# 1995–96 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season

During the 1995–96 English football season, Tranmere Rovers F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

In the 1995–96 season, Tranmere made a great start, winning eight of their first 16 league games and by 22 November sat in 3rd place and four points of the top and automatic promotion seemed to be on course but afterwards Tranmere went on a horrendous run of form and on 12 April 1996 which saw Tranmere near the relegation zone after only four wins from 24 league games since 22 November, chairman Frank Corfe appointed John Aldridge as player-manager, and King was "moved upstairs" to become Director of football. They finished a disappointing campaign in 13th place.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 11 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 60 | 68 | −8 | 60 |
| 12 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 59 | 66 | −7 | 60 |
| 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 64 | 60 | +4 | 59 |
| 14 | Southend United | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 52 | 61 | −9 | 59 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 64 | −3 | 58 |

## Results

Tranmere Rovers' score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 12 August 1995 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 11,880 | O'Brien, Aldridge |
| 19 August 1995 | Sheffield United | A | 2–0 | 11,247 | Aldridge (2) |
| 26 August 1995 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | 9,072 | O'Brien, Aldridge, Thomas-Moore |
| 29 August 1995 | Barnsley | A | 1–2 | 9,710 | Aldridge |
| 9 September 1995 | Charlton Athletic | H | 0–0 | 7,402 | |
| 12 September 1995 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–2 | 7,196 | Bennett, Aldridge |
| 16 September 1995 | Stoke City | A | 0–0 | 8,609 | |
| 23 September 1995 | Portsmouth | A | 2–0 | 11,127 | Nevin, Bennett |
| 30 September 1995 | Watford | H | 2–3 | 7,041 | Aldridge, Bennett |
| 7 October 1995 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | 6,680 | Aldridge |
| 14 October 1995 | Millwall | A | 2–2 | 9,293 | Bennett, Thomas-Moore |
| 21 October 1995 | Southend United | H | 3–0 | 6,584 | Thomas-Moore (2), Bennett |
| 29 October 1995 | Norwich City | A | 1–1 | 15,513 | Thomas-Moore |
| 4 November 1995 | Derby County | H | 5–1 | 8,565 | Thomas-Moore, Nevin, Aldridge (2), Bennett |
| 19 November 1995 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 | 13,125 | Thomas-Moore |
| 22 November 1995 | Port Vale | H | 2–1 | 6,681 | Aldridge (2) |
| 25 November 1995 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–1 | 7,500 | |
| 2 December 1995 | Luton Town | A | 2–3 | 6,025 | G Jones, Bennett |
| 9 December 1995 | Portsmouth | H | 1–2 | 6,678 | Thomas-Moore |
| 16 December 1995 | Watford | A | 0–3 | 7,257 | |
| 23 December 1995 | Birmingham City | A | 0–1 | 18,439 | |
| 26 December 1995 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–0 | 9,783 | Aldridge (2) |
| 1 January 1996 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 8,421 | |
| 13 January 1996 | Sheffield United | H | 1–1 | 7,321 | Thomas-Moore |
| 20 January 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 24,173 | Aldridge |
| 30 January 1996 | Sunderland | A | 0–0 | 17,376 | |
| 3 February 1996 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–1 | 12,041 | |
| 10 February 1996 | Barnsley | H | 1–3 | 6,376 | Aldridge |
| 17 February 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–1 | 15,014 | Branch |
| 20 February 1996 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–3 | 5,253 | Aldridge, Bennett |
| 24 February 1996 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 8,312 | |
| 3 March 1996 | Oldham Athletic | A | 2–1 | 4,225 | Nevin, Aldridge |
| 9 March 1996 | Birmingham City | H | 2–2 | 8,696 | Aldridge, Rogers |
| 12 March 1996 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–2 | 13,183 | Branch |
| 16 March 1996 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–1 | 11,759 | Aldridge, Bennett |
| 23 March 1996 | Reading | H | 2–1 | 6,249 | Aldridge, Hopkins (own goal) |
| 30 March 1996 | Southend United | A | 0–2 | 4,741 | |
| 2 April 1996 | Millwall | H | 2–2 | 5,850 | Rogers, Aldridge (pen) |
| 6 April 1996 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | 6,618 | Aldridge |
| 8 April 1996 | Derby County | A | 2–6 | 16,723 | Aldridge (pen), Cook |
| 13 April 1996 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 8,882 | Lennon (own goal) |
| 17 April 1996 | Ipswich Town | H | 5–2 | 6,008 | Irons (2), O'Brien, Aldridge, Morgan |
| 20 April 1996 | Port Vale | A | 1–1 | 7,419 | O'Brien |
| 27 April 1996 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–1 | 5,408 | Aldridge |
| 30 April 1996 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–0 | 11,053 | |
| 5 May 1996 | Sunderland | H | 2–0 | 16,188 | Irons, Aldridge (pen) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 6 January 1996 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–2 | 10,230 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 19 September 1995 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–0 | 8,264 | Aldridge |
| R2 2nd Leg | 4 October 1995 | Oldham Athletic | A | 3–1 (won 4–1 on agg) | 5,335 | G Jones (2), Brannan |
| R3 | 24 October 1995 | Birmingham City | A | 1–1 | 13,752 | Thomas-Moore |
| R3R | 8 November 1995 | Birmingham City | H | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | 9,151 | Aldridge |

## 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 | WAL | Danny Coyne |
| — | GK | ENG | Eric Nixon |
| — | DF | ENG | Graham Branch |
| — | DF | ENG | Ged Brannan |
| — | DF | ENG | Dave Challinor |
| — | DF | ENG | Shaun Garnett |
| — | DF | ENG | Dave Higgins |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Jones |
| — | DF | ENG | John McGreal |
| — | DF | SCO | Steve Mungall |
| — | DF | ENG | Alan Rogers |
| — | DF | ENG | Gary Scott |
| — | DF | ENG | Gary Stevens |
| — | DF | ENG | Shaun Teale |
| — | DF | ENG | Tony Thomas |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | Paul Cook |
| — | MF | ENG | Kenny Irons |
| — | MF | WAL | Jon Kenworthy |
| — | MF | IRL | Alan Mahon |
| — | MF | WAL | Alan Morgan |
| — | MF | ENG | John Morrissey |
| — | MF | SCO | Pat Nevin |
| — | MF | IRL | Liam O'Brien |
| — | FW | IRL | John Aldridge (player-manager from 12 April) |
| — | FW | ENG | Gary Bennett |
| — | FW | ENG | Gregg Blundell |
| — | FW | ENG | Jamie Hughes |
| — | FW | ENG | Gary Jones |
| — | FW | ENG | Ian Thomas-Moore |