1996–97 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1996–97 season was the 98th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played the season in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League First Division.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
1996–97 season
ChairmanJonathan Hayward
ManagerMark McGhee
First Division3rd
(lost in play-offs)
FA Cup3rd round
League Cup1st round
Top goalscorerLeague: Steve Bull (23)
All: Steve Bull (23)
Highest home attendance27,400 (vs Stoke,
1 February 1997)
Lowest home attendance10,760 (vs Swindon,
4 September 1996)
Average home league attendance24,763 (league only)

The team finished in third position in the league, their highest position in the football pyramid since their relegation from the top flight in 1983–84. Nonetheless, the season ended in disappointment for the club as they lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs to Crystal Palace, thereby failing to reach the Premier League.

Their failure to finish ahead of unfancied Barnsley in the automatic promotion places, and then subsequent play-off exit, caused owner Sir Jack Hayward to make an emotional outburst days after the campaign in which he accused manager Mark McGhee and the chairman, his son Jonathan, of "blackmailing" him into funding their high transfer spending. He promised that there would be an end to Wolves being a "sloppily-run club".[1][2]

Results

Football League First Division
See also: 1996–97 Football League

A total of 24 teams competed in the Football League First Division in the 1996–97 season. Each team played every other team twice: once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. Teams finishing level on points were firstly divided by the number of goals scored rather than goal difference.

The provisional fixture list was released on 17 June 1996, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns.[3]

17 August 1996 1Grimsby Town1–3Wolverhampton WanderersCleethorpes
15:00 BST Mendonca  62' Report Bull  36', 45', 71' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,910
24 August 1996 2Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0Bradford CityWolverhampton
15:00 BST Bull  72' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,171
28 August 1996 3Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Queens Park RangersWolverhampton
19:45 BST Osborn  24' Report Dichio  41' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,767
31 August 1996 4Norwich City1–0Wolverhampton WanderersNorwich
15:00 BST Adams  21' (pen.) Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 14,456
6 September 1996 5Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0Charlton AthleticWolverhampton
19:45 BST Thompson  39' (pen.) Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,072
10 September 1996 6Oxford United1–1Wolverhampton WanderersOxford
19:45 BST Ford  39' Report Roberts  54' Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 7,468
15 September 1996 7West Bromwich Albion2–4Wolverhampton WanderersWest Bromwich
13:00 BST Hamilton  42'
Taylor  66'		 Report Roberts  4', 27', 53'
Bull  14'		 Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 20,711
21 September 1996 8Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2Sheffield UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 BST Thompson  89' (pen.) Report White  76'
Kachura  90'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,170
27 September 1996 9Swindon Town1–2Wolverhampton WanderersSwindon
19:45 BST Horlock  67' Report Ferguson  44'
Foley  85'		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,572
5 October 1996 11Wolverhampton Wanderers0–1ReadingWolverhampton
15:00 BST Report Lambert  69' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,193
13 October 1996 12Southend United1–1Wolverhampton WanderersSouthend-on-Sea
13:00 BST Marsh  38' Report Bull  73' Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 5,550
15 October 1996 13Portsmouth0–2Wolverhampton WanderersPortsmouth
19:45 BST Report Bull  12', 68' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 7,411
19 October 1996 14Wolverhampton Wanderers0–1Port ValeWolverhampton
15:00 BST Report Naylor  65' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,755
27 October 1996 15Manchester City0–1Wolverhampton WanderersManchester
13:00 GMT Report Bull  77' Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 27,296
30 October 1996 16Wolverhampton Wanderers0–0Huddersfield TownWolverhampton
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,376
2 November 1996 17Wolverhampton Wanderers3–3BarnsleyWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Goodman  28'
Bull  61'
Roberts  86'		 Report de Zeeuw  31'
Redfearn  35' (pen.)
Eaden  44'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,840
17 November 1996 18Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2Birmingham CityWolverhampton
14:10 GMT Bull  10' Report Breen  8'
Legg  58'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,627
23 November 1996 19Crystal Palace2–3Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 GMT Veart  51'
Dyer  55'		 Report Corica  9', 14'
Thomas  61'		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 20,655
1 December 1996 20Wolverhampton Wanderers3–0Manchester CityWolverhampton
14:10 GMT Roberts  46', 54'
Dennison  80'		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,911
7 December 1996 21Ipswich Town0–0Wolverhampton WanderersIpswich
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 12,048
14 December 1996 22Wolverhampton Wanderers0–1Oldham AthleticWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Ormondroyd  15' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,528
21 December 1996 23Tranmere Rovers0–2Wolverhampton WanderersBirkenhead
15:00 GMT Report Osborn  5' (pen.)
Bull  76'		 Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 9,674
26 December 1996 24Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Oxford UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Osborn  13', 67'
Goodman  63'		 Report Gray  33' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,511
28 December 1996 25Charlton Athletic0–0Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 12,259
12 January 1997 26Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0West Bromwich AlbionWolverhampton
14:10 GMT Richards  3'
Roberts  37'		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,336
18 January 1997 27Bolton Wanderers3–0Wolverhampton WanderersBolton
15:00 GMT McGinlay  21'
Curle  58' (o.g.)
Blake  62'		 Report Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 18,980
24 January 1997 28Sheffield United2–3Wolverhampton WanderersSheffield
19:45 GMT White  24', 82' Report Atkins  19'
Osborn  25'
Bull  88'		 Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 17,490
29 January 1997 29Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0Swindon TownWolverhampton
19:45 GMT Bull  35' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,003
1 February 1997 30Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0Stoke CityWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Bull  16', 55' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,400
8 February 1997 31Huddersfield Town0–2Wolverhampton WanderersHuddersfield
15:00 GMT Report Froggatt  37'
Bull  84'		 Stadium: McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 15,267
15 February 1997 32Wolverhampton Wanderers0–3Crystal PalaceWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Tuttle  17'
Veart  72'
Dyer  73'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,919
22 February 1997 33Barnsley1–3Wolverhampton WanderersBarnsley
15:00 GMT Sheridan  53' Report Bull  2'
Roberts  23'
Froggatt  59'		 Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 18,024
1 March 1997 34Wolverhampton Wanderers0–0Ipswich TownWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,700
4 March 1997 35Birmingham City1–2Wolverhampton WanderersBirmingham
19:45 GMT Forster  70' Report Bull  1'
Roberts  23'		 Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 19,838
8 March 1997 36Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2Tranmere RoversWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Bull  34', 41'
Roberts  79'		 Report Irons  55'
Aldridge  57'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,192
15 March 1997 37Oldham Athletic3–2Wolverhampton WanderersOldham
15:00 GMT Rickers  3', 87'
Barlow  55'		 Report Bull  24'
Roberts  76'		 Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 9,661
18 March 1997 38Stoke City1–0Wolverhampton WanderersStoke-on-Trent
19:45 GMT Forsyth  47' Report Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 15,683
22 March 1997 39Bradford City2–1Wolverhampton WanderersBradford
15:00 GMT Edinho  45'
Pepper  51'		 Report Goodman  55' Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 15,351
31 March 1997 40Queens Park Rangers2–2Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 BST Spencer  13'
Peacock  27'		 Report Goodman  39'
Curle  70' (pen.)		 Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 17,376
5 April 1997 41Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2Norwich CityWolverhampton
15:00 BST Thomas  19'
Curle  35' (pen.)
Roberts  78'		 Report Broughton  43'
Adams  45' (pen.)		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,938
12 April 1997 42Reading2–1Wolverhampton WanderersReading
15:00 BST Lovell  89', 90' Report Atkins  75' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 14,852
19 April 1997 43Wolverhampton Wanderers4–1Southend UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 BST Ferguson  7'
Bull  9'
Atkins  35'
Goodman  40'		 Report Rammell  30' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,095
23 April 1997 44Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Grimsby TownWolverhampton
19:45 BST Gilkes  10' Report Oster  45' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,474
27 April 1997 45Port Vale1–2Wolverhampton WanderersBurslem
13:00 BST Naylor  40' Report Thomas  34'
Atkins  42'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 13,615
4 May 1997 46Wolverhampton Wanderers0–1PortsmouthWolverhampton
13:30 BST Report Hall  80' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,031

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA 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

Source: Statto.com

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 22 10 14 68 51  +17 76 10 5 8 31 24  +7 12 5 6 37 27  +10

Source: Statto.com

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
ResultWWDLWDWLWLLDWLWDDLWWDLWWDWLWWWWLWDWWLLLDWLWDWL
Position1246363435663546597656554444422322222223333333
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Play-offs
See also: 1997 Football League play-offs
10 May 1997 SF 1st legCrystal Palace3–1Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 BST Shipperley  68'
Freedman  89', 90'		 Report Smith  90' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 21,053
Referee: Neale Barry
14 May 1997 SF 2nd legWolverhampton Wanderers2–1
(3–4 agg.)		Crystal PalaceWolverhampton
19:45 BST Atkins  30'
Williams  85'		 Report Hopkin  66' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,403
Referee: Clive Wilkes

FA Cup
See also: 1996–97 FA Cup
4 January 1997 R3Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2PortsmouthWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Ferguson  68' Report McLoughlin  68'
Hall  80'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,626
Referee: Alan Wilkie

League Cup
See also: 1996–97 Football League Cup
20 August 1996 R1.1Swindon Town2–0Wolverhampton WanderersSwindon
19:45 BST Allison  42'
Leitch  66'		 Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,451
Referee: Clive Wilkes
4 September 1996 R1.2Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0
(1–2 agg.)		Swindon TownWolverhampton
19:45 BST Osborn  5' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 10,760
Referee: Scott Mathieson

Players

Key:
  ‡ On loan from another club   * First appearance(s) for the club

Correct as of end of season. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.

PosNamePGPGPGPG Notes
League FA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
GK Vince Bartram ‡ 0000000000
GK Matt Murray 0000000000
GK Hans Segers 0000000000
GK Mike Stowell 480102051000
DF Keith Curle (c) 22(1)2000022(1)200
DF Brian Law 4(3)000004(3)000
DF Neil Masters † 0000000000
DF Lee Naylor 0000000000
DF Dennis Pearce 4000004000
DF Dean Richards 19(2)1002021(2)100
DF Serge Romano 1(3)000102(3)000
DF Jamie Smith 38(2)1101(1)040(3)100
DF Andy Thompson 27(6)2002029(6)200
DF Mark Venus 36(4)0102039(4)000
DF Chris Westwood 0000000000
DF Adrian Williams 8100008100
DF Eric Young 1000001000
MF Mark Atkins 46(1)5102049(1)500
MF Steve Corica 33(3)2102036(3)200
MF Tony Daley 0000000000
MF Robbie Dennison 9(5)1100010(5)100
MF Jens Dowe ‡ 5(3)000005(3)000
MF Neil Emblen 27(1)0100028(1)000
MF Darren Ferguson 12(6)30(1)11013(7)401
MF Steve Froggatt 272002029200
MF Michael Gilkes 5100005100
MF Simon Osborn 35(2)5101137(2)600
MF Mark Rankine † 0000000000
MF Carl Robinson 1(1)000001(1)000
MF Geoff Thomas 17(7)3100018(7)300
MF Robin van der Laan ‡ 7000007000
MF Jermaine Wright 0(3)0000(2)00(5)000
FW Steve Bull 45231020482301
FW Glen Crowe ¤ 5(1)000005(1)000
FW Dominic Foley 0(7)100000(7)100
FW Don Goodman 20(8)6100021(8)600
FW Richard Leadbeater 0(1)000000(1)000
FW Iwan Roberts 26(9)120(1)02028(10)1200

Transfers

In
Date Player From Fee
1 July 1996 Adrian WilliamsReading£750,000[4]
5 July 1996 Iwan RobertsLeicester City£1.3 million[5]
31 July 1996 Keith CurleManchester City£650,000[6]
12 August 1996 Serge RomanoMartiguesFree[7]
30 August 1996 Hans SegersUnattachedFree[8]
27 March 1997 Michael GilkesReading£150,000[9]

Out
Date Player To Fee
June 1996 John de WolfReleasedFree[10]
June 1996 Andy De BontHereford UnitedFree[11]
June 1996 Gavin MahonHereford UnitedFree[11]
June 1996 Steve PiearceDoncaster RoversFree[11]
June 1996 Quentin TownsendHereford UnitedFree[11]
June 1996 Mark WilliamsReleasedFree[10]
16 July 1996 Paul JonesStockport County£60,000[12]
20 July 1996 Paul BirchDoncaster RoversFree
17 September 1996 Mark RankinePreston North End£100,000[13]
28 March 1997 Neil MastersGillingham£150,000[14]

Loans in
Start date Player From End date
9 October 1996 Jens DoweHamburgEnd of season[15]
11 October 1996 Robin van der LaanDerby County1 January 1997[16][17]
26 February 1997 Vince BartramArsenal14 March 1997[18][19]

Loans out
Start date Player To End date
21 February 1997 Glen CroweExeter City12 April 1997[20]

Management and coaching staff
Position Name
Manager Mark McGhee
Assistant Manager Colin Lee
First Team Coach Mike Hickman
Youth Development Officer Chris Evans
Youth Team Coach Chris Turner
Club Doctors Dr Peter Ackroyd and Dr Peter Bekenn
Club Physio Barry Holmes

Kit

The season saw Puma take over as the club's kit manufacturer, and two new kits were therefore introduced. Both used a "wolf head" design to the shirts as a central feature, the home shirt using their traditional gold and black colours, while the away kit used shades of teal. In a further emphasis of the "wolf head", a new club emblen was introduced replacing the usage of the Wolverhampton city crest on the shirts that had been adopted for the previous three seasons. Both shirts featured the sponsor name of Goodyear.

References
  1. "Mac lashed". The Mirror. 16 May 1997.
  2. "McGhee blasted by boss". Daily Record. 16 May 1997.
  3. "Fixture guide". The Mirror. 18 June 1996.
  4. "Wolves hunt". The Mirror. 1 July 1996.
  5. "Iwan hits out". The Mirror. 6 July 1996. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014.
  6. "Wolves grab Maine man". The Mirror. 1 August 1996.
  7. "Plymouth sign Grobbelaar". The Independent. 10 August 1996.
  8. "Handy Hans". The Mirror. 30 August 1996.
  9. "Round-up". The Independent. 27 March 1997.
  10. "Football". The Independent. 8 May 1996. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  11. "Club-By-Club Guide to the Nationwide League". The Times. 15 August 1996. p. 41.
  12. "Stockport sign Paul Jones from Wolves". The Independent. 17 July 1996.
  13. "On the move". The Independent. 22 September 1996. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  14. "Everton call on Donachie as stand-in". The Independent. 29 March 1997.
  15. "Celtic settle row with striker". The Independent. 10 October 1996.
  16. "Derby v Newcastle". The Mirror. 12 October 1996.
  17. "No headline". The Independent. 7 November 1996.
  18. "Cover up Bart". The Mirror. 19 February 1997. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014.
  19. "Bergkamp fears the worst". Daily Mail. 15 March 1997. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014.
  20. "On the move". The Independent. 23 February 1997. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
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