# 1996–97 Peterborough United F.C. season

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

## Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Peterborough appointed Barry Fry as manager and chairman just after leaving Birmingham at the end of last season. His first season in charge wasn't great and Peterborough were relegated to the Third Division.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 54 | |
| 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 |

## Results

Peterborough United's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–1 | 6,232 | |
| 24 August 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–2 | 6,357 | Houghton, O'Connor (pen) |
| 31 August 1996 | Bournemouth | A | 2–1 | 4,587 | Willis, Griffiths |
| 7 September 1996 | Wrexham | A | 1–1 | 3,222 | O'Connor |
| 10 September 1996 | Millwall | H | 3–3 | 4,442 | Rowe, Charlery, O'Connor |
| 14 September 1996 | York City | H | 2–2 | 5,613 | Rowe, Payne |
| 21 September 1996 | Watford | A | 0–0 | 12,007 | |
| 28 September 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 6–3 | 5,580 | Heald, Charlery, Payne, Clark, Farrell (2) |
| 1 October 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 4,929 | Regis |
| 5 October 1996 | Preston North End | A | 4–3 | 8,874 | Clark, Houghton, Charlery, Rowe |
| 8 October 1996 | Notts County | H | 1–3 | 5,456 | Farrell |
| 12 October 1996 | Bury | H | 1–2 | 6,003 | Heald |
| 15 October 1996 | Brentford | H | 0–1 | 5,037 | |
| 19 October 1996 | Luton Town | A | 0–3 | 5,964 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Rotherham United | A | 0–2 | 2,854 | |
| 29 October 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–2 | 5,400 | Houghton (2, 1 pen) |
| 2 November 1996 | Blackpool | H | 0–0 | 7,011 | |
| 9 November 1996 | Walsall | A | 0–4 | 3,921 | |
| 19 November 1996 | Gillingham | H | 0–1 | 4,136 | |
| 23 November 1996 | Bristol City | A | 0–2 | 12,312 | |
| 30 November 1996 | Rotherham United | H | 6–2 | 4,690 | Carruthers (2), Willis (2), Houghton (pen), Monington (own goal) |
| 3 December 1996 | Chesterfield | A | 1–2 | 2,805 | Ebdon |
| 14 December 1996 | Stockport County | A | 0–0 | 5,748 | |
| 20 December 1996 | Burnley | H | 3–2 | 5,283 | Carruthers (2), Morrison |
| 26 December 1996 | Millwall | A | 2–0 | 8,118 | Houghton (2) |
| 18 January 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–0 | 6,288 | |
| 25 January 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–2 | 2,695 | Houghton, Donowa |
| 1 February 1997 | Walsall | H | 0–1 | 4,940 | |
| 8 February 1997 | Blackpool | A | 1–5 | 4,001 | Cleaver |
| 11 February 1997 | Wrexham | H | 0–1 | 2,975 | |
| 15 February 1997 | Bristol City | H | 3–1 | 4,221 | Willis (2), Otto |
| 22 February 1997 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 6,552 | Morrison |
| 25 February 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 0–2 | 4,001 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Chesterfield | H | 1–1 | 4,458 | Otto |
| 4 March 1997 | Watford | H | 2–1 | 4,200 | Charlery, Boothroyd (pen) |
| 8 March 1997 | Burnley | A | 0–5 | 8,646 | |
| 15 March 1997 | Stockport County | H | 0–2 | 4,857 | |
| 22 March 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–1 | 3,565 | Charlery |
| 29 March 1997 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–2 | 6,132 | Otto |
| 31 March 1997 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 3,848 | |
| 5 April 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 3–1 | 4,221 | Clark, de Souza, Otto |
| 8 April 1997 | York City | A | 0–1 | 2,790 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Preston North End | H | 2–0 | 5,040 | Willis, de Souza |
| 19 April 1997 | Bury | A | 0–1 | 4,631 | |
| 26 April 1997 | Luton Town | H | 0–1 | 9,499 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Brentford | A | 1–0 | 5,274 | Drury |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Cheltenham Town | H | 0–0 | 5,271 | |
| R1R | 27 November 1996 | Cheltenham Town | A | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | 4,160 | Charlery (2), Grazioli |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Enfield | A | 1–1 | 2,847 | Charlery |
| R2R | 17 December 1996 | Enfield | H | 4–1 | 3,997 | Houghton, Charlery, Carruthers (2) |
| R3 | 4 January 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–0 | 7,299 | Charlery |
| R4 | 4 February 1997 | Wrexham | H | 2–4 | 8,734 | Charlery, Griffiths |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 21 August 1996 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 5,145 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Millwall | H | 2–0 (won 2–1 on agg) | 4,610 | Charlery, Griffiths |
| R2 1st Leg | 18 September 1996 | Southampton | A | 0–2 | 14,467 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 25 September 1996 | Southampton | H | 1–4 (lost 1–6 on agg) | 8,220 | Farrell |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| SR2 | 21 January 1997 | Walsall | H | 2–0 | 2,274 | Donowa, Heald |
| SQF | 28 January 1997 | Exeter City | A | 1–0 | 1,478 | Donowa |
| SSF | 18 February 1997 | Watford | A | 1–0 | 5,324 | Otto |
| SF 1st Leg | 11 March 1997 | Colchester United | H | 2–0 | 4,556 | Otto, Charlery |
| SF 2nd Leg | 18 March 1997 | Colchester United | A | 0–3 (lost 2–3 on agg) | 4,705 | |

## 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 | NED | Bart Griemink |
| — | GK | ENG | Jon Sheffield |
| — | GK | ENG | Mark Tyler |
| — | DF | ENG | Mike Basham |
| — | DF | ENG | David Billington |
| — | DF | ENG | Mick Bodley |
| — | DF | ENG | Aidy Boothroyd |
| — | DF | ENG | Simon Clark |
| — | DF | ENG | Adam Drury |
| — | DF | ENG | Andy Edwards |
| — | DF | ENG | Mark Foran |
| — | DF | ENG | Greg Heald |
| — | DF | ENG | Richard Huxford (on loan from Bradford City) |
| — | DF | ENG | Des Linton |
| — | DF | ENG | Ashley Neal |
| — | DF | ENG | Tony Spearing |
| — | DF | SCO | Steve Welsh |
| — | MF | ENG | Wayne Bullimore |
| — | MF | ENG | Danny Carter |
| — | MF | ENG | Louie Donowa |
| — | MF | WAL | Marcus Ebdon |
| — | MF | ENG | Matthew Etherington |
| — | MF | ENG | Scott Houghton |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | IRL | Niall Inman |
| — | MF | ENG | Neil Le Bihan |
| — | MF | IRL | Mark McKeever |
| — | MF | ENG | Dave Morrison |
| — | MF | CAY | Martin O'Connor |
| — | MF | ENG | Ricky Otto (on loan from Birmingham City) |
| — | MF | ENG | Derek Payne |
| — | MF | ENG | Craig Ramage (on loan from Watford) |
| — | MF | ENG | Ben Sedgemore |
| — | FW | ENG | Martin Carruthers |
| — | FW | LCA | Ken Charlery |
| — | FW | ENG | Chris Cleaver |
| — | FW | ENG | Miguel de Souza |
| — | FW | ENG | Sean Farrell |
| — | FW | ENG | Giuliano Grazioli |
| — | FW | WAL | Carl Griffiths |
| — | FW | ENG | Scott McGleish |
| — | FW | IRL | Lee Power |
| — | FW | ENG | Dave Regis (on loan from Barnsley) |
| — | FW | ENG | Zeke Rowe |
| — | FW | ENG | Dale Watkins |
| — | FW | ENG | Mike Williams (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday) |
| — | FW | ENG | Roger Willis |