1996–97 Hull City A.F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Hull City A.F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

Hull City

1996–97 season
Chairman	Martin Fish
Manager	Terry Dolan
Stadium	Boothferry Park
Third Division	17th
FA Cup	Second round
League Cup	First round
Football League Trophy	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Darby (13) All: Darby (19)
Average home league attendance	3,413

Season summary

A ten match unbeaten league run at the beginning of the 1996–97 season saw Hull remain in the top six until the beginning of October, but the side drifted towards a mid table placing by Christmas. The Tigers progressed through to the second round of the FA Cup following an extraordinary first round replay against Whitby Town. Duane Darby scored a double hat-trick in Hull's 8–4 victory.

Their league form was less impressive, and Hull finished in 17th place – their lowest ever position. The campaign was played out amid growing unrest from the dwindling support. The abuse generated against Dolan and chairman Martin Fish led Christopher Needler – son of the former chairman – to sell his major shareholding.

In July 1997, the Needler family's ownership of the club was at an end. David Lloyd, captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team and a multi-millionaire, was the new Hull City owner. He also acquired the Hull Rugby League club and ran the two in a joint operation.

Final league table

Main article: 1996–97 Football League

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
15	Barnet	46	14	16	16	46	51	−5	58
16	Leyton Orient	46	15	12	19	50	58	−8	57
17	Hull City	46	13	18	15	44	50	−6	57
18	Darlington	46	14	10	22	64	78	−14	52
19	Doncaster Rovers	46	14	10	22	52	66	−14	52

Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Hull City's score comes first

Legend

Win

Draw

Loss

Football League Third Division

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
17 August 1996	Darlington	H	3–2	4,224	Darby (3)
24 August 1996	Carlisle United	A	0–0	5,407
27 August 1996	Hereford United	A	1–0	2,820	Darby
31 August 1996	Barnet	H	0–0	4,605
7 September 1996	Rochdale	H	1–1	3,451	Doncel-Varcarcel
10 September 1996	Lincoln City	A	1–0	3,069	Peacock
14 September 1996	Colchester United	A	1–1	3,073	Gordon
21 September 1996	Hartlepool United	H	1–0	3,886	Darby
28 September 1996	Swansea City	A	0–0	2,961
1 October 1996	Mansfield Town	H	1–1	3,579	Gordon
5 October 1996	Scunthorpe United	H	0–2	5,414
12 October 1996	Leyton Orient	A	1–1	4,490	Brien
15 October 1996	Scarborough	A	2–3	3,425	Turner (2)
19 October 1996	Fulham	H	0–3	3,986
26 October 1996	Wigan Athletic	A	2–1	3,887	Peacock, Trevitt
29 October 1996	Cardiff City	H	1–1	2,775	Gilbert
2 November 1996	Cambridge United	H	1–3	3,563	Brown
9 November 1996	Chester City	A	0–0	2,085
20 November 1996	Torquay United	H	2–0	1,775	Darby, Peacock
23 November 1996	Exeter City	A	0–0	3,423
30 November 1996	Wigan Athletic	H	1–1	3,537	Doncel-Varcarcel
3 December 1996	Northampton Town	A	1–2	3,519	Darby
14 December 1996	Brighton & Hove Albion	A	0–3	3,762
21 December 1996	Doncaster Rovers	H	3–1	2,830	Mason (2), Darby
26 December 1996	Lincoln City	H	2–1	4,892	Darby, Mason
1 January 1997	Hartlepool United	A	1–1	1,944	Joyce
11 January 1997	Swansea City	H	1–1	2,810	Mann
18 January 1997	Mansfield Town	A	0–1	2,286
25 January 1997	Cardiff City	A	0–2	2,328
1 February 1997	Chester City	H	1–0	2,513	Gordon
8 February 1997	Cambridge United	A	0–1	3,029
15 February 1997	Exeter City	H	2–0	2,668	Joyce, Gordon
22 February 1997	Torquay United	A	1–1	2,072	Greaves
25 February 1997	Rochdale	A	2–1	1,349	Joyce, Darby
1 March 1997	Northampton Town	H	1–1	3,495	Darby
8 March 1997	Doncaster Rovers	A	0–0	3,274
15 March 1997	Brighton & Hove Albion	H	3–0	3,373	Joyce (2), Darby
22 March 1997	Carlisle United	H	0–1	3,847
29 March 1997	Darlington	A	0–1	3,024
31 March 1997	Hereford United	H	1–1	2,818	Greaves
5 April 1997	Barnet	A	0–1	1,668
12 April 1997	Scunthorpe United	A	2–2	4,257	Quigley, Lowthorpe
15 April 1997	Colchester United	H	1–2	2,035	Darby
19 April 1997	Leyton Orient	H	3–2	2,647	Peacock, Mann, Rioch (pen)
26 April 1997	Fulham	A	0–2	10,588
3 May 1997	Scarborough	H	0–2	3,774

FA Cup

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	17 November 1996	Whitby Town	A	0–0	3,337
R1R	26 November 1996	Whitby Town	H	8–4 (a.e.t.)	2,900	Darby (6), Peacock, Mann
R2	7 December 1996	Crewe Alexandra	H	1–5	3,756	Joyce

League Cup

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg	20 August 1996	Scarborough	H	2–2	2,134	Rioch, Quigley
R1 2nd Leg	3 September 1996	Scarborough	A	2–3 (lost 4–5 on agg)	2,656	Rioch (pen), Gordon

Football League Trophy

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
NR1	10 December 1996	Chester City	H	3–1	553
NR2	28 January 1997	Carlisle United	A	0–4	3,716

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	NIR	Roy Carroll
—	GK	ENG	Aidan Davison (on loan from Bolton Wanderers)
—	GK	ENG	Steve Wilson
—	DF	ENG	Neil Allison
—	DF	IRL	Tony Brien
—	DF	ENG	Rob Dewhurst
—	DF	ESP	Antonio Doncel-Varcarcel
—	DF	ENG	Mark Greaves
—	DF	ENG	Adam Lowthorpe
—	DF	ENG	Neil Mann
—	DF	ENG	Gregor Rioch
—	DF	ENG	Sam Sharman
—	DF	ENG	Simon Trevitt
—	DF	ENG	Ian Wright
—	MF	ENG	Stuart Elliott (on loan from Newcastle United)
—	MF	CAN	Patrick Dickinson

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	SCO	Kenny Gilbert
—	MF	ENG	Warren Joyce
—	MF	NIR	Jamie Marks
—	MF	ENG	Scott Maxfield
—	MF	ENG	Richard Peacock
—	MF	ENG	Mike Quigley
—	MF	ENG	Christian Sansam
—	MF	ENG	Paul Wharton
—	FW	SCO	Andy Brown
—	FW	ENG	Duane Darby
—	FW	ENG	Lee Ellington
—	FW	ENG	Paul Fewings
—	FW	ENG	Gavin Gordon
—	FW	ENG	Andy Mason
—	FW	ENG	Robbie Turner (on loan from Cambridge United)