# 1996–97 FA Cup

The 1996–97 FA Cup (known as The FA Cup sponsored by Littlewoods for sponsorship reasons) was the 116th season of the FA Cup. The tournament started in August 1996 for clubs from non-league football and the competition proper started in October 1996 for teams from the Premier League and the Football League.
Premier League side Manchester United were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the fourth round by Wimbledon.
The tournament was won by Chelsea with a 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley stadium.

## Calendar

| Round | Initial Matches | New Entries | Clubs |
| Preliminary round | Saturday 31 August 1996 | 340 | 574 → 404 |
| First round qualifying | Saturday 14 September 1996 | 118 | 404 → 260 |
| Second round qualifying | Saturday 28 September 1996 | none | 260 → 188 |
| Third round qualifying | Saturday 12 October 1996 | none | 188 → 152 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Saturday 26 October 1996 | 20 | 152 → 124 |
| First round proper | Saturday 16 November 1996 | 52 | 124 → 84 |
| Second round proper | Saturday 7 December 1996 | none | 84 → 64 |
| Third round proper | Saturday 4 January 1997 | 44 | 64 → 32 |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 25 January 1997 | none | 32 → 16 |
| Fifth round proper | Saturday 15 February 1997 | none | 16 → 8 |
| Sixth round proper | Saturday 8 March 1997 | none | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | Sunday 13 April 1997 | none | 4 → 2 |
| Final | Saturday 17 May 1997 | none | 2 → 1 |

## First round proper

Teams from the Football League Second and Third Division entered in this round plus four non-league teams were given byes to this round: Macclesfield Town, Northwich Victoria, Woking and Enfield. The matches were played on 16 November 1996. There were thirteen replays, with two ties requiring a penalty shootout to settle them. Sudbury Town's shock penalty shootout win over Brighton & Hove Albion finished off what was ultimately the last FA Cup match ever played at the Goldstone Ground.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Ashford Town | 2–2 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Dagenham & Redbridge | 1–1 | Ashford Town | 25 November 1996 |
| Ashford Town won 4–3 on penalties |||||
| 2 | Blackpool | 1–0 | Wigan Athletic | 16 November 1996 |
| 3 | Chester City | 3–0 | Stalybridge Celtic | 16 November 1996 |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Bury | 16 November 1996 |
| 5 | Burnley | 2–1 | Lincoln City | 16 November 1996 |
| 6 | Preston North End | 4–1 | Altrincham | 16 November 1996 |
| 7 | Wisbech Town | 1–2 | St Albans City | 16 November 1996 |
| 8 | Woking | 2–2 | Millwall | 15 November 1996 |
| Replay | Millwall | 0–1 | Woking | 26 November 1996 |
| 9 | Gillingham | 1–0 | Hereford United | 16 November 1996 |
| 10 | Boreham Wood | 1–1 | Rushden & Diamonds | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Rushden & Diamonds | 2–3 | Boreham Wood | 26 November 1996 |
| 11 | Northwich Victoria | 2–2 | Walsall | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Walsall | 3–1 | Northwich Victoria | 26 November 1996 |
| 12 | Macclesfield Town | 0–2 | Rochdale | 16 November 1996 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 4–1 | Kidderminster Harriers | 16 November 1996 |
| 14 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–1 | Scarborough | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Scarborough | 1–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 26 November 1996 |
| 15 | Wrexham | 1–1 | Colwyn Bay | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Wrexham | 2–0 | Colwyn Bay | 26 November 1996 |
| 16 | Hednesford Town | 2–1 | Southport | 16 November 1996 |
| 17 | Stockport County | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 16 November 1996 |
| 18 | Brentford | 2–0 | AFC Bournemouth | 16 November 1996 |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 1–2 | Exeter City | 16 November 1996 |
| 20 | Northampton Town | 0–1 | Watford | 17 November 1996 |
| 21 | Bromley | 1–3 | Enfield | 16 November 1996 |
| 22 | Plymouth Argyle | 5–0 | Fulham | 16 November 1996 |
| 23 | Carlisle United | 6–0 | Shepshed Dynamo | 16 November 1996 |
| 24 | Scunthorpe United | 4–1 | Rotherham United | 16 November 1996 |
| 25 | Mansfield Town | 4–0 | Consett | 16 November 1996 |
| 26 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Hendon | 16 November 1996 |
| 27 | Runcorn | 1–4 | Darlington | 16 November 1996 |
| 28 | Torquay United | 0–1 | Luton Town | 16 November 1996 |
| 29 | Boston United | 3–0 | Morecambe | 16 November 1996 |
| 30 | Peterborough United | 0–0 | Cheltenham Town | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Cheltenham Town | 1–3 | Peterborough United | 27 November 1996 |
| 31 | Colchester United | 1–2 | Wycombe Wanderers | 16 November 1996 |
| 32 | Leyton Orient | 2–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 16 November 1996 |
| 33 | Sudbury Town | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | Sudbury Town | 26 November 1996 |
| Sudbury Town won 4–3 on penalties |||||
| 34 | Whitby Town | 0–0 | Hull City | 17 November 1996 |
| Replay | Hull City | 8–4 | Whitby Town | 26 November 1996 |
| 35 | Cambridge United | 3–0 | Welling United | 16 November 1996 |
| 36 | Swansea City | 1–1 | Bristol City | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Bristol City | 1–0 | Swansea City | 26 November 1996 |
| 37 | Farnborough Town | 2–2 | Barnet | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Barnet | 1–0 | Farnborough Town | 26 November 1996 |
| 38 | Hartlepool United | 0–0 | York City | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | York City | 3–0 | Hartlepool United | 26 November 1996 |
| 39 | Stevenage Borough | 2–2 | Hayes | 16 November 1996 |
| Replay | Hayes | 0–2 | Stevenage Borough | 26 November 1996 |
| 40 | Newcastle Town | 0–2 | Notts County | 17 November 1996 |

## Second round proper

The second round of the competition featured the winners of the first round ties. The matches were played on 7 December 1996, with four replays and one penalty shootout required.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Enfield | 1–1 | Peterborough United | 7 December 1996 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 4–1 | Enfield | 17 December 1996 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 0–1 | Hednesford Town | 7 December 1996 |
| 3 | Chester City | 1–0 | Boston United | 7 December 1996 |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Scarborough | 7 December 1996 |
| 5 | Barnet | 3–3 | Wycombe Wanderers | 7 December 1996 |
| Replay | Wycombe Wanderers | 3–2 | Barnet | 17 December 1996 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 9–2 | St Albans City | 7 December 1996 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 2–3 | York City | 7 December 1996 |
| 8 | Watford | 5–0 | Ashford Town | 7 December 1996 |
| 9 | Walsall | 1–1 | Burnley | 7 December 1996 |
| Replay | Burnley | 1–1 | Walsall | 23 December 1996 |
| Burnley won 4–2 on penalties |||||
| 10 | Notts County | 3–1 | Rochdale | 7 December 1996 |
| 11 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Boreham Wood | 7 December 1996 |
| 12 | Wrexham | 2–2 | Scunthorpe United | 7 December 1996 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe United | 2–3 | Wrexham | 17 December 1996 |
| 13 | Plymouth Argyle | 4–1 | Exeter City | 6 December 1996 |
| 14 | Hull City | 1–5 | Crewe Alexandra | 7 December 1996 |
| 15 | Carlisle United | 1–0 | Darlington | 7 December 1996 |
| 16 | Mansfield Town | 0–3 | Stockport County | 7 December 1996 |
| 17 | Cardiff City | 0–2 | Gillingham | 7 December 1996 |
| 18 | Leyton Orient | 1–2 | Stevenage Borough | 7 December 1996 |
| 19 | Sudbury Town | 1–3 | Brentford | 7 December 1996 |
| 20 | Cambridge United | 0–2 | Woking | 7 December 1996 |

## Third round proper

The third round of the season's FA Cup was scheduled for Saturday, 4 January 1997, although fourteen matches were postponed until later dates. This round marked the point at which the teams in the two highest divisions in the English league system, the Premier League and the Football League First Division (now known as the Football League Championship). There were nine replays, with none of these games requiring a penalty shootout to settle it.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Bristol City | 14 January 1997 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Burnley | 4 January 1997 |
| 3 | Watford | 2–0 | Oxford United | 21 January 1997 |
| 4 | Reading | 3–1 | Southampton | 4 January 1997 |
| 5 | Gillingham | 0–2 | Derby County | 21 January 1997 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 2–0 | Southend United | 15 January 1997 |
| 7 | Notts County | 0–0 | Aston Villa | 14 January 1997 |
| Replay | Aston Villa | 3–0 | Notts County | 22 January 1997 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Ipswich Town | 4 January 1997 |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Port Vale | 4 January 1997 |
| 10 | Sheffield Wednesday | 7–1 | Grimsby Town | 4 January 1997 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | Portsmouth | 4 January 1997 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | Wimbledon | 14 January 1997 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 2–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 21 January 1997 |
| 13 | Middlesbrough | 6–0 | Chester City | 4 January 1997 |
| 14 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Bolton Wanderers | 21 January 1997 |
| Replay | Bolton Wanderers | 6–2 | Luton Town | 25 January 1997 |
| 15 | Everton | 3–0 | Swindon Town | 5 January 1997 |
| 16 | Wrexham | 1–1 | West Ham United | 4 January 1997 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 0–1 | Wrexham | 25 January 1997 |
| 17 | Hednesford Town | 1–0 | York City | 13 January 1997 |
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0–2 | Bradford City | 5 January 1997 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Huddersfield Town | 4 January 1997 |
| Replay | Huddersfield Town | 1–2 | Queens Park Rangers | 14 January 1997 |
| 20 | Barnsley | 2–0 | Oldham Athletic | 14 January 1997 |
| 21 | Brentford | 0–1 | Manchester City | 25 January 1997 |
| 22 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Woking | 25 January 1997 |
| Replay | Woking | 1–2 | Coventry City | 4 February 1997 |
| 23 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 January 1997 |
| 24 | Norwich City | 1–0 | Sheffield United | 4 January 1997 |
| 25 | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 | Peterborough United | 4 January 1997 |
| 26 | Carlisle United | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | 14 January 1997 |
| 27 | Crystal Palace | 2–2 | Leeds United | 14 January 1997 |
| Replay | Leeds United | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | 25 January 1997 |
| 28 | Chelsea | 3–0 | West Bromwich Albion | 4 January 1997 |
| 29 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Newcastle United | 5 January 1997 |
| Replay | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Charlton Athletic | 15 January 1997 |
| 30 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Sunderland | 4 January 1997 |
| Replay | Sunderland | 0–2 | Arsenal | 15 January 1997 |
| 31 | Stoke City | 0–2 | Stockport County | 15 January 1997 |
| 32 | Birmingham City | 2–0 | Stevenage Borough | 4 January 1997 |

## Fourth round proper

The fourth round ties were played with the thirty-two winners of the previous round. The matches were originally scheduled for Saturday, 25 January 1997, although six matches were not played that weekend. There was only one replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Leicester City | 2–1 | Norwich City | 25 January 1997 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Coventry City | 15 February 1997 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–3 | Chesterfield | 4 February 1997 |
| 4 | Hednesford Town | 2–3 | Middlesbrough | 25 January 1997 |
| 5 | Derby County | 3–1 | Aston Villa | 25 January 1997 |
| 6 | Everton | 2–3 | Bradford City | 25 January 1997 |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 26 January 1997 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 3–1 | Watford | 5 February 1997 |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–2 | Barnsley | 25 January 1997 |
| 10 | Portsmouth | 3–0 | Reading | 25 January 1997 |
| 11 | Manchester United | 1–1 | Wimbledon | 25 January 1997 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Manchester United | 4 February 1997 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 January 1997 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 4–2 | Liverpool | 26 January 1997 |
| 14 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Leeds United | 4 February 1997 |
| 15 | Peterborough United | 2–4 | Wrexham | 4 February 1997 |
| 16 | Birmingham City | 3–1 | Stockport County | 25 January 1997 |

## Fifth round proper

The fifth-round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 15 February 1997. There was, again, only one replay.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | 15 February 1997 |
| 2 | Leicester City | 2–2 | Chelsea | 16 February 1997 |
| Replay | Chelsea | 1–0 | Leicester City | 26 February 1997 |
| 3 | Derby County | 3–2 | Coventry City | 26 February 1997 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | 15 February 1997 |
| 5 | Bradford City | 0–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 16 February 1997 |
| 6 | Wimbledon | 2–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 15 February 1997 |
| 7 | Leeds United | 2–3 | Portsmouth | 15 February 1997 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 1–3 | Wrexham | 15 February 1997 |

## Sixth round proper

The sixth round ties were scheduled for the weekend of 8–9 March. No replays were required.
Chesterfield defeated Wrexham 1–0 in a rare "all third-tier" quarter-final clash, while Middlesbrough's 2–0 win at Derby County moved them a step closer to their first-ever FA Cup final.

## Semi-finals

The semi-final ties were played at neutral venues on 13 April 1997. Middlesbrough and Chelsea came through their ties (with Middlesbrough requiring a replay against second division side Chesterfield) to reach the final.
Wimbledon, playing the semi-finals for the first time since they were FA Cup winners nine years earlier, had their hopes of FA Cup glory ended by a semi-final defeat at the hands of Chelsea. This came just weeks after Wimbledon had been eliminated from the League Cup semi-finals.
Middlesbrough, on the other hand, reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history, but only after a 3–0 replay win over a Chesterfield side that had given them a serious run for their money in the first match. Chesterfield narrowly missed out on becoming the first third-tier side to reach the FA Cup final after an exciting match ended in a 3–3 draw. The Spireites took a 2–0 lead in the second half and had a goal controversially ruled out despite the ball appearing to cross the line (video evidence is inconclusive), which would have seen them go 3–1 up.

### Replay
## Final

The 1997 FA Cup Final took place on 17 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea were attempting to win the FA Cup for the first time in 27 years, while Middlesbrough were contesting their first ever FA Cup final, having only just competed in their first ever League Cup final one month earlier. Chelsea took to the field on the back of something of a renaissance under Dutch manager Ruud Gullit, having recorded their best league finish for a decade. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, began the final having been relegated from the Premier League and had also been losing finalists in the League Cup.
Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 2–0, with Roberto Di Matteo scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, 43 seconds after kick-off. This beat Jackie Milburn's record from the 1955 FA Cup Final, who scored after 45 seconds. Di Matteo's record was then beaten in 2009 (coincidentally against Chelsea) by Everton's Louis Saha (27.9 seconds). Eddie Newton scored the Blues' second goal in the 83rd minute to clinch the match and give Chelsea their first major trophy in 26 years.

## Media coverage

For the ninth consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters which was their last before ITV took over while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters.
The matches shown live on the BBC were:
* Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (R3)
* Chelsea 4-2 Liverpool (R4)
* Leicester City 2-2 Chelsea (R5)
* Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Wimbledon (QF)
* Chelsea 3-0 Wimbledon (SF)
* Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough (Final)
The matches shown live on Sky Sports were:
* Woking 2-2 Millwall (R1)
* Northampton Town 0-1 Watford (R1)
* Millwall 0-1 Woking (R1 Replay)
* Plymouth Argyle 4-1 Exeter City (R2)
* Cardiff City 0-2 Gillingham (R2)
* Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 Barnet (R2 Replay)
* Charlton Athletic 1-1 Newcastle United (R3)
* Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal (R3 Replay)
* Newcastle United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (R4)
* Wimbledon 1-0 Manchester United (R4 Replay)
* Bradford City 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday (R5)
* Chelsea 1-0 Leicester City (R5 Replay)
* Portsmouth 1-4 Chelsea (QF)
* Middlesbrough 3-3 Chesterfield (SF)
* Chesterfield 0-3 Middlesbrough (SF Replay)