# 1996–97 York City F.C. season

The 1996–97 season was the 75th season of competitive association football and 68th season in the Football League played by York City Football Club, a professional football club based in York, North Yorkshire, England. They finished in 20th position in the 24-team 1996–97 Football League Second Division. They were eliminated from the 1996–97 FA Cup in the third round by Hednesford Town, from the 1996–97 League Cup in the third round by Leicester City, and from the 1996–97 Football League Trophy in the Northern section quarter-final by Carlisle United.
31 players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were 16 different goalscorers. Defender Tony Barras played in all 57 first-team matches over the season. Neil Tolson finished as leading goalscorer with 17 goals, of which 12 came in league competition, two came in the FA Cup and three came in the League Cup.

## Match details
### Football League Second Division

Football League Second Division match details :
| Date | League position | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 17 August 1996 | 16th | Plymouth Argyle | A | L | 1–2 | Pepper 79' pen. | 9,035 |
| 24 August 1996 | 23rd | AFC Bournemouth | H | L | 1–2 | Pepper 81' | 2,804 |
| 27 August 1996 | 16th | Millwall | H | W | 3–2 | Pepper (2) 57', 62', Tolson 71' | 3,108 |
| 31 August 1996 | 8th | Notts County | A | W | 1–0 | Tolson 23' | 4,600 |
| 7 September 1996 | 9th | Shrewsbury Town | H | D | 0–0 | | 2,911 |
| 10 September 1996 | 13th | Preston North End | A | L | 0–1 | | 7,608 |
| 14 September 1996 | 13th | Peterborough United | A | D | 2–2 | Bushell 58', Pepper 85' | 5,613 |
| 21 September 1996 | 18th | Stockport County | H | L | 1–2 | Tolson 47' | 3,061 |
| 28 September 1996 | 19th | Brentford | A | D | 3–3 | Tolson 3', Randall 49', Murty 71' | 5,243 |
| 1 October 1996 | 19th | Bristol Rovers | H | D | 2–2 | Tolson 13', Randall 53' | 3,714 |
| 5 October 1996 | 19th | Watford | H | L | 1–2 | Pepper 80' pen. | 5,232 |
| 11 October 1996 | 20th | Bristol City | A | L | 0–2 | | 9,308 |
| 15 October 1996 | 21st | Crewe Alexandra | A | W | 1–0 | Himsworth 81' | 3,463 |
| 19 October 1996 | 16th | Rotherham United | H | W | 2–1 | Stephenson 81', Pepper 90' | 3,410 |
| 26 October 1996 | 16th | Chesterfield | A | L | 0–2 | | 4,009 |
| 29 October 1996 | 14th | Wycombe Wanderers | H | W | 2–0 | Pepper 36' pen., Tolson 53' | 2,254 |
| 2 November 1996 | 13th | Burnley | H | W | 1–0 | Murty 61' | 5,958 |
| 9 November 1996 | 13th | Bury | A | L | 1–4 | Himsworth 21' | 4,021 |
| 23 November 1996 | 13th | Gillingham | A | W | 1–0 | Tolson 24' | 5,048 |
| 30 November 1996 | 14th | Chesterfield | H | D | 0–0 | | 3,328 |
| 3 December 1996 | 14th | Luton Town | A | L | 0–2 | | 4,401 |
| 14 December 1996 | 12th | Wrexham | H | W | 1–0 | Humes 89' o.g. | 2,600 |
| 21 December 1996 | 15th | Blackpool | A | L | 0–3 | | 3,432 |
| 28 December 1996 | 17th | Shrewsbury Town | A | L | 0–2 | | 3,189 |
| 11 January 1997 | 19th | Brentford | H | L | 2–4 | Pepper 45' pen., Pouton 80' | 3,085 |
| 18 January 1997 | 19th | Bristol Rovers | A | D | 1–1 | Pepper 1' pen. | 4,470 |
| 25 January 1997 | 20th | Wycombe Wanderers | A | L | 1–3 | Campbell 70' | 4,193 |
| 1 February 1997 | 20th | Bury | H | L | 0–2 | | 3,423 |
| 8 February 1997 | 20th | Burnley | A | W | 2–1 | Tolson 6', Jordan 90' | 8,961 |
| 11 February 1997 | 20th | Walsall | H | L | 0–2 | | 2,136 |
| 15 February 1997 | 20th | Gillingham | H | L | 2–3 | Bushell 23', Barras 79' | 2,748 |
| 22 February 1997 | 20th | Walsall | A | D | 1–1 | Pepper 21' pen. | 3,664 |
| 25 February 1997 | 20th | Preston North End | H | W | 3–1 | Bull 57', Pepper 65', Rowe 81' | 2,515 |
| 1 March 1997 | 20th | Luton Town | H | D | 1–1 | Tolson 48' | 3,788 |
| 8 March 1997 | 19th | Blackpool | H | W | 1–0 | Sharples 19' | 3,639 |
| 15 March 1997 | 19th | Wrexham | A | D | 0–0 | | 3,874 |
| 22 March 1997 | 18th | AFC Bournemouth | A | D | 1–1 | Gilbert 65' | 4,367 |
| 29 March 1997 | 19th | Plymouth Argyle | H | D | 1–1 | Bushell 77' | 3,917 |
| 2 April 1997 | 20th | Millwall | A | D | 1–1 | Tolson 48' | 6,161 |
| 5 April 1997 | 20th | Notts County | H | L | 1–2 | Rowe 79' | 3,115 |
| 8 April 1997 | 19th | Peterborough United | H | W | 1–0 | Bull 42' | 2,790 |
| 12 April 1997 | 19th | Watford | A | L | 0–4 | | 7,645 |
| 19 April 1997 | 20th | Bristol City | H | L | 0–3 | | 3,344 |
| 22 April 1997 | 20th | Stockport County | A | L | 1–2 | Tolson 20' | 6,654 |
| 26 April 1997 | 20th | Rotherham United | A | W | 2–0 | Rowe 45', Tolson 68' | 3,122 |
| 3 May 1997 | 20th | Crewe Alexandra | H | D | 1–1 | Tinkler 25' | 4,366 |

### League table (part)

Final Football League Second Division table (part) :
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 18th | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 51 | 56 | −5 | 55 |
| 19th | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 54 |
| 20th | York City | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 47 | 68 | −21 | 52 |
| 21st | Peterborough United | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 55 | 73 | −18 | 47 |
| 22nd | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 49 | 74 | −25 | 46 |
| Key | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points | Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points |
| Source | | | | | | | | | |

### FA Cup

FA Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round | 16 November 1996 | Hartlepool United | A | D | 0–0 | | 3,011 |
| First round replay | 26 November 1996 | Hartlepool United | H | W | 3–0 | Pepper 41', Himsworth 45', Tolson 54' | 3,227 |
| Second round | 7 December 1996 | Preston North End | A | W | 3–2 | Moyes 16' o.g., Barras 40', Tolson 74' | 7,893 |
| Third round | 13 January 1997 | Hednesford Town | A | L | 0–1 | | 3,169 |

### League Cup

League Cup match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round first leg | 20 August 1996 | Doncaster Rovers | A | D | 1–1 | Tolson 37' | 1,852 |
| First round second leg | 3 September 1996 | Doncaster Rovers | H | W | 2–0 3–1 agg. | Pepper 30', Bushell 81' | 2,757 |
| Second round first leg | 18 September 1996 | Everton | A | D | 1–1 | Tolson 55' | 11,527 |
| Second round second leg | 24 September 1996 | Everton | H | W | 3–2 4–3 agg. | Tolson 35', Bull 57', Murty 86' | 7,854 |
| Third round | 22 October 1996 | Leicester City | H | L | 0–2 | | 8,406 |

### Football League Trophy

Football League Trophy match details :
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Northern section second round | 21 January 1997 | Preston North End | H | W | 1–0 | Himsworth | 1,428 |
| Northern section quarter-final | 4 February 1997 | Carlisle United | H | L | 0–2 | | 1,922 |

## Appearances and goals

    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
    Players with names struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with York.
    Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Players included in matchday squads :
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | FL Trophy | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | ENG | Tim Clarke † | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Mark Prudhoe * † | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | ENG | Andy Warrington | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Paul Atkin | 6 (6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (6) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Paddy Atkinson | 13 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 (1) | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Tony Barras | 46 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 2 |
| DF | ENG | Wayne Hall | 12 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 (1) | 0 |
| DF | RSA | Andy McMillan | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | Martin Reed | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | ENG | John Sharples | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| DF | ENG | Steve Tutill | 13 (2) | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 (3) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Steve Bushell | 26 (5) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 (6) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Dave Gilbert * † | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Jonathan Greening | 0 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (5) | 0 |
| MF | SCO | Tommy Harrison | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 |
| MF | ENG | Gary Himsworth | 32 (1) | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 42 (1) | 4 |
| MF | ENG | Scott Jordan | 7 (8) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 (9) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Graeme Murty | 25 (2) | 2 | 3 (1) | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 (1) | 0 | 34 (4) | 3 |
| MF | ENG | Nigel Pepper † | 26 (3) | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 (4) | 14 |
| MF | ENG | Alan Pouton | 18 (4) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 (4) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Adrian Randall † | 13 (3) | 2 | 0 (1) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 (4) | 2 |
| MF | ENG | Paul Stephenson | 33 (2) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 41 (4) | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Mark Tinkler | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| MF | ENG | Darren Williams † | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Gary Bull | 33 (8) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 (9) | 3 |
| FW | ENG | Neil Campbell | 5 (6) | 1 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 (8) | 1 |
| FW | ENG | Richard Cresswell | 9 (8) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 (11) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Glenn Naylor † | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Rodney Rowe | 9 (1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 (1) | 3 |
| FW | ENG | David Rush | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 |
| FW | ENG | Neil Tolson | 39 (1) | 12 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 (1) | 0 | 48 (2) | 17 |