# 1996–97 Wimbledon F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Wimbledon competed in the Premier League. The season marked 20 years since Wimbledon's election to the Football League and was their eleventh successive season of top division football. It was one of the most successful of the club's history as they finished eighth in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of both domestic cups.

## Season summary

The opening day of the season saw Wimbledon lose 3–0 at home to Manchester United in a game mostly remembered for David Beckham's late goal from inside his own half. The Dons also lost their next two games, but then went on a 19-match unbeaten run, including seven league wins in a row. A 1–0 over Blackburn Rovers in December left them 3rd in the table, one point behind leaders Arsenal. The team's form tailed off in the second half of the season and they missed out on the chance of European qualification, finishing 8th.
Wimbledon also reached the semi-finals of both domestic cups. Their FA Cup run saw them knock out holders Manchester United but they lost 3–0 to the eventual winners Chelsea at Highbury. In the League Cup they were eliminated on away goals by Leicester City, who also went on to win the trophy. The sale of Øyvind Leonhardsen to Liverpool at the end of the season left manager Joe Kinnear with a big hole to fill in a squad which had, so far, achieved so much on a shoestring budget.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Chelsea | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 55 | +3 | 59 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 50 | 51 | −1 | 57 | |
| 8 | Wimbledon | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 56 | |
| 9 | Leicester City | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 54 | −8 | 47 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 44 | 51 | −7 | 46 | |
* ↑ Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup winners.
* ↑ Leicester City qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners.

### 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 | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H |
| Result | L | L | L | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | D | D | D | W | W | W | L | W | D | L | L | D | W | D | L | D | L | D | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | W |
| Position | 19 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |

## Results

Wimbledon's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Manchester United | H | 0–3 | 25,786 | |
| 21 August 1996 | Newcastle United | A | 0–2 | 36,385 | |
| 26 August 1996 | Leeds United | A | 0–1 | 25,860 | |
| 4 September 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | 17,506 | Earle |
| 7 September 1996 | Everton | H | 4–0 | 13,684 | Ardley, Gayle, Earle, Ekoku |
| 14 September 1996 | West Ham United | A | 2–0 | 21,294 | Clarke, Ekoku |
| 23 September 1996 | Southampton | H | 3–1 | 8,572 | Gayle, Ekoku (2) |
| 28 September 1996 | Derby County | A | 2–0 | 17,022 | Earle, Gayle |
| 12 October 1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 4–2 | 10,512 | Ekoku, Earle, Leonhardsen, Jones |
| 19 October 1996 | Chelsea | A | 4–2 | 28,020 | Earle, Ardley, Gayle, Ekoku |
| 26 October 1996 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–0 | 29,758 | |
| 2 November 1996 | Arsenal | H | 2–2 | 25,521 | Jones, Gayle |
| 16 November 1996 | Coventry City | H | 2–2 | 10,307 | Earle, Gayle |
| 23 November 1996 | Liverpool | A | 1–1 | 39,027 | Leonhardsen |
| 30 November 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–0 | 12,608 | Earle |
| 7 December 1996 | Sunderland | A | 3–1 | 19,672 | Ekoku (2), Holdsworth |
| 14 December 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–0 | 13,246 | Holdsworth |
| 22 December 1996 | Aston Villa | A | 0–5 | 28,875 | |
| 28 December 1996 | Everton | A | 3–1 | 36,733 | Ekoku, Leonhardsen, Gayle |
| 11 January 1997 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 11,467 | Gayle |
| 18 January 1997 | Leicester City | A | 0–1 | 18,927 | |
| 29 January 1997 | Manchester United | A | 1–2 | 55,314 | Perry |
| 1 February 1997 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–1 | 15,046 | Cox (own goal) |
| 23 February 1997 | Arsenal | A | 1–0 | 37,854 | Jones |
| 26 February 1997 | Southampton | A | 0–0 | 14,418 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Leicester City | H | 1–3 | 11,487 | Holdsworth |
| 3 March 1997 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 15,273 | Ekoku |
| 15 March 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–3 | 23,333 | Ekoku |
| 18 March 1997 | West Ham United | H | 1–1 | 15,771 | Harford |
| 23 March 1997 | Newcastle United | H | 1–1 | 23,175 | Leonhardsen |
| 5 April 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–1 | 32,654 | |
| 9 April 1997 | Aston Villa | H | 0–2 | 9,015 | |
| 16 April 1997 | Leeds United | H | 2–0 | 7,979 | Holdsworth, Castledine |
| 19 April 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–3 | 26,957 | Goodman |
| 22 April 1997 | Chelsea | H | 0–1 | 14,601 | |
| 3 May 1997 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | 19,865 | Leonhardsen |
| 6 May 1997 | Liverpool | H | 2–1 | 20,016 | Euell, Holdsworth |
| 11 May 1997 | Sunderland | H | 1–0 | 21,338 | Euell |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 14 January 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–1 | 5,011 | Perry |
| R3R | 21 January 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | 4,951 | Earle, Holdsworth |
| R4 | 25 January 1997 | Manchester United | A | 1–1 | 53,342 | Earle |
| R4R | 4 February 1997 | Manchester United | H | 1–0 | 25,601 | Gayle |
| R5 | 15 February 1997 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–1 | 22,395 | Gayle, Earle |
| QF | 9 March 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 2–0 | 25,032 | Earle, Holdsworth |
| SF | 13 April 1997 | Chelsea | N | 0–3 | 32,674 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 18 September 1996 | Portsmouth | H | 1–0 | 3,811 | Holdsworth |
| R2 2nd Leg | 25 September 1996 | Portsmouth | A | 1–1 (won 2–1 on agg) | 4,006 | Gayle |
| R3 | 22 October 1996 | Luton Town | H | 1–1 | 5,043 | Holdsworth |
| R3R | 12 November 1996 | Luton Town | A | 2–1 | 8,076 | Castledine, Fear |
| R4 | 26 November 1996 | Aston Villa | H | 1–0 | 7,573 | Gayle |
| QF | 8 January 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–0 | 16,968 | Ekoku, Leonhardsen |
| SF 1st Leg | 18 February 1997 | Leicester City | A | 0–0 | 16,021 | |
| SF 2nd Leg | 11 March 1997 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 (a.e.t.)(lost on away goals) | 17,810 | Gayle |

## 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 | SCO | Neil Sullivan |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Kenny Cunningham |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Alan Kimble |
| 4 | MF | WAL | Vinnie Jones |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Dean Blackwell |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Ben Thatcher |
| 7 | MF | NOR | Øyvind Leonhardsen |
| 8 | MF | JAM | Robbie Earle |
| 9 | FW | NGA | Efan Ekoku |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Dean Holdsworth |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Marcus Gayle |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Chris Perry |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Paul Heald |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | FW | IRL | Jon Goodman |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Alan Reeves |
| 17 | DF | SCO | Brian McAllister |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Neal Ardley |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Stewart Castledine |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Mick Harford |
| 21 | DF | SCO | Duncan Jupp |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Andy Clarke |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Jason Euell |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Peter Fear |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Andy Pearce |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Carl Cort |
| 33 | GK | IRL | Brendan Murphy |

### Left club during 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 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Andy Thorn (to Hearts) |

### Reserve squad

    The following players did not appear for the first-team this 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 |
| — | FW | ENG | Gary Blissett |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 1996 | DF | Duncan Jupp | Fulham | £200,000 |
| 5 July 1996 | DF | Ben Thatcher | Millwall | £1,700,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 22 July 1996 | MF | Lenny Piper | Gillingham | £40,000 |
| 25 July 1996 | MF | Steve Talboys | Watford | Free transfer |
| 16 September 1996 | DF | Andy Thorn | Hearts | Non-contract |
| 18 September 1996 | DF | Gary Elkins | Swindon Town | £100,000 |
    Transfers in: £1,900,000
    Transfers out: £140,000
    Total spending: £1,760,000

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | SCO | Neil Sullivan | 50 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Paul Heald | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | IRL | Kenny Cunningham | 50 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Alan Kimble | 45 | 0 | 28+3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Dean Blackwell | 41 | 0 | 22+5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Ben Thatcher | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Chris Perry | 51 | 2 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Alan Reeves | 4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | SCO | Brian McAllister | 29 | 0 | 19+4 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | SCO | Duncan Jupp | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | WAL | Vinnie Jones | 43 | 3 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | NOR | Øyvind Leonhardsen | 41 | 6 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 6+1 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | JAM | Robbie Earle | 45 | 11 | 32 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Neal Ardley | 43 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Stewart Castledine | 7 | 2 | 4+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Peter Fear | 21 | 1 | 9+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | NGA | Efan Ekoku | 41 | 12 | 28+2 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Dean Holdsworth | 36 | 9 | 10+15 | 5 | 3+3 | 2 | 4+1 | 2 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Marcus Gayle | 49 | 13 | 34+2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| 14 | FW | IRL | Jon Goodman | 17 | 1 | 6+7 | 1 | 0+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Mick Harford | 19 | 1 | 3+9 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Andy Clarke | 18 | 1 | 4+7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Jason Euell | 8 | 2 | 4+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Carl Cort | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season ||||||||||||