# 1996–97 Hull City A.F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Hull City A.F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

## Season summary

A ten match unbeaten league run at the beginning of the 1996–97 season saw Hull remain in the top six until the beginning of October, but the side drifted towards a mid table placing by Christmas. The Tigers progressed through to the second round of the FA Cup following an extraordinary first round replay against Whitby Town. Duane Darby scored a double hat-trick in Hull's 8–4 victory.
Their league form was less impressive, and Hull finished in 17th place – their lowest ever position. The campaign was played out amid growing unrest from the dwindling support. The abuse generated against Dolan and chairman Martin Fish led Christopher Needler – son of the former chairman – to sell his major shareholding.
In July 1997, the Needler family's ownership of the club was at an end. David Lloyd, captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team and a multi-millionaire, was the new Hull City owner. He also acquired the Hull Rugby League club and ran the two in a joint operation.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 15 | Barnet | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 58 |
| 16 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 57 |
| 17 | Hull City | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 57 |
| 18 | Darlington | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 64 | 78 | −14 | 52 |
| 19 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 52 | 66 | −14 | 52 |

## Results

Hull City's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Darlington | H | 3–2 | 4,224 | Darby (3) |
| 24 August 1996 | Carlisle United | A | 0–0 | 5,407 | |
| 27 August 1996 | Hereford United | A | 1–0 | 2,820 | Darby |
| 31 August 1996 | Barnet | H | 0–0 | 4,605 | |
| 7 September 1996 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | 3,451 | Doncel-Varcarcel |
| 10 September 1996 | Lincoln City | A | 1–0 | 3,069 | Peacock |
| 14 September 1996 | Colchester United | A | 1–1 | 3,073 | Gordon |
| 21 September 1996 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 3,886 | Darby |
| 28 September 1996 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | 2,961 | |
| 1 October 1996 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–1 | 3,579 | Gordon |
| 5 October 1996 | Scunthorpe United | H | 0–2 | 5,414 | |
| 12 October 1996 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–1 | 4,490 | Brien |
| 15 October 1996 | Scarborough | A | 2–3 | 3,425 | Turner (2) |
| 19 October 1996 | Fulham | H | 0–3 | 3,986 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–1 | 3,887 | Peacock, Trevitt |
| 29 October 1996 | Cardiff City | H | 1–1 | 2,775 | Gilbert |
| 2 November 1996 | Cambridge United | H | 1–3 | 3,563 | Brown |
| 9 November 1996 | Chester City | A | 0–0 | 2,085 | |
| 20 November 1996 | Torquay United | H | 2–0 | 1,775 | Darby, Peacock |
| 23 November 1996 | Exeter City | A | 0–0 | 3,423 | |
| 30 November 1996 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | 3,537 | Doncel-Varcarcel |
| 3 December 1996 | Northampton Town | A | 1–2 | 3,519 | Darby |
| 14 December 1996 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–3 | 3,762 | |
| 21 December 1996 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 3–1 | 2,830 | Mason (2), Darby |
| 26 December 1996 | Lincoln City | H | 2–1 | 4,892 | Darby, Mason |
| 1 January 1997 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–1 | 1,944 | Joyce |
| 11 January 1997 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | 2,810 | Mann |
| 18 January 1997 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–1 | 2,286 | |
| 25 January 1997 | Cardiff City | A | 0–2 | 2,328 | |
| 1 February 1997 | Chester City | H | 1–0 | 2,513 | Gordon |
| 8 February 1997 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 3,029 | |
| 15 February 1997 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 2,668 | Joyce, Gordon |
| 22 February 1997 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 2,072 | Greaves |
| 25 February 1997 | Rochdale | A | 2–1 | 1,349 | Joyce, Darby |
| 1 March 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 3,495 | Darby |
| 8 March 1997 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–0 | 3,274 | |
| 15 March 1997 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 3–0 | 3,373 | Joyce (2), Darby |
| 22 March 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 0–1 | 3,847 | |
| 29 March 1997 | Darlington | A | 0–1 | 3,024 | |
| 31 March 1997 | Hereford United | H | 1–1 | 2,818 | Greaves |
| 5 April 1997 | Barnet | A | 0–1 | 1,668 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Scunthorpe United | A | 2–2 | 4,257 | Quigley, Lowthorpe |
| 15 April 1997 | Colchester United | H | 1–2 | 2,035 | Darby |
| 19 April 1997 | Leyton Orient | H | 3–2 | 2,647 | Peacock, Mann, Rioch (pen) |
| 26 April 1997 | Fulham | A | 0–2 | 10,588 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Scarborough | H | 0–2 | 3,774 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 17 November 1996 | Whitby Town | A | 0–0 | 3,337 | |
| R1R | 26 November 1996 | Whitby Town | H | 8–4 (a.e.t.) | 2,900 | Darby (6), Peacock, Mann |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–5 | 3,756 | Joyce |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Scarborough | H | 2–2 | 2,134 | Rioch, Quigley |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Scarborough | A | 2–3 (lost 4–5 on agg) | 2,656 | Rioch (pen), Gordon |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| NR1 | 10 December 1996 | Chester City | H | 3–1 | 553 | |
| NR2 | 28 January 1997 | Carlisle United | A | 0–4 | 3,716 | |

## 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 | NIR | Roy Carroll |
| — | GK | ENG | Aidan Davison (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) |
| — | GK | ENG | Steve Wilson |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Allison |
| — | DF | IRL | Tony Brien |
| — | DF | ENG | Rob Dewhurst |
| — | DF | ESP | Antonio Doncel-Varcarcel |
| — | DF | ENG | Mark Greaves |
| — | DF | ENG | Adam Lowthorpe |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Mann |
| — | DF | ENG | Gregor Rioch |
| — | DF | ENG | Sam Sharman |
| — | DF | ENG | Simon Trevitt |
| — | DF | ENG | Ian Wright |
| — | MF | ENG | Stuart Elliott (on loan from Newcastle United) |
| — | MF | CAN | Patrick Dickinson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | SCO | Kenny Gilbert |
| — | MF | ENG | Warren Joyce |
| — | MF | NIR | Jamie Marks |
| — | MF | ENG | Scott Maxfield |
| — | MF | ENG | Richard Peacock |
| — | MF | ENG | Mike Quigley |
| — | MF | ENG | Christian Sansam |
| — | MF | ENG | Paul Wharton |
| — | FW | SCO | Andy Brown |
| — | FW | ENG | Duane Darby |
| — | FW | ENG | Lee Ellington |
| — | FW | ENG | Paul Fewings |
| — | FW | ENG | Gavin Gordon |
| — | FW | ENG | Andy Mason |
| — | FW | ENG | Robbie Turner (on loan from Cambridge United) |