1996–97 Stockport County F.C. season


During the 1996–97 English football season, Stockport County F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary

The 1996-97 season proved to be possibly the most memorable in Stockport County's history. The season began in a forgettable fashion however, recording two draws and four defeats in the first six league matches. A 2nd round League Cup tie against Sheffield United proved to be a catalyst, and Stockport won with a 7–3 aggregate win, including a 5–2 victory at Bramall Lane. Although Stockport reached the northern final of the Auto Windscreens Shield, losing 2–0 on aggregate to Carlisle and just missing out on a visit to Wembley, it was the League Cup which provided the major highlights of the season, with four victories over top-flight opposition. The club, in its third colours for the first and only time in the season, recorded a 1–0 win away at Blackburn Rovers in the 3rd round, due to a colour clash with both the home and away kits. This win was followed by a 4th round 1–1 draw away to West Ham and a 2–1 victory in the replay at Edgeley Park, a quarter final 2–2 draw against Southampton at Edgeley Park followed by a 2–1 victory in the replay at The Dell, and then a semi-final meeting with Middlesbrough. Although County lost the first leg at Edgeley Park 2–0, they won 1–0 at the Riverside Stadium, failing to convert several chances to equalise on aggregate.
After a disappointing start, Stockport also enjoyed a great league campaign, eventually securing promotion from Division Two with a 1–0 victory at Chesterfield in the penultimate match of the season. Had Stockport failed to win the game they would have faced a deciding match away at promotion rivals Luton Town on the final day of the season. As it turned out, County travelled to Kenilworth Road with a chance to win the title, but a 1–1 draw meant that local rivals Bury finished top of the table with Stockport finishing second.

Final league table

Results

Stockport County's score comes first

Legend

Football League Second Division

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996Doncaster RoversH2–14,211Flynn, Mutch
R27 December 1996Mansfield TownA3–03,354Kilcline, Durkan
R315 January 1997Stoke CityA2–09,961Durkan, Armstrong
R425 January 1997Birmingham CityA1–318,487Angell

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996ChesterfieldH2–13,088Mutch
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996ChesterfieldA2–1 3,334Ware, Mutch
R2 1st Leg17 September 1996Sheffield UnitedH2–14,004Flynn, Bennett
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996Sheffield UnitedA5–2 6,285Gannon, Armstrong, Bennett, Angell
R322 October 1996Blackburn RoversA1–014,622Sherwood
R427 November 1996West Ham UnitedA1–120,061Cavaco
R4R18 December 1996West Ham UnitedH2–19,834Dowie, Angell
QF22 January 1997SouthamptonH2–29,840Armstrong, Cavaco
QFR29 January 1997SouthamptonA2–113,428Angell, Mutch
SF 1st Leg26 February 1997MiddlesbroughH0–211,778
SF 2nd Leg12 March 1997MiddlesbroughA1–0 29,633Connelly

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR110 December 1996Doncaster RoversA2–1988
NR24 February 1997BurnleyA1–04,251
NQF11 February 1997BuryA2–1 2,497
NSF4 March 1997Crewe AlexandraA1–1 3,529
NF 1st Leg18 March 1997Carlisle UnitedA0–27,057
NF 2nd Leg25 March 1997Carlisle UnitedH0–0 8,593

Squad