1996–97 Oxford United F.C. season

Oxford United
1996–97 season
Chairman Robin Herd
Manager Denis Smith
Stadium Manor Ground
Football League First Division 17th
FA Cup Third round
League Cup Fourth round
Top goalscorer League: Jemson (18)
All: Jemson (23)
Highest home attendance 9,223 vs. Reading (28 December 1996)
Lowest home attendance 6,334 vs. Bradford City (14 September 1996)
Average home attendance 7,656
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

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

Contents

Season summary

The 1996–97 season saw Oxford looking hopeful of gaining promotion to the Premier League, but the squad lacked the strength to make their form consistent and they finished seventeenth, following the sale of star defender Matt Elliott to Leicester City.

Final league table

Main article: 1996-97 Football League
Pos Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1. Bolton Wanderers 46 28 14 4 100 53  +47 98
2. Barnsley 46 22 14 10 76 55  +21 80
3. Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 22 10 14 68 51  +17 76
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 46 19 14 13 78 48  +30 71
7. Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53  +6 68
8. Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55  +3 67
9. Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60  +4 66
10. Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48  +4 66
11. Tranmere Rovers 46 17 14 15 63 56  +7 65
12. Stoke City 46 18 10 18 51 57  -6 64
13. Norwich City 46 17 12 17 63 68  -5 63
14. Manchester City 46 17 10 19 59 60  -1 61
15. Charlton Athletic 46 16 11 19 52 66  -14 59
16. West Bromwich Albion 46 14 15 17 68 72  -4 57
17. Oxford United 46 16 9 21 64 68  -4 57
18. Reading 46 15 12 19 58 67  -9 57
19. Swindon Town 46 15 9 22 52 71  -19 54
20. Huddersfield Town 46 13 15 18 48 61  -13 54
21. Bradford City 46 12 12 22 47 72  -25 48
22. Grimsby Town 46 11 13 22 60 81  -21 46
23. Oldham Athletic 46 10 13 23 51 66  -15 43
24. Southend United 46 8 15 23 42 86  -44 39
See also: Play-off results
Key
Promoted to the Premier League
Qualified for the promotion playoff
Relegated to Division Two

NB In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference

Results

Oxford United's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1996 Queens Park Rangers A 1–2 14,703 Jemson
24 August 1996 Southend United H 5–0 6,382 Beauchamp (2), Jemson (2), Rush
27 August 1996 Norwich City H 0–1 7,436
31 August 1996 Port Vale A 0–2 6,016
8 September 1996 Reading A 0–2 8,099
10 September 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–1 7,468 M Ford
14 September 1996 Bradford City H 2–0 6,334 Jemson, Moody
21 September 1996 Grimsby Town A 2–0 4,120 Jemson (pen), Handyside (own goal)
28 September 1996 Portsmouth H 2–0 7,626 Beauchamp, M Ford
1 October 1996 Tranmere Rovers A 0–0 4,577
12 October 1996 Swindon Town A 0–1 10,811
15 October 1996 Barnsley A 0–0 6,337
18 October 1996 Birmingham City H 0–0 7,594
26 October 1996 Charlton Athletic A 0–2 10,626
29 October 1996 Stoke City H 4–1 6,381 Gray, Angel, Jemson, Aldridge
2 November 1996 Ipswich Town H 3–1 7,903 Mowbray (own goal), Jemson, Elliott
13 November 1996 Manchester City A 3–2 23,079 Beauchamp, Jemson, Elliott
16 November 1996 Huddersfield Town H 1–0 7,460 Elliott
19 November 1996 Bolton Wanderers H 0–0 7,517
23 November 1996 Oldham Athletic A 1–2 4,851 Jemson
30 November 1996 Charlton Athletic H 0–2 7,080
7 December 1996 Crystal Palace A 2–2 17,879 Jemson, Massey
14 December 1996 Sheffield United H 4–1 7,737 Aldridge (3), Jemson
21 December 1996 West Bromwich Albion A 3–3 13,782 Jemson, Murphy, Elliott
26 December 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–3 26,511 Gray
28 December 1996 Reading H 2–1 9,223 Beauchamp, Murphy
11 January 1997 Bradford City A 0–2 13,275
18 January 1997 Tranmere Rovers H 2–1 7,072 Aldridge, Jemson (pen)
28 January 1997 Portsmouth A 1–2 7,301 Angel
2 February 1997 Manchester City H 1–4 8,824 Moody
7 February 1997 Stoke City A 1–2 8,609 Moody
15 February 1997 Oldham Athletic H 3–1 6,868 Graham, Purse, Jemson
22 February 1997 Ipswich Town A 1–2 11,483 Gabbiadini
1 March 1997 Crystal Palace H 1–4 8,572 Marsh
4 March 1997 Huddersfield Town A 0–1 11,276
8 March 1997 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 8,502 Murphy
15 March 1997 Sheffield United A 1–3 16,226 Gilchrist
18 March 1997 Grimsby Town H 3–2 6,421 M Ford, Gilchrist, Aldridge
22 March 1997 Southend United A 2–2 4,102 Jemson, Aldridge
29 March 1997 Queens Park Rangers H 2–3 8,365 Jemson (pen), Moody
31 March 1997 Norwich City A 1–1 14,644 Massey
5 April 1997 Port Vale H 0–2 7,370
12 April 1997 Bolton Wanderers A 0–4 15,994
19 April 1997 Swindon Town H 2–0 8,167 Aldridge, Massey
26 April 1997 Birmingham City A 0–2 16,109
4 May 1997 Barnsley H 5–1 8,693 Beauchamp (2), Jemson (2, 1 pen), M Ford

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 21 January 1997 Watford A 0–2 9,502

League Cup

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 First Leg 20 August 1996 Norwich City H 1–1 6,062 Jemson
R1 Second Leg 4 September 1996 Norwich City A 3–2 (won 4-3 on agg) 7,301 Elliott, M Ford, Aldridge
R2 First Leg 18 September 1996 Sheffield Wednesday A 1–1 7,499 Moody
R2 Second Leg 24 September 1996 Sheffield Wednesday H 1–0 6,863 Jemson
R3 22 October 1996 Port Vale A 0–0 4,942
R3R 5 November 1996 Port Vale H 2–0 (won 2-0 on agg) 5,279 Jemson (2)
R4 26 November 1996 Southampton H 1–1 9,473 Moody
R4R 18 December 1996 Southampton A 2–3 10,737 Jemson, B Ford

Squad

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

No. Position Player
- GK Phil Whitehead
- DF Mike Ford
- DF Phil Gilchrist
- DF Darren Purse
- DF Les Robinson
- MF David Smith
- FW Nigel Jemson
- MF Joey Beauchamp
- FW Paul Moody
- MF Martin Gray
- MF Stuart Massey
- GK Elliott Jackson
- FW Matt Murphy
No. Position Player
- MF Bobby Ford
- FW Martin Aldridge
- DF Matt Elliott
- FW Mark Angel
- DF Chris Whyte
- FW David Rush
- DF Simon Marsh
- FW Marco Gabbiadini (on loan from Derby County)
- DF Brian Wilsterman
- MF Marcus Phillips
- MF Simon Weatherstone
- MF Paul Powell

References

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