# 1996–97 Reading F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Reading F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

The 1996–97 season was another struggle for Reading, but they managed to secure survival on 12 April 1997, after beating promotion-chasing Wolves 2–1 at Elm Park.

## Squad

    As of match played 3 May 1997
| Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||
| Steve Mautone | GK | (1970-08-10)10 August 1970 (aged 26) | West Ham United | 1997 | | 15 | 0 |
| Sal Bibbo | GK | (1974-08-24)24 August 1974 (aged 22) | Sheffield United | 1996 | | 6 | 0 |
| Nick Hammond | GK | (1967-09-07)7 September 1967 (aged 29) | Plymouth Argyle | 1996 | | 7 | 0 |
| Defenders |||||||||
| Andy Bernal | DF | (1973-02-21)21 February 1973 (aged 24) | Sydney Olympic | 1994 | | 129 | 2 |
| Steve Blatherwick | DF | (1973-09-20)20 September 1973 (aged 23) | loan from Nottingham Forest | 1997 | 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| Martyn Booty | DF | (1971-05-30)30 May 1971 (aged 25) | Crewe Alexandra | 1996 | | 35 | 1 |
| Keith McPherson | DF | (1963-09-11)11 September 1963 (aged 33) | Northampton Town | 1990 | | | |
| Steve Swales | DF | (1973-12-26)26 December 1973 (aged 23) | Scarborough | 1995 | | 14 | 0 |
| Michael Thorp | DF | (1975-12-05)5 December 1975 (aged 21) | Trainee | 1995 | | 5 | 0 |
| Barry Hunter | DF | (1968-11-18)18 November 1968 (aged 28) | Wrexham | 1996 | | 29 | 2 |
| Dariusz Wdowczyk | DF | (1962-09-25)25 September 1962 (aged 34) | Celtic | 1994 | | 96 | 0 |
| Paul Bodin | DF | (1964-09-13)13 September 1964 (aged 32) | Swindon Town | 1996 | | 39 | 1 |
| Jeff Hopkins | DF | (1964-04-14)14 April 1964 (aged 33) | Bristol Rovers | 1992 | | 155 | 3 |
| Midfielders |||||||||
| David Bass | MF | (1974-11-29)29 November 1974 (aged 22) | Trainee | 1992 | | 11 | 0 |
| Darren Caskey | MF | (1974-08-21)21 August 1974 (aged 22) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1996 | | 53 | 3 |
| Andy Freeman | MF | (1977-09-08)8 September 1977 (aged 19) | Trainee | 1995 | | 1 | 0 |
| Byron Glasgow | MF | (1979-02-18)18 February 1979 (aged 18) | Trainee | 1996 | | 5 | 0 |
| Mick Gooding (Player-Manager) | MF | (1959-04-12)12 April 1959 (aged 38) | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1989 | | | |
| Paul Holsgrove | MF | (1969-08-26)26 August 1969 (aged 27) | Millwall | 1994 | | 83 | 7 |
| Jamie Lambert | MF | (1973-09-14)14 September 1973 (aged 23) | Trainee | 1992 | | 108 | 16 |
| Phil Parkinson | MF | (1967-12-01)1 December 1967 (aged 29) | Bury | 1992 | | 208 | 10 |
| Ben Smith | MF | (1978-11-23)23 November 1978 (aged 18) | Arsenal | 1996 | | 1 | 0 |
| Derek Simpson | MF | (1978-12-23)23 December 1978 (aged 18) | Trainee | 1994 | | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Meaker | MF | (1971-08-18)18 August 1971 (aged 25) | Queens Park Rangers | 1995 | | 47 | 1 |
| Forwards |||||||||
| Stuart Lovell | FW | (1972-01-09)9 January 1972 (aged 25) | Trainee | 1990 | | | |
| Alan Carey | FW | (1975-08-21)21 August 1975 (aged 21) | Trainee | 1994 | | 3 | 0 |
| Trevor Morley | FW | (1961-03-20)20 March 1961 (aged 36) | West Ham United | 1995 | | 61 | 29 |
| Neville Roach | FW | (1978-09-29)29 September 1978 (aged 18) | Trainee | 1996 | | 3 | 1 |
| Martin Williams | FW | (1973-07-12)12 July 1973 (aged 23) | Luton Town | 1995 | | 49 | 4 |
| Jimmy Quinn (Player-Manager) | FW | (1959-12-07)7 December 1959 (aged 37) | Bournemouth | 1992 | | 216 | 94 |
| Lee Nogan | FW | (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 27) | Watford | 1995 | | 102 | 29 |
| Out on loan |||||||||
| Left during the season |||||||||
| Borislav Mihaylov | GK | (1963-02-12)12 February 1963 (aged 34) | Botev Plovdiv | 1995 | | 28 | 0 |
| Tommy Wright | GK | (1963-08-29)29 August 1963 (aged 33) | loan from Nottingham Forest | 1996 | 1996 | 17 | 0 |
| Kenny Brown | DF | (1967-07-11)11 July 1967 (aged 29) | loan from West Ham United | 1996 | 1996 | 20 | 1 |
| Dylan Kerr | DF | (1967-01-14)14 January 1967 (aged 30) | Leeds United | 1993 | | 104 | 5 |
| Michael Gilkes | MF | (1965-07-20)20 July 1965 (aged 31) | Leicester City | 1984 | | | |
| Jimmy Garrity | | (1976-01-01)1 January 1976 (aged 21) | Newcastle United | 1996 | | 0 | 0 |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | BUL | Borislav Mihaylov |
| — | GK | NIR | Tommy Wright (loan return to Nottingham Forest) |
| — | DF | ENG | Kenny Brown (loan return to West Ham United) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | MLT | Dylan Kerr (to Carlisle United) |
| — | MF | ENG | Michael Gilkes (to Wolverhampton Wanderers) |
| — | | ENG | Jimmy Garrity |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 11 July 1996 | DF | Paul Bodin | Swindon Town | Free |
| 12 July 1996 | DF | Barry Hunter | Wrexham | £400,000 |
| 1 August 1996 | GK | Sal Bibbo | Sheffield United | Free |
| 1 August 1996 | MF | Ben Smith | Arsenal | Free |
| 27 March 1997 | GK | Steve Mautone | West Ham United | £250,000 |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| 9 September 1996 | DF | Kenny Brown | West Ham United | 5 October 1996 |
| 4 October 1996 | GK | Tommy Wright | Nottingham Forest | 28 December 1996 |
| 17 February 1997 | GK | Steve Mautone | West Ham United | 26 March 1997 |
| 27 March 1997 | DF | Steve Blatherwick | Nottingham Forest | End of Season |

### Out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| 3 July 1996 | DF | | Ady Williams | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £750,000 | |
| 27 March 1997 | MF | | Michael Gilkes | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £50,000 | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 14 February 1997 | FW | | Lee Nogan | Notts County | 15 March 1997 | |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 16 September 1996 | DF | Dylan Kerr | Carlisle United | 16 September 1996 |
| December 1995 | | Jimmy Garrity | | |
| 6 March 1997 | GK | Borislav Mihaylov | Slavia Sofia | 1 August 1997 |
| 9 May 1997 | MF | Mick Gooding | Southend United | 1 July 1998 |
| 9 May 1997 | FW | Jimmy Quinn | Peterborough United | 1 July 1997 |
| 30 June 1997 | DF | Jeff Hopkins | Selangor | |
| 30 June 1997 | MF | David Bass | | |
| 30 June 1997 | MF | Andy Freeman | | |
| 30 June 1997 | MF | Derek Simpson | Slough Town | |
| 30 June 1997 | FW | Alan Carey | | |

## Competitions
### First Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 68 | 72 | −4 | 57 |
| 17 | Oxford United | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 64 | 68 | −4 | 57 |
| 18 | Reading | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 58 | 67 | −9 | 57 |
| 19 | Swindon Town | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 52 | 71 | −19 | 54 |
| 20 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 48 | 61 | −13 | 54 |

### League Cup
## Squad statistics

    As of match played 3 May 1997

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | First Division | First Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| | GK | AUS | Steve Mautone | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Sal Bibbo | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Nick Hammond | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | AUS | Andy Bernal | 44 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Steve Blatherwick | 7 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Martyn Booty | 18 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Keith McPherson | 40 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Steve Swales | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | NIR | Barry Hunter | 29 | 2 | 26+1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | POL | Dariusz Wdowczyk | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | WAL | Paul Bodin | 39 | 1 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | WAL | Jeff Hopkins | 19 | 0 | 17+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | David Bass | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Darren Caskey | 38 | 1 | 26+9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Byron Glasgow | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Mick Gooding | 47 | 0 | 40+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Paul Holsgrove | 17 | 2 | 12+2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Jamie Lambert | 33 | 6 | 20+11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Phil Parkinson | 26 | 1 | 15+9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Ben Smith | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | WAL | Michael Meaker | 25 | 1 | 15+10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | AUS | Stuart Lovell | 28 | 5 | 17+9 | 5 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Trevor Morley | 40 | 23 | 36+1 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Neville Roach | 3 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Martin Williams | 33 | 3 | 21+8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | NIR | Jimmy Quinn | 26 | 4 | 10+14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
| | FW | WAL | Lee Nogan | 34 | 6 | 21+11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| Players who appeared for Reading but left during the season: ||||||||||||
| | GK | BUL | Borislav Mihaylov | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | GK | NIR | Tommy Wright | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Kenny Brown | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Michael Gilkes | 35 | 1 | 27+5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |

### Goal Scorers

| Place | Position | Name | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | Trevor Morley | 22 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| 2 | FW | Lee Nogan | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | MF | Jamie Lambert | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | FW | Stuart Lovell | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | FW | Jimmy Quinn | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | FW | Martin Williams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | | Own goal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | Paul Holsgrove | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | DF | Barry Hunter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | DF | Keith McPherson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | DF | Paul Bodin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | Michael Gilkes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | Michael Meaker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | Neville Roach | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | Darren Caskey | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | TOTALS | 58 | 3 | 1 | 62 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | GK | | Tommy Wright | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | GK | | Steve Mautone | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | GK | | Borislav Mihaylov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | GK | | Sal Bibbo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |

### Disciplinary record

| Position | Nation | Name | First Division | First Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| DF | | Andy Bernal | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| DF | | Steve Blatherwick | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | | Keith McPherson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | | Steve Swales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Barry Hunter | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| DF | | Paul Bodin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | | Jeff Hopkins | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | | Darren Caskey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | | Mick Gooding | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| MF | | Paul Holsgrove | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | | Jamie Lambert | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | | Phil Parkinson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| MF | | Michael Meaker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | | Trevor Morley | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Neville Roach | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Martin Williams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | | Jimmy Quinn | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Lee Nogan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: |||||||||||
| Players who left Reading during the season: |||||||||||
| GK | | Borislav Mihaylov | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| GK | | Tommy Wright | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Kenny Brown | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | | Michael Gilkes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |