1996–97 Hull City A.F.C. season
English football club season
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The 1996–97 season was the 93rd season in the history of Hull City Association Football Club and their first season back in the fourth tier since 1982–83 following relegation. Despite this, they had technically last competed in the Third Division in 1991–92, before the introduction of the Premier League led to the renaming of the tiers beneath it. In addition to the domestic league, Hull would also participate in the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the League Trophy.
| 1996–97 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Martin Fish | |||
| Manager | Terry Dolan | |||
| Stadium | Boothferry Park | |||
| Third Division | 17th | |||
| FA Cup | Second round | |||
| League Cup | First round | |||
| Football League Trophy | Second round | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Darby (13) All: Darby (19) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 3,413 | |||
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Season summary
A ten match unbeaten league run at the beginning of the 1996–97 season saw Hull remain in the top six until the beginning of October, but the side drifted towards a mid table placing by Christmas. The Tigers progressed through to the second round of the FA Cup following an extraordinary first round replay against Whitby Town. Duane Darby scored a double hat-trick in Hull's 8–4 victory.
Their league form was less impressive, and Hull finished in 17th place – their lowest ever position. The campaign was played out amid growing unrest from the dwindling support. The abuse generated against Dolan and chairman Martin Fish led Christopher Needler – son of the former chairman – to sell his major shareholding.
In July 1997, the Needler family's ownership of the club was at an end. David Lloyd, captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team and a multi-millionaire, was the new Hull City owner. He also acquired the Hull Rugby League club and ran the two in a joint operation.
Final league table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Results
Hull City's score comes first[2]
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Football League Third Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1996 | Darlington | H | 3–2 | 4,224 | Darby (3) |
| 24 August 1996 | Carlisle United | A | 0–0 | 5,407 | |
| 27 August 1996 | Hereford United | A | 1–0 | 2,820 | Darby |
| 31 August 1996 | Barnet | H | 0–0 | 4,605 | |
| 7 September 1996 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | 3,451 | Doncel |
| 10 September 1996 | Lincoln City | A | 1–0 | 3,069 | Peacock |
| 14 September 1996 | Colchester United | A | 1–1 | 3,073 | Gordon |
| 21 September 1996 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 3,886 | Darby |
| 28 September 1996 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | 2,961 | |
| 1 October 1996 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–1 | 3,579 | Gordon |
| 5 October 1996 | Scunthorpe United | H | 0–2 | 5,414 | |
| 12 October 1996 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–1 | 4,490 | Brien |
| 15 October 1996 | Scarborough | A | 2–3 | 3,425 | Turner (2) |
| 19 October 1996 | Fulham | H | 0–3 | 3,986 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–1 | 3,887 | Peacock, Trevitt |
| 29 October 1996 | Cardiff City | H | 1–1 | 2,775 | Gilbert |
| 2 November 1996 | Cambridge United | H | 1–3 | 3,563 | Brown |
| 9 November 1996 | Chester City | A | 0–0 | 2,085 | |
| 20 November 1996 | Torquay United | H | 2–0 | 1,775 | Darby, Peacock |
| 23 November 1996 | Exeter City | A | 0–0 | 3,423 | |
| 30 November 1996 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | 3,537 | Doncel |
| 3 December 1996 | Northampton Town | A | 1–2 | 3,519 | Darby |
| 14 December 1996 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–3 | 3,762 | |
| 21 December 1996 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 3–1 | 2,830 | Mason (2), Darby |
| 26 December 1996 | Lincoln City | H | 2–1 | 4,892 | Darby, Mason |
| 1 January 1997 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–1 | 1,944 | Joyce |
| 11 January 1997 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | 2,810 | Mann |
| 18 January 1997 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–1 | 2,286 | |
| 25 January 1997 | Cardiff City | A | 0–2 | 2,328 | |
| 1 February 1997 | Chester City | H | 1–0 | 2,513 | Gordon |
| 8 February 1997 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 3,029 | |
| 15 February 1997 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 2,668 | Joyce, Gordon |
| 22 February 1997 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 2,072 | Greaves |
| 25 February 1997 | Rochdale | A | 2–1 | 1,349 | Joyce, Darby |
| 1 March 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 3,495 | Darby |
| 8 March 1997 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–0 | 3,274 | |
| 15 March 1997 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 3–0 | 3,373 | Joyce (2), Darby |
| 22 March 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 0–1 | 3,847 | |
| 29 March 1997 | Darlington | A | 0–1 | 3,024 | |
| 31 March 1997 | Hereford United | H | 1–1 | 2,818 | Greaves |
| 5 April 1997 | Barnet | A | 0–1 | 1,668 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Scunthorpe United | A | 2–2 | 4,257 | Quigley, Lowthorpe |
| 15 April 1997 | Colchester United | H | 1–2 | 2,035 | Darby |
| 19 April 1997 | Leyton Orient | H | 3–2 | 2,647 | Peacock, Mann, Rioch (pen) |
| 26 April 1997 | Fulham | A | 0–2 | 10,588 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Scarborough | H | 0–2 | 3,774 |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 17 November 1996 | Whitby Town | A | 0–0 | 3,337 | |
| R1R | 26 November 1996 | Whitby Town | H | 8–4 (a.e.t.) | 2,900 | Darby (6), Peacock, Mann |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–5 | 3,756 | Joyce |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Scarborough | H | 2–2 | 2,134 | Rioch, Quigley |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Scarborough | A | 2–3 (lost 4–5 on agg) | 2,656 | Rioch (pen), Gordon |
Football League Trophy
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NR1 | 10 December 1996 | Chester City | H | 3–1 | 553 | |
| NR2 | 28 January 1997 | Carlisle United | A | 0–4 | 3,716 |
Squad
| Name | Position | Nationality | Place of birth | Date of birth (age)[a] | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||||||
| Roy Carroll | GK |  NIR |
Enniskillen | 30 September 1977 (age 18) | Ballinamallard United |
September 1995 | Unknown | ||||||
| Aidan Davison | GK | NIR |
 Sedgefield |
11 May 1968 (age 28) | Bolton Wanderers | November 1996 | Loan | ||||||
| Steve Wilson | GK | ENG |
Hull | 24 April 1974 (age 22) | Academy | 4 May 1991 | – | ||||||
| Defenders | |||||||||||||
| Neil Allison | DF | ENG |
Hull | 20 October 1973 (age 22) | Academy | May 1991 | – | ||||||
| Tony Brien | DF |  IRE |
Dublin | 10 February 1969 (age 27) | West Bromwich Albion | 12 July 1996 | Free | ||||||
| Rob Dewhurst | DF | ENG |
Keighley | 10 September 1971 (age 24) | Blackburn Rovers | 5 November 1993 | Free | ||||||
| Antonio Doncel | DF |  ESP |
A Pobra de San Xiao | 30 January 1967 (age 29) | Racing de Ferrol |
August 1996 | Free | ||||||
| Mike Edwards | DF | ENG |
Hessle | 25 April 1980 (age 16) | Academy | July 1996 | – | ||||||
| Mark Greaves | DF | ENG |
Hull | 22 January 1975 (age 21) | Brigg Town | 17 June 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Adam Lowthorpe | DF | ENG |
Hull | 7 August 1975 (age 20) | Academy | July 1993 | – | ||||||
| Scott Maxfield | DF | ENG |
Doncaster | 13 July 1976 (age 19) | Doncaster Rovers | 27 March 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Gregor Rioch | DF | ENG |
Sutton Coldfield | 24 June 1975 (age 21) | Peterborough United | July 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Sam Sharman | DF | ENG |
Hull | 7 November 1977 (age 18) | Sheffield Wednesday | March 1997 | Free | ||||||
| Simon Trevitt | DF | ENG |
Dewsbury | 20 December 1967 (age 28) | Huddersfield Town | December 1995 | £20,000 | ||||||
| Ian Wright | DF | ENG |
Lichfield | 10 March 1972 (age 24) | Bristol Rovers | July 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Midfielders | |||||||||||||
| Patrick Dickinson | MF |  CAN |
Vancouver | 6 May 1978 (age 18) | Academy | March 1997 | – | ||||||
| Stuart Elliott | MF | ENG |
Hendon | 27 August 1977 (age 18) | Newcastle United | March 1997 | Loan | ||||||
| Kenny Gilbert | MF |  SCO |
Aberdeen | 8 March 1975 (age 21) | Aberdeen |
July 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Warren Joyce | MF | ENG |
Oldham | 20 January 1965 (age 31) | Burnley | July 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Neil Mann | MF | SCO |
Nottingham |
19 November 1972 (age 23) | Grantham Town | July 1993 | Free | ||||||
| Jamie Marks | MF | NIR |
Belfast | 18 March 1977 (age 19) | Leeds United | February 1996 | Free | ||||||
| Richard Peacock | MF | ENG |
Sheffield | 29 October 1972 (age 23) | Sheffield F.C. | October 1993 | Unknown | ||||||
| Mike Quigley | MF | ENG |
Manchester | 2 October 1970 (age 25) | Manchester City | July 1995 | Unknown | ||||||
| Paul Wharton | MF | ENG |
Newcastle | 26 June 1977 (age 19) | Leeds United | February 1996 | Free | ||||||
| Forwards | |||||||||||||
| Andy Brown | FW | SCO |
Edinburgh | 11 October 1976 (age 19) | Leeds United | May 1996 | Unknown | ||||||
| Duane Darby | FW | ENG |
Birmingham | 17 October 1973 (age 22) | Doncaster Rovers | 27 March 1996 | £25,000 | ||||||
| Lee Ellington | FW | ENG |
Bradford | 3 July 1980 (age 15) | Academy | December 1996 | – | ||||||
| Paul Fewings | FW | ENG |
Hull | 18 February 1978 (age 18) | Academy | August 1995 | – | ||||||
| Gavin Gordon | FW | ENG |
Manchester | 24 June 1979 (age 17) | Academy | July 1995 | – | ||||||
| Andy Mason | FW | ENG |
Bolton | 22 November 1974 (age 21) | Bolton Wanderers | July 1995 | Free | ||||||
| Christian Sansam | FW | ENG |
Hull | 26 December 1975 (age 20) | Bradford City | November 1996 | Free | ||||||
| Robbie Turner | FW | ENG |
Easington | 18 September 1966 (age 29) | Cambridge United | October 1996 | Loan | ||||||