1996–97 Hartlepool United F.C. season

Hartlepool United 1996–97 football season
Hartlepool United
1996–97 season
ChairmanHarold Hornsey
ManagerKeith Houchen (player-manager until 4 November)
Mick Tait (player-manager from 4 November)
StadiumVictoria Park
Third Division20th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Allon/Cooper (9)
All: Allon (11)
Average home league attendance2,107
Home colours
← 1995–96
1997–98 →

During the 1996–97 English football season, Hartlepool United F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Hartlepool started the campaign with wins over Colchester United and Fulham, but Houchen's playing career came to an end after the fifth game of the season, against Wigan Athletic, when he retired due to a persistent knee injury.[1] Houchen continued to bemoan referring decisions which seemed to consistently go against Hartlepool.[2] This in turn led to continued punishments from the FA over his use of foul language towards officials.[3] With Hartlepool on a poor run of results at the foot of the table, he left the club by mutual consent on 4 November 1996.[4] His assistant Mick Tait led the club to a 20th-place finish, and organised a benefit match for Houchen against Middlesbrough, which raised £23,000.[5]

There was also a change of ownership in 1997, when Harold Hornsey sold the club to an oil company called IOR.[citation needed]

Final league table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
18 Darlington 46 14 10 22 64 78 −14 52
19 Doncaster Rovers 46 14 10 22 52 66 −14 52
20 Hartlepool United 46 14 9 23 53 66 −13 51
21 Torquay United 46 13 11 22 46 62 −16 50
22 Exeter City 46 12 12 22 48 73 −25 48
Source: [6]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Hartlepool United's score comes first[7]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1996 Colchester United A 2–0 2,942 Allon, McAuley
24 August 1996 Fulham H 2–1 2,457 Cooper, Davies
27 August 1996 Mansfield Town H 2–2 2,750 Cooper, Ingram
31 August 1996 Leyton Orient A 0–2 4,342
7 September 1996 Hereford United A 1–0 2,729 Halliday
10 September 1996 Carlisle United H 1–2 3,077 Cooper
14 September 1996 Wigan Athletic H 1–1 2,433 Cooper
21 September 1996 Hull City A 0–1 3,886
28 September 1996 Chester City H 2–0 2,042 Allon, Cooper (pen)
1 October 1996 Doncaster Rovers A 1–2 1,471 Beech
5 October 1996 Cambridge United A 0–1 3,406
12 October 1996 Darlington H 1–2 3,799 Halliday
15 October 1996 Swansea City H 1–1 1,310 Halliday
19 October 1996 Barnet A 0–1 2,265
26 October 1996 Exeter City A 0–2 3,043
29 October 1996 Northampton Town H 0–2 1,254
2 November 1996 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–3 1,683 Mike, Cooper
9 November 1996 Scarborough A 4–2 3,157 Howard, Clegg, Halliday (2)
23 November 1996 Torquay United A 1–0 1,856 Allon
30 November 1996 Exeter City H 1–1 1,419 Irvine
3 December 1996 Scunthorpe United A 1–2 1,778 Clegg
14 December 1996 Rochdale A 3–1 1,618 Beech, Howard, Allon
21 December 1996 Lincoln City H 2–1 1,344 Cooper (pen), Sunderland
26 December 1996 Carlisle United A 0–1 6,947
28 December 1996 Hereford United H 2–1 1,923 Allon, Howard
1 January 1997 Hull City H 1–1 1,944 Beech
11 January 1997 Chester City A 0–0 1,885
18 January 1997 Doncaster Rovers H 2–4 1,708 Howard, Cooper (pen)
25 January 1997 Northampton Town A 0–3 5,039
1 February 1997 Scarborough H 1–0 1,843 Cooper
8 February 1997 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–5 8,412
11 February 1997 Cardiff City H 2–3 1,120 Beech (2)
15 February 1997 Torquay United H 1–1 1,548 Beech
22 February 1997 Cardiff City A 0–2 2,971
1 March 1997 Scunthorpe United H 0–1 1,300
4 March 1997 Wigan Athletic A 2–2 3,229 Halliday, Howard
8 March 1997 Lincoln City A 1–2 2,915 Allon
15 March 1997 Rochdale H 1–2 1,448 Beech
22 March 1997 Fulham A 0–1 7,222
29 March 1997 Colchester United H 1–0 2,725 Beech
31 March 1997 Mansfield Town A 0–1 2,229
5 April 1997 Leyton Orient H 3–1 2,576 Bradley, Baker, Halliday
12 April 1997 Cambridge United H 0–2 3,186
19 April 1997 Darlington A 2–1 4,662 Brown, Allon
26 April 1997 Barnet H 4–0 3,070 Allon (2), Baker, Halliday
3 May 1997 Swansea City A 2–2 5,423 Howard (2)

FA Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 16 November 1996 York City H 0–0 3,011
R1R 26 November 1996 York City A 0–3 3,257

League Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Lincoln City H 2–2 2,073 Davies, Allon
R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Lincoln City A 2–3 (lost 5–6 on agg) 2,389 Allon, Beech

Football League Trophy

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
NR1 10 December 1996 Burnley H 0–2 921

Squad

[8] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Paul O'Connor
— GK England ENG Stephen Pears
— DF England ENG Michael Barron (on loan from Middlesbrough)
— DF England ENG Russell Bradley (on loan from Scunthorpe United)
— DF England ENG Glen Davies
— DF England ENG Stephen Hutt
— DF England ENG Denny Ingram
— DF England ENG Darren Knowles
— DF England ENG Graeme Lee
— DF England ENG Sean McAuley
— DF England ENG Ian McGuckin
— MF England ENG Chris Beech
— MF England ENG Michael Brown (on loan from Manchester City)
— MF England ENG David Clegg
— MF England ENG Mark Cooper
— MF England ENG Jon Cullen
— MF England ENG Andy Elliott
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Kona Hislop
— MF England ENG Chris Homer
— MF France FRA Alain Horace
— MF England ENG Richard Lucas
— MF Scotland SCO Chris McDonald
— MF England ENG Mark Proctor
— MF England ENG Jon Sunderland
— MF England ENG Mick Tait
— MF England ENG Paul Walton
— MF England ENG Craig Winstanley
— FW England ENG Joe Allon
— FW England ENG Paul Baker
— FW England ENG Stephen Halliday
— FW England ENG Keith Houchen
— FW England ENG Steve Howard
— FW England ENG Stuart Irvine
— FW England ENG Adie Mike (on loan from Stockport County)

References

  1. ^ Strange 2006, p. 222
  2. ^ Strange 2006, p. 224
  3. ^ Strange 2006, p. 226
  4. ^ Strange 2006, p. 232
  5. ^ Strange 2006, p. 236
  6. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Hartlepool United 1996-1997". Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  8. ^ "All Hartlepool United players: 1997". 11v11.com. Retrieved 22 July 2015.

Sources

  • Strange, Jonathan (2006). A Tenner and Box of Kippers: The Story of Keith Houchen. Stadia. ISBN 978-0-7524-3796-5.)
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