1996–97 Birmingham City F.C. season


The 1996–97 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 94th in the Football League. They finished in tenth position in the 24-team Division One, the second tier of the English football league system. They entered the 1996–97 FA Cup at the third round, losing to Wrexham in the fifth, and entered the League Cup in the first round and lost to Coventry City in the second.

Season summary

This was the first season under the managership of playing legend Trevor Francis, appointed in May 1996 after the dismissal of previous incumbent Barry Fry. Francis introduced players with top-level experience such as Manchester United captain Steve Bruce. There were a significant number of transfers and loans with Peterborough United, Fry's new team.

Football League First Division

Match details

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceReport
18 August 19968thCrystal PalaceHW1–0Devlin 25'18,765
24 August 19965thSheffield UnitedAD4–4Furlong 9', Newell 37', Devlin 75' pen., Hunt 83'16,332
7 September 199620thTranmere RoversAL0–18,548
10 September 199619thOldham AthleticHD0–017,228
14 September 199614thStoke CityHW3–1Furlong 2', 65', Legg 3218,612
21 September 199617thManchester CityAL0–126,757
28 September 199618thQueens Park RangersHD0–017,430
8 October 199623rdHuddersfield TownAL0–310,904
12 October 199618thBradford CityHW3–0Devlin 1', 50', Hunt 88'25,157
15 October 199611thIpswich TownHW1–0Bowen 50'15,664
18 October 199613thOxford UnitedAD0–07,594
26 October 199615thNorwich CityHL2–3Devlin 40', 86'18,869
26 October 199616thPortsmouthAD1–1Furlong 22'6,334
2 November 199620thPort ValeAL0–38,388
13 November 199616thBolton WanderersHW3–1Furlong 55', Bowen 56', Todd 81' o.g.17,033
17 November 199614thWolverhampton WanderersAW2–1Breen 8', Legg 58'22,627
20 November 199614thCharlton AthleticAL1–2Legg 13'8,574
23 November 199610thSwindon TownHW1–0Furlong 29'16,559
26 November 19969thReadingAD0–08,407
30 November 19967thNorwich CityAW1–0O'Connor 62'12,764
3 December 19968thBarnsleyHD0–024,004
7 December 19968thGrimsby TownHD0–017,001
20 December 19969thSouthend UnitedAD1–1Devlin 88'5,100
10 January 199718thStoke CityAL0–110,049
18 January 199715thReadingHW4–1Furlong 33', Devlin 56' pen., 75, Gilkes 89' o.g.15,363
29 January 199715thQueens Park RangersAD1–1Devlin 36'12,138
1 February 199716thBolton WanderersAL1–2Devlin 56'16,737
4 February 199717thWest Bromwich AlbionHL2–3O'Connor 14', Devlin 55' pen.21,600
8 February 199719thPortsmouthHL0–315,897
23 February 199720thPort ValeHL1–2Devlin 8' pen.13,192
26 February 199720thSwindon TownAL1–3Ablett 22'7,428
1 March 199720thGrimsby TownAW2–1O'Connor 60', Forster 61'17,609
4 March 199720thWolverhampton WanderersHL1–2Forster 70'19,838
8 March 199720thSouthend UnitedHW2–1Forster 6', O'Connor 37' pen.13,189
13 March 199716thManchester CityHW2–0Furlong 51' pen., Francis 69'20,084
16 March 199719thWest Bromwich AlbionAL0–216,125
22 March 199719thSheffield UnitedHD1–1Legg 53'14,969
29 March 199718thCrystal PalaceAW1–0Grainger 41'16,331
31 March 199716thCharlton AthleticHD0–014,525
5 April 199713thBarnsleyAW1–0Grainger 12'13,092
8 April 199713thOldham AthleticAD2–2Furlong 17', Grainger 30'5,942
12 April 199712thHuddersfield TownHW1–0Jenkins 90' o.g.14,394
15 April 199712thTranmere RoversHD0–022,364
19 April 199712thBradford CityAW2–0Devlin 22', Furlong 86'15,824
26 April 199710thOxford UnitedHW2–0Devlin 54', Bowen 87'16,109
4 May 199710thIpswich TownAD1–1Devlin 81'20,570

League table (part)

Note that goals scored took precedence over goal difference as a tiebreaker in the Football League.

Results summary

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceReport
Third round4 January 1997Stevenage BoroughHaW2–0Francis 27', Devlin 64' pen.15,365
Fourth round25 January 1997Stockport CountyHW3–1Furlong 29', Devlin 48', Francis 69'18,487
Fifth round25 January 1997WrexhamHL1–3Bruce 37'21,511

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceReport
First round 1st leg21 August 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionAW1–0Devlin 49' pen.5,132
First round 2nd leg4 September 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionHW2–0
3–0 agg.		Newell 40', 86'20,050
Second round 1st leg18 September 1996Coventry CityAD1–1Daish 88'11,828
Second round 2nd leg24 September 1996Coventry CityHL0–1
1–2 agg.		15,281

Transfers

In

Out

Loan in

Loan out

Appearances and goals

Pos.Nat.Name
FWPaul Barnes
MFJohn Cornforth
MFWayne Dyer
FWJae Martin