# 1996–97 Rotherham United F.C. season

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

## Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Danny Bergara in the summer became Rotherham's next manager, but was given little time to turn the club’s fortunes. Rotherham endured a poor season and were relegated, and Bergara lost his job at the club.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 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 |
| 24 | Notts County | 46 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 33 | 59 | −26 | 35 | Relegated |

## Results

Rotherham United's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Walsall | A | 1–1 | 4,040 | Goodwin |
| 24 August 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–2 | 3,037 | McDougald |
| 27 August 1996 | Blackpool | H | 1–2 | 2,914 | Hayward |
| 31 August 1996 | Luton Town | A | 0–1 | 4,547 | |
| 7 September 1996 | Bury | A | 1–3 | 3,523 | Hurst |
| 10 September 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 0–1 | 2,940 | |
| 14 September 1996 | Bristol City | H | 2–2 | 2,546 | Berry, Richardson (pen) |
| 21 September 1996 | Gillingham | A | 1–3 | 4,920 | Bowyer |
| 28 September 1996 | Bournemouth | H | 1–0 | 2,648 | Druce |
| 1 October 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 2–4 | 3,438 | Druce, Hayward |
| 5 October 1996 | Brentford | A | 2–4 | 6,137 | Berry, Druce |
| 12 October 1996 | Burnley | H | 1–0 | 4,562 | Druce |
| 15 October 1996 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–0 | 2,490 | |
| 19 October 1996 | York City | A | 1–2 | 3,410 | Sandeman |
| 26 October 1996 | Peterborough United | H | 2–0 | 2,854 | Breckin, Berry |
| 29 October 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–1 | 3,162 | |
| 2 November 1996 | Preston North End | A | 0–0 | 8,997 | |
| 9 November 1996 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 3,619 | |
| 23 November 1996 | Millwall | H | 0–0 | 3,286 | |
| 30 November 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 2–6 | 4,690 | Blades, Sandeman |
| 3 December 1996 | Stockport County | H | 0–1 | 2,133 | |
| 14 December 1996 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 3,954 | |
| 21 December 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–2 | 2,269 | Breckin |
| 28 December 1996 | Bury | H | 1–1 | 3,263 | Goodwin (pen) |
| 11 January 1997 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 3,161 | Hurst |
| 18 January 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 2,692 | Goodwin (pen), Glover |
| 25 January 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–4 | 2,832 | Jean |
| 1 February 1997 | Watford | A | 0–2 | 10,657 | |
| 8 February 1997 | Preston North End | H | 0–1 | 3,556 | |
| 15 February 1997 | Millwall | A | 0–2 | 7,043 | |
| 18 February 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | 5,195 | Hayward |
| 22 February 1997 | Wrexham | H | 0–0 | 2,539 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Stockport County | A | 0–0 | 6,147 | |
| 8 March 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–1 | 4,717 | |
| 15 March 1997 | Notts County | H | 2–2 | 2,605 | Jean, Bowyer |
| 18 March 1997 | Bristol City | A | 2–0 | 10,646 | Garner, Jean |
| 22 March 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–0 | 2,893 | McDougald (pen), Hurst |
| 25 March 1997 | Gillingham | H | 1–2 | 2,664 | Dillon |
| 29 March 1997 | Walsall | H | 1–2 | 2,428 | Hayward |
| 31 March 1997 | Blackpool | A | 1–4 | 5,524 | Breckin |
| 5 April 1997 | Luton Town | H | 0–3 | 2,609 | |
| 8 April 1997 | Wrexham | A | 0–1 | 2,002 | |
| 11 April 1997 | Brentford | H | 0–1 | 1,797 | |
| 19 April 1997 | Burnley | A | 3–3 | 7,875 | Jean (3) |
| 26 April 1997 | York City | H | 0–2 | 3,122 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–1 | 5,950 | Berry, Garner |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–4 | 3,892 | McGlashan |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| First round first leg | 20 August 1996 | Darlington | A | 0–1 | 2,023 | |
| First round second leg | 3 September 1996 | Darlington | H | 0–1 | 1,749 | |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| NR1 | 10 December 1996 | Blackpool | H | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | 1,143 | |

## 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 | Phil Barnes |
| — | GK | ENG | Steve Cherry |
| — | GK | ENG | Steve Farrelly |
| — | GK | ENG | Kevin Pilkington (on loan from Manchester United) |
| — | DF | SCO | Kevin Bain |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Blades |
| — | DF | ENG | Gary Bowyer |
| — | DF | ENG | Ian Breckin |
| — | DF | IRL | Paul Dillon |
| — | DF | ENG | Dean Fearon |
| — | DF | ENG | Brian Gayle |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Hurst |
| — | DF | ENG | Martin James |
| — | DF | ENG | Mark Monington |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Richardson |
| — | DF | ENG | Bradley Sandeman |
| — | DF | NZL | Scott Smith |
| — | MF | ENG | Trevor Berry |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | Adrian Clarke (on loan from Arsenal) |
| — | MF | IRL | Jim Crawford (on loan from Newcastle United) |
| — | MF | SCO | Jim Dobbin |
| — | MF | ENG | Darren Garner |
| — | MF | ENG | Shaun Goodwin |
| — | MF | ENG | Danny Hudson |
| — | MF | SCO | John McGlashan |
| — | MF | ENG | Rob McKenzie |
| — | MF | ENG | Andy Roscoe |
| — | FW | ENG | Rob Bowman |
| — | FW | ENG | Mark Druce |
| — | FW | ENG | Lee Glover |
| — | FW | ENG | Andy Hayward |
| — | FW | LCA | Earl Jean |
| — | FW | ENG | Richard Landon (on loan from Stockport County) |
| — | FW | ENG | Junior McDougald |
| — | FW | ENG | Robert Pell |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve Slawson |