1996–97 Cardiff City F.C. season

Cardiff City
Season 1996–97
LeagueFootball League Third Division
ManagerPhil Neal/Russell Osman/Kenny Hibbitt
League position7th
Top goalscorerLeague: Steve White (13)
All: Steve White (14)
FA Cup2nd round
League Cup1st round
Previous season← 1995–96
Next season1997–98 →

The 1996–97 season was Cardiff City F.C.'s 70th season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the fourth tier of English football, finishing seventh, before being beaten 4-2 on aggregate by Northampton Town in the play-offs.

The season saw Cardiff sack two managers during the course of the year. Phil Neal continued in his role from the previous season before leaving the club, taking the role of assistant manager at Manchester City, and was replaced by Russell Osman. However Osman himself lasted just five matches and was replaced by Kenny Hibbitt, the man who had made way for Phil Neal the previous season.

Players

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

No. Position Player
-- England GK Tony Elliott
-- Wales GK Pat Mountain
-- Wales GK Steve Williams
-- Wales DF Lee Baddeley
-- Wales DF Gareth Davies
-- England DF Jeff Eckhardt
-- England DF Hayden Fleming
-- Wales DF Lee Jarman
-- Wales DF Kevin Lloyd
-- Wales DF Jason Perry
-- Wales DF Lee Phillips
-- England DF Ian Rodgerson
-- England DF Jimmy Rollo
-- England DF Andy Scott
-- Wales DF Scott Young
-- England MF Mickey Bennett
No. Position Player
-- England MF Stacy Coldicott
-- England MF Jason Fowler
-- Scotland MF Jimmy Gardner
-- Scotland MF Ray McStay
-- Wales MF Jamie Michael
-- England MF Craig Middleton
-- Republic of Ireland MF Keith O'Halloran
-- England MF Gareth Stoker
-- England MF Paul Ware
-- Wales FW Carl Dale
-- England FW Steve Flack
-- Wales FW Simon Haworth
-- England FW Scott Partridge
-- England FW Tony Philliskirk
-- England FW Steve White

League standings

Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1. Wigan Athletic 46 26 9 11 84 51  +33 87
2. Fulham 46 25 12 9 72 38  +34 87
3. Carlisle United 46 24 12 10 67 44  +23 84
4. Northampton Town 46 20 12 14 67 44  +23 72
5. Swansea City 46 21 8 17 62 58  +4 71
6. Chester City 46 18 16 12 55 43  +12 70
7. Cardiff City 46 20 9 17 56 54  +2 69
8. Colchester United 46 17 17 12 62 51  +11 68
9. Lincoln City 46 18 12 16 70 69  +1 66
10. Cambridge United 46 18 11 17 53 59  -6 65
11. Mansfield Town 46 16 16 14 47 45  +2 64
12. Scarborough 46 16 15 15 65 68  -3 63
13. Scunthorpe United 46 18 9 19 59 62  -3 63
14. Rochdale 46 14 16 16 58 58  0 58
15. Barnet 46 14 16 16 46 51  -5 58
16. Leyton Orient 46 15 12 19 50 58  -8 57
17. Hull City 46 13 18 15 44 50  -6 57
18. Darlington 46 14 10 22 64 78  -14 52
19. Doncaster Rovers 46 14 10 22 52 66  -14 52
20. Hartlepool United 46 14 9 23 53 66  -13 51
21. Torquay United 46 13 11 22 46 62  -16 50
22. Exeter City 46 12 12 22 48 73  -25 48
23. Brighton & Hove Albion 46 13 10 23 53 70  -17 47*
24. Hereford United 46 11 14 21 50 65  -15 47
Key
Promoted to Division Two
Qualified for the promotion playoff
Relegated to the Conference

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

See also

References