# 1996–97 Barnsley F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Barnsley F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

Manager Danny Wilson successfully acquired a number of signings in the summer that were to play huge roles, amongst these were the vastly experienced duo Neil Thompson and Paul Wilkinson, as well as youngster Matty Appleby.
Oakwell also gained an international flavour, as Jovo Bosančić and Trinidad and Tobago international Clint Marcelle were to sign, with Marcelle's work permit clearing just a couple of days prior to the Red's first game of the season, an away match at West Bromwich Albion. Marcelle was cleared to play and scored the opening goal of the season in a 2–1 victory. Barnsley went on to equal their best start to a season by winning the next four games. Wilson then further improved the team by bringing in Scottish forward John Hendrie, who had partnered Wilkinson at Middlesbrough.
Bolton Wanderers looked increasingly likely to win the league as the season progressed, the Reds played both games against the Trotters relatively early on in the season, with the two games both resulting in 2–2 draws. As the season neared its closing stages, it looked as if either Barnsley or Mark McGhee's Wolverhampton Wanderers would join Bolton.
In Barnsley's final home game of the season, a Yorkshire derby against Bradford City, the team knew a win would be enough to secure promotion to the top tier of English football for the first time in the club's history. The side dominated the game, but led only 1–0 at half time thanks to a Wilkinson goal. With only a few minutes remaining, Clint Marcelle, the man who had scored the opening goal of the season scored the Red's final goal at home. As the final whistle blew, the fans swarmed onto the pitch amid jubilant celebrations.
The team lost their final game of the season 5–1 away at Oxford United; however the joy of promotion remained throughout the summer and the team later had an open-top bus celebration around the town, culminating at the town hall.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Bolton Wanderers (C, P) | 46 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 100 | 53 | +47 | 98 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 2 | Barnsley (P) | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 76 | 55 | +21 | 80 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 68 | 51 | +17 | 76 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 4 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 74 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 75 | 52 | +23 | 73 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |

## Results

Barnsley's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–1 | 18,561 | Marcelle, Liddell |
| 25 August 1996 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | 9,787 | Wilkinson, Redfearn, Marcelle |
| 28 August 1996 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 7,523 | Sheridan, Liddell (2) |
| 7 September 1996 | Manchester City | A | 2–1 | 26,464 | Marcelle (2) |
| 10 September 1996 | Stoke City | H | 3–0 | 11,696 | Davis, Thompson, Liddell |
| 14 September 1996 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–3 | 13,003 | Wilkinson |
| 21 September 1996 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–0 | 7,043 | Redfearn (pen) |
| 28 September 1996 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–3 | 8,833 | Liddell |
| 1 October 1996 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–1 | 9,041 | Redfearn (pen) |
| 12 October 1996 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–0 | 9,183 | |
| 15 October 1996 | Oxford United | H | 0–0 | 6,337 | |
| 19 October 1996 | Bradford City | A | 2–2 | 11,477 | Liddell, Davis |
| 25 October 1996 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 9,413 | Redfearn (2, 1 pen) |
| 29 October 1996 | Port Vale | A | 3–1 | 5,231 | Hendrie, de Zeeuw, Marcelle |
| 2 November 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 3–3 | 22,840 | de Zeeuw, Redfearn (pen), Eaden |
| 12 November 1996 | Norwich City | H | 3–1 | 9,697 | Moses, Wilkinson, Hendrie |
| 16 November 1996 | Swindon Town | A | 0–3 | 10,837 | |
| 23 November 1996 | Portsmouth | H | 3–2 | 7,449 | Wilkinson, Hendrie, Davis |
| 30 November 1996 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–2 | 16,852 | Redfearn (2, 1 pen) |
| 3 December 1996 | Birmingham City | A | 0–0 | 24,004 | |
| 7 December 1996 | Southend United | H | 3–0 | 7,483 | Hendrie, Wilkinson (2) |
| 14 December 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 3–0 | 8,513 | Hendrie, Wilkinson, Redfearn (pen) |
| 21 December 1996 | Sheffield United | A | 1–0 | 24,384 | Hendrie |
| 26 December 1996 | Stoke City | A | 0–1 | 19,025 | |
| 28 December 1996 | Manchester City | H | 2–0 | 17,159 | Bosančić (pen), Moses |
| 11 January 1997 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–3 | 12,058 | Redfearn |
| 18 January 1997 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–2 | 9,872 | Liddell |
| 28 January 1997 | Grimsby Town | A | 3–2 | 6,323 | Hendrie (3) |
| 1 February 1997 | Norwich City | A | 1–1 | 17,001 | Eaden |
| 8 February 1997 | Port Vale | H | 1–0 | 12,246 | Hendrie |
| 15 February 1997 | Charlton Athletic | A | 2–2 | 9,104 | Hendrie (2) |
| 22 February 1997 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–3 | 18,024 | Sheridan |
| 1 March 1997 | Southend United | A | 2–1 | 4,855 | Redfearn (2) |
| 4 March 1997 | Swindon Town | H | 1–1 | 8,518 | Redfearn |
| 7 March 1997 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 | 14,668 | Hendrie, Eaden |
| 15 March 1997 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–1 | 7,347 | Wilkinson |
| 22 March 1997 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–0 | 14,754 | |
| 28 March 1997 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–0 | 12,087 | Redfearn, Thompson (pen) |
| 31 March 1997 | Reading | A | 2–1 | 10,244 | Holsgrove (own goal), Liddell |
| 5 April 1997 | Birmingham City | H | 0–1 | 13,092 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Charlton Athletic | H | 4–0 | 11,701 | Marcelle, Thompson (2), Hendrie |
| 15 April 1997 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–0 | 17,476 | Hendrie, Marcelle |
| 19 April 1997 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 20,006 | Thompson (pen) |
| 22 April 1997 | Portsmouth | A | 2–4 | 8,328 | Redfearn (2) |
| 26 April 1997 | Bradford City | H | 2–0 | 18,605 | Wilkinson, Marcelle |
| 4 May 1997 | Oxford United | A | 1–5 | 8,693 | Redfearn |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 14 January 1997 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–0 | 9,936 | Bullock, Marcelle |
| R4 | 25 January 1997 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–3 | 14,317 | Redfearn, Hendrie |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 First Leg | 20 August 1996 | Rochdale | A | 1–2 | 2,426 | Wilkinson |
| R1 Second Leg | 3 September 1996 | Rochdale | H | 2–0 | 5,638 | Redfearn, Wilkinson |
| R2 First Leg | 17 September 1996 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 4,491 | Onuora (own goal) |
| R2 Second Leg | 24 September 1996 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 5,666 | |

## 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 | David Watson |
| - | DF | ENG | Nicky Eaden |
| - | DF | NED | Arjan de Zeeuw |
| - | DF | ENG | Adie Moses |
| - | DF | ENG | Neil Thompson |
| - | MF | ENG | Neil Redfearn |
| - | FW | SCO | John Hendrie |
| - | MF | ENG | Martin Bullock |
| - | DF | ENG | Steve Davis |
| - | FW | ENG | Paul Wilkinson |
| - | MF | ENG | Darren Sheridan |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | FW | TRI | Clint Marcelle |
| - | MF | ENG | Matty Appleby |
| - | FW | SCO | Andy Liddell |
| - | DF | ENG | Peter Shirtliff |
| - | MF | YUG | Jovo Bosančić |
| - | DF | ENG | Scott Jones |
| - | FW | RSA | Glynn Hurst |
| - | FW | NED | Laurens ten Heuvel |
| - | MF | NED | Carel van der Velden |
| - | FW | ENG | Dave Regis |