# 1996–97 Sunderland A.F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Sunderland competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).

## Season summary

Just one year after they had almost slipped into Division Two, Sunderland had returned to the top flight under new manager Peter Reid. With a new 42,000-seat stadium due to be ready in the summer of 1997, Reid and his players were determined to secure survival in the final season at historic Roker Park and give the new stadium at Monkwearmouth a debut season in the Premiership.
The first half of the season went well for club, finding themselves in a comfortable 11th position by the end of January, boasting a strong home form going into the February. However, a run of 4 consecutive defeats against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hospur saw them slip down to 16th by March.
Sunderland lost 1–0 to Wimbledon on the final day of the season; with Coventry City's win at Tottenham, the Wearsiders were relegated.
On a high note, Sunderland did manage to beat Chelsea (3–0), Arsenal (1–0) and Manchester United (2–1) all at home during the season.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 16 | Southampton | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50 | 56 | −6 | 41 | |
| 17 | Coventry City | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 41 | |
| 18 | Sunderland (R) | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 35 | 53 | −18 | 40 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |
| 19 | Middlesbrough (R) | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 51 | 60 | −9 | 39 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest (R) | 38 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 31 | 59 | −28 | 34 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |
* ↑ Middlesbrough were docked three points for failing to fulfill their original fixture at Blackburn Rovers on 21 December 1996.

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: Statto

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | D | W | D | L | D | L | W | L | D | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | D | D | L | W | L | W | L |
| Position | 11 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 |

## Results

Sunderland's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Leicester City | H | 0–0 | 19,262 | |
| 21 August 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 4–1 | 22,874 | Gray, Quinn (2), Ord |
| 24 August 1996 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 40,503 | |
| 4 September 1996 | Newcastle United | H | 1–2 | 22,037 | Scott (pen) |
| 8 September 1996 | West Ham United | H | 0–0 | 18,642 | |
| 14 September 1996 | Derby County | A | 0–1 | 17,692 | |
| 21 September 1996 | Coventry City | H | 1–0 | 19,459 | Agnew |
| 28 September 1996 | Arsenal | A | 0–2 | 38,016 | |
| 14 October 1996 | Middlesbrough | H | 2–2 | 20,936 | Rae (pen), Russell |
| 19 October 1996 | Southampton | A | 0–3 | 15,225 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Aston Villa | H | 1–0 | 21,059 | Stewart |
| 2 November 1996 | Leeds United | A | 0–3 | 31,667 | |
| 16 November 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–2 | 31,867 | |
| 23 November 1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–1 | 20,644 | Melville |
| 30 November 1996 | Everton | A | 3–1 | 40,087 | Russell, Bridges (2) |
| 7 December 1996 | Wimbledon | H | 1–3 | 19,672 | Melville |
| 15 December 1996 | Chelsea | H | 3–0 | 19,683 | Duberry (own goal), Ball, Russell |
| 21 December 1996 | Manchester United | A | 0–5 | 55,081 | |
| 26 December 1996 | Derby County | H | 2–0 | 22,512 | Ord, Russell |
| 28 December 1996 | West Ham United | A | 0–2 | 24,077 | |
| 1 January 1997 | Coventry City | A | 2–2 | 17,700 | Bridges, Agnew (pen) |
| 11 January 1997 | Arsenal | H | 1–0 | 21,154 | Adams (own goal) |
| 18 January 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–0 | 20,850 | |
| 29 January 1997 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 17,883 | Williams |
| 1 February 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 0–1 | 32,491 | |
| 22 February 1997 | Leeds United | H | 0–1 | 21,890 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–1 | 24,208 | |
| 4 March 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–4 | 20,785 | |
| 8 March 1997 | Manchester United | H | 2–1 | 22,225 | Gray, Mullin |
| 12 March 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–2 | 20,294 | Ball |
| 16 March 1997 | Chelsea | A | 2–6 | 24,027 | Stewart, Rae |
| 22 March 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 | 22,120 | Ball |
| 5 April 1997 | Newcastle United | A | 1–1 | 36,582 | Gray |
| 13 April 1997 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | 21,938 | Stewart |
| 19 April 1997 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–0 | 30,106 | Williams |
| 22 April 1997 | Southampton | H | 0–1 | 21,521 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Everton | H | 3–0 | 22,108 | Stewart (pen), Waddle, Johnston |
| 11 May 1997 | Wimbledon | A | 0–1 | 21,338 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 4 January 1997 | Arsenal | A | 1–1 | 37,793 | Gray |
| R3R | 15 January 1997 | Arsenal | H | 0–2 | 15,277 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1996 | Watford | A | 2–0 | 9,136 | Quinn, Rae |
| R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1996 | Watford | H | 1–0 (won 3–0 on agg) | 10,659 | Scott |
| R3 | 23 October 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–2 | 24,867 | Ball |

## Players
### First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Tony Coton |
| 2 | DF | POL | Dariusz Kubicki |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Martin Scott |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Paul Bracewell (vice-captain) |
| 5 | MF | ENG | Kevin Ball (captain) |
| 6 | DF | WAL | Andy Melville |
| 7 | DF | ENG | Michael Gray |
| 8 | DF | ENG | Richard Ord |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Craig Russell |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Paul Stewart |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Steve Agnew |
| 12 | DF | WAL | Gareth Hall |
| 13 | GK | ENG | David Preece |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Lee Howey |
| 15 | MF | SCO | Alex Rae |
| 16 | FW | IRL | David Kelly |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | FW | IRL | Niall Quinn |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Martin Smith |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Michael Bridges |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Darren Holloway |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Sam Aiston |
| 22 | MF | ENG | John Mullin |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Darren Williams |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Paul Heckingbottom |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Chris Waddle |
| 26 | MF | SCO | Allan Johnston |
| 28 | GK | ENG | Philip Naisbett |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Steven Pickering |
| 30 | GK | FRA | Lionel Pérez |
| 32 | GK | ENG | Chris Woods |
| 33 | DF | SWE | Jan Eriksson |
| 34 | MF | DEN | Kim Heiselberg |

### Reserve 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 |
| — | DF | ENG | Elliott Dickman |
| — | FW | ENG | Brett Angell |
| — | FW | ENG | Paul Beavers |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve Brodie |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | ENG | Paul Conlon |
| — | FW | ENG | Chris Tate |
| — | FW | IRL | Stephen Grant |

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Coca-Cola Cup | Coca-Cola Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Tony Coton | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | David Preece | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | FRA | Lionel Perez | 32 | 0 | 28+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | ENG | Chris Woods | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | POL | Dariusz Kubicki | 32 | 0 | 28+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Martin Scott | 17 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | WAL | Andy Melville | 35 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | ENG | Richard Ord | 38 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | WAL | Gareth Hall | 37 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Darren Holloway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Paul Heckingbottom | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Darren Williams | 13 | 2 | 10+1 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | SWE | Jan Eriksson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | ENG | Paul Bracewell | 41 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | ENG | Kevin Ball | 35 | 4 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Michael Gray | 38 | 4 | 31+3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Steve Agnew | 18 | 2 | 11+4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | SCO | Alex Rae | 25 | 3 | 13+10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Sam Aiston | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | John Mullin | 12 | 1 | 9+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Chris Waddle | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | SCO | Allan Johnston | 6 | 1 | 4+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ENG | Craig Russell | 34 | 4 | 10+19 | 4 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Paul Stewart | 27 | 4 | 20+4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Lee Howey | 12 | 0 | 9+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | IRL | David Kelly | 28 | 0 | 23+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | IRL | Niall Quinn | 13 | 3 | 8+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Martin Smith | 13 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Michael Bridges | 29 | 3 | 10+15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 June 1996 | MF | Alex Rae | Millwall | £1,000,000 |
| 11 July 1996 | FW | Paul Conlon | Hartlepool United | Free transfer |
| 18 July 1996 | GK | Tony Coton | Manchester United | £600,000 |
| 1 August 1996 | FW | Chris Tate | York City | Signed |
| 1 August 1996 | GK | Lionel Pérez | Bordeaux | £200,000 |
| 17 August 1996 | FW | Niall Quinn | Manchester City | £1,300,000 |
| 18 October 1996 | DF | Darren Williams | York City | £50,000 |
| 7 January 1997 | DF | Jan Eriksson | Helsingborgs IF | £250,000 |
| 17 March 1997 | MF | Chris Waddle | Bradford City | £75,000 |
| 21 March 1997 | MF | Kim Heiselberg | Esbjerg fB | £125,000 |
| 26 March 1997 | GK | Chris Woods | Colorado Rapids | Signed |
| 1 April 1997 | MF | Allan Johnston | Rennes | £550,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 10 July 1996 | GK | Alec Chamberlain | Watford | £40,000 |
| 27 July 1996 | DF | Scott Coates | Berwick Rangers | Signed |
| 1 August 1996 | MF | Brian Atkinson | Darlington | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1996 | MF | Gordon Armstrong | Bury | Free transfer |
| 22 November 1996 | FW | Brett Angell | Stockport County | £120,000 |
| 14 February 1997 | FW | Steve Brodie | Scarborough | Free transfer |
    Transfers in: £4,150,000
    Transfers out: £160,000
    Total spending: £3,990,000