1996–97 Stockport County F.C. season

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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
← 
1997–98 →

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[citation needed]. 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[]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League
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:[citation needed]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results[]

Stockport County's score comes first[2]

Legend[]

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division[]

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1996 Crewe Alexandra A 0–1 4,310
24 August 1996 Notts County H 0–0 5,271
27 August 1996 Bournemouth H 0–1 3,446
31 August 1996 Bristol Rovers A 1–1 6,380 Jeffers
7 September 1996 Watford A 0–1 7,208
10 September 1996 Wrexham H 0–2 4,244
14 September 1996 Plymouth Argyle H 3–1 5,087 Gannon (2), Armstrong
21 September 1996 York City A 2–1 3,061 Angell (2)
28 September 1996 Gillingham H 2–1 6,049 Armstrong, Morris (own goal)
2 October 1996 Millwall A 4–3 7,537 Durkan, Armstrong (2), Gannon
5 October 1996 Burnley A 2–5 10,332 Angell, Mutch
12 October 1996 Preston North End H 1–0 8,405 Angell
15 October 1996 Luton Town H 1–1 5,352 Angell
19 October 1996 Wycombe Wanderers A 2–0 4,017 Angell (2)
26 October 1996 Walsall A 1–1 3,767 Durkan
29 October 1996 Chesterfield H 1–0 4,831 Dinning
2 November 1996 Bristol City H 1–1 6,654 Bennett
9 November 1996 Brentford A 2–2 5,076 Angell, Cavaco
19 November 1996 Blackpool H 1–0 4,572 Bennett
23 November 1996 Shrewsbury Town A 2–3 2,865 Angell, Marsden
30 November 1996 Walsall H 2–0 5,333 Angell (2)
3 December 1996 Rotherham United A 1–0 2,133 Durkan
14 December 1996 Peterborough United H 0–0 5,748
21 December 1996 Bury A 0–0 5,069
26 December 1996 Wrexham A 3–2 6,736 Armstrong, Gannon, Dinning (pen)
18 January 1997 Millwall H 5–1 7,502 Mutch, Armstrong (pen), Flynn, Cavaco (2)
1 February 1997 Brentford H 1–2 8,650 Cavaco
7 February 1997 Bristol City A 1–1 13,186 Armstrong
15 February 1997 Shrewsbury Town H 3–1 6,712 Angell (2), Armstrong
22 February 1997 Blackpool A 1–2 5,772 Linighan (own goal)
1 March 1997 Rotherham United H 0–0 6,147
8 March 1997 Bury H 2–1 8,170 Mutch, Jeffers
15 March 1997 Peterborough United A 2–0 4,857 Cavaco, Marsden
22 March 1997 Notts County A 2–1 4,238 Flynn, Hogg (own goal)
29 March 1997 Crewe Alexandra H 1–0 7,411 Cooper
1 April 1997 Bournemouth A 0–0 5,476
5 April 1997 Bristol Rovers H 1–0 5,689 Cooper (pen)
8 April 1997 Plymouth Argyle A 0–0 5,089
12 April 1997 Burnley H 1–0 9,187 Mutch
14 April 1997 Watford H 1–0 7,164 Jeffers
16 April 1997 Gillingham A 0–1 4,485
19 April 1997 Preston North End A 0–1 10,298
22 April 1997 York City H 2–1 6,654 Bennett, Angell
26 April 1997 Wycombe Wanderers H 2–1 9,463 Armstrong, Forsyth (own goal)
28 April 1997 Chesterfield A 1–0 8,690 Angell
3 May 1997 Luton Town A 1–1 9,347 Cooper (pen)

FA Cup[]

Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 16 November 1996 Doncaster Rovers H 2–1 4,211 Flynn, Mutch
R2 7 December 1996 Mansfield Town A 3–0 3,354 Kilcline (own goal), Durkan (2)
R3 15 January 1997 Stoke City A 2–0 9,961 Durkan, Armstrong
R4 25 January 1997 Birmingham City A 1–3 18,487 Angell

League Cup[]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Chesterfield H 2–1 3,088 Mutch (2)
R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Chesterfield A 2–1 (won 4–2 on agg) 3,334 Ware, Mutch
R2 1st Leg 17 September 1996 Sheffield United H 2–1 4,004 Flynn, Bennett
R2 2nd Leg 24 September 1996 Sheffield United A 5–2 (won 7–3 on agg) 6,285 Gannon, Armstrong (2), Bennett, Angell
R3 22 October 1996 Blackburn Rovers A 1–0 14,622 Sherwood (own goal)
R4 27 November 1996 West Ham United A 1–1 20,061 Cavaco
R4R 18 December 1996 West Ham United H 2–1 9,834 Dowie (own goal), Angell
QF 22 January 1997 Southampton H 2–2 9,840 Armstrong, Cavaco
QFR 29 January 1997 Southampton A 2–1 13,428 Angell, Mutch
SF 1st Leg 26 February 1997 Middlesbrough H 0–2 11,778
SF 2nd Leg 12 March 1997 Middlesbrough A 1–0 (lost 1–2 on agg) 29,633 Connelly

Football League Trophy[]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
NR1 10 December 1996 Doncaster Rovers A 2–1 988
NR2 4 February 1997 Burnley A 1–0 4,251
NQF 11 February 1997 Bury A 2–1 (a.e.t.) 2,497
NSF 4 March 1997 Crewe Alexandra A 1–1 (won 5–3 on pens) 3,529
NF 1st Leg 18 March 1997 Carlisle United A 0–2 7,057
NF 2nd Leg 25 March 1997 Carlisle United H 0–0 (lost 0–2 on agg) 8,593

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 Wales WAL Neil Edwards
— GK Wales WAL Paul Jones
— GK England ENG
— 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. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dave Jones factfile". Telegraph, 3 January 2001. London. 3 January 2001. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2015-06-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Stockport FC Player Appearances | Past & Present | Soccer Base".
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