# 1996–97 Wycombe Wanderers F.C. season

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

## Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, a poor start to the season for Wycombe saw Smith sacked after alienating himself from the Chairboys' fanbase in the process with what were perceived to be negative long-ball tactics. In September, with the club bottom of the league, John Gregory took over as Wycombe manager and turned their fortunes around and saved them from relegation.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 16 | Bournemouth | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 60 |
| 17 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 56 |
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 51 | 57 | −6 | 55 |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 54 |
| 20 | York City | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 47 | 68 | −21 | 52 |

## Results

Wycombe Wanderers' score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 18 August 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–1 | 3,440 | Brown |
| 24 August 1996 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 4,582 | Carroll |
| 27 August 1996 | Bury | H | 0–1 | 3,563 | |
| 31 August 1996 | Blackpool | A | 0–0 | 4,856 | |
| 7 September 1996 | Luton Town | H | 0–1 | 6,471 | |
| 10 September 1996 | Walsall | A | 2–2 | 2,659 | Evans, de Souza |
| 14 September 1996 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 9,379 | de Souza |
| 21 September 1996 | Brentford | H | 0–1 | 5,330 | |
| 28 September 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 3–6 | 5,580 | Mahoney-Johnson (2), Carroll |
| 1 October 1996 | Rotherham United | H | 4–2 | 3,438 | Lawrence, McGavin (2), Williams |
| 5 October 1996 | Notts County | H | 1–0 | 4,506 | McGavin |
| 12 October 1996 | Bournemouth | A | 1–2 | 3,984 | Farrell |
| 15 October 1996 | Bristol City | A | 0–3 | 7,325 | |
| 19 October 1996 | Stockport County | H | 0–2 | 4,017 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Wrexham | H | 0–0 | 5,548 | |
| 29 October 1996 | York City | A | 0–2 | 2,254 | |
| 2 November 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–3 | 3,636 | |
| 9 November 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–1 | 5,456 | Brown, McGavin |
| 19 November 1996 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 7,657 | |
| 23 November 1996 | Preston North End | H | 0–1 | 4,920 | |
| 30 November 1996 | Wrexham | A | 0–1 | 3,280 | |
| 3 December 1996 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 4,550 | Bell |
| 14 December 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 1–0 | 4,610 | de Souza |
| 21 December 1996 | Bristol Rovers | A | 4–3 | 4,465 | Carroll, Bell, Simpson, Evans |
| 26 December 1996 | Walsall | H | 0–2 | 5,073 | |
| 18 January 1997 | Rotherham United | A | 1–2 | 2,692 | Carroll (pen) |
| 25 January 1997 | York City | H | 3–1 | 4,193 | Read (2), Forsyth |
| 1 February 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 5,024 | |
| 8 February 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | 4,902 | Read, de Souza |
| 15 February 1997 | Preston North End | A | 1–2 | 7,923 | McGavin |
| 22 February 1997 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 8,438 | |
| 25 February 1997 | Peterborough United | H | 2–0 | 4,001 | McGavin, de Souza |
| 1 March 1997 | Millwall | A | 1–2 | 7,539 | Forsyth |
| 4 March 1997 | Brentford | A | 0–0 | 5,375 | |
| 8 March 1997 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 5,386 | Stallard, Brown |
| 15 March 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 2–4 | 4,354 | Stallard, Brown |
| 22 March 1997 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 5,932 | |
| 29 March 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 3–0 | 6,562 | Scott, Stallard, Carroll |
| 31 March 1997 | Bury | A | 0–2 | 5,714 | |
| 5 April 1997 | Blackpool | H | 1–0 | 5,619 | Scott |
| 8 April 1997 | Luton Town | A | 0–0 | 7,626 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | 4,290 | Brown, McGavin |
| 15 April 1997 | Burnley | H | 5–0 | 5,786 | Carroll (2 pens), McGavin, Stallard, Read |
| 19 April 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 1–1 | 6,043 | Scott |
| 26 April 1997 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 9,463 | Carroll (pen) |
| 3 May 1997 | Bristol City | H | 2–0 | 7,240 | Carroll, McGavin |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Colchester United | A | 2–1 | 4,378 | de Souza, Williams |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Barnet | A | 3–3 | 3,176 | McGavin, Williams (2) |
| R2R | 17 December 1996 | Barnet | H | 3–2 | 3,851 | Williams, Carroll, de Souza |
| R3 | 5 January 1997 | Bradford City | H | 0–2 | 5,173 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Reading | A | 1–1 | 6,210 | Williams |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Reading | H | 2–0 (won 3–1 on agg) | 5,069 | Evans, Williams |
| R2 1st Leg | 18 September 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–1 | 6,482 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 (lost 1–2 on agg) | 6,310 | McCarthy |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| SR1 | 8 January 1997 | Swansea City | A | 1–1 (lost 5–6 on pens) | 1,638 | McGorry |

## 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 | John Cheesewright |
| — | GK | ENG | Brian Parkin |
| — | GK | ENG | Martin Taylor (on loan from Derby County) |
| — | DF | ENG | Micky Bell |
| — | DF | ENG | Jason Cousins |
| — | DF | ENG | Matt Crossley |
| — | DF | ENG | Terry Evans |
| — | DF | ENG | Michael Forsyth |
| — | DF | ENG | Jason Kavanagh |
| — | DF | ENG | Matthew Lawrence |
| — | DF | ENG | Michael Love |
| — | DF | IRL | Paul McCarthy |
| — | DF | WAL | Jason Rowbotham |
| — | DF | ENG | Terry Skiverton |
| — | MF | ENG | Steve Brown |
| — | MF | ENG | Paul Buckle |
| — | MF | SCO | Dave Carroll |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | John Cornforth |
| — | MF | ENG | David Farrell |
| — | MF | NIR | Mo Harkin |
| — | MF | ENG | Brian McGorry |
| — | MF | ENG | Gary Patterson |
| — | MF | ENG | Michael Simpson |
| — | MF | ENG | Ray Wilkins |
| — | FW | ENG | Tony Clark |
| — | FW | ENG | Neil Davis (on loan from Aston Villa) |
| — | FW | ENG | Miguel de Souza |
| — | FW | ENG | Michael Mahoney-Johnson (on loan from QPR) |
| — | FW | ENG | Damien Markman |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve McGavin |
| — | FW | ENG | Paul Read |
| — | FW | ENG | Keith Scott (on loan from Norwich City) |
| — | FW | ENG | Mark Stallard |
| — | FW | ENG | John Williams |