Birmingham City F.C.
1996–97 season
ChairmanJack Wiseman
ManagerTrevor Francis
GroundSt Andrew's
Football League Division One10th
FA CupFifth round
(eliminated by Wrexham)
League CupSecond round
(eliminated by Coventry City)
Top goalscorerLeague: Paul Devlin (16)
All: Paul Devlin (19)
Highest home attendance25,157 vs Bradford City, 12 October 1996
Lowest home attendance13,189 vs Southend United, 8 March 1997
Average home league attendance17,732[1]

The 1996–97 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 94th in the Football League. They finished in tenth position in the 24-team Division One, the second tier of the English football league system. They entered the 1996–97 FA Cup at the third round, losing to Wrexham in the fifth, and entered the League Cup in the first round and lost to Coventry City in the second.

Season summary

This was the first season under the managership of playing legend Trevor Francis, appointed in May 1996 after the dismissal of previous incumbent Barry Fry.[2][3] Francis introduced players with top-level experience such as Manchester United captain Steve Bruce. There were a significant number of transfers and loans with Peterborough United, Fry's new team.

Football League First Division

Match details

DateLeague
position		Opponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
18 August 1996 8thCrystal PalaceH W1–0Devlin 25' 18,765
24 August 1996 5thSheffield UnitedA D4–4Furlong 9', Newell 37', Devlin 75' pen., Hunt 83' 16,332
7 September 1996 20thTranmere RoversA L0–1 8,548
10 September 1996 19thOldham AthleticH D0–0 17,228
14 September 1996 14thStoke CityH W3–1Furlong (2) 2', 65', Legg 32 18,612
21 September 1996 17thManchester CityA L0–1 26,757
28 September 1996 18thQueens Park RangersH D0–0 17,430
8 October 1996 23rdHuddersfield TownA L0–3 10,904
12 October 1996 18thBradford CityH W3–0Devlin (2) 1', 50', Hunt 88' 25,157
15 October 1996 11thIpswich TownH W1–0Bowen 50' 15,664
18 October 1996 13thOxford UnitedA D0–0 7,594 [4]
26 October 1996 15thNorwich CityH L2–3Devlin (2) 40', 86' 18,869
29 October 1996 16thPortsmouthA D1–1Furlong 22' 6,334
2 November 1996 20thPort ValeA L0–3 8,388
13 November 1996 16thBolton WanderersH W3–1Furlong 55', Bowen 56', Todd 81' o.g. 17,033
17 November 1996 14thWolverhampton WanderersA W2–1Breen 8', Legg 58' 22,627
20 November 1996 14thCharlton AthleticA L1–2Legg 13' 8,574
23 November 1996 10thSwindon TownH W1–0Furlong 29' 16,559
26 November 1996 9thReadingA D0–0 8,407
30 November 1996 7thNorwich CityA W1–0O'Connor 62' 12,764
3 December 1996 8thBarnsleyH D0–0 24,004
7 December 1996 8thGrimsby TownH D0–0 17,001
20 December 1996 9thSouthend UnitedA D1–1Devlin 88' 5,100
10 January 1997 18thStoke CityA L0–1 10,049
18 January 1997 15thReadingH W4–1Furlong 33', Devlin (2) 56' pen., 75, Gilkes 89' o.g. 15,363
29 January 1997 15thQueens Park RangersA D1–1Devlin 36' 12,138
1 February 1997 16thBolton WanderersA L1–2Devlin 56' 16,737
4 February 1997 17thWest Bromwich AlbionH L2–3O'Connor 14', Devlin 55' pen. 21,600
8 February 1997 19thPortsmouthH L0–3 15,897
23 February 1997 20thPort ValeH L1–2Devlin 8' pen. 13,192
26 February 1997 20thSwindon TownA L1–3Ablett 22' 7,428
1 March 1997 20thGrimsby TownA W2–1O'Connor 60', Forster 61' 17,609
4 March 1997 20thWolverhampton WanderersH L1–2Forster 70' 19,838
8 March 1997 20thSouthend UnitedH W2–1Forster 6', O'Connor 37' pen. 13,189
13 March 1997 16thManchester CityH W2–0Furlong 51' pen., Francis 69' 20,084
16 March 1997 19thWest Bromwich AlbionA L0–2 16,125
22 March 1997 19thSheffield UnitedH D1–1Legg 53' 14,969
29 March 1997 18thCrystal PalaceA W1–0Grainger 41' 16,331
31 March 1997 16thCharlton AthleticH D0–0 14,525
5 April 1997 13thBarnsleyA W1–0Grainger 12' 13,092
8 April 1997 13thOldham AthleticA D2–2Furlong 17', Grainger 30' 5,942
12 April 1997 12thHuddersfield TownH W1–0Jenkins 90' o.g. 14,394
15 April 1997 12thTranmere RoversH D0–0 22,364
19 April 1997 12thBradford CityA W2–0Devlin 22', Furlong 86' 15,824
26 April 1997 10thOxford UnitedH W2–0Devlin 54', Bowen 87' 16,109
4 May 1997 10thIpswich TownA D1–1Devlin 81' 20,570

League table (part)

Final Division One table (part)
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts
8th Port Vale461716135855+367
9th Queens Park Rangers461812166460+466
10th Birmingham City461715145248+466
11th Tranmere Rovers461714156356+765
12th Stoke City461810185157+664
Key Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played;
W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;
F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Source [5]

Note that goals scored took precedence over goal difference as a tiebreaker in the Football League.[5]

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 17 15 14 52 48  +4 66 11 7 5 30 18  +12 6 8 9 22 30  −8

Source: [5]

FA Cup

Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
Third round 4 January 1997Stevenage BoroughHa W2–0Francis 27', Devlin 64' pen. 15,365 [6]
Fourth round 25 January 1997Stockport CountyH W3–1Furlong 29', Devlin 48', Francis 69' 18,487
Fifth round 25 January 1997WrexhamH L1–3Bruce 37' 21,511
a. The match was drawn to be played at Stevenage Borough's Broadhall Way ground, but the venue was switched on police advice.[6]

League Cup

Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
First round 1st leg 21 August 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionA W1–0Devlin 49' pen. 5,132
First round 2nd leg 4 September 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionH W2–0
3–0 agg.		Newell (2) 40', 86' 20,050
Second round 1st leg 18 September 1996Coventry CityA D1–1Daish 88' 11,828
Second round 2nd leg 24 September 1996Coventry CityH L0–1
1–2 agg.		 15,281

Transfers

In

Date Player Club† Fee Ref
August 1996Steve SuttonDerby CountyFree [7]
28 October 1996Chris HollandNewcastle United£600,000 [7]
November 1996Martyn O'ConnorPeterborough United£500,000a [8]
20 January 1997Anders LimparEverton£100,000 [9]
27 January 1997Kenny BrownWest Ham United£75,000 [10]
January 1997Nicky ForsterBrentford£700,000 [11]
March 1997Bryan HughesWrexham£800,000 [12]
May 1997Darren WassallDerby CountyUndisclosedb [13]
a. The deal also included Andy Edwards moving in the other direction.[8]
b. The move was part of the deal in which Jonathan Hunt moved in the other direction for a £500,000 fee.[13]

Out

Date Player Fee Joined† Ref
September 1996Paul Barnes£350,000Burnley [14]
October 1996Bart Griemink£25,000Peterborough United [15]
October 1996Steve Finnan£300,000Notts County [16]
October 1996Gary Poole£250,000Charlton Athletic [16]
November 1996Jae Martin£25,000Lincoln City [17]
November 1996Andy EdwardsUndisclosedaPeterborough United [8]
December 1996John Cornforth£25,000Wycombe Wanderers [18]
January 1997Gary Breen£2.5mCoventry City [11]
10 February 1997Louie DonowaFreePeterborough United [19]
27 March 1997John FrainFreeNorthampton Town [20]
15 April 1997Anders LimparContract cancelled(AIK) [21]
May 1997Jonathan Hunt£500,000bDerby County [13]
June 1997Wayne DyerReleased
June 1997Steve CastleReleased
June 1997Steve SuttonReleased
† Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.
a. The move was part of the deal in which Martyn O'Connor moved in the other direction for a £500,000 fee.[8]
b. The deal also included Darren Wassall moving in the other direction.[13]

Loan in

Date Player Club Return Ref
3 September 1996 Chris HollandNewcastle United28 October 1996 [7]
October 1996 Marco GabbiadiniDerby CountyOne month [4]
28 November 1996 Terry CookeManchester UnitedOne month [22]
23 December 1996 Birkir KristinssonSK Brann1 February 1997 [23]
28 December 1996 Kenny BrownWest Ham UnitedOne month [10]
26 March 1997 Darren WassallDerby CountyEnd of season [24]

Loan out

Date Player Club Return Ref
21 August 1996Jae MartinLincoln CityThree months [17]
9 September 1996Bart GrieminkBarnsleyOne months [25]
19 September 1996Ricky OttoCharlton AthleticTwo months [26]
1 October 1996Jon BassCarlisle UnitedOne month [27]
19 December 1996Mike NewellWest Ham UnitedFebruary 1997 [28]
24 January 1997John FrainNorthampton Town27 March 1997 [20]
3 February 1997Steve CastleLeyton OrientOne month [29]
6 February 1997Louie DonowaWalsallEnd of season [19]
13 December 1996Louie DonowaPeterborough UnitedTwo months [19]
6 February 1997Ricky OttoPeterborough UnitedEnd of season [26]
17 March 1997Mike NewellBradford CityEnd of season [28]

Appearances and goals

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with name struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
Players included in matchday squads
Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsA yellow rectangular cardA red rectangular card
GK ENG Ian Bennett 400304047000
GK NED Bart Griemink† 0000000000
GK ISL Birkir Kristinsson*† 0000000000
GK ENG Steve Sutton 6000006000
DF ENG Gary Ablett 39 (3)1304046 (3)160
DF ENG Dave Barnett 6000006000
DF ENG Jon Bass 11 (2)0100011 (2)010
DF IRE Gary Breen† 20 (2)1104025 (2)100
DF ENG Kenny Brown 110100012000
DF ENG Steve Bruce 30 (2)0314037 (2)190
DF ENG Andy Edwards† 1 (2)000102 (2)000
DF IRE Steve Finnan 3000003000
DF ENG John Frain† 1000001000
DF ENG Martin Grainger 21 (2)3200023 (2)361
DF ENG Matt Jackson*† 100000010010
DF JAM Michael Johnson 28 (7)01 (2)00 (2)029 (11)050
DF ENG Gary Poole† 9 (1)0003012 (1)041
DF ENG Darren Wassall* 8000008030
MF WAL Jason Bowen 19 (6)31 (2)01 (1)021 (9)310
MF ENG Steve Castle 4 (4)000408 (4)020
MF ENG Terry Cooke*† 1 (3)000001 (3)000
MF SCO Paul Devlin 32 (6)16323 (1)138 (7)1962
MF ENG Louie Donowa† 0 (4)000101 (4)010
MF ENG Chris Holland 28 (4)0300031 (4)010
MF WAL Barry Horne 330304040040
MF ENG Bryan Hughes 10 (1)0000010 (1)000
MF ENG Jonathan Hunt 6 (6)2100 (2)07 (8)200
MF WAL Andy Legg 22 (11)42 (1)03 (1)027 (13)460
MF SWE Anders Limpar† 3 (1)010004 (1)010
MF ENG Martyn O'Connor 24 (4)0000024 (4)011
MF ENG Ricky Otto 1 (3)000001 (3)000
MF ENG Steve Robinson 6 (3)000006 (3)000
MF ENG Paul Tait 17 (9)0100 (1)018 (10)040
FW ENG Nicky Forster 4 (3)300004 (3)300
FW SKN Kevin Francis 4 (15)11 (1)2005 (16)330
FW ENG Paul Furlong 37 (6)10214143 (6)1251
FW ENG Marco Gabbiadini*† 0 (2)000000 (2)000
FW ENG Mike Newell 11 (4)10 (1)04215 (5)330
Players not included in matchday squads
Pos. Nat. Name
FW ENG Paul Barnes†
MF WAL John Cornforth†
MF ENG Wayne Dyer
FW ENG Jae Martin†

See also

Sources

  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  • Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
  • For match dates, league positions and results: "Birmingham City 1996–1997: Results". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • For lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 428–29.
  • For goal times: "Birmingham Results 1996/97". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • For transfers: "Birmingham Transfers 1996/97". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • For discipline: individual player pages linked from "Birmingham Squad details 1996/97". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013. Note that the Soccerbase figures omit appearances in the away game at Norwich City, so the figures above omit any disciplinary cards received in that game.

References

  1. ↑ "English historical attendance and performance: Birmingham City". European Football Statistics. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Shaw, Phil (8 May 1996). "Francis fancied as Fry is sacked". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ↑ "Francis returns to St Andrew's". The Independent. London. 11 May 1996. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Football: Another blank away day for Birmingham". The Independent. London. 19 October 1996. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Birmingham City 1996–1997 : English Division One Table". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  6. 1 2 Culley, Jon (5 January 1997). "Sodje's flaw fells Stevenage". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "Chris Holland: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "O'Connor leaves Canaries smartin'". The Mirror. London. 2 December 1996. p. 4. Retrieved 3 May 2022 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  9. ↑ "Anders Limpar: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Kenny Brown: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  11. 1 2 "On the move". The Independent. London. 2 February 1997. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "First Division". The Mirror. London. 22 March 1997. p. 32. Retrieved 3 May 2022 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "On the move". The Independent. London. 25 May 1997. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "On the move". The Independent. London. 8 September 1996. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  15. ↑ Oakes, Peter (13 October 1996). "Red-face start for Bart". The People. London. p. 62. Retrieved 3 May 2022 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  16. 1 2 "Northampton Town manager turns down approach from Cardiff". The Independent. London. 31 October 1996. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Jae Martin: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "On the move". The Independent. London. 8 December 1996. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 "Louie Donowa: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  20. 1 2 "John Frain: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Davies, Ian (16 April 1997). "Boro given final piece of fixture jigsaw". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Terry Cooke: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Landsliðsmarkvörðurinn Birkir Kristinsson með Birmingham til 1. február" [International goalkeeper Birkir Kristinsson with Birmingham until 1 February]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Iceland. 24 December 1996. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Darren Wassall: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  25. ↑ "Bart Griemink: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  26. 1 2 "Ricky Otto: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  27. ↑ "Jon Bass: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  28. 1 2 "Mike Newell: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  29. ↑ "Steve Castle: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
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