Stockport County
1996–97 season
ChairmanBrendan Elwood
ManagerDave Jones
StadiumEdgeley Park
Second Division2nd (promoted)
FA CupFourth round
League CupSemi finals
Football League TrophyNorthern final
Top goalscorerLeague: Angell (15)
All: Angell (19)
Average home league attendance6,424

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

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Bury 46 24 12 10 62 38 +24 84 Division Champions, promoted
2 Stockport County 46 23 13 10 59 41 +18 82 Promoted
3 Luton Town 46 21 15 10 71 45 +26 78 Participated in play-offs
4 Brentford 46 20 14 12 56 43 +13 74
5 Bristol City 46 21 10 15 69 51 +18 73
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Stockport County's score comes first[3]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Crewe AlexandraA0–14,310
24 August 1996Notts CountyH0–05,271
27 August 1996BournemouthH0–13,446
31 August 1996Bristol RoversA1–16,380Jeffers
7 September 1996WatfordA0–17,208
10 September 1996WrexhamH0–24,244
14 September 1996Plymouth ArgyleH3–15,087Gannon (2), Armstrong
21 September 1996York CityA2–13,061Angell (2)
28 September 1996GillinghamH2–16,049Armstrong, Morris (own goal)
2 October 1996MillwallA4–37,537Durkan, Armstrong (2), Gannon
5 October 1996BurnleyA2–510,332Angell, Mutch
12 October 1996Preston North EndH1–08,405Angell
15 October 1996Luton TownH1–15,352Angell
19 October 1996Wycombe WanderersA2–04,017Angell (2)
26 October 1996WalsallA1–13,767Durkan
29 October 1996ChesterfieldH1–04,831Dinning
2 November 1996Bristol CityH1–16,654Bennett
9 November 1996BrentfordA2–25,076Angell, Cavaco
19 November 1996BlackpoolH1–04,572Bennett
23 November 1996Shrewsbury TownA2–32,865Angell, Marsden
30 November 1996WalsallH2–05,333Angell (2)
3 December 1996Rotherham UnitedA1–02,133Durkan
14 December 1996Peterborough UnitedH0–05,748
21 December 1996BuryA0–05,069
26 December 1996WrexhamA3–26,736Armstrong, Gannon, Dinning (pen)
18 January 1997MillwallH5–17,502Mutch, Armstrong (pen), Flynn, Cavaco (2)
1 February 1997BrentfordH1–28,650Cavaco
7 February 1997Bristol CityA1–113,186Armstrong
15 February 1997Shrewsbury TownH3–16,712Angell (2), Armstrong
22 February 1997BlackpoolA1–25,772Linighan (own goal)
1 March 1997Rotherham UnitedH0–06,147
8 March 1997BuryH2–18,170Mutch, Jeffers
15 March 1997Peterborough UnitedA2–04,857Cavaco, Marsden
22 March 1997Notts CountyA2–14,238Flynn, Hogg (own goal)
29 March 1997Crewe AlexandraH1–07,411Cooper
1 April 1997BournemouthA0–05,476
5 April 1997Bristol RoversH1–05,689Cooper (pen)
8 April 1997Plymouth ArgyleA0–05,089
12 April 1997BurnleyH1–09,187Mutch
14 April 1997WatfordH1–07,164Jeffers
16 April 1997GillinghamA0–14,485
19 April 1997Preston North EndA0–110,298
22 April 1997York CityH2–16,654Bennett, Angell
26 April 1997Wycombe WanderersH2–19,463Armstrong, Forsyth (own goal)
28 April 1997ChesterfieldA1–08,690Angell
3 May 1997Luton TownA1–19,347Cooper (pen)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996Doncaster RoversH2–14,211Flynn, Mutch
R27 December 1996Mansfield TownA3–03,354Kilcline (own goal), Durkan (2)
R315 January 1997Stoke CityA2–09,961Durkan, Armstrong
R425 January 1997Birmingham CityA1–318,487Angell

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996ChesterfieldH2–13,088Mutch (2)
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996ChesterfieldA2–1 (won 4–2 on agg)3,334Ware, Mutch
R2 1st Leg17 September 1996Sheffield UnitedH2–14,004Flynn, Bennett
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996Sheffield UnitedA5–2 (won 7–3 on agg)6,285Gannon, Armstrong (2), Bennett, Angell
R322 October 1996Blackburn RoversA1–014,622Sherwood (own goal)
R427 November 1996West Ham UnitedA1–120,061Cavaco
R4R18 December 1996West Ham UnitedH2–19,834Dowie (own goal), Angell
QF22 January 1997SouthamptonH2–29,840Armstrong, Cavaco
QFR29 January 1997SouthamptonA2–113,428Angell, Mutch
SF 1st Leg26 February 1997MiddlesbroughH0–211,778
SF 2nd Leg12 March 1997MiddlesbroughA1–0 (lost 1–2 on agg)29,633Connelly

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR110 December 1996Doncaster RoversA2–1988
NR24 February 1997BurnleyA1–04,251
NQF11 February 1997BuryA2–1 (a.e.t.)2,497
NSF4 March 1997Crewe AlexandraA1–1 (won 5–3 on pens)3,529
NF 1st Leg18 March 1997Carlisle UnitedA0–27,057
NF 2nd Leg25 March 1997Carlisle UnitedH0–0 (lost 0–2 on agg)8,593

Squad

[4] 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 Wales WAL Neil Edwards
— GK Wales WAL Paul Jones
— GK England ENG Lea Jones
— DF England ENG Matthew Bound
— DF England ENG Sean Connelly
— DF England ENG Jeff Eckhardt
— DF England ENG Mike Flynn
— DF England ENG Jim Gannon
— DF Wales WAL Damon Searle
— DF England ENG Lee Todd
— MF Scotland SCO Tom Bennett
— MF Portugal POR Luís Cavaco
— MF England ENG Kevin Cooper (on loan from Derby County)
— MF England ENG Gordon Cowans
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Tony Dinning
— MF Republic of Ireland IRL Kieron Durkan
— MF England ENG John Jeffers
— MF England ENG Chris Marsden
— MF England ENG Lee Marshall
— MF Canada CAN Martin Nash
— MF England ENG Paul Ware
— FW England ENG Brett Angell
— FW England ENG Alun Armstrong
— FW Saint Lucia LCA Ken Charlery
— FW Portugal POR Kiko
— FW England ENG Richard Landon
— FW England ENG Adie Mike
— FW England ENG Andy Mutch

References

  1. 1 2 "Dave Jones factfile". Telegraph, 3 January 2001. London. 3 January 2001. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  2. ↑ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Stockport County results for the 1996-1997 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Stockport FC Player Appearances | Past & Present | Soccer Base".
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