Sheffield United 1996–97 football season
| 1996–97 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Mike McDonald |
| Manager | Howard Kendall |
| Stadium | Bramall Lane |
| First Division | 5th |
| FA Cup | Third round |
| League Cup | Second round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Pyotr Kachura/Andy Walker (12) All: Andy Walker (14) |
| Average home league attendance | 16,638 |
| ← 1995–961997–98 → | |
During the 1996–97 English football season, Sheffield United competed in the Football League First Division.
Season summary
In the 1996–97 season, Howard Kendall's first full season in charge, the Blades finished fifth in Division One to qualify for the play-offs. In the play-off final at Wembley, the Blades lost to a last minute goal from David Hopkin and Crystal Palace earned the final promotion spot to the Premier League. In June 1997, Kendall left the club by mutual consent to return to Everton for a third spell as manager.
Players
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League § First Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 68 | 51 | +17 | 76 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 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 (O, P) | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 78 | 48 | +30 | 71 | |
| 7 | Portsmouth | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 68 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Matches
Source:
Key
Win Draw Loss
Division One
Reading v Sheffield United| 17 August 1996 | Reading | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Elm Park |
| 15:00 | Bernal  80'  Quinn  81' |
Attendance: 11,081 |
| 24 August 1996 | Sheffield United | 4–4 | Birmingham City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Taylor 45', 70' Walker 67', 72' |
Furlong 9' Newell 37'Devlin 75' (pen.)Hunt 83' |
Attendance: 16,332 |
| 7 September 1996 | Oldham Athletic | 0–2 | Sheffield United | Boundary Park |
| 15:00 | Hutchison 27' Sandford 87' |
Attendance: 7,323 |
| 10 September 1996 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Bradford City | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Taylor 27' Whitehouse 45', 58' |
Attendance: 12,591 |
| 14 September 1996 | Sheffield United | 1–3 | Ipswich Town | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Ward 28' (pen.) Vonk 61' |
14,261 | Sedgley 63' Scowcroft 77', 81' |
| 21 September 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Molineux Stadium |
| 15:00 | Thompson 89' (pen.) |
White 76' Taylor  82'Katchouro 90' |
Attendance: 25,170 |
| 28 September 1996 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Manchester City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Ward 45' (pen.) Taylor 49' |
Attendance: 20,867 |
| 1 October 1996 | Southend United | 3–2 | Sheffield United | Roots Hall |
| 19:45 | Boere 33', 71' Marsh 54' (pen.) |
Walker 7', 34' |
Attendance: 3,716 |
| 12 October 1996 | Sheffield United | 0–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 15,059 |
| 15 October 1996 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Charlton Athletic | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Katchouro 52', 54' Walker 89' |
Attendance: 14,080 |
| 19 October 1996 | Stoke City | 0–4 | Sheffield United | Victoria Ground |
| 15:00 | Vonk 8', 19' Walker 16'Taylor 77' |
Attendance: 13,581 |
| 26 October 1996 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Taylor 83' |
Slade 19' |
Attendance: 17,096 |
| 30 October 1996 | Norwich City | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Carrow Road |
| 19:45 | Adams 71' |
Katchouro 24' |
Attendance: 14,534 |
| 3 November 1996 | Grimsby Town | 2–4 | Sheffield United | Blundell Park |
| 13:00 | Livingstone 33', 50' |
Hutchison 27' Whitehouse 44', 82'Katchouro 80' |
Attendance: 5,935 |
| 13 November 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–2 | Sheffield United | The Hawthorns |
| 19:45 | Coldicott 80' |
Walker 57' Hutchison 60' |
Attendance: 12,167 |
| 16 November 1996 | Port Vale | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Vale Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 8,352 |
| 22 November 1996 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Taylor 41' |
Blake 10' |
Attendance: 17,069 |
| 26 November 1996 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Swindon Town | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Taylor 6' Katchouro 61' |
Attendance: 12,301 |
| 30 November 1996 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Loftus Road |
| 15:00 | Barker 36' (pen.) |
Attendance: 11,891 |
| 3 December 1996 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Huddersfield Town | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Sandford 34' Patterson 38'White 61' |
Payton 14' |
Attendance: 14,700 |
| 7 December 1996 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Portsmouth | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Katchouro 14' |
Attendance: 16,333 |
| 14 December 1996 | Oxford United | 4–1 | Sheffield United | Manor Ground |
| 15:00 | Aldridge 13', 21', 33' Jemson 82' |
Walker 88' |
Attendance: 7,737 |
| 17 December 1996 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Selhurst Park |
| 19:45 | Walker 44' |
Attendance: 12,801 |
| 21 December 1996 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Barnsley | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Hendrie 85' |
Attendance: 24,384 |
| 26 December 1996 | Bradford City | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Valley Parade |
| 13:00 | Jacobs 37' Dreyer 77' |
Hodgson 26' Scott 47' |
Attendance: 17,475 |
| 28 December 1996 | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Oldham Athletic | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Taylor 6' Katchouro 70' |
Henry 35' Rickers 80' |
Attendance: 16,130 |
| 18 January 1997 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Southend United | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Katchouro 15' White 50'Taylor 61' |
Attendance: 15,049 |
| 24 January 1997 | Sheffield United | 2–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | White 24', 82' |
Atkins 19' Osborn 25'Bull 88' |
Attendance: 17,490 |
| 29 January 1997 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Maine Road |
| 19:45 | Attendance: 26,551 |
| 1 February 1997 | Swindon Town | 2–1 | Sheffield United | County Ground |
| 15:00 | Elkins 57' Holdsworth 70' (o.g.) |
Holdsworth 80' |
Attendance: 8,811 |
| 9 February 1997 | Sheffield United | 2–3 | Norwich City | Bramall Lane |
| 12:00 | Katchouro 15' Walker 79' |
Johnson 55' Ottosson 74'Holdsworth 83' (o.g.) |
Attendance: 15,301 |
| 15 February 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–2 | Sheffield United | Burnden Park |
| 15:00 | Paatelainen 4' Fairclough 20' |
Fjørtoft 7' Katchouro 55' |
Attendance: 17,922 |
| 22 February 1997 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Grimsby Town | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fjørtoft 45', 62', 68' |
Lester 42' |
Attendance: 17,502 |
| 1 March 1997 | Portsmouth | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Fratton Park |
| 15:00 | Haul 19' |
Fjørtoft 54' |
Attendance: 12,715 |
| 4 March 1997 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Port Vale | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Ward 62' (pen.) Taylor 79'Fjørtoft 82' |
Attendance: 14,950 |
| 7 March 1997 | Barnsley | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Oakwell |
| 19:45 | Hendrie 36' Eaden 83' |
Attendance: 14,668 |
| 15 March 1997 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Oxford United | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Whitehouse 11' Fjørtoft 35'Walker 43' |
Gilchrist 40' |
Attendance: 16,226 |
| 18 March 1997 | Ipswich Town | 3–1 | Sheffield United | Portman Road |
| 19:45 | Gregory 1', 11', 37' |
Fjørtoft 21' |
Attendance: 10,374 |
| 22 March 1997 | Birmingham City | 1–1 | Sheffield United | St Andrews |
| 15:00 | Legg 53' |
Katchouro 64' |
Attendance: 14,969 |
| 29 March 1997 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Reading | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Bodin 11' (o.g.) Walker 49' |
Attendance: 15,153 |
| 31 March 1997 | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | Sheffield United | Galpharm Stadium |
| 15:00 | Dalton 1' Cowan 18'Dyson 47' |
Sinnott 16' (o.g.) Henry 54' |
Attendance: 14,551 |
| 5 April 1997 | Sheffield United | 1–2 | West Bromwich Albion | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fjørtoft 69' |
Coldicott 16' Taylor 72' |
Attendance: 15,004 |
| 12 April 1997 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Crystal Palace | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Ward 2' (pen.) Fjørtoft 19'White 89' |
Attendance: 20,051 |
| 19 March 1997 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Prenton Park |
| 15:00 | Jones 26' |
Whitehouse 50' |
Attendance: 10,027 |
| 25 April 1997 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Stoke City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Tiler 66' |
Attendance: 25,596 |
| 4 May 1997 | Charlton Athletic | 0–0 | Sheffield United | The Valley |
| 13:00 | Attendance: 12,589 |
Playoffs
Sheffield United v Ipswich Town| 10 May 1997 Semi-final first leg | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Ipswich Town | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fjørtoft 41' |
Stockwell 78' |
Attendance: 22,312 |
| 14 May 1997 Semi-final second leg | Ipswich Town | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Sheffield United | Portman Road |
| 19:45 | Scowcroft 32' Gudmundsson 73' |
Katchouro 9' Walker 77'Henry 110' |
Attendance: 21,467 |
| 26 May 1997 Final | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Wembley Stadium |
| 15:00 | Hopkin 90' |
Attendance: 64,383 |
FA Cup
Norwich City v Sheffield United| 4 January 1997 Round 3 | Norwich City | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Carrow Road |
| 15:00 | Polston 32' |
Attendance: 12,356 |
League Cup
Sheffield United v Bradford City| 20 August 1996 Round 1 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Bradford City | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Vonk 8' White 69'Walker 76' |
Attendance: 7,575 |
| 3 September 1996 Round 1 | Bradford City | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Valley Parade |
| 19:45 | Stallard 68' |
Ward 66' Walker 77' (pen.) |
Attendance: 3,593 |
| 17 September 1996 Round 2 | Stockport County | 2–1 | Sheffield United | Edgeley Park |
| 19:45 | Flynn 23' Bennett 39' |
Vonk 49' |
Attendance: 4,004 |
| 24 September 1996 Round 2 | Sheffield United | 2–5 | Stockport County | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Taylor 34' Katchouro 65' |
Gannon 25' Armstrong 30', 81'Bennett 33'Angell 62' |
Attendance: 6,285 |
Steel City Cup
Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday| 27 August 1996 | Sheffield United | 4–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Bramall Lane |
| 19:45 | Scott ?' Walker ?'Starbuck ?'Sandford ?' |
Unknown ?' |
Attendance: 7,271 |
Friendlies
Sarawak
v Sheffield United
| 18 July 1996 | Sarawak | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Sarawak Stadium |
| Walker ?' Hutchison ?' |
Attendance: 10,000 |
v Sheffield United
| 23 July 1996 | Sabah | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Likas Stadium |
v Sheffield United
| 25 July 1996 | Sarawak XI | 0–3 | Sheffield United | Sarawak Stadium |
| Walker ?' Hartfield ?'Starbuck ?' |
v Sheffield United
| 5 August 1996 | Linfield | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Windsor Park |
v Sheffield United
| 7 August 1996 | Glenavon | 0–4 | Sheffield United | Mourneview Park |
| Walker ?' Hodgson ?', ?'Ward ?' |
| 12 August 1996 | Stocksbridge Park Steels | 0–3 | Sheffield United | Bracken Moor |
| Walker ?', ?' Unknown ?' (o.g.) |
References
- Stenson, Tony (27 May 1997). "COP STEP AND JUMP INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE". The Mirror. London.
- "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. pp. 296–297. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.
Notes
- Kelly was born in Preston, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his father and represented them at U-23 level before making his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1993.
- Short was born in Münster, West Germany (now Germany), but was raised in England.
- Hutchison was born in Gateshead, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Scotland in March 1999, having previously represented them at B level.
- Taylor was born in Weston-super-Mare, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally through his father and made his international debut for Wales in 1995.