1996–97 Gillingham F.C. season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
Season summary
In the 1996–97 season, Gillingham had a satisfying campaign under Pulis after achieving promotion last season, finishing in 11th place.Final league table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | F | A | GD | Pts | ||||
| 1 | Bury | 46 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 31 | 62 | 38 | +24 | 84 | ||||
| 2 | Stockport County | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 82 | ||||
| 3 | Luton Town | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 38 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 31 | 71 | 45 | +26 | 78 | ||||
| 4 | Brentford | 46 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 21 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 74 | ||||
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 33 | 69 | 51 | +18 | 73 | ||||
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 18 | 32 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 73 | ||||
| 7 | Blackpool | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 41 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 26 | 60 | 47 | +13 | 69 | ||||
| 8 | Wrexham | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 38 | 28 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 54 | 50 | +4 | 69 | ||||
| 9 | Burnley | 46 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 48 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 28 | 71 | 55 | +16 | 68 | ||||
| 10 | Chesterfield | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 25 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 21 | 42 | 39 | +3 | 68 | ||||
| 11 | Gillingham | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 34 | 60 | 59 | +1 | 67 | ||||
| 12 | Walsall | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 35 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 19 | 32 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 67 | ||||
| 13 | Watford | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 38 | +7 | 67 | ||||
| 14 | Millwall | 46 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 50 | 55 | –5 | 61 | ||||
| 15 | Preston North End | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 16 | 36 | 49 | 55 | –6 | 61 | ||||
| 16 | Bournemouth | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 24 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 25 | 43 | 45 | –2 | 60 | ||||
| 17 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 47 | 50 | –3 | 56 | ||||
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 43 | 51 | 56 | –5 | 55 | ||||
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 28 | 40 | 47 | 58 | –11 | 54 | ||||
| 20 | York City | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 37 | 47 | 68 | –21 | 52 | ||||
| 21 | Peterborough United | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 38 | 34 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 39 | 55 | 73 | –18 | 47 | ||||
| 22 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 32 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 42 | 49 | 74 | –25 | 46 | ||||
| 23 | Rotherham United | 46 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 41 | 39 | 70 | –31 | 35 | ||||
| 24 | Notts County | 46 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 34 | 33 | 59 | –26 | 35 |
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
- NB: In the Football League goals scored takes precedence over goal difference.
| Key | |
| Division Champions, promoted | |
| Promoted | |
| Participated in play-offs | |
| Promoted through play-offs | |
| Relegated |
Results
Gillingham's score comes firstLegend
Football League Second Division
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Hereford United | H | 1–0 | 5,280 | Butler |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Cardiff City | A | 2–0 | 3,474 | Onuora, Hessenthaler |
| R3 | 21 January 1997 | Derby County | H | 0–2 | 9,508 |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | 2,711 | Torpey |
| R1 2nd Leg | 4 September 1996 | Swansea City | H | 2–0 | 3,633 | Fortune-West, Butler |
| R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1996 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | 4,491 | Ratcliffe |
| R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1996 | Barnsley | H | 1–0 | 5,666 | Puttnam |
| R3 | 22 October 1996 | Coventry City | H | 2–2 | 10,603 | Onuora, Ratcliffe |
| R3R | 13 November 1996 | Coventry City | A | 1–0 | 12,639 | Smith |
| R4 | 26 November 1996 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–1 | 13,537 |
Football League Trophy
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| SR1 | 10 December 1996 | Cardiff City | H | 1–2 | 1,193 |