# 1996–97 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. Despite having led the division for most of the season, a collapse in the final 13 matches dropped the Bees into the playoffs, where they were defeated by Crewe Alexandra in the 1997 Second Division playoff Final.

## Season summary

Despite a hangover in the 1995–96 season, Brentford entered 1996–97 with largely the same core of players which reached the 1995 Second Division playoff semi-finals. That said, central defender Barry Ashby and midfielders Paul Smith and Carl Hutchings all rejected new contracts in favour of monthly agreements, but the trio signed new deals during the opening two months of the season. Manager David Webb's only significant signing of the 1996 off-season was that of midfielder Scott Canham, paying West Ham United a £25,000 fee to turn his loan from the previous season into a permanent deal.
Brentford began the Second Division season with an 11-match unbeaten run and firmly held on to top spot in the table. The four-pronged attack of Carl Asaba, Nicky Forster, Robert Taylor and Marcus Bent proved fruitful and Asaba's 7-minute hat-trick versus Shrewsbury Town on 31 August 1996 was the quickest ever in a league match by a Brentford player. One win in eight matches from mid-October through to mid-November dropped the Bees back into the playoff positions, but the club returned to the summit early in the following 13-match unbeaten run. Forward Nicky Forster, who was in the final year of his contract, was sold to Birmingham City for a £700,000 fee on 31 January 1997, but he was not replaced.
Despite the loss of Forster, the unbeaten run continued until defeat away to Preston North End on 8 March. In the aftermath of the match, manager David Webb tendered his resignation, citing verbal abuse of himself, the coaching staff and the players and "undisclosed sensitive issues" as the reason. Chairman Martin Lange refused to accept Webb's resignation. The fallout from the Preston match gave way to a run of eight defeats in the final 13 matches of the season, in which just six goals were scored and the team failed to find the net at all during the final four matches. Things went from bad to worse when central defender Barry Ashby suffered an injury on 19 April and Carl Asaba was sent off in the penultimate match of the season. The run dropped Brentford from 1st to 4th place and into a two-legged tie with Bristol City in the playoff semi-finals.
Brentford rallied in the playoff semi-finals, seeing off Bristol City (who had finished the regular season with five consecutive wins) 4–2 on aggregate, winning 2–1 home and away. The Bees were "exposed and outclassed" in the final at Wembley Stadium versus Crewe Alexandra, losing 1–0 in a match which saw the Railwaymen hit the woodwork on three occasions and have two goalbound efforts cleared off the line by Carl Hutchings. In addition, Bees defender Brian Statham was sent off for committing a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 2 | Stockport County | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 82 | Promoted |
| 3 | Luton Town | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 71 | 45 | +26 | 78 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Brentford | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 74 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 69 | 51 | +18 | 73 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 73 | Promoted through play-offs |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Pre-season and friendlies

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 22 July 1996 | Hampton | A | 3–0 | n/a | Asaba (pen), Taylor (pen), Forster |
| 25 July 1996 | Carshalton Athletic | A | 1–0 | n/a | Omigie |
| 27 July 1996 | Chertsey Town | A | 1–0 | n/a | Taylor |
| 29 July 1996 | Southend United | H | 3–0 | n/a | Bent, Forster, Asaba |
| 31 July 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–3 | 3,175 | |
| 2 August 1996 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–1 | 3,793 | Taylor (pen), Abrahams |
| 5 August 1996 | Stevenage Borough | A | 2–2 | n/a | Dennis, Asaba |
| 7 August 1996 | Derby County | H | 0–2 | 1,936 | |
| 12 August 1996 | Hayes | A | 7–0 | n/a | Dennis (2), Taylor, Forster, Bent, Myall, untraced (og) |
| 14 February 1997 | Southampton | H | 2–0 | n/a | Asaba (2) |

### Football League Second Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 17 August 1996 | Bury | A | 1–1 | 3,373 | Taylor |
| 2 | 24 August 1996 | Luton Town | H | 3–2 | 5,404 | Asaba, Bates, Taylor |
| 3 | 27 August 1996 | Gillingham | H | 2–0 | 5,384 | Abrahams (2) |
| 4 | 31 August 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 3–0 | 3,530 | Asaba (3) |
| 5 | 7 September 1996 | Chesterfield | A | 2–0 | 3,643 | Bates, Forster |
| 6 | 10 September 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–2 | 5,377 | Smith, Asaba, Bent |
| 7 | 14 September 1996 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | 5,908 | Asaba |
| 8 | 21 September 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 5,330 | Bent |
| 9 | 28 September 1996 | York City | H | 3–3 | 5,243 | Taylor, Asaba (2) |
| 10 | 1 October 1996 | Bristol City | A | 2–1 | 9,520 | Asaba, Forster |
| 11 | 5 October 1996 | Rotherham United | H | 4–2 | 6,137 | Asaba (2), Taylor, Forster |
| 12 | 12 October 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–2 | 4,313 | |
| 13 | 15 October 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 1–0 | 5,037 | Taylor |
| 14 | 19 October 1996 | Walsall | H | 1–1 | 5,419 | Hutchings |
| 15 | 26 October 1996 | Millwall | H | 0–0 | 7,691 | |
| 16 | 29 October 1996 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–2 | 5,163 | Hutchings |
| 17 | 2 November 1996 | Watford | A | 0–2 | 11,448 | |
| 18 | 9 November 1996 | Stockport County | H | 2–2 | 5,076 | Canham, Forster |
| 19 | 19 November 1996 | Bournemouth | A | 1–2 | 3,464 | Anderson |
| 20 | 23 November 1996 | Wrexham | H | 2–0 | 4,885 | Forster, Asaba |
| 21 | 29 November 1996 | Millwall | A | 0–0 | 7,845 | |
| 22 | 3 December 1996 | Notts County | H | 2–0 | 3,675 | Bent, Asaba |
| 23 | 14 December 1996 | Burnley | A | 2–1 | 10,575 | Asaba, Forster |
| 24 | 21 December 1996 | Preston North End | H | 0–0 | 5,365 | |
| 25 | 26 December 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 4–1 | 9,525 | Forster (2), Asaba, Omigie |
| 26 | 11 January 1997 | York City | A | 4–2 | 3,085 | Asaba (2), Forster (2) |
| 27 | 18 January 1997 | Bristol City | H | 0–0 | 7,606 | |
| 28 | 21 January 1997 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–0 | 4,191 | |
| 29 | 1 February 1997 | Stockport County | A | 2–1 | 8,650 | McGhee, Taylor |
| 30 | 8 February 1997 | Watford | H | 1–1 | 8,679 | Asaba |
| 31 | 22 February 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 1–0 | 6,071 | Asaba |
| 32 | 1 March 1997 | Notts County | A | 1–1 | 4,323 | Ashby |
| 33 | 4 March 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 5,375 | |
| 34 | 8 March 1997 | Preston North End | A | 0–1 | 9,489 | |
| 35 | 15 March 1997 | Burnley | H | 0–3 | 6,624 | |
| 36 | 21 March 1997 | Luton Town | A | 0–1 | 8,164 | |
| 37 | 25 March 1997 | Wrexham | A | 2–0 | 4,053 | Asaba (2, 1 pen) |
| 38 | 29 March 1997 | Bury | H | 0–2 | 7,823 | |
| 39 | 31 March 1997 | Gillingham | A | 2–1 | 7,361 | Janney, Asaba |
| 40 | 5 April 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 0–0 | 5,355 | |
| 41 | 11 April 1997 | Rotherham United | A | 1–0 | 1,797 | Taylor |
| 42 | 15 April 1997 | Chesterfield | H | 1–0 | 5,216 | Asaba |
| 43 | 19 April 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–2 | 6,183 | |
| 44 | 22 April 1997 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 4,030 | |
| 45 | 26 April 1997 | Walsall | A | 0–1 | 5,359 | |
| 46 | 3 May 1997 | Peterborough United | H | 0–1 | 5,274 | |

### Football League Second Division play-offs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| SF (1st leg) | 11 May 1997 | Bristol City | A | 2–1 | 15,581 | Smith, Taylor |
| SF (2nd leg) | 14 May 1997 | Bristol City | H | 2–1 (won 4–2 on aggregate) | 9,496 | Taylor, Bent |
| F | 25 May 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | N | 0–1 | 34,149 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Bournemouth | H | 2–0 | 4,509 | Smith, Forster |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Sudbury Town | A | 3–1 | 3,973 | McGhee, Taylor (2) |
| R3 | 25 January 1997 | Manchester City | H | 0–1 | 12,019 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
| R1 (1st leg) | 20 August 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–0 | 3,034 | Taylor |
| R1 (2nd leg) | 3 September 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 (won 1–0 on aggregate) | 5,180 | |
| R2 (1st leg) | 17 September 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–2 | 8,938 | Forster |
| R2 (2nd leg) | 24 September 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–2 (lost 4–1 on aggregate) | 9,599 | |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| SR1 | 10 December 1996 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–1 | 2,752 | Omigie, Asaba |
| SR2 | 7 January 1997 | Barnet | H | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1,455 | Taylor, Forster |
| SQF | 28 January 1997 | Colchester United | H | 0–1 | 2,253 | |
* Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book of the Nineties

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1996–97 season.
| Position | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Kevin Dearden | (1970-03-08)8 March 1970 (aged 26) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1993 | |
| GK | Tamer Fernandes | (1974-12-07)7 December 1974 (aged 21) | Youth | 1993 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Ijah Anderson | (1975-12-30)30 December 1975 (aged 20) | Southend United | 1995 | |
| DF | Barry Ashby | (1970-11-21)21 November 1970 (aged 25) | Watford | 1994 | |
| DF | Jamie Bates (c) | (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 28) | Youth | 1986 | |
| DF | Carl Hutchings | (1974-09-24)24 September 1974 (aged 21) | Youth | 1993 | |
| DF | Brian Statham | (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 27) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1992 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| MF | Scott Canham | (1974-11-11)11 November 1974 (aged 21) | West Ham United | 1996 | |
| MF | Kevin Dennis | (1976-12-14)14 December 1976 (aged 19) | Arsenal | 1996 | |
| MF | Richard Goddard | (1978-03-31)31 March 1978 (aged 18) | Arsenal | 1996 | |
| MF | Lee Harvey | (1966-12-21)21 December 1966 (aged 29) | Nottingham Forest | 1993 | |
| MF | Gus Hurdle | (1973-10-14)14 October 1973 (aged 22) | Carshalton Athletic | 1993 | |
| MF | David McGhee | (1976-06-19)19 June 1976 (aged 20) | Youth | 1994 | |
| MF | Paul Smith | (1971-09-18)18 September 1971 (aged 24) | Southend United | 1993 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Carl Asaba | (1973-01-28)28 January 1973 (aged 23) | Dulwich Hamlet | 1994 | |
| FW | Marcus Bent | (1978-05-19)19 May 1978 (aged 18) | Youth | 1995 | |
| FW | Malcolm McPherson | (1974-12-09)9 December 1974 (aged 21) | West Ham United | 1996 | |
| FW | Joe Omigie | (1972-06-13)13 June 1972 (aged 24) | Donna | 1994 | |
| FW | Kevin Rapley | (1977-09-21)21 September 1977 (aged 18) | Youth | 1997 | |
| FW | Robert Taylor | (1971-04-30)30 April 1971 (aged 25) | Leyton Orient | 1994 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| MF | Paul Abrahams | (1973-10-31)31 October 1973 (aged 22) | Colchester United | 1995 | Transferred to Colchester United |
| MF | Mark Janney | (1977-12-02)2 December 1977 (aged 18) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1997 | Returned to Tottenham Hotspur after loan |
| FW | Nicky Forster | (1973-09-08)8 September 1973 (aged 22) | Gillingham | 1994 | Transferred to Birmingham City |
| FW | Steve Slade | (1975-10-06)6 October 1975 (aged 20) | Queens Park Rangers | 1997 | Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan |
* Source: Soccerbase

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| David Webb | Manager |
| Kevin Lock | First Team Coach |
| Roy Johnson | Physiotherapist |
| Fergus Dignan | Medical Officer |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    Substitute appearances in brackets.
| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | FL Trophy | Playoffs | Playoffs | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Kevin Dearden | 44 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 0 |
| GK | | Tamer Fernandes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | | Ijah Anderson | 46 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 1 |
| DF | | Barry Ashby | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 50 (1) | 1 |
| DF | | Jamie Bates | 37 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 2 |
| DF | | Gus Hurdle | 28 (3) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 (3) | 0 |
| DF | | Brian Statham | 11 (8) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 (8) | 0 |
| MF | | Paul Abrahams | 5 (3) | 2 | — | — | 1 (2) | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 (5) | 2 |
| MF | | Marcus Bent | 29 (5) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 39 (6) | 4 |
| MF | | Scott Canham | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 16 (2) | 1 |
| MF | | Kevin Dennis | 9 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 (3) | 0 |
| MF | | Richard Goddard | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| MF | | Lee Harvey | 2 (12) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (16) | 0 |
| MF | | Carl Hutchings | 23 (5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 (6) | 2 |
| MF | | David McGhee | 44 (1) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55 (2) | 2 |
| MF | | Paul Smith | 46 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 58 | 3 |
| FW | | Carl Asaba | 44 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 24 |
| FW | | Nicky Forster | 25 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 13 |
| FW | | Malcolm McPherson | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (2) | 0 |
| FW | | Joe Omigie | 7 (6) | 1 | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 (10) | 2 |
| FW | | Kevin Rapley | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| FW | | Robert Taylor | 43 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 56 | 13 |
| Players loaned in during the season |||||||||||||||
| MF | | Mark Janney | 1 (1) | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 (1) | 1 |
| MF | | Steve Slade | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Nineties

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL2 | FAC | FLC | FLT | FLP | Total |
| FW | | Carl Asaba | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 |
| FW | | Nicky Forster | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 13 |
| FW | | Robert Taylor | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| MF | | Marcus Bent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| MF | | Paul Smith | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| MF | | Paul Abrahams | 2 | — | 0 | — | — | 2 |
| DF | | Jamie Bates | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | Carl Hutchings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | David McGhee | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Joe Omigie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | Mark Janney | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| DF | | Ijah Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DF | | Barry Ashby | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| MF | | Scott Canham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 56 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 71 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Nineties

### Discipline

| Pos | Nat | Player | FL2 | FL2 | FAC | FAC | FLC | FLC | FLT | FLT | FLP | FLP | Total | Total | Pts |
| FW | | Carl Asaba | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| DF | | Barry Ashby | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| DF | | Ijah Anderson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| DF | | Gus Hurdle | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| DF | | Brian Statham | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| FW | | Nicky Forster | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| DF | | Jamie Bates | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| MF | | Marcus Bent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MF | | Paul Smith | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MF | | Steve Slade | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | Kevin Dennis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | Carl Hutchings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | Scott Canham | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| GK | | Kevin Dearden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Robert Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 47 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 58 | 2 | 64 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: Soccerbase

### Management

| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League |
| Name | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
| David Webb | | 17 August 1996 | 25 May 1997 | 59 | 27 | 15 | 17 | 045.76 | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 043.48 |

### Summary

| Games played | 59 (46 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League playoffs) |
| Games won | 27 (20 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League playoffs) |
| Games drawn | 15 (14 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League playoffs) |
| Games lost | 17 (12 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League playoffs) |
| Goals scored | 71 (56 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 4 Football League playoffs) |
| Goals conceded | 55 (43 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League playoffs) |
| Clean sheets | 21 (18 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League playoffs) |
| Biggest league win | 3–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 31 August 1996; 4–1 versus Plymouth Argyle, 26 December 1996 |
| Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Burnley, 15 March 1997 |
| Most appearances | 58, Paul Smith (46 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League playoffs) |
| Top scorer (league) | 23, Carl Asaba |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 24, Carl Asaba |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| July 1996 | MF | Kevin Dennis | Arsenal | Free | |
| July 1996 | MF | Richard Goddard | Arsenal | Free | |
| July 1996 | FW | Malcolm McPherson | West Ham United | Free | |
| July 1996 | MF | Stuart Myall | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free | |
| August 1996 | MF | Scott Canham | West Ham United | £25,000 | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 13 February 1997 | FW | Steve Slade | Queens Park Rangers | 8 March 1997 | |
| 15 March 1997 | FW | Paul Mahorn | Tottenham Hotspur | March 1997 | |
| 27 March 1997 | MF | Mark Janney | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 April 1997 | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 23 October 1996 | MF | Paul Abrahams | Colchester United | £20,000 | |
| 31 January 1997 | FW | Nicky Forster | Birmingham City | £700,000 | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| December 1996 | MF | Stuart Myall | Hastings Town | January 1997 | |

## Kit

Supplier: Cobra Sports Sponsor(s): Ericsson
| Home | Away | Goalkeeper |
Source: Brentford F.C.

## Awards

* Supporters' Player of the Year: Barry Ashby
* Star Player of the Year: Barry Ashby
* London Evening Standard Player of the Month: Jamie Bates (December 1996)
* Ericsson Player of the Month: Kevin Dennis (April 1997)
* Football League Second Division Manager of the Month: David Webb (August 1996)