613734121581019266047+1369
8 Wrexham 461193382869817225450+469
9 Burnley 4614364827581023287155+1668
10 Chesterfield 4610942518851017214239+368
11 Gillingham 4613373725671023346059+167
12 Walsall 4612833521721419325453+167
13 Watford 4610852414611621244538+767
14 Millwall 4612472722491023335055–561
15 Preston North End 4614543319421716364955–661
16 Bournemouth 468962420761019254345–260
17 Bristol Rovers 4613463422271413284750–356
18 Wycombe Wanderers 4613463114261520435156–555
19 Plymouth Argyle 4671151918571128404758–1154
20 York City 468692731571120374768–2152
21 Peterborough United 467793834471217395573–1847
22 Shrewsbury Town 468692732371322424974–2546
23 Rotherham United 4647121729371322413970–3135
24 Notts County 4649102025351513343359–2635
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Participated in play-offs
Promoted through play-offs
Relegated

Results

Crewe Alexandra's score comes first[2]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996 Stockport CountyH1–04,310Tierney
24 August 1996 Peterborough UnitedA2–26,357Ellison (2)
27 August 1996 Preston North EndA1–29,498Murphy
31 August 1996 WatfordH0–23,655
7 September 1996 BournemouthA1–03,218Savage
10 September 1996 BuryH2–03,627Tierney, Barr
14 September 1996 WrexhamH3–14,469Adebola (2), Tierney
21 September 1996 MillwallA0–29,320
28 September 1996 Plymouth ArgyleH3–03,797Barr, Adebola, Murphy
1 October 1996 BlackpoolH3–24,314Rivers, Adebola, Macauley
4 October 1996 Bristol RoversA0–26,211
12 October 1996 BrentfordH2–04,313Rivers, S Smith (pen)
15 October 1996 York CityH0–13,463
19 October 1996 ChesterfieldA0–14,030
26 October 1996 Shrewsbury TownA1–03,878Murphy
29 October 1996 Rotherham UnitedH1–03,162Barr
2 November 1996 Wycombe WanderersH3–03,636Adebola, Whalley, Murphy
9 November 1996 BurnleyA0–29,459
23 November 1996 WalsallA0–13,653
30 November 1996 Shrewsbury TownH5–14,035Murphy, S Smith, Rivers (2), Whalley
3 December 1996 GillinghamA1–23,575Rivers
14 December 1996 Luton TownA0–65,455
20 December 1996 Notts CountyH3–03,125Adebola (2), Charnock
28 December 1996 BournemouthH2–03,687Adebola (2)
11 January 1997 Plymouth ArgyleA0–15,036
18 January 1997 BlackpoolA2–14,760Murphy, Adebola
25 January 1997 Rotherham UnitedA4–12,832Adebola (2), Murphy, S Smith
1 February 1997 BurnleyH1–14,734Macauley
8 February 1997 Wycombe WanderersA0–24,902
15 February 1997 WalsallH1–04,648Murphy
22 February 1997 Bristol CityA0–311,306
1 March 1997 GillinghamH3–23,555Barr (2), Murphy
8 March 1997 Notts CountyA1–04,047Rivers
15 March 1997 Luton TownH0–04,475
18 March 1997 MillwallH0–03,695
22 March 1997 Peterborough UnitedH1–13,565Murphy
25 March 1997 Bristol CityH1–23,687Westwood
29 March 1997 Stockport CountyA0–17,411
31 March 1997 Preston North EndH1–04,407Adebola
5 April 1997 WatfordA1–012,441Whalley
12 April 1997 Bristol RoversH1–04,281Adebola
15 April 1997 BuryA0–14,725
19 April 1997 BrentfordA2–06,183Adebola, S Smith
22 April 1997 WrexhamA1–14,643Johnson
26 April 1997 ChesterfieldH1–24,858Adebola
3 May 1997 York CityA1–14,366Westwood

Second Division play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SF 1st Leg 11 May 1997 Luton TownH2–15,467Rivers, Little
SF 2nd Leg 14 May 1997 Luton TownA2–2 (won 4-3 on agg)8,168Little, S Smith
F25 May 1997 BrentfordN1–034,149S Smith

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996 Kidderminster HarriersH4–14,651Macauley, Murphy (2), Lightfoot
R27 December 1996 Hull CityA5–13,756Garvey, Murphy, Adebola, S Smith, Brien (own goal)
R314 January 1997 WimbledonH1–15,011Westwood
R3R21 January 1997 WimbledonA0–24,951

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Port ValeA0–15,236
R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Port ValeH1–5 (lost 1-6 on agg)4,471Adebola

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR228 January 1997 Plymouth ArgyleA1–02,216
NQF4 February 1997 BlackpoolH1–03,033
NSF28 January 1997 Stockport CountyH1–1 (lost 3-5 on pens)3,529

Squad

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

No. Position Player
Nigeria GK Ademola Bankole
England GK Neil Cutler
England GK Mark Gayle
Australia GK Jason Kearton
Australia GK Steve Mautone (on loan from West Ham United)
England GK Martin Taylor (on loan from Derby County)
England DF Billy Barr
England DF Peter Billing
England DF Ryan Kirby
England DF Chris Lightfoot
England DF Steve Macauley
England DF Steve Pope
England DF Shaun Smith
England DF Lee Unsworth
England DF Ashley Westwood
England MF Phil Charnock
No. Position Player
England MF Jamie Collins
England MF Steve Garvey
England MF Seth Johnson
England MF Brian Launders
England MF Danny Murphy
Wales MF Robbie Savage
England MF Kevin Street
England MF Francis Tierney
England MF Gareth Whalley
Nigeria FW Dele Adebola
England FW Steve Anthrobus
England FW Lee Ellison
England FW Colin Little
England FW Jamie Moralee
England FW Mark Rivers
Wales FW Peter Smith

References

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