1996–97 Aston Villa F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Aston Villa F.C. competed in the FA Premier League.

Aston Villa
1996–97 season
ChairmanDoug Ellis
ManagerBrian Little
StadiumVilla Park
Premiership5th
FA CupFourth round
League CupFourth round
UEFA CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Yorke (17)
All: Yorke (20)
Average home league attendance36,027

There was no silverware this season for last season's League Cup winners, but Brian Little's competent Villa side achieved UEFA Cup qualification for the second season running, but this time via the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking.

The autumn of the season saw the departure of veteran defender Paul McGrath to Derby County, while the injured Gary Charles was replaced at right-back by the Portuguese Fernando Nelson. The end of the season saw the arrival of Liverpool striker Stan Collymore for a club record fee of £7 million. Club record signing Sasa Curcic, who had been disappointing after his £4million arrival in the summer of 1996, was then sold to Crystal Palace for £1million.

Long-serving defender Paul McGrath left in the autumn to sign for Derby County after more than seven years at Villa Park. Another Villa defender, Phil King, who had been restricted to just three league appearances in as many years at the club, was transferred to Swindon Town. Striker Tommy Johnson, whose first team chances were becoming increasingly limited, was sold to Celtic. Franz Carr left after just over a year at Villa Park to join Reggiana of Italy. Defender Carl Tiler was sold to Sheffield United for £500,000 after just 18 months at the club, having played just 12 league games due to injury.

Dwight Yorke was Villa's top scorer for the second season running, with 17 goals in the Premier League and 20 in all competitions.

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 FA Premier League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
3 Arsenal 38 19 11 8 62 32 +30 68 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
4 Liverpool 38 19 11 8 62 37 +25 68
5 Aston Villa 38 17 10 11 47 34 +13 61
6 Chelsea 38 16 11 11 58 55 +3 59 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2]
7 Sheffield Wednesday 38 14 15 9 50 51 −1 57
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. Aston Villa was rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.
  2. Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup winners.
Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 17 10 11 47 34  +13 61 11 5 3 27 13  +14 6 5 8 20 21  −1

Source: Statto

Results by matchday
Match1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAAHHAAHAHHHAHAHAHAAHAAH
ResultLWWWDDDLLWLWLWWWWWLDDDLLWWDWLDWWWLDDLW
Position1510324768877798754456667775555655445555
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Aston Villa's score comes first[1]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Sheffield WednesdayA1–226,861Johnson 88'
21 August 1996Blackburn RoversH1–032,457Southgate 64'
24 August 1996Derby CountyH2–034,646Joachim 19', Johnson pen 47'
4 September 1996EvertonA1–039,115Ehiogu 62'
7 September 1996ArsenalH2–237,944Milošević 39', 63'
15 September 1996ChelseaA1–127,729Townsend 18'
21 September 1996Manchester UnitedH0–039,339
30 September 1996Newcastle UnitedA3–436,400Yorke 4', 59', 70'
12 October 1996Tottenham HotspurA0–132,847
19 October 1996Leeds UnitedH2–039,051Yorke 58', Johnson 65'
26 October 1996SunderlandA0–121,059
2 November 1996Nottingham ForestH2–035,310Tiler 20', Yorke 65'
16 November 1996Leicester CityH1–336,193Yorke 15'
23 November 1996Coventry CityA2–121,340Joachim 29', Staunton 85'
30 November 1996MiddlesbroughH1–039,053Yorke 39' (pen)
4 December 1996West Ham UnitedA2–019,105Ehiogu 38', Yorke 74'
7 December 1996SouthamptonA1–015,232Townsend 34'
22 December 1996WimbledonH5–028,875Yorke 38', 86', Milošević 42', 75', Taylor 61'
26 December 1996ChelseaH0–239,339
28 December 1996ArsenalA2–238,130Milošević 68', Yorke 74'
1 January 1997Manchester UnitedA0–055,133
11 January 1997Newcastle UnitedH2–239,339Yorke 39', Milošević 52'
18 January 1997LiverpoolA0–340,489
29 January 1997Sheffield WednesdayH0–126,726
1 February 1997SunderlandH1–032,491Milošević 37'
19 February 1997Coventry CityH2–130,409Yorke 43', 75'
22 February 1997Nottingham ForestA0–025,239
2 March 1997LiverpoolH1–039,339Taylor 83'
5 March 1997Leicester CityA0–120,626
15 March 1997West Ham UnitedH0–035,992
22 March 1997Blackburn RoversA2–024,274Johnson 64', Yorke 79'
5 April 1997EvertonH3–139,339Milošević 41', Staunton 50', Yorke 54'
9 April 1997WimbledonA2–09,015Milošević 26', Wright 78'
12 April 1997Derby CountyA1–218,071Joachim 84'
19 April 1997Tottenham HotspurH1–139,339Yorke 81'
22 April 1997Leeds UnitedA0–026,897
3 May 1997MiddlesbroughA2–330,074Ehiogu 58', Milošević 75'
11 May 1997SouthamptonH1–039,339Dryden 12' (own goal)

FA Cup
Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R314 January 1997Notts CountyA0–013,315
R3R22 January 1997Notts CountyH3–025,006Yorke 24', 53', Ehiogu 67'
R425 January 1997Derby CountyA1–317,977Ćurčić 76'

League Cup
Main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R323 October 1996Leeds UnitedA2–115,803Taylor 70', Yorke pen 77'
R426 November 1996WimbledonA0–17,573

UEFA Cup
Main article: 1996–97 UEFA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg10 September 1996HelsingborgH1–125,818Johnson 14'
R1 2nd Leg24 September 1996HelsingborgA0–0 (lost on away goals)10,213

Players

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[2][3][4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  AUS Mark Bosnich
3 DF  IRL Steve Staunton
4 DF  ENG Gareth Southgate
6 MF  IRL Andy Townsend[notes 1] (captain)
7 MF  ENG Ian Taylor
8 MF  ENG Mark Draper
9 FW  SCG Savo Milošević[notes 2]
10 FW  TRI Dwight Yorke
12 FW  ENG Julian Joachim
13 GK  ENG Michael Oakes
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF  ENG Alan Wright
15 DF  POR Fernando Nélson
16 DF  ENG Ugo Ehiogu
17 MF  ENG Lee Hendrie
19 MF  IRL Gareth Farrelly
20 DF  ENG Riccardo Scimeca
24 MF  SCO Scott Murray
26 MF  SCG Saša Ćurčić
27 DF  WAL David Hughes

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
5 DF  IRL Paul McGrath[notes 3] (to Derby County)
11 FW  ENG Tommy Johnson (to Celtic)
18 DF  ENG Carl Tiler (to Sheffield United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF  ENG Franz Carr (to Reggiana)
22 DF  ENG Phil King (to Swindon Town)

Reserve squad
The following players made most of their appearances this season for the reserves, and did not appear for the first-team, or only appeared for the first-team in friendlies.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Gary Charles
23 FW  ENG Neil Davis
31 GK  ENG Stuart Brock
30 GK  ENG Adam Rachel
— DF  ENG Lee Collins
— DF  ENG Tommy Jaszczun
— DF  ENG Jonathan Miley
— DF  ENG Ben Petty
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  GER Leslie Hines
— MF  ENG Lee Burchell
— MF  IRL Alan Kirby
— FW  ENG Darren Byfield[notes 4]
— FW  ENG Richard Walker
—  RSA Nelson Camero (on trial)
—   Brendan Baker (on trial)

Youth squad
The following players spent most of the season playing for the youth team, and did not appear for the first team, but may have appeared for the reserve team.

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 Philip Elias
— GK  ENG Matthew George
— GK  ENG Matthew Ghent
— GK  WAL Michael Price
— DF  ENG Gareth Barry
— DF  ENG Michael Blackwood
— DF  ENG Guy Hadland
— DF  ENG Reuben Hazell
— DF  ENG John Hickman
— DF  ENG Jamie Kearns
— DF  ENG Aaron Lescott
— DF  ENG Dominic Reece
— DF  ENG Martin Ridley
— DF  WAL Stuary Thornley
— DF  RSA Bradley Blackburn
— DF  TRI Jlloyd Samuel[notes 5]
— MF  ENG Mark Appleby
— MF  ENG David Harding
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Alex Meredith
— MF  ENG Darren Middleton
— MF  ENG Luke Prince
— MF  ENG Nathan Pulisciano
— MF  ENG Philip Tongue
— MF  IRL Daragh Sheridan
— FW  ENG Richard Burgess
— FW  ENG Stephen Evans
— FW  ENG Darius Vassell
— FW  SCO Brian Mulholland
— FW  IRL Alan Lee
— FW   Richard Sinden
—   Justin Keegan
—   Scott Matthewman
—   David Warren

Schoolboys
The following players were signed to Aston Villa as associated schoolboys, and did not appear for the youth or reserve teams this 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  ENG Nikki Bull
— DF  ENG Liam Folds
— MF  ENG Bertie Brayley
— MF  NIR Gavin Melaugh
—  ENG Marcus McDonald
—   Jonathan Britton
—   Christopher Brown
—   David Court
No. Pos. Nation Player
—   Michael Crowe
—   James Halliday
—   Martin Reeves
—   David Ridgway
—   Stephen Stock
—   Neil Wickett
—   Joseph Williams

Other players
The following players were signed to Aston Villa on unknown contractual terms, and did not appear for the youth or reserve teams this 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
— MF  ENG Michael Standing
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  ENG Nathan Harvey

Transfers

In
Date Pos. Name From Fee
2 August 1996 DF Fernando Nélson Sporting Lisbon £1,700,000
23 August 1996 MF Saša Ćurčić Bolton Wanderers £4,000,000
13 May 1997 FW Stan Collymore Liverpool £7,000,000

Out
Date Pos. Name To Fee
3 July 1996 DF Paul Browne Raith Rovers Signed
16 September 1996 DF Andy Mitchell Chesterfield Free transfer
1 October 1996 DF Paul McGrath Derby County £100,000
1 October 1996 MF Franz Carr Reggiana Free transfer
26 March 1997 DF Phil King Swindon Town Free transfer
26 March 1997 DF Carl Tiler Sheffield United £650,000
27 March 1997 FW Tommy Johnson Celtic £2,300,000
Transfers in: £12,700,000
Transfers out: £3,050,000
Total spending: £9,650,000

Notes
  1. Townsend was born in Maidstone, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his grandmother and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in February 1989.
  2. Milošević was born in Bijeljina, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina).
  3. McGrath was born in Ealing, England, but was raised in the Republic of Ireland and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1985.
  4. Byfield was born in Sutton Coldfield, England, but also qualifies to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 2003.
  5. Samuel was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, but also qualified to represent England internationally and would represent them at U-18, U-20, and U-21 level and be called up to the senior team before switching his international allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago and making his international debut for Trinidad and Tobago in September 2009.

References
  1. "Aston Villa 1996-1997 Home - statto.com". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  2. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/1996-1997/faprem/avilla.htm
  3. http://www.11v11.com/teams/aston-villa/tab/players/season/1997
  4. http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/1996-97.html
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