The 1996–97 season was the 26th in the history of Essex Senior Football League a football competition in England.
The league featured 13 clubs which competed in the league last season, along with two new clubs:
- Ilford, returned to the league system after leaving the Spartan League in 1994
- Saffron Walden Town, resigned from the Isthmian League
Ford United were champions, winning their second Essex Senior League title and were promoted to the Isthmian League.
League table
Football league season| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Ford United |
| Promoted | Ford United |
| Matches played | 210 |
| Goals scored | 707 (3.37 per match) |
| ← 1995–96 1997–98 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford United | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 91 | 24 | +67 | 69 | Promoted to the Isthmian League |
| 2 | Great Wakering Rovers | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 67 | 19 | +48 | 66 | |
| 3 | Concord Rangers | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 99 | 31 | +68 | 62 | |
| 4 | Stansted | 28 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 53 | 37 | +16 | 59 | |
| 5 | Burnham Ramblers | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 62 | 39 | +23 | 46 | |
| 6 | Brentwood | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 43 | |
| 7 | Hullbridge Sports | 28 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 52 | 42 | +10 | 43 | |
| 8 | Basildon United | 28 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 37 | |
| 9 | Ilford | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 34 | |
| 10 | Saffron Walden Town | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 32 | |
| 11 | Southend Manor | 28 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 29 | |
| 12 | Bowers United | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 32 | 77 | −45 | 28 | |
| 13 | East Ham United | 28 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 54 | −25 | 24 | |
| 14 | Sawbridgeworth Town | 28 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 69 | −52 | 12 | |
| 15 | Eton Manor | 28 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 108 | −95 | 7 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
- Basildon United were deducted one point.
References
- "Essex Senior Football League 1992–2011". Non League Matters.