1996–97 Reading F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Reading F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Reading
1996–97 season
ChairmanJohn Madejski
ManagerMick Gooding and
Jimmy Quinn (player-managers)
StadiumElm Park
First Division18th
FA CupFourth round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Trevor Morley (22)

All:
Trevor Morley (23)
Highest home attendance14,853 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 12 April 1997)
Lowest home attendance5,513 (vs. Tranmere Rovers, 3 December 1996)
Average home league attendance9,160

Season summary

The 1996–97 season was another struggle for Reading, but they managed to secure survival on 12 April 1997, after beating promotion-chasing Wolves 2-1 at Elm Park.

Squad

As of match played 3 May 1997
Name Nationality Position Date of birth (Age[lower-alpha 1]) Signed from Signed in Contract ends Apps. Goals
Goalkeepers
Steve Mautone GK (1970-08-10)10 August 1970 (aged 26) West Ham United 1997 15 0
Sal Bibbo GK (1974-08-24)24 August 1974 (aged 22) Sheffield United 1996 6 0
Nick Hammond GK (1967-09-07)7 September 1967 (aged 29) Plymouth Argyle 1996 7 0
Defenders
Andy Bernal DF (1973-02-21)21 February 1973 (aged 24) Sydney Olympic 1994 129 2
Steve Blatherwick DF (1973-09-20)20 September 1973 (aged 23) loan from Nottingham Forest 1997 1997 7 0
Martyn Booty DF (1971-05-30)30 May 1971 (aged 25) Crewe Alexandra 1996 35 1
Keith McPherson DF (1963-09-11)11 September 1963 (aged 33) Northampton Town 1990
Steve Swales DF (1973-12-26)26 December 1973 (aged 23) Scarborough 1995 14 0
Michael Thorp DF (1975-12-05)5 December 1975 (aged 21) Trainee 1995 5 0
Barry Hunter DF (1968-11-18)18 November 1968 (aged 28) Wrexham 1996 29 2
Dariusz Wdowczyk DF (1962-09-25)25 September 1962 (aged 34) Celtic 1994 96 0
Paul Bodin DF (1964-09-13)13 September 1964 (aged 32) Swindon Town 1996 39 1
Jeff Hopkins DF (1964-04-14)14 April 1964 (aged 33) Bristol Rovers 1992 155 3
Midfielders
David Bass MF (1974-11-29)29 November 1974 (aged 22) Trainee 1992 11 0
Darren Caskey MF (1974-08-21)21 August 1974 (aged 22) Tottenham Hotspur 1996 53 3
Andy Freeman MF (1977-09-08)8 September 1977 (aged 19) Trainee 1995 1 0
Byron Glasgow MF (1979-02-18)18 February 1979 (aged 18) Trainee 1996 5 0
Mick Gooding (Player-Manager) MF (1959-04-12)12 April 1959 (aged 38) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1989
Paul Holsgrove MF (1969-08-26)26 August 1969 (aged 27) Millwall 1994 83 7
Jamie Lambert MF (1973-09-14)14 September 1973 (aged 23) Trainee 1992 108 16
Phil Parkinson MF (1967-12-01)1 December 1967 (aged 29) Bury 1992 208 10
Ben Smith MF (1978-11-23)23 November 1978 (aged 18) Arsenal 1996 1 0
Derek Simpson MF (1978-12-23)23 December 1978 (aged 18) Trainee 1994 0 0
Michael Meaker [lower-alpha 2] MF (1971-08-18)18 August 1971 (aged 25) Queens Park Rangers 1995 47 1
Forwards
Stuart Lovell FW (1972-01-09)9 January 1972 (aged 25) Trainee 1990
Alan Carey FW (1975-08-21)21 August 1975 (aged 21) Trainee 1994 3 0
Trevor Morley FW (1961-03-20)20 March 1961 (aged 36) West Ham United 1995 61 29
Neville Roach FW (1978-09-29)29 September 1978 (aged 18) Trainee 1996 3 1
Martin Williams FW (1973-07-12)12 July 1973 (aged 23) Luton Town 1995 49 4
Jimmy Quinn (Player-Manager) FW (1959-12-07)7 December 1959 (aged 37) Bournemouth 1992 216 94
Lee Nogan FW (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 27) Watford 1995 102 29
Out on loan
Left during the season
Borislav Mikhailov GK (1963-02-12)12 February 1963 (aged 34) Botev Plovdiv 1995 28 0
Tommy Wright GK (1963-08-29)29 August 1963 (aged 33) loan from Nottingham Forest 1996 1996 17 0
Kenny Brown DF (1967-07-11)11 July 1967 (aged 29) loan from West Ham United 1996 1996 20 1
Dylan Kerr DF (1967-01-14)14 January 1967 (aged 30) Leeds United 1993 104 5
Michael Gilkes [lower-alpha 3] MF (1965-07-20)20 July 1965 (aged 31) Leicester City 1984
Jimmy Garrity (1976-01-01)1 January 1976 (aged 21) Newcastle United 1996 0 0

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
GK  BUL Borislav Mikhailov
GK  NIR Tommy Wright (loan return to Nottingham Forest)
DF  ENG Kenny Brown (loan return to West Ham United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF  MLT Dylan Kerr (to Carlisle United)
MF  ENG Michael Gilkes (to Wolverhampton Wanderers)
 ENG Jimmy Garrity

Transfers

In

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
11 July 1996 DF Paul Bodin Swindon Town Free
12 July 1996 DF Barry Hunter Wrexham £400,000
1 August 1996 GK Sal Bibbo Sheffield United Free
1 August 1996 MF Ben Smith Arsenal Free
27 March 1997 GK Steve Mautone West Ham United £250,000

Loans In

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
9 September 1996 DF Kenny Brown West Ham United 5 October 1996
4 October 1996 GK Tommy Wright Nottingham Forest 28 December 1996
17 February 1997 GK Steve Mautone West Ham United 26 March 1997
27 March 1997 DF Steve Blatherwick Nottingham Forest End of Season

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
3 July 1996 DF Ady Williams Wolverhampton Wanderers £750,000
27 March 1997 MF Michael Gilkes Wolverhampton Wanderers £50,000

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
14 February 1997 FW Lee Nogan Notts County 15 March 1997

Released

Date Position Nationality Name Joined Date
16 September 1996 DF Dylan Kerr Carlisle United 16 September 1996
December 1995[1] Jimmy Garrity
6 March 1997[2] GK Borislav Mikhailov Slavia Sofia 1 August 1997
9 May 1997 MF Mick Gooding Southend United 1 July 1998
9 May 1997 FW Jimmy Quinn Peterborough United 1 July 1997
30 June 1997 DF Jeff Hopkins Selangor
30 June 1997 MF David Bass
30 June 1997 MF Andy Freeman
30 June 1997 MF Derek Simpson Slough Town
30 June 1997 FW Alan Carey

Competitions

First Division

Results

17 August 1996 1 Reading 1–0 Sheffield United Reading
Bernal   80'
Quinn  82'
Parkinson
Report Patterson Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,081
24 August 1996 2 Ipswich Town 5–2 Reading Ipswich
Vaughan  13', 69'
Sedgley  45' (pen.)
Taricco  72'
Scowcroft  87'
Stockwell
Report Nogan  28'
Mikhailov  45'
Hunter  62'
Gooding
Quinn
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 9,767
28 August 1996 3 Barnsley 3–0 Reading Barnsley
Sheridan  24'
Liddell  37', 82'
Report Bernal  80' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 7,523
31 August 1996 4 Reading 2–2 Stoke City Reading
Morley  7' (pen.)
Holsgrove  79'
Report Sheron  25'
Forsyth  79'
Dreyer
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,414
8 September 1996 5 Reading 2–0 Oxford United Reading
Williams  14'
Morley  83'
Report Elliott
Massey
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,497
10 September 1996 6 West Bromwich Albion 3–2 Reading West Bromwich
Hunt  35', 45', 66' Report Morley  4' (pen.)
Parkinson  75'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 13,096
14 September 1996 7 Charlton Athletic 1–0 Reading Charlton
Leaburn  6'
Mortimer
Report Brown
McPherson
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 10,831
21 September 1996 8 Reading 1–6 Crystal Palace Reading
Hunter   55'
Morley  69' (pen.)
Brown
Gilkes
Lambert
Report Tuttle  27'
Freedman  37'
Muscat  50'
Dyer  56' (pen.)
Veart  58'
Roberts  60'
Ndah  77'
Houghton
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 9,675
28 September 1996 9 Huddersfield Town 1–0 Reading Huddersfield
Payton  34' Report Bernal
Morley
Stadium: Alfred McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 10,330
5 October 1996 10 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Reading Wolverhampton
Report Lambert  69' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,193
12 October 1996 11 Reading 1–1 Grimsby Town Reading
Morley  57' (pen.) Report Wrack  83'
Pearcey
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 6,656
15 October 1996 12 Reading 2–0 Manchester City Reading
Nogan  35', 67'
Hopkins
Gooding
Report Lomas   82'
Symons
Wassall
Kinkladze
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,724
19 October 1996 13 Oldham Athletic 1–1 Reading Oldham
Orlygsson  65' (pen.) Report Quinn  75' (pen.)
Bodin
Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 7,171
26 October 1996 14 Reading 2–0 Swindon Town Reading
Morley  51' (pen.), 60' Report Talia
Culverhouse
Robinson
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,018
29 October 1996 15 Bolton Wanderers 2–1 Reading Bolton
Sellars  40'
McGinlay  58'
Branagan  63' 
Thompson
Report Lambert  51'
Hunter
McPherson
Nogan
Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 12,677
2 November 1996 16 Southend United 2–1 Reading Southend-on-Sea
Nielsen  63'
Marsh  70' (pen.)
Harris
Report Nogan  50'
Gooding
Lambert
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 5,002
16 November 1996 17 Norwich City 1–1 Reading Norwich
Scott  79'
O'Neill
Milligan
Fleck
Report Morley  56'
Gooding   69'
Wright
Hunter
McPherson
Parkinson
Williams
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 14,412
23 November 1996 18 Reading 2–1 Queens Park Rangers Reading
Morley  73'
Nogan  80'
Hunter
Meaker
Report Spencer  49'
McDonald
Barker
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 12,847
26 November 1996 19 Reading 0–0 Birmingham City Reading
Hunter Report Holland Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,407
30 November 1996 20 Swindon Town 3–1 Reading Swindon
Horlock  5'
Allison  25'
Walters  87'
Leitch
Report Morley  13'
Meaker
Stadium: The County Ground
Attendance: 10,874
3 December 1996 21 Reading 2–0 Tranmere Rovers Reading
Lambert  10'
Morley  33'
Report Mahon
Brannan
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 5,513
7 December 1996 22 Reading 0–1 Port Vale Reading
Bernal
Swales
Report Talbot  73'
Tankard
McCarthy
Jansson
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 6,445
17 December 1996 23 Bradford City 0–0 Reading Bradford
Report Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 10,077
21 December 1996 24 Reading 0–0 Portsmouth Reading
Hunter   79' Report Svensson  79' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,520
26 December 1996 25 Reading 2–2 West Bromwich Albion Reading
Nogan  8'
Quinn  73'
Bernal   77'
Report Peschisolido  3'
Groves  39'
Burgess
Holmes
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 10,583
28 December 1996 26 Oxford United 2–1 Reading Oxford
Beauchamp  7'
Murphy  81'
Report Morley  89' Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 9,223
11 January 1997 27 Reading 2–2 Charlton Athletic Reading
Williams  26'
Lambert  74'
Report Lisbie  68'
Whyte  81'
Newton
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 7,614
18 January 1997 28 Birmingham City 4–1 Reading Birmingham
Furlong  33'
Devlin  56' (pen.), 75'
Gilkes  89' (o.g.)
Bruce
Report Holsgrove  51' Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 15,363
28 January 1997 29 Reading 4–1 Huddersfield Town Reading
Morley  13'
McPherson  15'
Hunter  30'
Lovell  82'
Gooding
Report Payton  9'
Jenkins
Dyson
Bullock
Dalton
Crosby
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 5,710
1 February 1997 30 Tranmere Rovers 2–2 Reading Birkenhead
Branch  14'
Thomas-Moore  72'
Cook
Thorn
Report Morley  21', 42'
Bodin
Quinn
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 6,019
8 February 1997 31 Reading 3–2 Bolton Wanderers Reading
Morley  56', 62' (pen.), 70' Report Thompson  61'
McGinlay  64'
Bergsson
Frandsen
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 10,739
22 February 1997 32 Reading 3–2 Southend United Reading
McPherson  33'
Gilkes  60'
Morley  76'
Meaker
Report Boere  54', 71'
McNally
Gridelet
Marsh
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 7,683
1 March 1997 33 Port Vale 1–0 Reading Stoke-on-Trent
Guppy
Foyle
Porter  (pen.)
Aspin
Talbot
Report Hunter
Parkinson
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,057
4 March 1997 34 Reading 2–1 Norwich City Reading
Morley  20'
Adams  86' (o.g.)
Gooding
Meaker
Report Adams  27' (pen.)
Crook
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,174
12 March 1997 35 Queens Park Rangers 0–2 Reading White City
Ready   55' Report Morley  2'
Maddix  76' (o.g.)
Hunter
Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 10,316
15 March 1997 36 Reading 0–0 Bradford City Reading
Parkinson Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,435
22 March 1997 37 Reading 1–0 Ipswich Town Reading
Lovell  90'
Hopkins
Report Taricco
Vaughan
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 10,058
25 March 1997 38 Portsmouth 1–0 Reading Portsmouth
Hall  84'
Perrett
Report Bernal
Hopkins
Gooding
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 9,248
29 March 1997 39 Sheffield United 2–0 Reading Sheffield
Bodin  11' (o.g.)
Walker  49'
Ebbrell
Report Parkinson
Morley
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 15,153
31 March 1997 40 Reading 1–2 Barnsley Reading
Morley  27' (pen.)
Bernal
McPherson
Blatherwick
Parkinson
Williams
Report Holsgrove  2' (o.g.)
Liddell  16'
de Zeeuw
Sheridan
Redfearn
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 10,244
5 April 1997 41 Stoke City 1–1 Reading Stoke-on-Trent
Forsyth  65'
Wallace
Report Lambert  1' Stadium: Victoria Ground
Attendance: 9,961
12 April 1997 42 Reading 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reading
Lovell  89', 90'
Hopkins
Parkinson
Report Atkins  75'
Law
Roberts
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 14,853
19 April 1997 43 Grimsby Town 2–0 Reading Cleethorpes
Southall  15'
Widdrington  71'
Report Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 4,392
23 April 1997 44 Crystal Palace 3–2 Reading Selhurst
Linighan  13'
Hopkin  49'
Shipperley  69'
Muscat
Report Bodin  57'
Williams  82'
Hopkins
Caskey
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 12,552
26 April 1997 45 Reading 2–0 Oldham Athletic Reading
Roach  28'
Lovell  81'
Bernal
Williams
Report Reid
McCarthy
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 8,301
3 May 1997 46 Manchester City 3–2 Reading Manchester
Dickov  34'
Rosler  66'
Heaney  78'
Report Meaker  2'
Symons  33' (o.g.)
Blatherwick
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 27,260

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
16 West Bromwich Albion 46 14 15 17 68 72 4 57
17 Oxford United 46 16 9 21 64 68 4 57
18 Reading 46 15 12 19 58 67 9 57
19 Swindon Town 46 15 9 22 52 71 19 54
20 Huddersfield Town 46 13 15 18 48 61 13 54
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

FA Cup

4 January 1997 Third Round Reading 3–1 Southampton Reading
19:45 GMT (UTC) Lambert  19'
Caskey  55'
Morley  76' (pen.)
Holsgrove
Report Ostenstad  49'
Benali  75' 
Slater  90' 
Le Tissier
van Gobbel
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,537
25 January 1997 Fourth Round Portsmouth 3–0 Reading Portsmouth
19:45 GMT (UTC) Hall  68'
Bradbury  76'
Hillier  86'
Pethick
Perrett
Svensson
Report Lambert Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 15,003

League Cup

20 August 1996 First Round 1st leg Reading 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers Reading
BST (UTC+1) Quinn  57' Report Williams  64'
Brown
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 6,210
3 September 1996 First Round 2nd leg Wycombe Wanderers 2–0
(3–1 agg.)
Reading High Wycombe
BST (UTC+1) Evans  57'
Williams  75'
de Souza
Report Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 5,069

Squad statistics

As of match played 3 May 1997[3]

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalFirst DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Steve Mautone 1501500000
GK Sal Bibbo 60501000
GK Nick Hammond 10100000
DF Andy Bernal 4404102010
DF Steve Blatherwick 706+100000
DF Martyn Booty 1801402020
DF Keith McPherson 4023921000
DF Steve Swales 30300000
DF Barry Hunter 29226+121010
DF Dariusz Wdowczyk 100800020
DF Paul Bodin 3913710020
DF Jeff Hopkins 19017+100010
MF David Bass 200+200000
MF Darren Caskey 38126+902110
MF Byron Glasgow 502+200+1000
MF Mick Gooding 47040+302020
MF Paul Holsgrove 17212+222010
MF Jamie Lambert 33620+1152100
MF Phil Parkinson 26115+91001+10
MF Ben Smith 100+100000
MF Michael Meaker 25115+1010000
FW Stuart Lovell 28517+950+1010
FW Trevor Morley 402336+1222110
FW Neville Roach 312+110000
FW Martin Williams 33321+832020
FW Jimmy Quinn 26410+143001+11
FW Lee Nogan 34621+116001+10
Players away on loan:
Players who appeared for Reading but left during the season:
GK Borislav Mikhailov 110801020
GK Tommy Wright 1701700000
DF Kenny Brown 50500000
MF Michael Gilkes 35127+51200+10

Goal Scorers

Place Position Nation Name First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1FWTrevor Morley221023
2FWLee Nogan6006
MFJamie Lambert5106
4FWStuart Lovell5005
5FWJimmy Quinn3014
6FWMartin Williams3003
Own goal3003
8MFPaul Holsgrove2002
DFBarry Hunter2002
DFKeith McPherson2002
11DFPaul Bodin1001
MFMichael Gilkes1001
MFMichael Meaker1001
FWNeville Roach1001
MFDarren Caskey0101
TOTALS 583162

Clean sheets

Place Position Nation Name First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1GKTommy Wright7007
2GKSteve Mautone4004
3GKBorislav Mikhailov1001
GKSal Bibbo1001
TOTALS 130013

Disciplinary record

Position Nation Name First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
DFAndy Bernal93000093
DFSteve Blatherwick20000020
DFKeith McPherson40000040
DFSteve Swales10000010
DFBarry Hunter1120000112
DFPaul Bodin20000020
DFJeff Hopkins50000050
MFDarren Caskey10000010
MFMick Gooding81000081
MFPaul Holsgrove00100010
MFJamie Lambert30100040
MFPhil Parkinson70000070
MFMichael Meaker50000050
FWTrevor Morley40000040
FWNeville Roach10000010
FWMartin Williams30000030
FWJimmy Quinn20000020
FWLee Nogan10000010
Players away on loan:
Players who left Reading during the season:
GKBorislav Mikhailov01000001
GKTommy Wright10000010
DFKenny Brown20000020
MFMichael Gilkes10000010
Total 00200000

Notes

  1. Age as of the end of the season
  2. Michael Meaker was born in Greenford, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally, representing Wales U21 and Wales B.
  3. Michael Gilkes was born in Hackney, England, but also qualified to represent Barbados internationally and would make his international debut for Barbados in 2000.

References

  1. "James Garrity MSc". uk.linkedin.com/. Linkedin. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. "Преди 12 години - Рединг взе Боби за 800 000 паунда". topsport.bg/ (in Bulgarian). Top Sport. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. "Season 1996-97". royalsrecord. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
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