1996–97 Wigan Athletic F.C. season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Wigan Athletic F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.
Season summary
In the 1996-97 season, Wigan Athletic became Third Division champions on the last day of the campaign, Graeme Jones scoring a club record 31 league goals in the process. In most seasons they would have been runners-up, but a temporary rule change which saw goals scored take precedence over goal difference allowed them to finish above runners-up Fulham, who had the same number of points and a better goal difference.
Final league table
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
- NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
- ↑ Brighton & Hove Albion had two points deducted for failure to control spectators.
Key | |
|
Division Champions, promoted |
|
Promoted |
|
Participated in play-offs |
|
Promoted through play-offs |
|
New club in the league (none) |
|
Relegated to Conference |
Results
Wigan Athletic's score comes first[1]
Legend
Football League Third Division
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
17 August 1996 | Northampton Town | H | 2–1 | 3,449 | Lancashire, Biggins |
24 August 1996 | Barnet | A | 1–1 | 1,905 | Jones |
27 August 1996 | Cardiff City | A | 2–0 | 3,354 | Jones, Kilford |
31 August 1996 | Chester City | H | 4–2 | 3,854 | Jones (3, 1 pen), Shelton (own goal) |
7 September 1996 | Scunthorpe United | H | 3–0 | 3,321 | Jones, Lancashire (2) |
10 September 1996 | Darlington | A | 1–3 | 2,601 | Greenall |
14 September 1996 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–1 | 2,433 | Jones |
21 September 1996 | Lincoln City | H | 1–0 | 3,394 | Lancashire |
28 September 1996 | Scarborough | A | 1–3 | 2,570 | Lancashire |
1 October 1996 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 2,788 | Lancashire, Jones |
5 October 1996 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | 3,744 | Jones |
12 October 1996 | Colchester United | A | 1–3 | 2,700 | Sharp |
15 October 1996 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–0 | 1,942 | Sharp |
19 October 1996 | Torquay United | H | 3–2 | 3,374 | Jones (3) |
26 October 1996 | Hull City | H | 1–2 | 3,887 | Morgan |
29 October 1996 | Swansea City | A | 1–2 | 2,227 | Díaz |
2 November 1996 | Carlisle United | A | 3–0 | 6,235 | Díaz (2), Saville |
9 November 1996 | Hereford United | H | 4–1 | 3,414 | Martínez, Jones, Greenall, Saville |
23 November 1996 | Fulham | H | 1–1 | 5,039 | Martínez |
30 November 1996 | Hull City | A | 1–1 | 3,537 | Jones |
3 December 1996 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 4–1 | 2,606 | Biggins, Johnson, Saville, Jones |
14 December 1996 | Cambridge United | A | 1–1 | 2,784 | Kilford |
21 December 1996 | Rochdale | H | 0–1 | 3,311 | |
28 December 1996 | Scunthorpe United | A | 3–2 | 2,833 | Saville, Rogers, Kilford |
18 January 1997 | Exeter City | A | 1–0 | 3,067 | Johnson |
21 January 1997 | Leyton Orient | A | 2–1 | 3,014 | Kilford, Jones |
25 January 1997 | Swansea City | H | 3–2 | 4,058 | Jones (2), Kilford |
1 February 1997 | Hereford United | A | 1–3 | 2,532 | Rogers |
4 February 1997 | Lincoln City | A | 3–1 | 2,241 | Jones (2), Johnson |
8 February 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 1–0 | 6,195 | Lowe |
15 February 1997 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 9,448 | Lowe |
22 February 1997 | Leyton Orient | H | 5–1 | 3,783 | Jones (3), Lancashire, Rogers |
25 February 1997 | Darlington | H | 3–2 | 3,667 | Jones (3, 1 pen) |
28 February 1997 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–2 | 2,948 | |
4 March 1997 | Hartlepool United | H | 2–2 | 3,229 | Jones, Kilford |
8 March 1997 | Rochdale | A | 1–3 | 3,254 | Jones (pen) |
11 March 1997 | Scarborough | H | 7–1 | 3,094 | Martínez, Lowe (2), Díaz (2), Lancashire, Biggins |
15 March 1997 | Cambridge United | H | 1–1 | 3,867 | Jones |
22 March 1997 | Barnet | H | 2–0 | 3,286 | Kilford, Martínez |
29 March 1997 | Northampton Town | A | 1–0 | 5,914 | Lowe |
31 March 1997 | Cardiff City | H | 0–1 | 4,634 | |
5 April 1997 | Chester City | A | 1–1 | 4,005 | Kilford |
8 April 1997 | Colchester United | H | 1–0 | 4,571 | McGibbon |
12 April 1997 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | 8,703 | |
26 April 1997 | Torquay United | A | 3–0 | 2,481 | Jones (2), Díaz |
3 May 1997 | Mansfield Town | H | 2–0 | 7,106 | Lancashire, Lowe |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
R1 | 16 November 1996 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 5,465 (1,832 away) | |
League Cup
Football League Trophy
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
NR2 | 14 January 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | 1,639 (374 away) | |
Squad
[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
References