1996–97 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Queens Park Rangers competed in the Football League First Division.

Queens Park Rangers
1996–97 season
Chairman Chris Wright
Manager Ray Wilkins (until September)
Stewart Houston (from September)
StadiumLoftus Road
First Division9th
FA CupFifth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
John Spencer (17)
All:
John Spencer (18)
Highest home attendance17,376 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 31 March)
Lowest home attendance7,354 (vs. Stoke City, 2 November)
Average home league attendance12,554

Season summary

In August 1996, media tycoon Chris Wright, a QPR fan for 20 years, bought the club and also stated his plans for London Wasps to distribute the stadium.

Wright later suggested forming a new Loftus Road plc, including both QPR and London Wasps, on the Alternative Investment Market. A month later, Ray Wilkins left the club by mutual consent after a board meeting when he wanted money in an attempt to sign 34-year-old Ghana skipper Abedi Pele as well as being pushed to retire from his playing career.[1] Ex-Arsenal caretaker manager Stewart Houston took over the reins with former Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch as his assistant.

Houston's first signing for QPR broke the club's previous transfer record when Scottish international striker John Spencer was signed from Chelsea for £2.35 million in November 1996.[2] A month later, his ex-Chelsea teammate and former QPR player Gavin Peacock rejoined the club for a second spell. Northern Ireland international Steve Morrow also joined from Arsenal.

Ultimately, QPR's poor home form during the season cost them a chance of a play-off place and they finished 9th, five points outside the play-off places.

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 +6 68
8 Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55 +3 67
9 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60 +4 66
10 Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48 +4 66
11 Tranmere Rovers 46 17 14 15 62 56 +6 65
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
See also: Play-off results

Results

Queens Park Rangers' score comes first

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Oxford UnitedH2–114,703Gallen, Dichio
23 August 1996PortsmouthA2–17,501Gallen (2)
28 August 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA1–125,767Dichio
1 September 1996Bolton WanderersH1–211,225McDonald
7 September 1996West Bromwich AlbionH0–212,886
11 September 1996Norwich CityA1–114,000Impey
14 September 1996BarnsleyA3–113,003Barker, Perry, Dichio
21 September 1996Swindon TownH1–113,662Murray
28 September 1996Birmingham CityA0–017,430
2 October 1996Port ValeH1–28,727Barker
5 October 1996Grimsby TownA0–25,472
12 October 1996Manchester CityH2–216,265Sinclair, Murray
16 October 1996Bradford CityH1–07,776Brazier
20 October 1996Tranmere RoversA3–27,025Slade, McDonald, Charles
26 October 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–117,096Slade
30 October 1996Ipswich TownH0–110,562
2 November 1996Stoke CityH1–17,354Sinclair
10 November 1996Crystal PalaceA0–315,324
16 November 1996Charlton AthleticH1–212,360Sinclair
23 November 1996ReadingA1–212,847Spencer
30 November 1996Sheffield UnitedH1–011,891Barker (pen)
7 December 1996Oldham AthleticA2–05,590Peacock, Spencer
14 December 1996Southend UnitedH4–011,117Barker (pen), Harris (own goal), Spencer, Peacock
21 December 1996Huddersfield TownA2–110,718Dichio, Brazier
26 December 1996Norwich CityH3–215,699Peacock, Dichio, McDermott
28 December 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–419,061Spencer
11 January 1997BarnsleyH3–112,058Spencer (3)
19 January 1997Port ValeA4–45,736Holwyn (own goal), Impey, Murray, Spencer
29 January 1997Birmingham CityH1–112,138Spencer
1 February 1997Crystal PalaceH0–116,467
5 February 1997Swindon TownA1–110,830Hateley
8 February 1997Ipswich TownA0–212,983
22 February 1997Stoke CityA0–013,121
1 March 1997Oldham AthleticH0–110,180
4 March 1997Charlton AthleticA1–210,610Dichio
8 March 1997Huddersfield TownH2–09,789McDermott, Spencer
12 March 1997ReadingH0–210,316
15 March 1997Southend UnitedA1–06,747Roget (own goal)
22 March 1997PortsmouthH2–115,746Murray, Spencer
29 March 1997Oxford UnitedA3–28,365Yates, Spencer, Peacock
31 March 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH2–217,376Spencer, Peacock
5 April 1997Bolton WanderersA1–219,198Morrow
12 April 1997Grimsby TownH3–010,765Spencer, Murray, Slade
19 April 1997Manchester CityA3–027,580Spencer (2), Slade
26 April 1997Tranmere RoversH2–014,859Dichio, Spencer
4 May 1997Bradford CityA0–314,723

FA Cup
Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1997Huddersfield TownH1–111,776Hateley
R3R14 January 1997Huddersfield TownA2–111,814Peacock, McDonald
R425 January 1997BarnsleyH3–214,317Peacock, Spencer, Sinclair
R515 February 1997WimbledonA1–222,395Hateley

League Cup
Main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 First Leg18 September 1996Swindon TownA2–17,843Dichio, Impey
R2 Second Leg25 September 1996Swindon TownH1–3 (lost 3–4 on agg)6,976Brazier

Players

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[3]

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  WAL Tony Roberts
— GK  NED Sieb Dijkstra
— GK  USA Juergen Sommer
— DF  ENG David Bardsley
— DF  ENG Rufus Brevett
— DF  ENG Trevor Challis
— DF  ENG Andy Impey
— DF  ENG Matt Jackson (on loan from Everton)
— DF  ENG Danny Maddix[notes 1]
— DF  ENG Mark Perry
— DF  ENG Chris Plummer
— DF  ENG Steve Yates
— DF  WAL Karl Ready
— DF  NIR Alan McDonald
— DF  NIR Steve Morrow
— DF  AUS Andy McDermott
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Simon Barker
— MF  ENG Matt Brazier
— MF  ENG Michael Mahoney-Johnson
— MF  ENG Paul Murray
— MF  ENG Gavin Peacock
— MF  ENG Nigel Quashie[notes 2]
— MF  ENG Trevor Sinclair
— MF  ENG Ray Wilkins (player-manager until September)
— MF  NIR Mark Graham
— FW  ENG Lee Charles
— FW  ENG Danny Dichio
— FW  ENG Kevin Gallen
— FW  ENG Mark Hateley
— FW  ENG Steve Slade
— FW  SCO John Spencer

References
  1. Stenson, Tony (5 September 1996). "Game over for Wilkins". The Mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2011 – via The Free Library.
  2. Irwin, Mark (22 November 1996). "Spencer in £2.5m move from Chelsea to QPR". The Mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2011 – via The Free Library.
  3. http://www.11v11.com/teams/queens-park-rangers/tab/players/season/1997

Notes
  1. Maddix was born in Ashford, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 1998.
  2. Quashie was born in Southwark, England, and represented them at U-21 and B level, but also qualified to represent Ghana internationally through his father and Scotland through his grandfather and would make his international debut for Scotland in May 2004.
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