# 1996–97 Shrewsbury Town F.C. season

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

## Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Shrewsbury endured a poor campaign and were relegated to the Third Division which ultimately cost manager Davies his job.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 20 | York City | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 47 | 68 | −21 | 52 | |
| 21 | Peterborough United | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 55 | 73 | −18 | 47 | Relegated |
| 22 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 49 | 74 | −25 | 46 | Relegated |
| 23 | Rotherham United | 46 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 70 | −31 | 35 | Relegated |
| 24 | Notts County | 46 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 33 | 59 | −26 | 35 | Relegated |

## Results

Shrewsbury Town's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 18 August 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 1–1 | 3,440 | Stevens |
| 24 August 1996 | Rotherham United | A | 2–1 | 3,037 | Stevens (2) |
| 27 August 1996 | Burnley | A | 3–1 | 9,072 | Taylor, Scott, Stevens |
| 31 August 1996 | Brentford | H | 0–3 | 3,530 | |
| 7 September 1996 | York City | A | 0–0 | 2,911 | |
| 10 September 1996 | Bristol City | H | 1–0 | 2,502 | Stevens |
| 14 September 1996 | Bury | H | 1–1 | 3,238 | Rowbotham |
| 21 September 1996 | Blackpool | A | 1–1 | 4,452 | Stevens |
| 28 September 1996 | Watford | H | 1–0 | 3,655 | Evans |
| 1 October 1996 | Chesterfield | A | 1–2 | 3,299 | Dyche (own goal) |
| 8 October 1996 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 5,031 | Evans |
| 12 October 1996 | Luton Town | H | 0–3 | 3,357 | |
| 15 October 1996 | Gillingham | H | 1–2 | 2,042 | Currie |
| 19 October 1996 | Preston North End | A | 1–2 | 8,333 | Stevens |
| 26 October 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–1 | 3,878 | |
| 29 October 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 2–2 | 5,400 | Bennett (2) |
| 2 November 1996 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | 4,363 | Stevens, Bennett |
| 12 November 1996 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 2,331 | Stevens, Spink |
| 20 November 1996 | Millwall | A | 1–2 | 5,770 | Stevens |
| 23 November 1996 | Stockport County | H | 3–2 | 2,865 | Stevens, Anthrobus, Evans |
| 30 November 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–5 | 4,035 | Stevens |
| 3 December 1996 | Bournemouth | H | 1–1 | 1,610 | Anthrobus |
| 14 December 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 2–2 | 5,075 | Spink, Evans |
| 20 December 1996 | Walsall | H | 2–2 | 3,007 | Anthrobus, Stevens |
| 26 December 1996 | Bristol City | A | 2–3 | 9,803 | Stevens, Nielsen |
| 28 December 1996 | York City | H | 2–0 | 3,189 | Evans, Stevens |
| 1 January 1997 | Blackpool | H | 1–3 | 2,787 | Ward |
| 18 January 1997 | Chesterfield | H | 2–0 | 2,659 | Brown, Evans (pen) |
| 25 January 1997 | Peterborough United | H | 2–2 | 2,695 | Bodley (own goal), Anthrobus |
| 1 February 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 4,924 | |
| 8 February 1997 | Notts County | H | 2–1 | 2,692 | Spink, Stevens |
| 15 February 1997 | Stockport County | A | 1–3 | 6,712 | Whiston |
| 22 February 1997 | Millwall | H | 1–1 | 2,968 | Anthrobus |
| 25 February 1997 | Watford | A | 0–2 | 6,378 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Bournemouth | A | 0–0 | 5,810 | |
| 4 March 1997 | Bury | A | 0–2 | 2,690 | |
| 8 March 1997 | Walsall | A | 2–2 | 4,819 | Currie, Walton |
| 15 March 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–3 | 3,414 | Anthrobus, Stevens |
| 22 March 1997 | Rotherham United | H | 0–2 | 2,893 | |
| 29 March 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 0–3 | 6,562 | |
| 1 April 1997 | Burnley | H | 2–1 | 4,462 | Brass (own goal), Spink |
| 5 April 1997 | Brentford | A | 0–0 | 5,355 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Wrexham | H | 0–1 | 4,553 | |
| 19 April 1997 | Luton Town | A | 0–2 | 6,968 | |
| 26 April 1997 | Preston North End | H | 0–2 | 5,341 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Gillingham | A | 0–2 | 6,183 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Scarborough | H | 1–1 | 2,819 | Stevens |
| R1R | 26 November 1996 | Scarborough | A | 0–1 | 2,247 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 21 August 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0–2 | 2,875 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–1 (lost 1–3 on agg) | 3,028 | Rowbotham |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 (North) | 14 January 1997 | Wigan Athletic | H | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | 1,639 | Anthrobus, Stevens, Evans (pen) |
| QF (North) | 11 February 1997 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1,728 | Berkley, Evans (pen) |
| SF (North) | 18 February 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 1–2 | 2,774 | Evans |

## Squad

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 | ENG | Paul Edwards |
| — | GK | DEN | Benny Gall |
| — | DF | ENG | Nathan Blamey |
| — | DF | DEN | Thomas Nielsen |
| — | DF | ENG | Kevin Seabury |
| — | DF | ENG | Dean Spink |
| — | DF | ENG | Lee Taylor |
| — | DF | ENG | Dave Walton |
| — | DF | ENG | Peter Whiston |
| — | MF | ENG | Austin Berkley |
| — | MF | ENG | Darren Currie |
| — | MF | ENG | James Cope |
| — | MF | IRL | Mark Dempsey |
| — | MF | WAL | Paul Evans |
| — | MF | ENG | Emeka Nwadike |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | Ian Reed |
| — | MF | ENG | Richard Scott |
| — | MF | ENG | Mark Taylor |
| — | MF | ENG | Darren Wrack (on loan from Grimsby Town) |
| — | MF | ENG | Shaun Wray |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve Anthrobus |
| — | FW | ENG | Frankie Bennett (on loan from Southampton) |
| — | FW | ENG | Junior Bent (on loan from Bristol City) |
| — | FW | ENG | Anthony Briscoe |
| — | FW | ENG | Mickey Brown |
| — | FW | WAL | Darran Rowbotham |
| — | FW | MLT | Ian Stevens |
| — | FW | ENG | Craig Tate |
| — | FW | WAL | Nick Ward |