| 1996–97 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Samesh Kumar | 
| Manager | Phil Neal/Russell Osman/Kenny Hibbitt | 
| Football League Third Division | 7th | 
| FA Cup | 2nd round | 
| League Cup | 1st round | 
| Auto Windscreens Shield | 2nd round | 
| Top goalscorer | League: Steve White (13) All: Steve White (14) | 
| Highest home attendance | 6,144 (v Fulham, 9 November 1996) | 
| Lowest home attendance | 1,667 (v Darlington, 15 October 1996) | 
| Average home league attendance | 3,594 | 
The 1996–97 season was Cardiff City F.C.'s 70th season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the fourth tier of English football, finishing seventh, before being beaten 4–2 on aggregate by Northampton Town in the play-offs.
The season saw Cardiff sack two managers during the course of the year. Phil Neal continued in his role from the previous season before leaving the club, taking the role of assistant manager at Manchester City, and was replaced by Russell Osman. However Osman himself lasted just five matches and was replaced by Kenny Hibbitt, the man who had made way for Phil Neal the previous season.
Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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First team squad. [1]
League standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Swansea City | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 71 | Participated in play-offs | 
| 6 | Chester City | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 70 | |
| 7 | Cardiff City | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 69 | |
| 8 | Colchester United | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 62 | 51 | +11 | 68 | |
| 9 | Lincoln City | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 70 | 69 | +1 | 66 | 
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Results by round
Fixtures and results
Third Division
| 17 August 1996 1 | Scarborough | 0–0 | Cardiff City | Scarborough | 
| Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,455 | 
| 24 August 1996 2 | Cardiff City | 1–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Jeff Eckhardt  43' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,897 | 
| 27 August 1996 3 | Cardiff City | 0–2 | Wigan Athletic | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 |  34' Graeme Jones  81' Ian Kilford | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,845 | 
| 31 August 1996 4 | Cambridge United | 0–2 | Cardiff City | Cambridge | 
|  9', 37' Steve White | Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 2,478 | 
| 7 September 1996 5 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Exeter City | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Steve White  13', 68' |  21' (pen) Mark Chamberlain | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,659 | 
| 10 September 1996 6 | Torquay United | 2–0 | Cardiff City | Torquay | 
| Jon Gittens  24' Jamie Ndah  45' | Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 2,041 | 
| 14 September 1996 7 | Scunthorpe United | 0–1 | Cardiff City | Scunthorpe | 
|  47' Craig Middleton | Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 2,121 | 
| 21 September 1996 8 | Cardiff City | 2–2 | Northampton Town | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Tony Philliskirk  18' Craig Middleton  83' |  87' Mark Cooper  89' (pen) Roy Hunter | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,124 | 
| 28 September 1996 9 | Lincoln City | 2–0 | Cardiff City | Lincoln | 
| Colin Alcide  18' John Taylor  87' | Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 2,925 | 
| 12 October 1996 10 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Barnet | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Craig Middleton  26' |  17' Gary Brazil  86' Sean Devine | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,879 | 
| 15 October 1996 11 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Darlington | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Carl Dale  3' Steve White  41' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 1,667 | 
| 19 October 1996 12 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Cardiff City | Carlisle | 
|  49' Carl Dale  81' Jason Fowler | Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 4,972 | 
| 26 October 1996 13 | Cardiff City | 3–0 | Leyton Orient | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Steve White  22' (pen) Jimmy Gardner  28' Carl Dale  36' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,647 | 
| 29 October 1996 14 | Hull City | 1–1 | Cardiff City | Hull | 
| Kenny Gilbert  79' |  15' Craig Middleton | Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 2,775 | 
| 2 November 1996 15 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Cardiff City | Colchester | 
| Karl Duguid  18' |  57' (pen) Steve White | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,213 Referee: Rob Harris (Oxfordshire) | 
| 5 November 1996 16 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Rochdale | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Mickey Bennett  45' Jeff Eckhardt  67' |  52' Steve Whitehall | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,835 | 
| 9 November 1996 17 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Fulham | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Steve White  89' |  1' Mike Conroy  34' (pen) Mark Blake | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 6,144 | 
| 23 November 1996 18 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Hereford United | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Steve White  55', 75' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,904 | 
| 26 November 1996 19 | Chester City | 0–1 | Cardiff City | Chester | 
|  85' Scott Young | Stadium: Deva Stadium Attendance: 1,540 | 
| 30 November 1996 20 | Leyton Orient | 3–0 | Cardiff City | Leyton Orient | 
| Carl Griffiths  34' Scott McGleish  57' Andy Arnott  64' | Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 4,512 | 
| 3 December 1996 21 | Cardiff City | 1–3 | Swansea City | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Steve White  45' |  11' Kwame Ampadu  37' Steve Jones  86' Dai Thomas | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,721 | 
| 21 December 1996 22 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Mansfield Town | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Jeff Eckhardt  25' |  49', 58' Mark Sale | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,238 | 
| 26 December 1996 23 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Torquay United | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Deon Burton  38', 77' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,651 | 
| 28 December 1996 24 | Exeter City | 2–0 | Cardiff City | Exeter | 
| Noel Blake  39' Darren Rowbotham  55' | Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 3,585 | 
| 1 January 1997 25 | Northampton Town | 4–0 | Cardiff City | Northampton | 
| 15:00 | Ray Warburton  16' Lee Jarman  42' (og) Mark Cooper  54' Neil Grayson  89' |  47' Jeff Eckhardt | Stadium: Sixfields Stadium Attendance: 4,416 | 
| 11 January 1997 26 | Cardiff City | 1–3 | Lincoln City | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Jason Fowler  11' |  18' Phil Stant  51' (og) Jason Perry  67' Gareth Ainsworth | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,033 | 
| 18 January 1997 27 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Cardiff City | Rochdale | 
| Mark Leonard  7' | Stadium: Spotland Attendance: 1,704 Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield) | 
| 25 January 1997 28 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Hull City | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Simon Haworth  34' Jeff Eckhardt  75' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,328 | 
| 31 January 1997 29 | Fulham | 1–4 | Cardiff City | Fulham | 
| Jeff Eckhardt  55' (og) |  29' Jason Fowler  46', 85' Steve White  51' Simon Haworth | Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 6,459 | 
| 8 February 1997 30 | Cardiff City | 1–2 | Colchester United | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Simon Haworth  90' |  6' Tony Adcock  20' Steve Whitton | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,912 Referee: Gurnum Singh | 
| 11 February 1997 31 | Hartlepool United | 2–3 | Cardiff City | Hartlepool | 
| Chris Beech  51', 57' |  32' Jason Fowler  67' Jeff Eckhardt  78' Gareth Stoker | Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 1,120 | 
| 16 February 1997 32 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Cardiff City | Hereford | 
| Adrian Foster  31' |  36' Gareth Stoker | Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 5,137 | 
| 22 February 1997 33 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Hartlepool United | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Simon Haworth  21' Gareth Davies  35' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,971 | 
| 2 March 1997 34 | Swansea City | 0–1 | Cardiff City | Swansea | 
|  18' Simon Haworth | Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 4,430 | 
| 8 March 1997 35 | Mansfield Town | 1–3 | Cardiff City | Mansfield | 
| Warren Hackett  54' |  28' Simon Haworth  64' Gareth Stoker  76' Carl Dale | Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 2,569 | 
| 14 March 1997 36 | Cardiff City | 0–2 | Doncaster Rovers | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 |  7' Darren Moore  62' Darren Utley | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 5,347 | 
| 18 March 1997 37 | Cardiff City | 1–1 | Scarborough | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Gareth Davies  57' |  60' Craig Midgley | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,823 | 
| 22 March 1997 38 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–0 | Cardiff City | Brighton | 
| Paul McDonald  16' (pen) Ian Baird  44' | Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,683 | 
| 31 March 1997 39 | Wigan Athletic | 0–1 | Cardiff City | Wigan | 
|  56' Simon Haworth | Stadium: Springfield Park (Wigan) Attendance: 4,634 | 
| 5 April 1997 40 | Cardiff City | 0–0 | Cambridge United | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,410 | 
| 8 April 1997 41 | Doncaster Rovers | 3–3 | Cardiff City | Doncaster | 
| Darren Moore  75' John Schofield  80' Ian Gore  89' |  32', 88' Simon Haworth  60' Jason Fowler | Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 1,989 | 
| 12 April 1997 42 | Cardiff City | 1–0 | Chester City | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Carl Dale  34' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,079 | 
| 15 April 1997 43 | Cardiff City | 0–0 | Scunthorpe United | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,442 | 
| 19 April 1997 44 | Barnet | 3–1 | Cardiff City | Chipping Barnet | 
| Dean Samuels  24' Shaun Gale  59' Craig Middleton  69' (og) |  85' Carl Dale | Stadium: Underhill Stadium Attendance: 2,497 | 
| 26 April 1997 45 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Carlisle United | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Carl Dale  20' (pen) Kevin Lloyd  37' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 5,104 | 
| 3 May 1997 46 | Darlington | 2–1 | Cardiff City | Darlington | 
| Carl Shutt  47' Darren Roberts  78' |  77' Carl Dale | Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 3,686 | 
Third Division Play Offs
| 11 May 1997 Semi Final (First leg) | Cardiff City | 0–1 | Northampton Town | Cardiff | 
| 12:00 |  70' Mark Cooper  77' Sean Parrish | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 11,369 Referee: John Kirby (Sheffield) | 
| 14 May 1997 Semi Final (Second leg) | Northampton Town | 3–2 | Cardiff City | Northampton | 
| 19:45 | Ian Sampson  23' Ray Warburton  68' John Gayle  77' |  25' Jeff Eckhardt  36' Jason Fowler  90' Simon Haworth | Stadium: Sixfields Stadium Attendance: 7,302 Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield) | 
League Cup
| 20 August 1996 Round 1 (First leg) | Cardiff City | 1–0 | Northampton Town | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Carl Dale  54' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,294 | 
| 2 September 1996 Round 1 (Second leg) | Northampton Town | 2–0 (2–1 agg.) | Cardiff City | Northampton | 
| 19:45 |  21' Mark Cooper Christian Lee  62', 78' | Stadium: Sixfields Stadium Attendance: 3,567 | 
FA Cup
| 16 November 1996 Round 1 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Hendon | Cardiff | 
| 15:00 | Steve White  31' Craig Middleton  88' | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,592 | 
| 7 December 1996 Round 2 | Cardiff City | 0–2 | Gillingham | Cardiff | 
| 18:00 |  18' Iffy Onoura  66' Andy Hessenthaler | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,474 | 
Auto Windscreens Shield
| 10 December 1996 Round 1 | Gillingham | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Cardiff City | Gillingham | 
| Lenny Piper  50' |  90' Jeff Eckhardt  112' Carl Dale | Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 1,193 | 
| 14 January 1997 Round 2 | Cardiff City | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p) | Exeter City | Cardiff | 
| 19:30 | Carl Dale  89' |  74' Darren Rowbotham | Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 793 Referee: Mick Pierce (Portsmouth) | 
See also
References
- ↑ "All Cardiff City football club players: 1997". 11v11. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ↑ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- 1 2 "Cardiff City 1996-97 results". Cardiff City Forum. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ↑ "Cardiff City football club match record: 1997". 11v11. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
Bibliography
- Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
- Shepherd, Richard (2002). The Definitive Cardiff City F.C. Tony Brown. ISBN 1-899-46817-X.
- Crooks, John (1992). Cardiff City Football Club: Official History of the Bluebirds. Yore Publications. ISBN 0-9513321-8-X.
- Rollin, Jack, ed. (1997). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997-98. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7738-9.
- "Football Club History Database – Cardiff City".
- Welsh Football Data Archive



