1996–97 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season

Tranmere Rovers
1996–97 season
Chairman Peter Johnson
Manager John Aldridge (player-manager)
Stadium Prenton Park
Football League First Division 11th
FA Cup Third round
League Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League: John Aldridge (18)
All: Aldridge (20)
Highest home attendance 14,309 vs. Bolton Wanderers (4 May 1997)
Lowest home attendance 4,577 vs. Oxford United (1 October 1996)
Average home attendance 8,170
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

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

Contents

Season summary

Another decent season for Tranmere in player-manager John Aldridge's first full season in charge, as they ended up with another mid-table finish, this time finishing two places higher than last season, in 11th.

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

Tranmere Rovers' score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1996 Southend United A 1–1 4,264 Morrissey
23 August 1996 Grimsby Town H 3–2 6,800 Aldridge (2, 1 pen), Irons
27 August 1996 Port Vale H 2–0 6,123 Mahon, Branch
31 August 1996 Bradford City A 0–1 10,080
7 September 1996 Birmingham City H 1–0 8,548 Aldridge
10 September 1996 Huddersfield Town A 1–0 10,181 Aldridge
14 September 1996 Swindon Town A 1–2 8,430 Aldridge
21 September 1996 West Bromwich Albion H 2–3 7,848 Aldridge, Branch
28 September 1996 Norwich City A 1–1 14,511 Aldridge
1 October 1996 Oxford United H 0–0 4,577
4 October 1996 Portsmouth H 4–3 5,001 Branch (2), G Jones, Bonetti
12 October 1996 Sheffield United A 0–0 15,059
15 October 1996 Bolton Wanderers A 0–1 14,136
20 October 1996 Queens Park Rangers H 2–3 7,025 Aldridge (pen), Brannan
26 October 1996 Ipswich Town A 2–0 11,003 Brannan, Vaughan (own goal)
29 October 1996 Charlton Athletic H 4–0 5,527 Thomas-Moore, G Jones, Mahon, Aldridge
2 November 1996 Crystal Palace H 1–3 8,613 Thorn
15 November 1996 Oldham Athletic H 1–1 8,327 Aldridge
23 November 1996 Manchester City A 2–1 26,531 Higgins, Brightwell (own goal)
30 November 1996 Ipswich Town H 3–0 10,127 Brannan, Aldridge (2)
3 December 1996 Reading A 0–2 5,513
7 December 1996 Stoke City A 0–2 9,931
14 December 1996 Barnsley A 0–3 8,513
21 December 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–2 9,674
26 December 1996 Huddersfield Town H 1–1 10,134 Brannan
1 January 1997 West Bromwich Albion A 2–1 14,770 Aldridge (2)
10 January 1997 Swindon Town H 2–1 8,763 Nevin (2)
18 January 1997 Oxford United A 1–2 7,072 Aldridge
28 January 1997 Norwich City H 3–1 5,891 Cook (2), Thomas-Moore
1 February 1997 Reading H 2–2 6,019 Branch, Thomas-Moore
7 February 1997 Charlton Athletic A 1–3 11,283 Irons
22 February 1997 Crystal Palace A 1–0 15,396 O'Brien
28 February 1997 Stoke City H 0–0 9,127
4 March 1997 Oldham Athletic A 2–1 5,417 Brannan (2)
8 March 1997 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–3 26,192 Irons, Aldridge
15 March 1997 Barnsley H 1–1 7,347 Higgins
18 March 1997 Manchester City H 1–1 12,019 G Jones
22 March 1997 Grimsby Town A 0–0 4,353
28 March 1997 Southend United H 3–0 7,563 Irons, L Jones, Aldridge
31 March 1997 Port Vale A 1–2 7,469 Irons
4 April 1997 Bradford City H 3–0 8,531 G Jones (2), L Jones
12 April 1997 Portsmouth A 3–1 12,004 Cook, G Jones, L Jones
15 April 1997 Birmingham City A 0–0 22,364
19 April 1997 Sheffield United H 1–1 10,027 L Jones
26 April 1997 Queens Park Rangers A 0–2 14,859
4 May 1997 Bolton Wanderers H 2–2 14,309 Aldridge (pen), L Jones

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 14 January 1997 Carlisle United A 0–1 10,090

League Cup

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 First Leg 21 August 1996 Shrewsbury Town A 2–0 2,875 Aldridge, Bonetti
R1 Second Leg 3 September 1996 Shrewsbury Town H 1–1 (won 3-1 on agg) 3,028 Branch
R2 First Leg 17 September 1996 Oldham Athletic A 2–2 3,094 Aldridge (pen), Morrissey
R2 Second Leg 24 September 1996 Oldham Athletic H 0–1 3,711

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 Eric Nixon
- DF Tony Thomas
- DF Shaun Teale
- DF Gary Stevens
- DF Alan Rogers
- MF Liam O'Brien
- FW John Aldridge
- MF Paul Cook
- DF John McGreal
- MF Ged Brannan
- FW Pat Nevin
- MF Gary Jones
- GK Danny Coyne
- MF Kenny Irons
No. Position Player
- MF Graham Branch
- FW John Morrissey
- MF Alan Mahon
- DF Dave Higgins
- DF Andy Thorn
- FW Ian Thomas-Moore
- DF Dave Challinor
- MF Ivano Bonetti
- FW Lee Jones
- MF Billy Woods
- DF Alan Morgan
- MF Kevin McIntyre
- DF Steve Mungall

References

Tranmere Rovers F.C. seasons
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