1996–97_Coventry_City_F.C._season
1996–97 Coventry City F.C. season
Coventry City 1996–97 football season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Coventry City F.C. competed in the FA Premier League.
Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...
| 1996–97 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Bryan Richardson |
| Manager | Ron Atkinson (until 5 November) Gordon Strachan (from 5 November) |
| Stadium | Highfield Road |
| Premiership | 17th |
| FA Cup | Fifth round |
| League Cup | Third round |
| Top goalscorer | Dublin (13) |
| Highest home attendance | 23,085 vs Manchester United (18 Jan 1997, Premier League) |
| Lowest home attendance | 11,828 vs Birmingham City (18 Sep 1996, League Cup) |
| Average home league attendance | 19,625 |
Close
Manager Ron Atkinson stepped up to the role of Director of Football at struggling Coventry City in early November, with assistant Gordon Strachan stepping up to the manager's seat. A good run of form saw Coventry climb to 11th place in January, but then a decline set in and defeat in the penultimate game of the season made Coventry's 30-year stay in the top flight appear to be over. However, with a win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season and losses for Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the Sky Blues pulled off a miraculous survival act to book themselves a 31st successive top flight campaign.[1] The key player in the great escape act was striker Dion Dublin, who scored 14 Premier League goals to attract attention from several larger clubs and encourage calls for an international call-up from many observers.
However, Coventry only ultimately avoided relegation due to the three-point deduction imposed upon Middlesbrough, who had been penalised in mid-season for cancelling a fixture at short notice.
Main article: 1996–97 FA Premier League
More information Pos, Pld ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Everton | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 42 | |
| 16 | Southampton | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50 | 56 | −6 | 41 | |
| 17 | Coventry City | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 41 | |
| 18 | Sunderland (R) | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 35 | 53 | −18 | 40 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |
| 19 | Middlesbrough (R) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 51 | 60 | −9 | 39[lower-alpha 1] |
Close
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
- Middlesbrough were docked three points for failing to fulfill their original fixture at Blackburn Rovers on 21st December 1996.
Coventry City's score comes first[2]
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
FA Premier League
More information Date, Opponent ...
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–3 | 19,468 | |
| 21 August 1996 | West Ham United | A | 1–1 | 21,580 | McAllister |
| 24 August 1996 | Chelsea | A | 0–2 | 25,024 | |
| 4 September 1996 | Liverpool | H | 0–1 | 23,021 | |
| 7 September 1996 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–4 | 29,811 | |
| 14 September 1996 | Leeds United | H | 2–1 | 17,297 | Salako, Whelan |
| 21 September 1996 | Sunderland | A | 0–1 | 19,459 | |
| 28 September 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–0 | 17,032 | |
| 13 October 1996 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | 15,485 | Dublin |
| 19 October 1996 | Arsenal | A | 0–0 | 38,140 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 0–0 | 17,267 | |
| 4 November 1996 | Everton | A | 1–1 | 31,477 | McAllister |
| 16 November 1996 | Wimbledon | A | 2–2 | 10,307 | Whelan, Dublin |
| 23 November 1996 | Aston Villa | H | 1–2 | 21,340 | Dublin |
| 30 November 1996 | Derby County | A | 1–2 | 18,042 | Dublin |
| 7 December 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–2 | 19,675 | Whelan |
| 17 December 1996 | Newcastle United | H | 2–1 | 21,538 | Huckerby, McAllister |
| 21 December 1996 | Leicester City | A | 2–0 | 20,038 | Dublin (2) |
| 26 December 1996 | Leeds United | A | 3–1 | 36,465 | Huckerby, Dublin, McAllister (pen) |
| 28 December 1996 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–0 | 20,617 | Huckerby, McAllister (pen), Liddle (own goal) |
| 1 January 1997 | Sunderland | H | 2–2 | 17,700 | Dublin, Daish |
| 11 January 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–4 | 24,055 | |
| 18 January 1997 | Manchester United | H | 0–2 | 23,085 | |
| 29 January 1997 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–0 | 22,619 | Huckerby |
| 1 February 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–0 | 21,793 | |
| 19 February 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 1–2 | 30,409 | Staunton (own goal) |
| 22 February 1997 | Everton | H | 0–0 | 19,497 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Manchester United | A | 1–3 | 55,230 | Huckerby |
| 3 March 1997 | Wimbledon | H | 1–1 | 15,273 | Dublin |
| 8 March 1997 | Leicester City | H | 0–0 | 19,220 | |
| 15 March 1997 | Newcastle United | A | 0–4 | 36,571 | |
| 22 March 1997 | West Ham United | H | 1–3 | 22,291 | Rieper (own goal) |
| 6 April 1997 | Liverpool | A | 2–1 | 40,079 | Whelan, Dublin |
| 9 April 1997 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 19,917 | Dublin, Williams, Whelan |
| 19 April 1997 | Southampton | A | 2–2 | 15,251 | Ndlovu, Whelan |
| 21 April 1997 | Arsenal | H | 1–1 | 19,998 | Dublin |
| 3 May 1997 | Derby County | H | 1–2 | 22,839 | McAllister (pen) |
| 11 May 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 2–1 | 33,029 | Dublin, Williams |
Close
FA Cup
Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
More information Round, Date ...
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R3 | 25 January 1997 | Woking | H | 1–1 | 16,040 | Jess |
| R3R | 4 February 1997 | Woking | A | 2–1 | 6,000 | Whelan, Foster (own goal) |
| R4 | 15 February 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–1 | 21,123 | Jess, Huckerby |
| R5 | 26 February 1997 | Derby County | A | 2–3 | 18,003 | Huckerby, Whelan |
Close
League Cup
Main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup
More information Round, Date ...
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R2 1st Leg | 18 September 1996 | Birmingham City | H | 1–1 | 11,828 | Daish |
| R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1996 | Birmingham City | A | 1–0 | 15,281 | McAllister |
| R3 | 22 October 1996 | Gillingham | A | 2–2 | 10,603 | Telfer (2) |
| R3R | 13 November 1996 | Gillingham | H | 0–1 | 12,639 |
Close
- Squad at end of season[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
More information No., Pos. ...
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|
Close
Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
More information No., Pos. ...
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Close
In
More information Date, Pos. ...
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 July 1996 | MF |  Gary McAllister |
 Leeds United |
£3,000,000 |
| 10 August 1996 | DF |  Régis Genaux |
Standard Liège |
£750,000 |
| 23 November 1996 | FW | Darren Huckerby |
Newcastle United |
£1,000,000 |
| 30 January 1997 | DF |  Gary Breen |
Birmingham City |
£2,500,000 |
| 30 January 1997 | DF |  Oleksandr Yevtushok |
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk |
£800,000 |
| 21 May 1997 | FW | Simon Haworth |
 Cardiff City |
£500,000 |
| 19 June 1997 | MF |  Trond Egil Soltvedt |
Rosenborg |
£500,000 |
| 4 July 1997 | FW |  Kyle Lightbourne |
Walsall |
£500,000 |
| 7 July 1997 | GK |  Magnus Hedman |
AIK |
Free |
| 9 July 1997 | MF |  Martin Johansen |
Copenhagen |
Free |
Close
Out
More information Date, Pos. ...
| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 August 1996 | DF | David Rennie |
Northampton Town |
Free |
| 15 August 1996 | DF | Ally Pickering |
Stoke City |
£280,000 |
| 28 January 1997 | DF | Régis Genaux |
 Udinese |
£800,000 |
| 1 July 1997 | MF |  Chris McMenamin |
Peterborough United |
Free |
| 4 July 1997 | MF | Eoin Jess |
Aberdeen |
£700,000 |
| 14 July 1997 | FW |  Peter Ndlovu |
Birmingham City |
£1,600,000 |
| 14 July 1997 | GK | Neil Wypior |
West Bromwich Albion |
Undisclosed |
Close
- Transfers in:
£6,550,000 - Transfers out:
£3,380,000 - Total spending: £3,170,000
Appearances and goals
More information No., Pos ...
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG |
Steve Ogrizovic | 46 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 13 | GK |  AUS |
John Filan | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Defenders | |||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | IRL |
Richard Shaw | 42 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 3 | DF | ENG |
David Burrows | 21 | 0 | 18+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 4 | DF | ENG |
Paul Williams | 38 | 2 | 29+3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 5 | DF | IRL |
Liam Daish | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 12 | DF | SCO |
Paul Telfer | 42 | 2 | 31+3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 16 | DF | ENG |
Brian Burrows | 29 | 0 | 15+7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 18 | DF | ENG |
Marcus Hall | 18 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 23 | DF | UKR |
Oleksandr Yevtushok | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 25 | DF | IRL |
Gary Breen | 9 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Midfielders | |||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ENG |
Kevin Richardson | 36 | 0 | 25+3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 7 | MF | SCO |
Eoin Jess | 32 | 2 | 19+8 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 10 | MF | SCO |
Gary McAllister | 46 | 7 | 38 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 11 | MF | ENG |
John Salako | 29 | 1 | 23+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 17 | MF | IRL |
Willie Boland | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | MF | NIR |
Michael O'Neill | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 26 | MF | SCO |
Gordon Strachan | 11 | 0 | 3+6 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | ||
| Forwards | |||||||||||||
| 8 | FW | ENG |
Noel Whelan | 43 | 8 | 34+1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 9 | FW | ENG |
Dion Dublin | 39 | 14 | 33+1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | ||
| 14 | FW | ZIM |
Peter Ndlovu | 22 | 1 | 10+9 | 1 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 15 | FW |  BRA |
Isaías | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 | FW | ENG |
Andy Ducros | 5 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 28 | FW | ENG |
Darren Huckerby | 29 | 7 | 21+4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Players who left the club during the season | |||||||||||||
| 24 | DF | IRL |
Régis Genaux | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Close
- Moore, Glenn (12 May 1997). "Football: Coventry perform escape act once again". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- "Coventry City 1996-1997 Results - statto.com". Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2012.