1996–97 FA Cup
The 1996–97 FA Cup (known as The FA Cup sponsored by Littlewoods for sponsorship reasons) was the 116th season of the FA Cup. The tournament started in August 1996 for clubs from non-league football and the competition proper started in October 1996 for teams from the Premier League and the Football League. The tournament was won by Chelsea with a 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley stadium.
Country | ![]() ![]() |
---|---|
Defending champions | Manchester United |
Champions | Chelsea (2nd title) |
Runners-up | Middlesbrough |
Top goal scorer(s) | Ken Charlery Duane Darby Bryan Hughes Fabrizio Ravanelli (6 goals) |
← 1995–96 1997–98 → |
Calendar
Round | Initial Matches | New Entries | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|
Preliminary Round | Saturday 31 August 1996 | 340 | 574 → 404 |
First Round Qualifying | Saturday 14 September 1996 | 118 | 404 → 260 |
Second Round Qualifying | Saturday 28 September 1996 | none | 260 → 188 |
Third Round Qualifying | Saturday 12 October 1996 | none | 188 → 152 |
Fourth Round Qualifying | Saturday 26 October 1996 | 20 | 152 → 124 |
First Round Proper | Saturday 16 November 1996 | 52 | 124 → 84 |
Second Round Proper | Saturday 7 December 1996 | none | 84 → 64 |
Third Round Proper | Saturday 4 January 1997 | 44 | 64 → 32 |
Fourth Round Proper | Saturday 25 January 1997 | none | 32 → 16 |
Fifth Round Proper | Saturday 15 February 1997 | none | 16 → 8 |
Sixth Round Proper | Saturday 8 March 1997 | none | 8 → 4 |
Semi-Finals | Sunday 13 April 1997 | none | 4 → 2 |
Final | Saturday 17 May 1997 | none | 2 → 1 |
First round proper
The First Round featured those non-league teams who had come through the qualifying rounds and the teams from the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system. The matches were played on 16 November 1996. There were thirteen replays, with two ties requiring a penalty shootout to settle them.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ashford Town | 2–2 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Dagenham & Redbridge | 1–1 | Ashford Town | 25 November 1996 |
Ashford Town won 4–3 on penalties | ||||
2 | Blackpool | 1–0 | Wigan Athletic | 16 November 1996 |
3 | Chester City | 3–0 | Stalybridge Celtic | 16 November 1996 |
4 | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Bury | 16 November 1996 |
5 | Burnley | 2–1 | Lincoln City | 16 November 1996 |
6 | Preston North End | 4–1 | Altrincham | 16 November 1996 |
7 | Wisbech Town | 1–2 | St Albans City | 16 November 1996 |
8 | Woking | 2–2 | Millwall | 15 November 1996 |
Replay | Millwall | 0–1 | Woking | 26 November 1996 |
9 | Gillingham | 1–0 | Hereford United | 16 November 1996 |
10 | Boreham Wood | 1–1 | Rushden & Diamonds | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Rushden & Diamonds | 2–3 | Boreham Wood | 26 November 1996 |
11 | Northwich Victoria | 2–2 | Walsall | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Walsall | 3–1 | Northwich Victoria | 26 November 1996 |
12 | Macclesfield Town | 0–2 | Rochdale | 16 November 1996 |
13 | Crewe Alexandra | 4–1 | Kidderminster Harriers | 16 November 1996 |
14 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–1 | Scarborough | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Scarborough | 1–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 26 November 1996 |
15 | Wrexham | 1–1 | Colwyn Bay | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Wrexham | 2–0 | Colwyn Bay | 26 November 1996 |
16 | Hednesford Town | 2–1 | Southport | 16 November 1996 |
17 | Stockport County | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | 16 November 1996 |
18 | Brentford | 2–0 | Bournemouth | 16 November 1996 |
19 | Bristol Rovers | 1–2 | Exeter City | 16 November 1996 |
20 | Northampton Town | 0–1 | Watford | 17 November 1996 |
21 | Bromley | 1–3 | Enfield | 16 November 1996 |
22 | Plymouth Argyle | 5–0 | Fulham | 16 November 1996 |
23 | Carlisle United | 6–0 | Shepshed Dynamo | 16 November 1996 |
24 | Scunthorpe United | 4–1 | Rotherham United | 16 November 1996 |
25 | Mansfield Town | 4–0 | Consett | 16 November 1996 |
26 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Hendon | 16 November 1996 |
27 | Runcorn | 1–4 | Darlington | 16 November 1996 |
28 | Torquay United | 0–1 | Luton Town | 16 November 1996 |
29 | Boston United | 3–0 | Morecambe | 16 November 1996 |
30 | Peterborough United | 0–0 | Cheltenham Town | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Cheltenham Town | 1–3 | Peterborough United | 27 November 1996 |
31 | Colchester United | 1–2 | Wycombe Wanderers | 16 November 1996 |
32 | Leyton Orient | 2–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 16 November 1996 |
33 | Sudbury Town | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–1 | Sudbury Town | 26 November 1996 |
Sudbury Town won 4–3 on penalties | ||||
34 | Whitby Town | 0–0 | Hull City | 17 November 1996 |
Replay | Hull City | 8–4 | Whitby Town | 26 November 1996 |
35 | Cambridge United | 3–0 | Welling United | 16 November 1996 |
36 | Swansea City | 1–1 | Bristol City | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Bristol City | 1–0 | Swansea City | 26 November 1996 |
37 | Farnborough Town | 2–2 | Barnet | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Barnet | 1–0 | Farnborough Town | 26 November 1996 |
38 | Hartlepool United | 0–0 | York City | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | York City | 3–0 | Hartlepool United | 26 November 1996 |
39 | Stevenage Borough | 2–2 | Hayes | 16 November 1996 |
Replay | Hayes | 0–2 | Stevenage Borough | 26 November 1996 |
40 | Newcastle Town | 0–2 | Notts County | 17 November 1996 |
Second Round Proper
The second round of the competition featured the winners of the first round ties. The matches were played on 7 December 1996, with four replays and one penalty shootout required.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Enfield | 1–1 | Peterborough United | 7 December 1996 |
Replay | Peterborough United | 4–1 | Enfield | 17 December 1996 |
2 | Blackpool | 0–1 | Hednesford Town | 7 December 1996 |
3 | Chester City | 1–0 | Boston United | 7 December 1996 |
4 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Scarborough | 7 December 1996 |
5 | Barnet | 3–3 | Wycombe Wanderers | 7 December 1996 |
Replay | Wycombe Wanderers | 3–2 | Barnet | 17 December 1996 |
6 | Bristol City | 9–2 | St Albans City | 7 December 1996 |
7 | Preston North End | 2–3 | York City | 7 December 1996 |
8 | Watford | 5–0 | Ashford Town | 7 December 1996 |
9 | Walsall | 1–1 | Burnley | 7 December 1996 |
Replay | Burnley | 1–1 | Walsall | 23 December 1996 |
Burnley won 4–2 on penalties | ||||
10 | Notts County | 3–1 | Rochdale | 7 December 1996 |
11 | Luton Town | 2–1 | Boreham Wood | 7 December 1996 |
12 | Wrexham | 2–2 | Scunthorpe United | 7 December 1996 |
Replay | Scunthorpe United | 2–3 | Wrexham | 17 December 1996 |
13 | Plymouth Argyle | 4–1 | Exeter City | 6 December 1996 |
14 | Hull City | 1–5 | Crewe Alexandra | 7 December 1996 |
15 | Carlisle United | 1–0 | Darlington | 7 December 1996 |
16 | Mansfield Town | 0–3 | Stockport County | 7 December 1996 |
17 | Cardiff City | 0–2 | Gillingham | 7 December 1996 |
18 | Leyton Orient | 1–2 | Stevenage Borough | 7 December 1996 |
19 | Sudbury Town | 1–3 | Brentford | 7 December 1996 |
20 | Cambridge United | 0–2 | Woking | 7 December 1996 |
Third round proper
The third round of the season's FA Cup was scheduled for Saturday, 4 January 1997, although fourteen matches were postponed until later dates. This round marked the point at which the teams in the two highest divisions in the English league system, the Premier League and the Football League First Division (now known as the Football League Championship). There were nine replays, with none of these games requiring a penalty shootout to settle it.
Fourth Round Proper
The Fourth Round ties were played with the thirty-two winners of the previous round. The matches were originally scheduled for Saturday, 25 January 1997, although six matches were not played that weekend. There was only one replay.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leicester City | 2–1 | Norwich City | 25 January 1997 |
2 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Coventry City | 15 February 1997 |
3 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–3 | Chesterfield | 4 February 1997 |
4 | Hednesford Town | 2–3 | Middlesbrough | 25 January 1997 |
5 | Derby County | 3–1 | Aston Villa | 25 January 1997 |
6 | Everton | 2–3 | Bradford City | 25 January 1997 |
7 | Newcastle United | 1–2 | Nottingham Forest | 26 January 1997 |
8 | Manchester City | 3–1 | Watford | 5 February 1997 |
9 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–2 | Barnsley | 25 January 1997 |
10 | Portsmouth | 3–0 | Reading | 25 January 1997 |
11 | Manchester United | 1–1 | Wimbledon | 25 January 1997 |
Replay | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Manchester United | 4 February 1997 |
12 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 January 1997 |
13 | Chelsea | 4–2 | Liverpool | 26 January 1997 |
14 | Arsenal | 0–1 | Leeds United | 4 February 1997 |
15 | Peterborough United | 2–4 | Wrexham | 4 February 1997 |
16 | Birmingham City | 3–1 | Stockport County | 25 January 1997 |
Fifth Round Proper
The Fifth Round matches were scheduled for Saturday, 15 February 1997. There was, again, only one replay.
Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | 15 February 1997 |
2 | Leicester City | 2–2 | Chelsea | 16 February 1997 |
Replay | Chelsea | 1–0 | Leicester City | 26 February 1997 |
3 | Derby County | 3–2 | Coventry City | 26 February 1997 |
4 | Manchester City | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | 15 February 1997 |
5 | Bradford City | 0–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 16 February 1997 |
6 | Wimbledon | 2–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 15 February 1997 |
7 | Leeds United | 2–3 | Portsmouth | 15 February 1997 |
8 | Birmingham City | 1–3 | Wrexham | 15 February 1997 |
Sixth Round Proper
The sixth round ties were scheduled for the weekend of 8–9 March. No replays were required.
Chesterfield defeated Wrexham 1–0 in a rare "all third-tier" quarter-final clash, while Middlesbrough's 2–0 win at Derby County moved them a step closer to their first-ever FA Cup final.
Chesterfield | 1–0 | Wrexham |
---|---|---|
Beaumont ![]() |
Report |
Sheffield Wednesday | 0–2 | Wimbledon |
---|---|---|
Report | Earle ![]() Holdsworth ![]() |
Derby County | 0–2 | Middlesbrough |
---|---|---|
Report | Juninho ![]() Ravanelli ![]() |
Semi-Finals
The semi-final ties were played at neutral venues on 13 April 1997. Middlesbrough and Chelsea came through their ties (with Middlesbrough requiring a replay against second division side Chesterfield) to reach the final.
Wimbledon, playing the semi-finals for the first time since they were FA Cup winners nine years earlier, had their hopes of FA Cup glory ended by a semi-final defeat at the hands of Chelsea, who had not played in an FA Cup final for 3 years. This came just weeks after Wimbledon had been eliminated from the League Cup semi-finals.
Middlesbrough, on the other hand, reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history, but only after a 3-0 replay win over a Chesterfield side that had given them a serious run for their money in the first match with a 3–3 draw after taking a 2–0 lead and having a goal ruled out despite the ball crossing the line, therefore narrowly missing out on being the first "third tier" side to reach an FA Cup final.
Middlesbrough | 3–3 | Chesterfield |
---|---|---|
Ravanelli ![]() Hignett ![]() Festa ![]() |
Report | Morris ![]() Dyche ![]() Hewitt ![]() |
- Replay
Middlesbrough | 3–0 | Chesterfield |
---|---|---|
Beck ![]() Ravanelli ![]() Emerson ![]() |
Report |
Final
The 1997 FA Cup Final took place on 17 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium and was won by Chelsea with a 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough. Di Matteo scored the fastest ever goal in FA Cup Final history 43 seconds after kick-off, beating Jackie Milburn's record from the 1954–1955 final of 45 seconds, which was only beaten in 2009 by Everton's Louis Saha (27.9 seconds). Chelsea were attempting to win their first FA Cup final for 27 years, while Middlesbrough were contesting their first ever final. Chelsea took to the field on the back of something of a renaissance under Dutch manager Ruud Gullit, having recorded their best league finish for a decade. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, began the final having been relegated from the Premiership and also been losing finalists in the League Cup.
It was Chelsea's first major trophy for 26 years, while Middlesbrough had never played in an FA Cup final or won a major trophy before.
Media coverage
For the ninth consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters which was their last before ITV took over while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters.
The matches shown live on the BBC were: Manchester United 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur (R3); Chelsea 4–2 Liverpool (R4); Leicester City 2–2 Chelsea (R5); Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Wimbledon (QF); Chelsea 3–0 Wimbledon (SF) and Chelsea 2–0 Middlesbrough (Final)