# 1996–97 AFC Bournemouth season

During the 1996–97 English football season, AFC Bournemouth competed in the Football League Second Division.

## Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Bournemouth had another satisfying campaign, this time finishing in 16th place. Their financial problems off the pitch continued with Ken Gardiner resigning as chairman in December and Brian Willis took over as acting chairman until the summer. In January 1997, Bournemouth were £4.4m in debt and started a petition to raise £300,000 to see the whole season through. Bournemouth also owe £2.1m to Lloyds Bank and another £450,000 was also owed in VAT and PAYE that wasn't paid. As a result of this, 12 members of coaching staff were sacked which also included their assistant manager John Williams.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 14 | Millwall | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 50 | 55 | −5 | 61 |
| 15 | Preston North End | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 61 |
| 16 | Bournemouth | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 60 |
| 17 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 56 |
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 51 | 57 | −6 | 55 |

## Results

Bournemouth's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Watford | H | 1–2 | 7,672 | Brissett |
| 24 August 1996 | York City | A | 2–1 | 2,804 | Brissett, Fletcher |
| 27 August 1996 | Stockport County | A | 1–0 | 3,446 | Brissett |
| 31 August 1996 | Peterborough United | H | 1–2 | 4,587 | Fletcher |
| 7 September 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–1 | 3,218 | |
| 10 September 1996 | Bristol Rovers | A | 2–3 | 4,170 | Fletcher, Murray |
| 14 September 1996 | Preston North End | A | 1–0 | 8,268 | Fletcher |
| 21 September 1996 | Notts County | H | 0–1 | 3,402 | |
| 28 September 1996 | Rotherham United | A | 0–1 | 2,648 | |
| 1 October 1996 | Walsall | H | 0–1 | 2,747 | |
| 5 October 1996 | Gillingham | A | 1–1 | 6,162 | Holland |
| 12 October 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 3,984 | Holland, Watson |
| 15 October 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–0 | 3,818 | Fletcher |
| 19 October 1996 | Wrexham | A | 0–2 | 3,945 | |
| 26 October 1996 | Luton Town | A | 0–2 | 5,635 | |
| 29 October 1996 | Bristol City | H | 0–2 | 4,197 | |
| 2 November 1996 | Bury | H | 1–1 | 3,946 | Holland |
| 9 November 1996 | Blackpool | A | 1–1 | 3,744 | Cox |
| 19 November 1996 | Brentford | H | 2–1 | 3,464 | Robinson (2, 1 pen) |
| 23 November 1996 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 8,564 | |
| 30 November 1996 | Luton Town | H | 3–2 | 4,322 | Robinson (2), Cox |
| 3 December 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–1 | 1,610 | Holland |
| 14 December 1996 | Millwall | H | 1–1 | 4,494 | Holland |
| 21 December 1996 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | 4,174 | Cox |
| 26 December 1996 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–0 | 5,036 | Watson |
| 28 December 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–2 | 3,687 | |
| 11 January 1997 | Rotherham United | H | 1–1 | 3,161 | Cox |
| 18 January 1997 | Walsall | A | 1–2 | 3,037 | Fletcher |
| 25 January 1997 | Bristol City | A | 1–0 | 10,434 | Cox |
| 1 February 1997 | Blackpool | H | 0–0 | 8,201 | |
| 4 February 1997 | Notts County | A | 2–0 | 2,757 | Cox, Town |
| 8 February 1997 | Bury | A | 1–2 | 3,559 | Robinson (pen) |
| 11 February 1997 | Preston North End | H | 2–0 | 4,769 | Brissett, Cox |
| 15 February 1997 | Burnley | H | 0–0 | 6,021 | |
| 22 February 1997 | Brentford | A | 0–1 | 6,071 | |
| 1 March 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 0–0 | 5,810 | |
| 11 March 1997 | Chesterfield | H | 3–0 | 3,368 | Fletcher, Robinson, Rawlinson |
| 15 March 1997 | Millwall | A | 1–0 | 8,992 | Bailey |
| 22 March 1997 | York City | H | 1–1 | 4,367 | Town |
| 29 March 1997 | Watford | A | 1–0 | 10,019 | Cox |
| 1 April 1997 | Stockport County | H | 0–0 | 5,476 | |
| 5 April 1997 | Peterborough United | A | 1–3 | 4,221 | Rawlinson |
| 12 April 1997 | Gillingham | H | 2–2 | 5,008 | Murray, Robinson |
| 19 April 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 6,043 | Holland |
| 26 April 1997 | Wrexham | H | 2–1 | 4,805 | O'Neill, Holland |
| 3 May 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 6,507 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 16 November 1996 | Brentford | A | 0–2 | 4,509 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–2 | 6,163 | Fletcher |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–3 (lost 1–5 on agg) | 4,119 | |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| SR1 | 10 December 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 944 | |

## 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 | Jimmy Glass |
| — | GK | ENG | Andy Marshall (on loan from Norwich City) |
| — | DF | IRL | Owen Coll |
| — | DF | ENG | Leo Cotterell |
| — | DF | TRI | Ian Cox |
| — | DF | ENG | Rio Ferdinand (on loan from West Ham United) |
| — | DF | ENG | Anthony Griffin |
| — | DF | ENG | Eddie Howe |
| — | DF | ENG | Mark Morris |
| — | DF | SCO | Rob Murray |
| — | DF | ENG | Adrian Pennock |
| — | DF | ENG | Jamie Vincent |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Young |
| — | MF | ENG | John Bailey |
| — | MF | ENG | Russell Beardsmore |
| — | MF | ENG | Michael Dean |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | Dale Gordon |
| — | MF | IRL | Matt Holland |
| — | MF | IRL | Michael McElhatton |
| — | MF | ENG | Scott Mean |
| — | MF | IRL | Roy O'Brien |
| — | MF | ENG | Emmanuel Omoyinmi |
| — | MF | ENG | Mark Rawlinson |
| — | MF | NIR | Steve Robinson |
| — | FW | ENG | Jason Brissett |
| — | FW | ENG | Iyseden Christie (on loan from Coventry City) |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve Cotterill |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve Fletcher |
| — | FW | ENG | James Hayter |
| — | FW | SCO | John O'Neill |
| — | FW | ENG | David Town |
| — | FW | ENG | Mark Watson |