Barnsley
1996–97 season
ChairmanJohn Dennis
ManagerNorthern Ireland Danny Wilson
StadiumOakwell
Football League First Division2nd (promoted)
FA CupFourth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Redfearn (17)
All: Redfearn (19)
Highest home attendance18,605 vs. Bradford City (26 April 1997)
Lowest home attendance6,337 vs. Oxford United (15 October 1996)
Average home league attendance11,356

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

Season summary

Manager Danny Wilson successfully acquired a number of signings in the summer that were to play huge roles, amongst these were the vastly experienced duo Neil Thompson and Paul Wilkinson, as well as youngster Matty Appleby.

Oakwell also gained an international flavour, as Jovo Bosančić and Trinidad and Tobago international Clint Marcelle were to sign, with Marcelle's work permit clearing just a couple of days prior to the Red's first game of the season, an away match at West Bromwich Albion. Marcelle was cleared to play and scored the opening goal of the season in a 2–1 victory. Barnsley went on to equal their best start to a season by winning the next four games. Wilson then further improved the team by bringing in Scottish forward John Hendrie, who had partnered Wilkinson at Middlesbrough.

Bolton Wanderers looked increasingly likely to win the league as the season progressed, the Reds played both games against the Trotters relatively early on in the season, with the two games both resulting in 2–2 draws. As the season neared its closing stages, it looked as if either Barnsley or Mark McGhee's Wolverhampton Wanderers would join Bolton.

In Barnsley's final home game of the season, a Yorkshire derby against Bradford City, the team knew a win would be enough to secure promotion to the top tier of English football for the first time in the club's history. The side dominated the game, but led only 1–0 at half time thanks to a Wilkinson goal. With only a few minutes remaining, Clint Marcelle, the man who had scored the opening goal of the season scored the Red's final goal at home. As the final whistle blew, the fans swarmed onto the pitch amid jubilant celebrations.

The team lost their final game of the season 5–1 away at Oxford United; however the joy of promotion remained throughout the summer and the team later had an open-top bus celebration around the town, culminating at the town hall.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Bolton Wanderers (C, P) 46 28 14 4 100 53 +47 98 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Barnsley (P) 46 22 14 10 76 55 +21 80
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 22 10 14 68 51 +17 76 Qualification for the First Division play-offs
4 Ipswich Town 46 20 14 12 68 50 +18 74
5 Sheffield United 46 20 13 13 75 52 +23 73
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Barnsley's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996West Bromwich AlbionA2–118,561Marcelle, Liddell
25 August 1996Huddersfield TownH3–19,787Wilkinson, Redfearn, Marcelle
28 August 1996ReadingH3–07,523Sheridan, Liddell (2)
7 September 1996Manchester CityA2–126,464Marcelle (2)
10 September 1996Stoke CityH3–011,696Davis, Thompson, Liddell
14 September 1996Queens Park RangersH1–313,003Wilkinson
21 September 1996Oldham AthleticA1–07,043Redfearn (pen)
28 September 1996Grimsby TownH1–38,833Liddell
1 October 1996Ipswich TownA1–19,041Redfearn (pen)
12 October 1996Crystal PalaceH0–09,183
15 October 1996Oxford UnitedH0–06,337
19 October 1996Bradford CityA2–211,477Liddell, Davis
25 October 1996Bolton WanderersH2–29,413Redfearn (2, 1 pen)
29 October 1996Port ValeA3–15,231Hendrie, de Zeeuw, Marcelle
2 November 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA3–322,840de Zeeuw, Redfearn (pen), Eaden
12 November 1996Norwich CityH3–19,697Moses, Wilkinson, Hendrie
16 November 1996Swindon TownA0–310,837
23 November 1996PortsmouthH3–27,449Wilkinson, Hendrie, Davis
30 November 1996Bolton WanderersA2–216,852Redfearn (2, 1 pen)
3 December 1996Birmingham CityA0–024,004
7 December 1996Southend UnitedH3–07,483Hendrie, Wilkinson (2)
14 December 1996Tranmere RoversH3–08,513Hendrie, Wilkinson, Redfearn (pen)
21 December 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–024,384Hendrie
26 December 1996Stoke CityA0–119,025
28 December 1996Manchester CityH2–017,159Bosančić (pen), Moses
11 January 1997Queens Park RangersA1–312,058Redfearn
18 January 1997Ipswich TownH1–29,872Liddell
28 January 1997Grimsby TownA3–26,323Hendrie (3)
1 February 1997Norwich CityA1–117,001Eaden
8 February 1997Port ValeH1–012,246Hendrie
15 February 1997Charlton AthleticA2–29,104Hendrie (2)
22 February 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH1–318,024Sheridan
1 March 1997Southend UnitedA2–14,855Redfearn (2)
4 March 1997Swindon TownH1–18,518Redfearn
7 March 1997Sheffield UnitedH2–014,668Hendrie, Eaden
15 March 1997Tranmere RoversA1–17,347Wilkinson
22 March 1997Huddersfield TownA0–014,754
28 March 1997West Bromwich AlbionH2–012,087Redfearn, Thompson (pen)
31 March 1997ReadingA2–110,244Holsgrove (own goal), Liddell
5 April 1997Birmingham CityH0–113,092
12 April 1997Charlton AthleticH4–011,701Marcelle, Thompson (2), Hendrie
15 April 1997Oldham AthleticH2–017,476Hendrie, Marcelle
19 April 1997Crystal PalaceA1–120,006Thompson (pen)
22 April 1997PortsmouthA2–48,328Redfearn (2)
26 April 1997Bradford CityH2–018,605Wilkinson, Marcelle
4 May 1997Oxford UnitedA1–58,693Redfearn

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R314 January 1997Oldham AthleticH2–09,936Bullock, Marcelle
R425 January 1997Queens Park RangersA2–314,317Redfearn, Hendrie

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 First Leg20 August 1996RochdaleA1–22,426Wilkinson
R1 Second Leg3 September 1996RochdaleH2–05,638Redfearn, Wilkinson
R2 First Leg17 September 1996GillinghamH1–14,491Onuora (own goal)
R2 Second Leg24 September 1996GillinghamA0–15,666

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
- GK England ENG David Watson
- DF England ENG Nicky Eaden
- DF Netherlands NED Arjan de Zeeuw
- DF England ENG Adie Moses
- DF England ENG Neil Thompson
- MF England ENG Neil Redfearn
- FW Scotland SCO John Hendrie
- MF England ENG Martin Bullock
- DF England ENG Steve Davis
- FW England ENG Paul Wilkinson
- MF England ENG Darren Sheridan
No. Pos. Nation Player
- FW Trinidad and Tobago TRI Clint Marcelle
- MF England ENG Matty Appleby
- FW Scotland SCO Andy Liddell
- DF England ENG Peter Shirtliff
- MF Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia YUG Jovo Bosančić
- DF England ENG Scott Jones
- FW South Africa RSA Glynn Hurst
- FW Netherlands NED Laurens ten Heuvel
- MF Netherlands NED Carel van der Velden
- FW England ENG Dave Regis

References

  1. ↑ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
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