1996–97 Newcastle United F.C. season
Encyclopedia
During the 1996-97 season, Newcastle United
participated in the Premier League.
This article covers the squad and match results for the 1996-97 season.
on 20 October - arguably Newcastle's greatest performance of all time - brought renewed hope that the club could end its 70-year wait for the title by lifting the Premiership crown. Things turned sour when Alan Shearer
, the club's £15 million world record signing, missed seven games due to a hernia operation, and Newcastle's title bid was threatened by Manchester United's recovery from a bad spell. Arsenal
and Liverpool
, meanwhile, were also mounting a serious push for the title.
On 7 January, Kevin Keegan
dropped a bombshell on Newcastle by announcing his resignation as manager, stating that he felt he had taken the club as far as he could. Kenny Dalglish
, the man who had replaced Keegan as Liverpool striker 20 years earlier, now replaced him as manager, but the best he could manage was a runners-up finish in the final table.
FA Charity Shield
Football League Cup
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
1 Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup winners
2 Leicester City qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners
3 Middlesbrough were deducted three points for failing to fulfill a fixture
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
participated in the Premier League.
This article covers the squad and match results for the 1996-97 season.
Season summary
A 5-0 win over deadly rivals Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
on 20 October - arguably Newcastle's greatest performance of all time - brought renewed hope that the club could end its 70-year wait for the title by lifting the Premiership crown. Things turned sour when Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
, the club's £15 million world record signing, missed seven games due to a hernia operation, and Newcastle's title bid was threatened by Manchester United's recovery from a bad spell. Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, meanwhile, were also mounting a serious push for the title.
On 7 January, Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
dropped a bombshell on Newcastle by announcing his resignation as manager, stating that he felt he had taken the club as far as he could. Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
, the man who had replaced Keegan as Liverpool striker 20 years earlier, now replaced him as manager, but the best he could manage was a runners-up finish in the final table.
Appearances, goals and cards
- (Substitute appearances in brackets)
No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup UEFA Cup Charity Shield Total Discipline Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 
1 GK 
Pavel SrníčekPavel SrnícekPavel Srníček is a Czech former football goalkeeper.-Career:Srníček was originally signed by Newcastle in December 1990 on loan from Banik Ostrava by manager Jim Smith, who left within months to be succeeded by Ossie Ardiles - by this time his transfer had been made permanent, and he was soon...22 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 1 0 30 0 ? ? 2 DF 
Warren BartonWarren BartonWarren Dean Barton is a former English football player and a TV Pundit for Fox Soccer Channel.-Club career:...14 (3) 1 1 (1) 0 1 0 4 (2) 0 0 0 20 (6) 1 ? ? 3 DF John BeresfordJohn Beresford (footballer)John Beresford is a former English football player who played as a defender, who is currently a pundit for ITV Tyne Tees and ESPN.-Football career:...18 (1) 0 3 0 0 0 3 (1) 0 1 0 25 (2) 0 ? ? 4 MF David BattyDavid BattyDavid Batty is an English retired professional footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder....32 1 3 0 2 0 6 0 1 0 44 1 ? ? 5 DF Darren PeacockDarren PeacockDarren Peacock is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.He made nearly 400 league appearances, beginning his career in the lower reaches of the Football League, before spending eight seasons in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United and...35 1 3 0 2 0 8 0 1 0 49 1 ? ? 6 DF Steve HoweySteve Howey (footballer)Stephen Norman "Steve" Howey is a former footballer who played for the England national team. At club level, he made more than 300 appearances in the Football League and the Premier League, playing for Newcastle United, Manchester City, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers and Hartlepool United...8 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 1 ? ? 7 MF Robert LeeRob LeeRobert Martin "Rob" Lee is a retired English footballer who played the majority of his career for Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United.-Charlton Athletic:...32 (1) 5 2 1 1 0 8 0 1 0 44 (1) 6 ? ? 8 MF Peter BeardsleyPeter BeardsleyPeter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...22 (3) 5 3 0 2 1 6 2 1 0 34 (3) 8 ? ? 9 FW Alan ShearerAlan ShearerAlan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...31 25 3 1 1 1 4 1 1 0 40 28 ? ? 10 FW Les FerdinandLes FerdinandLeslie "Les" Ferdinand MBE is a former English footballer. His playing career included spells at Queens Park Rangers, Besiktas J.K., Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., during which period he earned a number of appearances for England...30 (1) 16 2 (1) 1 1 0 4 4 1 0 38 (2) 21 ? ? 11 FW 
Faustino AsprillaFaustino AsprillaFaustino Hernán "Tino" Asprilla Hinestroza is a former Colombian football player. He was known by his supporters in his home country as The Octopus for his voracious appetite...17 (7) 4 0 0 2 0 6 5 0 (1) 0 25 (8) 9 ? ? 14 MF 
David GinolaDavid GinolaDavid Karl Ginola is a French former international football player who has also worked as an actor and model.Ginola was born in Gassin, Var...20 (4) 1 2 0 2 0 6 (1) 1 1 0 31 (5) 2 ? ? 15 GK 
Shaka HislopShaka HislopNeil Shaka Hislop, CM is a former professional football goalkeeper. The majority of his career was spent in the top division in England where he was a part of the Newcastle United team which finished second in the Premier League for two successive seasons under Kevin Keegan's first tenure...16 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 22 0 ? ? 16 FW Darren HuckerbyDarren HuckerbyDarren Huckerby is a former English footballer who played as a forward.-Early career:Huckerby was born in Nottingham, England. His mother is of partial Georgian descent. Huckerby started playing professionally for Lincoln City, before signing for Newcastle United in a £400,000 deal in 1995...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 MF Jimmy Crawford Jim Crawford (footballer)Jim Crawford is an American born Irish former footballer-Playing career:Crawford began his career at schoolboy level with Rangers before moving to Bohemian making his debut against Bray Wanderers on 3 November 1991...0 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (2) 0 ? ? 18 MF 
Keith GillespieKeith GillespieKeith Robert Gillespie is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays in midfield for Longford Town....23 (9) 1 1 (1) 0 1 0 6 (2) 0 0 (1) 0 31 (13) 1 ? ? 19 DF Steve WatsonSteve WatsonSteven Craig "Steve" Watson is a former English footballer, who retired after being released by Sheffield Wednesday on 15 May 2009. As of November 13, 2010, he is the Development Coach at Football League One side Huddersfield Town.-Playing career:Watson began his career with Newcastle United,...33 (3) 1 2 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 4 (1) 0 1 0 40 (6) 1 ? ? 20 MF Lee Clark9 (1) 2 2 (1) 1 1 0 2 (3) 0 0 0 14 (5) 3 ? ? 22 DF Des HamiltonDes HamiltonDerrick Vivian "Des" Hamilton is an English retired professional footballer. He was a midfielder, who played most notably for Bradford City which counted for nearly half his career appearances and in the Premier League with Newcastle United...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 MF Chris HollandChris HollandChristopher James "Chris" Holland is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Burscough F.C...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 FW Paul BraysonPaul BraysonPaul Brayson is an English footballer who plays for Harrogate Town as a striker.-Career:Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Brayson started his career with Newcastle United before moving to Swansea City on loan. He signed for Reading in March 1998 for a fee of £100,000. He joined Cardiff City on loan in...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 DF Robbie ElliottRobbie ElliottRobert James "Robbie" Elliott is an English former football left back who is currently the strength coach for the United States U-20 men's football team....29 7 1 (1) 0 2 0 4 (1) 0 0 0 36 (2) 7 ? ? 27 DF 
Philippe AlbertPhilippe AlbertPhilippe Julien Albert is a former Belgian football defender. He played with R. Charleroi S.C., KV Mechelen, R.S.C. Anderlecht and Newcastle United in England...27 2 2 0 2 0 7 (1) 1 1 0 39 (1) 3 ? ? 28 FW Paul KitsonPaul KitsonFor the English footballer who spent most of his career in the United States, see Paul Kitson .Paul Kitson is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker...0 (3) 0 0 0 0 (2) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 (6) 0 ? ? 29 GK Steve Harper0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 DF Aaron HughesAaron HughesAaron William Hughes is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham. Hughes is able to play centre back, right back or left back, as well as anywhere in midfield. He is usually deployed in a centre half position for his club and country, and is the current Northern Ireland captain...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 MF Paul BarrettPaul BarrettPaul Franklyn "Legs" Barrett is the UK's best known agent and manager of 1950s style Rock and Roll artistes, an author and previously a singer and film actor...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 MF Stuart ElliottStuart Elliott (footballer born 1977)Stuart Thomas Elliott is an English footballer who plays for Bedlington Terriers as a midfielder.Elliott started his career as a schoolboy at Arsenal, and after being released by the club he signed an apprenticeship with Newcastle United in 1995. He spent five years with the club, during which...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Starting 11
- Last updated on 22 November 2010.
| No. | Pos. | Name | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Pavel Srníček Pavel Srnícek Pavel Srníček is a Czech former football goalkeeper.-Career:Srníček was originally signed by Newcastle in December 1990 on loan from Banik Ostrava by manager Jim Smith, who left within months to be succeeded by Ossie Ardiles - by this time his transfer had been made permanent, and he was soon... |
30 |
| 19 | RB | Steve Watson Steve Watson Steven Craig "Steve" Watson is a former English footballer, who retired after being released by Sheffield Wednesday on 15 May 2009. As of November 13, 2010, he is the Development Coach at Football League One side Huddersfield Town.-Playing career:Watson began his career with Newcastle United,... |
40 |
| 5 | CB | Darren Peacock Darren Peacock Darren Peacock is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.He made nearly 400 league appearances, beginning his career in the lower reaches of the Football League, before spending eight seasons in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United and... |
49 |
| 27 | CB | Philippe Albert Philippe Albert Philippe Julien Albert is a former Belgian football defender. He played with R. Charleroi S.C., KV Mechelen, R.S.C. Anderlecht and Newcastle United in England... |
39 |
| 26 | LB | Robbie Elliott Robbie Elliott Robert James "Robbie" Elliott is an English former football left back who is currently the strength coach for the United States U-20 men's football team.... |
36 |
| 8 | RM | Peter Beardsley Peter Beardsley Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain... |
34 |
| 7 | CM | Rob Lee Rob Lee Robert Martin "Rob" Lee is a retired English footballer who played the majority of his career for Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United.-Charlton Athletic:... |
44 |
| 4 | CM | David Batty David Batty David Batty is an English retired professional footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder.... |
44 |
| 14 | LM | David Ginola David Ginola David Karl Ginola is a French former international football player who has also worked as an actor and model.Ginola was born in Gassin, Var... |
31 |
| 9 | CF | Alan Shearer Alan Shearer Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team... |
40 |
| 10 | CF | Les Ferdinand Les Ferdinand Leslie "Les" Ferdinand MBE is a former English footballer. His playing career included spells at Queens Park Rangers, Besiktas J.K., Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., during which period he earned a number of appearances for England... |
38 |
Pre-season
FA Charity Shield1996 FA Charity ShieldThe 1996 FA Charity Shield was the 74th FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions...
Premier League
UEFA Cup
FA Cup
Football League Cup1996–97 Football League CupThe 1996–97 Football League Cup was the 37th Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs...
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
38 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 76 | 44 | 75 | UEFA Champions League 1997–98 Group stage |
| 2 | Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 73 | 40 | 68 | UEFA Champions League 1997–98 Second qualifying round |
| 3 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 62 | 32 | 68 | UEFA Cup 1997–98 First round |
| 4 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 62 | 37 | 68 | |
| 5 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 47 | 34 | 61 | |
| 6 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 55 | 59 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1997–98 First round1 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... |
38 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 50 | 51 | ||
| 57 | |||||||||
| 8 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 46 | 56 | |
| 9 | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 54 | ||
| 47 | UEFA Cup 1997–98 First round2 | ||||||||
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 44 | 51 | ||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 11 | Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 28 | 38 | ||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 12 | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 45 | 58 | ||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 42 | 43 | ||
| 42 | |||||||||
| 14 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 48 | ||
| 42 | |||||||||
| 15 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 44 | 57 | ||
| 42 | |||||||||
| 16 | Southampton Southampton F.C. Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... |
38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50 | 56 | ||
| 41 | |||||||||
| 17 | Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... |
38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 38 | 54 | ||
| 41 | |||||||||
| 18 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 35 | 53 | ||
| 40 | Relegated to Football League First Division 1997–98 | ||||||||
| 19 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 51 | 60 | ||
| 393 | |||||||||
| 20 | Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
38 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 31 | 59 | ||
| 34 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
1 Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup winners
2 Leicester City qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners
3 Middlesbrough were deducted three points for failing to fulfill a fixture