1996–97 Middlesbrough F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Middlesbrough competed in the Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Despite reaching the finals of both domestic cup competitions, Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League in 19th place (although this came after a points deduction for postponing a fixture against Blackburn Rovers).

Middlesbrough
1996–97 season
ChairmanSteve Gibson
ManagerBryan Robson
StadiumRiverside Stadium
Premier League19th (relegated)
FA CupRunners-up
League CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Ravanelli (16)
All: Ravanelli (31)
Highest home attendance30,215 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 19 October)
Lowest home attendance17,136 (vs. Hereford United, 18 September)
Average home league attendance28,724

Season summary

The multi-million pound signings of Brazilian midfielder Emerson and Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli suggested that Middlesbrough could compete with the very best after finishing 12th the previous season, but ahead lay quite a unique season which ultimately ended in disappointment; though, on the goalscoring front, Middlesbrough's games were undeniably entertaining to watch, as in total, 111 goals were witnessed, the fourth highest total of goals for and against within Premier League clubs' matches. The season though started brightly with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool with Ravanelli scoring a hat-trick on his debut. The next two home games were impressively won: 4-1 against West Ham United and 4-0 against Coventry City (with Ravanelli and Juninho scoring two goals each in that match). Their season's first away win at Everton saw them rise as high as fourth in the table; however, beginning from their 2-0 home defeat to title challengers Arsenal, they were not to win another match in 12 attempts until Boxing Day, winning the return fixture against the Toffees 4-2.

By Christmas, Middlesbrough were deep in relegation trouble, despite Ravanelli proving himself as one of the league's top goalscorers. Added to this, Middlesbrough were faced with the wrath of the Football Association for postponing a fixture against Blackburn Rovers at short notice. The club's officials insisted that manager Bryan Robson had been unable to field a team due to a severe injury and illness crisis among his players, but this did not prevent the Football Association from docking the club 3 points.

Middlesbrough managed to put together a good run of results and look like decent bets for survival, but the Football Association's refusal to restore Middlesbrough's 3 points counted against them and a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on the final day of the season, when they needed a win, resulted in relegation that would have been avoided (at the expense of Coventry City) if the points had not been deducted.

Middlesbrough also hit the headlines with two brilliant cup runs. As a club who had never won a major trophy or even reached a domestic cup final before, history was made in February when Middlesbrough reached the League Cup final. They drew 1-1 with Leicester City at Wembley in the first match, but lost the replay 1-0 at Hillsborough. Two months later, they took on Chelsea in the FA Cup final, but lost 2-0. Therefore, they became the first team to finish in the last two of both major cup competitions whilst also being relegated - surpassing Crystal Palace's distinction (attained in 1995) of finishing in the last four of both major cup competitions while being relegated in the league.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
16 Southampton 38 10 11 17 50 56 6 41
17 Coventry City 38 9 14 15 38 54 16 41
18 Sunderland (R) 38 10 10 18 35 53 18 40 Relegation to the Football League First Division
19 Middlesbrough (R) 38 10 12 16 51 60 9 39[lower-alpha 1]
20 Nottingham Forest (R) 38 6 16 16 31 59 28 34
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Middlesbrough were docked three points for failing to fulfil a fixture.
Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 10 12 16 51 60  −9 393 8 5 6 34 25  +9 2 7 10 17 35  −18

Source: Statto

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAAHHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHHHAHAHAAA
ResultDLDWWWLLDLDLLDLLDLWLLLWDLLWWWWDDLLWDDD
Position714149748981112151515161616161717182020202020202019171718191919191819
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Middlesbrough's score comes first[1]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996LiverpoolH3-330,039Ravanelli (3, 1 pen)
21 August 1996ChelseaA0-128,272
24 August 1996Nottingham ForestA1-124,705Juninho
4 September 1996West Ham UnitedH4-130,060Emerson, Mustoe, Ravanelli, Stamp
7 September 1996Coventry CityH4-029,811Ravanelli (2), Juninho (2)
14 September 1996EvertonA2-139,250Barmby, Juninho
21 September 1996ArsenalH0-229,629
28 September 1996SouthamptonA0-415,230
14 October 1996SunderlandA2-220,936Emerson, Ravanelli
19 October 1996Tottenham HotspurH0-330,215
26 October 1996WimbledonH0-029,758
3 November 1996Newcastle UnitedA1-336,577Beck
17 November 1996Derby CountyA1-217,350Ravanelli
23 November 1996Manchester UnitedH2-230,063Ravanelli, Hignett (pen)
30 November 1996Aston VillaA0-139,053
3 December 1996Leicester CityH0-229,709
7 December 1996Leeds UnitedH0-030,018
14 December 1996LiverpoolA1-539,491Fjørtoft
26 December 1996EvertonH4-229,673Hignett, Blackmore, Juninho (2)
28 December 1996Coventry CityA0-320,617
1 January 1997ArsenalA0-237,573
11 January 1997SouthamptonH0-129,509
18 January 1997Sheffield WednesdayH4-229,485Ravanelli (pen), Festa, Emerson (pen), Juninho
1 February 1997WimbledonA1-115,046Mustoe
22 February 1997Newcastle UnitedH0-130,063
1 March 1997Sheffield WednesdayA1-328,206Mustoe
5 March 1997Derby CountyH6-129,739Kinder, Ravanelli (3), Hignett, Beck
15 March 1997Leicester CityA3-120,561Blackmore, Juninho, Beck
19 March 1997Blackburn RoversH2-129,891Juninho, Ravanelli
22 March 1997ChelseaH1-029,811Juninho
24 March 1997Nottingham ForestH1-129,888Beck
9 April 1997West Ham UnitedA0-023,988
19 April 1997SunderlandH0-130,106
24 April 1997Tottenham HotspurA0-129,947
3 May 1997Aston VillaH3-230,074Ravanelli (2, 1 pen), Beck
5 May 1997Manchester UnitedA3-354,489Juninho, Emerson, Hignett
8 May 1997Blackburn RoversA0-027,411
11 May 1997Leeds UnitedA1-138,567Juninho

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1997Chester CityH6-018,684Ravanelli (2), Hignett, Cox, Beck, Stamp
R425 January 1997Hednesford TownA3-227,511Lambert (own goal), Fjørtoft, Ravanelli
R515 February 1997Manchester CityA1-030,462Juninho
QF8 March 1997Derby CountyA2-017,567Juninho, Ravanelli
SF13 April 1997ChesterfieldN3-349,640Ravanelli, Hignett (pen), Festa
SFR22 April 1997ChesterfieldN3-030,339Beck, Ravanelli, Emerson
F17 May 1997ChelseaN0-279,160

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st Leg18 September 1996Hereford UnitedH7-017,136Ravanelli (4, 1 pen), Emerson, Branco, Fleming
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996Hereford UnitedA3-0 (won 10-0 on agg)4,522Beck, Stamp, Branco
R323 October 1996Huddersfield TownH5-126,615Juninho, Emerson, Ravanelli (2), Beck
R427 November 1996Newcastle UnitedH3-129,831Whyte, Beck, Ravanelli
QF8 January 1997LiverpoolH2-128,670Hignett, Vickers
SF 1st Leg26 February 1997Stockport CountyA2-011,778Beck, Ravanelli
SF 2nd Leg12 March 1997Stockport CountyH0-1 (won 2-1 on agg)29,633
F6 April 1997Leicester CityN1-1 (a.e.t.)76,757Ravanelli
FR16 April 1997Leicester CityN0-1 (a.e.t.)39,428

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Neil Cox
3 DF  SCO Derek Whyte
4 DF  ENG Steve Vickers
5 DF  ENG Nigel Pearson (captain)
6 MF  BRA Emerson
7 DF  SVK Vladimír Kinder
8 MF  ENG Robbie Mustoe
9 FW  DEN Mikkel Beck
10 MF  BRA Juninho
11 FW  ITA Fabrizio Ravanelli
12 MF  IRL Alan Moore
13 GK  ENG Gary Walsh
14 DF  IRL Curtis Fleming[3]
15 DF  ENG Phil Whelan
16 MF  ENG Bryan Robson (player-manager)
17 DF  WAL Clayton Blackmore
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF  ITA Gianluca Festa
19 GK  AUS Mark Schwarzer
20 MF  ENG Phil Stamp
21 MF  ENG Craig Hignett
22 DF  ENG Craig Liddle
24 FW  ENG Chris Freestone
25 GK  ENG Ben Roberts
26 DF  IRL Chris Morris[4]
27 DF  ENG Michael Barron
28 DF  ENG Viv Anderson
30 DF  BRA Branco
31 DF  ENG Alan White
32 FW  ENG Andy Campbell
33 MF  ENG Mark Summerbell
34 MF  IRL Keith O'Halloran
35 MF  ENG Anthony Ormerod

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
1 GK  ENG Alan Miller (to West Bromwich Albion)
7 MF  ENG Nick Barmby (to Everton)
18 MF  IRL Graham Kavanagh (to Stoke City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW  SCO John Hendrie (to Barnsley)
23 FW  NOR Jan-Åge Fjørtoft (to Sheffield United)
29 MF  ENG Jamie Pollock (to Bolton Wanderers)

Reserve 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
- DF  IRL Jason Gavin
- DF  ENG Craig Harrison
No. Pos. Nation Player
- MF  IRL Micky Cummins
- MF  ENG Andrew Swalwell

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
13 GK Gary Walsh 1601201030
19 GK Mark Schwarzer 100700030
25 GK Ben Roberts 1809+10601+10
Defenders
2 DF Neil Cox 41129+203170
3 DF Derek Whyte 29120+103+103+11
4 DF Steve Vickers 41126+305+105+11
5 DF Nigel Pearson 26017+103050
7 DF Vladimír Kinder 1014+212+1010
14 DF Curtis Fleming 4213004+1071
15 DF Phil Whelan 110900020
17 DF Clayton Blackmore 24214+224+102+10
18 DF Gianluca Festa 2221315140
22 DF Craig Liddle 60501000
26 DF Chris Morris 603+100020
30 DF Branco 421+100022
Midfielders
6 MF Emerson 4573245182
8 MF Robbie Mustoe 4633137080
10 MF Juninho 481534+1126271
12 MF Alan Moore 23010+701+101+30
16 MF Bryan Robson 10100000
20 MF Phil Stamp 34315+913+114+21
21 MF Craig Hignett 34719+346261
33 MF Mark Summerbell 200+200000
Forwards
9 FW Mikkel Beck 381122+355+126+14
11 FW Fabrizio Ravanelli 483133167689
24 FW Chris Freestone 300+300000
32 FW Andy Campbell 300+300000
Players transferred out during the season
1 GK Alan Miller 1201000020
7 MF Nick Barmby 1011010000
19 FW John Hendrie 2000001+10
23 FW Jan-Åge Fjørtoft 822+310+2110

Last updated: 30 May 1997
Source: [5]

References

  1. "Middlesbrough 1996-1997 Home - statto.com". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  2. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/1996-1997/faprem/middles.htm
  3. Fleming was born in Manchester, England, but was raised in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland.
  4. Morris was born in Newquay, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his mother.
  5. https://www.11v11.com/teams/middlesbrough/tab/players/season/1997/
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