1996–97 Hartlepool United F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Hartlepool United F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

Hartlepool United
1996–97 season
ChairmanHarold Hornsey
ManagerKeith Houchen (player-manager until 4 November)
Mick Tait (player-manager from 4 November)
StadiumVictoria Park
Third Division20th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Allon/Cooper (9)
All: Allon (11)
Average home league attendance2,107

Season summary

In the 1996–97 season, Hartlepool started the campaign with wins over Colchester United and Fulham, but Houchen's playing career came to an end after the fifth game of the season, against Wigan Athletic, when he retired due to a persistent knee injury.[1] Houchen continued to bemoan referring decisions which seemed to consistently go against Hartlepool.[2] This in turn led to continued punishments from the FA over his use of foul language towards officials.[3] With Hartlepool on a poor run of results at the foot of the table, he left the club by mutual consent on 4 November 1996.[4] His assistant Mick Tait led the club to a 20th-place finish, and organised a benefit match for Houchen against Middlesbrough, which raised £23,000.[5]

There was also a change of ownership in 1997, when Harold Hornsey sold the club to an oil company called IOR.

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
18 Darlington 46 14 10 22 64 78 −14 52
19 Doncaster Rovers 46 14 10 22 52 66 −14 52
20 Hartlepool United 46 14 9 23 53 66 −13 51
21 Torquay United 46 13 11 22 46 62 −16 50
22 Exeter City 46 12 12 22 48 73 −25 48
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Hartlepool United's score comes first[6]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Colchester UnitedA2–02,942Allon, McAuley
24 August 1996FulhamH2–12,457Cooper, Davies
27 August 1996Mansfield TownH2–22,750Cooper, Ingram
31 August 1996Leyton OrientA0–24,342
7 September 1996Hereford UnitedA1–02,729Halliday
10 September 1996Carlisle UnitedH1–23,077Cooper
14 September 1996Wigan AthleticH1–12,433Cooper
21 September 1996Hull CityA0–13,886
28 September 1996Chester CityH2–02,042Allon, Cooper (pen)
1 October 1996Doncaster RoversA1–21,471Beech
5 October 1996Cambridge UnitedA0–13,406
12 October 1996DarlingtonH1–23,799Halliday
15 October 1996Swansea CityH1–11,310Halliday
19 October 1996BarnetA0–12,265
26 October 1996Exeter CityA0–23,043
29 October 1996Northampton TownH0–21,254
2 November 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–31,683Mike, Cooper
9 November 1996ScarboroughA4–23,157Howard, Clegg, Halliday (2)
23 November 1996Torquay UnitedA1–01,856Allon
30 November 1996Exeter CityH1–11,419Irvine
3 December 1996Scunthorpe UnitedA1–21,778Clegg
14 December 1996RochdaleA3–11,618Beech, Howard, Allon
21 December 1996Lincoln CityH2–11,344Cooper (pen), Sunderland
26 December 1996Carlisle UnitedA0–16,947
28 December 1996Hereford UnitedH2–11,923Allon, Howard
1 January 1997Hull CityH1–11,944Beech
11 January 1997Chester CityA0–01,885
18 January 1997Doncaster RoversH2–41,708Howard, Cooper (pen)
25 January 1997Northampton TownA0–35,039
1 February 1997ScarboroughH1–01,843Cooper
8 February 1997Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–58,412
11 February 1997Cardiff CityH2–31,120Beech (2)
15 February 1997Torquay UnitedH1–11,548Beech
22 February 1997Cardiff CityA0–22,971
1 March 1997Scunthorpe UnitedH0–11,300
4 March 1997Wigan AthleticA2–23,229Halliday, Howard
8 March 1997Lincoln CityA1–22,915Allon
15 March 1997RochdaleH1–21,448Beech
22 March 1997FulhamA0–17,222
29 March 1997Colchester UnitedH1–02,725Beech
31 March 1997Mansfield TownA0–12,229
5 April 1997Leyton OrientH3–12,576Bradley, Baker, Halliday
12 April 1997Cambridge UnitedH0–23,186
19 April 1997DarlingtonA2–14,662Brown, Allon
26 April 1997BarnetH4–03,070Allon (2), Baker, Halliday
3 May 1997Swansea CityA2–25,423Howard (2)

FA Cup
Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1996York CityH0–03,011
R1R26 November 1996York CityA0–33,257

League Cup
Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996Lincoln CityH2–22,073Davies, Allon
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996Lincoln CityA2–3 (lost 5–6 on agg)2,389Allon, Beech

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
NR110 December 1996BurnleyH0–2921

Squad

[7] 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  ENG Paul O'Connor
— GK  ENG Stephen Pears
— DF  ENG Michael Barron (on loan from Middlesbrough)
— DF  ENG Russell Bradley (on loan from Scunthorpe United)
— DF  ENG Glen Davies
— DF  ENG Stephen Hutt
— DF  ENG Denny Ingram
— DF  ENG Darren Knowles
— DF  ENG Graeme Lee
— DF  ENG Sean McAuley
— DF  ENG Ian McGuckin
— MF  ENG Chris Beech
— MF  ENG Michael Brown (on loan from Manchester City)
— MF  ENG David Clegg
— MF  ENG Mark Cooper
— MF  ENG Jon Cullen
— MF  ENG Andy Elliott
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Kona Hislop
— MF  ENG Chris Homer
— MF  FRA Alain Horace
— MF  ENG Richard Lucas
— MF  SCO Chris McDonald
— MF  ENG Mark Proctor
— MF  ENG Jon Sunderland
— MF  ENG Mick Tait
— MF  ENG Paul Walton
— MF  ENG Craig Winstanley
— FW  ENG Joe Allon
— FW  ENG Paul Baker
— FW  ENG Stephen Halliday
— FW  ENG Keith Houchen
— FW  ENG Steve Howard
— FW  ENG Stuart Irvine
— FW  ENG Adie Mike (on loan from Stockport County)

References
  1. Strange 2006, p. 222
  2. Strange 2006, p. 224
  3. Strange 2006, p. 226
  4. Strange 2006, p. 232
  5. Strange 2006, p. 236
  6. "Hartlepool United 1996-1997". Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. "All Hartlepool United players: 1997". 11v11.com. Retrieved 22 July 2015.

Sources
  • Strange, Jonathan (2006). A Tenner and Box of Kippers: The Story of Keith Houchen. Stadia. ISBN 978-0-7524-3796-5.)
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