1996–97 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season

Plymouth Argyle 1996–97 football season

Plymouth Argyle1996–97 season

Chairman| Dan McCauley
Manager| Neil Warnock (until 3 February)
Mick Jones (from 3 February)
Stadium| Home Park
Second Division| 19th
FA Cup| Third round
League Cup| First round
Auto Windscreens Shield| Quarter finals
Top goalscorer| League: Evans (12)
All: Evans (15)
Average home league attendance| 6,494

Home colours

<- 1995–96

1997–98 ->

During the 1996–97 English football season, Plymouth Argyle F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

## Season summary[edit]

In the 1996–97 season, Plymouth manager Warnock was sacked within a year as the club narrowly avoided being relegated back to the basement division. Warnock's assistant Mick Jones became his successor.

In February 1997, Plymouth participated in "The Battle of Saltergate" – in a 2–1 win at Chesterfield, a fight broke out in the 88th minute, involving all 20 outfield players. Chesterfield's Darren Carr and Kevin Davies and Plymouth's Tony James and Richard Logan were all sent-off. To make matters even worse, Argyle's Wembley hero Ronnie Mauge had already been sent-off in the 36th minute. It was the first time in Football League history that five players were sent off in one game.[1]

## Final league table[edit]

Main article: 1996–97 Football League

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation

|
|
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|
|
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|
|
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17  | Bristol Rovers | 46  | 15  | 11  | 20  | 47  | 50  | −3  | 56  |
18  | Wycombe Wanderers | 46  | 15  | 10  | 21  | 51  | 57  | −6  | 55
19  | Plymouth Argyle | 46  | 12  | 18  | 16  | 47  | 58  | −11  | 54
20  | York City | 46  | 13  | 13  | 20  | 47  | 68  | −21  | 52
21  | Peterborough United | 46  | 11  | 14  | 21  | 55  | 73  | −18  | 47  | Relegated

Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

## Results[edit]

Plymouth Argyle's score comes first[3]

### Legend[edit]

Win | Draw | Loss

|
|

### Football League Second Division[edit]

Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers

|
|
|
|
|

17 August 1996 | York City | H | 2–1 | 9,035 | Corazzin, Heathcote
24 August 1996 | Wrexham | A | 4–4 | 3,920 | Evans, Littlejohn (2), Logan
27 August 1996 | Watford | A | 2–0 | 7,349 | Billy, Littlejohn
30 August 1996 | Preston North End | H | 2–1 | 9,209 | Evans, Logan
7 September 1996 | Notts County | H | 0–0 | 8,109 |
10 September 1996 | Brentford | A | 2–3 | 5,377 | Mauge, Corazzin
14 September 1996 | Stockport County | A | 1–3 | 5,087 | Evans (pen)
21 September 1996 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–1 | 8,879 |
28 September 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–3 | 3,797 |
1 October 1996 | Peterborough United | H | 1–1 | 4,929 | James
5 October 1996 | Millwall | H | 0–0 | 7,507 |
12 October 1996 | Walsall | A | 1–0 | 3,720 | Littlejohn
15 October 1996 | Bournemouth | A | 0–1 | 3,818 |
19 October 1996 | Bristol City | H | 0–0 | 9,645 |
26 October 1996 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 9,602 | Evans
29 October 1996 | Gillingham | H | 2–0 | 4,787 | Evans, Illman
2 November 1996 | Luton Town | H | 3–3 | 7,134 | Mauge, Evans (2, 1 pen)
9 November 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 5,456 | Williams
19 November 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 0–3 | 4,237 |
23 November 1996 | Bury | A | 0–1 | 3,582 |
30 November 1996 | Burnley | H | 0–0 | 6,289 |
3 December 1996 | Blackpool | A | 2–2 | 2,690 | Wotton, Littlejohn
14 December 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–2 | 5,075 | Mauge, Evans
21 December 1996 | Rotherham United | A | 2–1 | 2,269 | Illman, Evans
26 December 1996 | Brentford | H | 1–4 | 9,525 | Illman
11 January 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 | 4,767 | Logan
18 January 1997 | Peterborough United | A | 0–0 | 6,288 |
25 January 1997 | Gillingham | A | 1–4 | 5,465 | Evans
1 February 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 5,024 |
8 February 1997 | Luton Town | A | 2–2 | 6,439 | Littlejohn, Evans
15 February 1997 | Bury | H | 2–0 | 5,486 | Logan, Corazzin
22 February 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 2–1 | 5,833 | Evans, Saunders
25 February 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 6,005 |
1 March 1997 | Blackpool | H | 0–1 | 5,585 |
8 March 1997 | Rotherham United | H | 1–0 | 4,717 | Corazzin (pen)
15 March 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 3–2 | 3,414 | Billy (2), Illman
22 March 1997 | Wrexham | H | 0–1 | 5,468 |
29 March 1997 | York City | A | 1–1 | 3,917 | Corazzin
31 March 1997 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 6,836 |
5 April 1997 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | 8,503 | Saunders
8 April 1997 | Stockport County | H | 0–0 | 5,089 |
12 April 1997 | Millwall | A | 0–0 | 5,702 |
15 April 1997 | Notts County | A | 1–2 | 2,423 | Collins
19 April 1997 | Walsall | H | 2–0 | 5,535 | Saunders, Barlow
26 April 1997 | Bristol City | A | 1–3 | 15,368 | Williams
3 May 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 0–0 | 6,507 |

### FA Cup[edit]

Main article: 1996-97 FA Cup

Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
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R1 | 16 November 1996 | Fulham | H | 5–0 | 7,104 | Mauge, Evans (2, 1 pen), Littlejohn, Corazzin
R2 | 6 December 1996 | Exeter City | H | 4–1 | 12,911 | Evans, Mauge, Billy, Littlejohn
R3 | 4 January 1997 | Peterborough United | H | 0–1 | 7,299 |

### League Cup[edit]

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup

Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

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R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Brentford | A | 0–1 | 3,034 |
R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Brentford | H | 0–0 (lost 0–1 on agg) | 5,180 |

### Football League Trophy[edit]

Main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy

Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
|
|
|
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SR1 | 10 December 1996 | Bournemouth | H | 2–0 | 944 | Illman, Wotton
SR2 | 14 January 1997 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | 1,295 | Wotton
SQF | 11 February 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 0–2 | 1,499 |

## Players[edit]

### First-team squad[edit]

Squad at end of season[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

|
|
|

-- | GK |  ENG | Kevin Blackwell
-- | GK |  ENG | James Dungey
-- | GK |  ZIM | Bruce Grobbelaar[notes 1]
-- | DF |  ENG | Jon Beswetherick
-- | DF |  ENG | Simon Collins
-- | DF |  ENG | Chris Curran
-- | DF |  ENG | Mick Heathcote
-- | DF |  ENG | Tony James
-- | DF |  ENG | Richard Logan
-- | DF |  ENG | Mark Patterson
-- | DF |  WAL | Jason Rowbotham
-- | DF |  ENG | Paul Williams
-- | MF |  ENG | Martin Barlow
-- | MF |  ENG | Chris Billy
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | MF |  ENG | Gary Clayton
-- | MF |  ENG | Chris Leadbitter
-- | MF |  ENG | Ronnie Mauge[notes 2]
-- | MF |  ENG | Steve Perkins
-- | MF |  ENG | Mark Saunders
-- | MF |  ENG | Michael Simpson (on loan from Notts County)
-- | MF |  ENG | Paul Wotton
-- | FW |  CAN | Carlo Corazzin
-- | FW |  ENG | Mickey Evans[notes 3]
-- | FW |  ENG | Neil Illman
-- | FW |  ENG | Adrian Littlejohn
-- | FW |  ENG | Lee Phillips
-- | FW |  ENG | Dominic Richardson

## References[edit]

1. ^ Culley, Jon (24 February 1997). "THAT WAS THE WEEKEND THAT WAS : Battle of Saltergate: the aftermath". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
2. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
3. ^ "Plymouth Argyle results for the 1996-1997 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
4. ^ "All Plymouth Argyle players: 1997".

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Grobbelaar was born in Durban, South Africa, but was raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from the age of two months and made his international debut for Rhodesia in 1977 and Zimbabwe in 1980.
2. ^ Mauge was born in Islington, England, but also qualified to represent Trinidad and Tobago internationally and made his international debut for Trinidad and Tobago in 2000.
3. ^ Evans was born in Plymouth, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in October 1997.

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1996–97 in English football

« 1995–96

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National teams|

* 1998 FIFA World Cup (UEFA Qualification Group 2
* Glenn Hoddle

League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, play-offs)

Level 5|

* Football Conference

Levels 6–7|

* Isthmian League (Premier, One)
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|

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Second Division|

* Blackpool
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Third Division|

* Barnet
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*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Total won
*[D]: Total drawn
*[L]: Total lost
*[GF]: Total Goals for
*[GA]: Total Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template