1996–97 Leicester City F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Leicester City F.C. competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).

Leicester City
1996–97 season
ChairmanTom Smeaton
ManagerMartin O'Neill
StadiumFilbert Street
Premiership9th
FA CupFifth round
League CupWinners
Player of the YearSimon Grayson
Top goalscorerLeague: Claridge (11)
All: Claridge (14)
Highest home attendance21,134 vs Newcastle United
(26 Oct 1996, Premier League)
Lowest home attendance10,793 vs Scarborough
(25 Sep 1996, League Cup)
Average home league attendance20,182

Season summary

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Most observers had tipped Leicester for an immediate return to Division One, so Martin O'Neill's ultimate task for this season was to achieve survival for Leicester. However, he defied many of the pre-season predictions by finishing 9th in the table. Leicester's season was capped by a victory over Middlesbrough in the League Cup final to win their first major trophy for 33 years and their passport to the following season's UEFA Cup.[1]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
7 Sheffield Wednesday 38 14 15 9 50 51 −1 57
8 Wimbledon 38 15 11 12 49 46 +3 56
9 Leicester City 38 12 11 15 46 54 −8 47 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
10 Tottenham Hotspur 38 13 7 18 44 51 −7 46
11 Leeds United 38 11 13 14 28 38 −10 46
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Leicester City qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners.
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 12 11 15 46 54  −8 47 7 5 7 22 26  −4 5 6 8 24 28  −4

Source: Statto

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAAAHHHA
ResultDWLLDLWWLLWLWLLWDLDDLWDLWWWDLDDDLLLDWW
Position1171213141614101214111310121412121313121612131412109101111111113131416129
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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  Win   Draw   Loss

Pre-season

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24 July 1996 (1996-07-24) Penzance 2–4 Leicester City Penzance
Robins   ?', ?'
Harrington   ?'
Campbell   ?'
Stadium: Penlee Park
27 July 1996 (1996-07-27) Torpoint Athletic 0–5 Leicester City Torpoint
Robins   ?', ?'
Hallam   ?'
Izzet   ?'
Wilson   ?'
Stadium: The Mill
29 July 1996 (1996-07-29) Shepshed Dynamo 1–2 Leicester City Leicester
Wilson   ?'
Akeredolu   o.g.'
Stadium: The Dovecote Stadium
2 August 1996 (1996-08-02) Dundee United 2–1 Leicester City Dundee
Izzet   ?' Stadium: Tannadice Park
5 August 1996 (1996-08-05) PAOK   3–0 Leicester City Thessaloniki
Stadium: Toumba Stadium
7 August 1996 (1996-08-07) Kettering Town 2–1 Leicester City Kettering
Whitlow   ?' (pen.) Stadium: Rockingham Road
9 August 1996 (1996-08-09) Bournemouth 1–1 Leicester City Bournemouth
19:45 BST Izzet   ?' Stadium: Dean Court

FA Premier League

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17 August 1996 (1996-08-17) Sunderland 0–0 Leicester City Sunderland
15:00 BST Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 19,262
Referee: Stephen Lodge
21 August 1996 (1996-08-21) Leicester City 2–1 Southampton Leicester
19:45 BST Heskey   6', 42' Le Tissier   68' (pen.)
Venison   82'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 17,562
Referee: Mike Riley
24 August 1996 (1996-08-24) Leicester City 0–2 Arsenal Leicester
15:00 BST Bergkamp   27' (pen.)
Wright   90'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,429
Referee: Graham Barber
2 September 1996 (1996-09-02) Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Leicester City Sheffield
20:00 BST Humphreys   25'
Booth   51'
Claridge   28' Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 17,657
Referee: Gary Willard
7 September 1996 (1996-09-07) Nottingham Forest 0–0 Leicester City Nottingham
15:00 BST Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 24,105
Referee: Paul Alcock
15 September 1996 (1996-09-15) Leicester City 0–3 Liverpool Leicester
15:00 BST Berger   58', 77'
Thomas   61'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,987
Referee: Paul Durkin
22 September 1996 (1996-09-22) Tottenham Hotspur 1–2 Leicester City London
16:00 BST Wilson   64' (pen.) Claridge   22'
Marshall   86'
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 24,159
Referee: Alan Wilkie
28 September 1996 (1996-09-28) Leicester City 1–0 Leeds United Leicester
15:00 BST Heskey   60' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,359
Referee: Steve Dunn
12 October 1996 (1996-10-12) Leicester City 1–3 Chelsea Leicester
15:00 BST Watts   44' Vialli   48'
Di Matteo   64'
Hughes   80'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,766
Referee: Mike Reed
19 October 1996 (1996-10-19) West Ham United 1–0 Leicester City London
20:00 BST Moncur   78' Walsh   87' Stadium: Upton Park
Attendance: 22,285
Referee: Mike Riley
26 October 1996 (1996-10-26) Leicester City 2–0 Newcastle United Leicester
15:00 BST Claridge   17'
Heskey   79'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,134
Referee: Graham Poll
2 November 1996 (1996-11-02) Derby County 2–0 Leicester City Derby
15:00 GMT Ward   56'
Whitlow   89' (o.g.)
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 18,010
Referee: Graham Barber
16 November 1996 (1996-11-16) Aston Villa 1–3 Leicester City Birmingham
15:00 GMT Yorke   15' Claridge   8'
Parker   43' (pen.)
Izzet   85'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 36,193
Referee: David Elleray
23 November 1996 (1996-11-23) Leicester City 1–2 Everton Leicester
15:00 GMT Walsh   83' Hinchcliffe   12'
Unsworth   52'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,975
Referee: Jeff Winter
30 November 1996 (1996-11-30) Manchester United 3–1 Leicester City Manchester
15:00 GMT Butt   75', 87'
Solskjær   85'
Lennon   90' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 55,196
Referee: Martin Bodenham
3 December 1996 (1996-12-03) Middlesbrough 0–2 Leicester City Middlesbrough
19:45 GMT Claridge   45'
Izzet   46'
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,709
Referee: Paul Alcock
7 December 1996 (1996-12-07) Leicester City 1–1 Blackburn Rovers Leicester
15:00 GMT Marshall   78' Sutton   34' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 19,306
Referee: Mike Riley
21 December 1996 (1996-12-21) Leicester City 0–2 Coventry City Leicester
15:00 GMT Dublin   12', 72' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,038
Referee: Frazer Stretton
26 December 1996 (1996-12-26) Liverpool 1–1 Leicester City Liverpool
15:00 GMT Collymore   80' Claridge   76' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,786
Referee: Alan Wilkie
28 December 1996 (1996-12-28) Leicester City 2–2 Nottingham Forest Leicester
15:00 GMT Heskey   10'
Izzet   63'
Clough   37'
Cooper   87'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,833
Referee: Keith Burge
11 January 1997 (1997-01-11) Leeds United 3–0 Leicester City Leeds
15:00 GMT Bowyer   40'
Rush   45', 69'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 29,486
Referee: Mike Reed
18 January 1997 (1997-01-18) Leicester City 1–0 Wimbledon Leicester
15:00 GMT Heskey   73' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 18,927
Referee: Stephen Lodge
29 January 1997 (1997-01-29) Leicester City 1–1 Sunderland Leicester
19:45 GMT Parker   32' (pen.) Williams   18' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 17,883
Referee: Steve Dunn
2 February 1997 (1997-02-02) Newcastle United 4–3 Leicester City Newcastle
16:00 GMT Elliott   3'
Shearer   77', 83', 90'
Elliott   55'
Claridge   60'
Heskey   68'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,396
Referee: Mike Reed
22 February 1997 (1997-02-22) Leicester City 4–2 Derby County Leicester
15:00 GMT Marshall   7', 24', 27'
Claridge   59'
Sturridge   2', 47' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,323
Referee: Paul Durkin
1 March 1997 (1997-03-01) Wimbledon 1–3 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Holdsworth   66' Elliott   17', 27'
Robins   32'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 11,487
Referee: Gerald Ashby
5 March 1997 (1997-03-05) Leicester City 1–0 Aston Villa Leicester
19:45 GMT Claridge   66' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,626
Referee: Graham Poll
8 March 1997 (1997-03-08) Coventry City 0–0 Leicester City Coventry
15:00 GMT Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 19,220
Referee: Paul Alcock
15 March 1997 (1997-03-15) Leicester City 1–3 Middlesbrough Leicester
15:00 GMT Marshall   47' Blackmore   9'
Juninho   27'
Beck   36'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,561
Referee: Stephen Lodge
19 March 1997 (1997-03-19) Leicester City 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur Leicester
19:45 GMT Claridge   74' Sheringham   90' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,593
Referee: Roger Dilkes
22 March 1997 (1997-03-22) Southampton 2–2 Leicester City Southampton
15:00 GMT Østenstad   32'
van Gobbel   48'
Heskey   46'
Neilson (o.g.)
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,044
Referee: Keith Burge
9 April 1997 (1997-04-09) Everton 1–1 Leicester City Liverpool
15:00 BST Branch   17' Marshall   70' Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 30,368
Referee: Steve Dunn
12 April 1997 (1997-04-12) Arsenal 2–0 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Adams   35'
Platt   66'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,044
Referee: Stephen Lodge
19 April 1997 (1997-04-19) Chelsea 2–1 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Minto   13'
Hughes   73'
Sinclair   47' (o.g.) Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 27,723
Referee: Alan Wilkie
23 April 1997 (1997-04-23) Leicester City 0–1 West Ham United Leicester
19:45 GMT Moncur   75' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,327
Referee: Roger Dilkes
3 May 1997 (1997-05-03) Leicester City 2–2 Manchester United Leicester
11:15 GMT Walsh   16'
Marshall   20'
Solskjær   45', 51' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,068
Referee: Alan Wilkie
7 May 1997 (1997-05-07) Leicester City 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Leicester
19:45 GMT Elliott   86' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,793
Referee: Gerald Ashby
11 May 1997 (1997-05-11) Blackburn Rovers 2–4 Leicester City Blackburn
16:00 GMT Flitcroft   25'
Fenton   66'
Heskey   13', 56'
Claridge   55'
Wilson   81'
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 25,881
Referee: Steve Dunn

FA Cup

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15 January 1997 (1997-01-15) R3 Leicester City 2–0 Southend United Leicester
19:45 GMT Claridge   40'
Marshall   48'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 13,982
25 January 1997 (1997-01-25) R4 Leicester City 2–1 Norwich City Leicester
15:00 GMT Marshall   32'
Lennon    
Parker   67' (pen.)
Jackson    
Adams   39' (pen.)
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 16,703
16 February 1997 (1997-02-16) R5 Leicester City 2–2 Chelsea Leicester
15:00 GMT Walsh   52'
Newton   88' (o.g.)
Di Matteo   16'
Hughes   35'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 19,125
Referee: Mike Reed
26 February 1997 (1997-02-26) R5 Replay Chelsea 1–0 (a.e.t.) Leicester City London
19:45 GMT Leboeuf   117' (pen.) Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 26,053
Referee: Mike Reed

League Cup

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17 September 1996 (1996-09-17) R2 1st leg Scarborough 0–2 Leicester City Scarborough
19:45 BST Izzet   9'
Lawrence   81'
Stadium: McCain Stadium
Attendance: 4,168
25 September 1996 (1996-09-25) R2 2nd leg Leicester City 2–1
(4–1 agg.)
Scarborough Leicester
19:45 BST Lawrence   40'
Parker   90' (pen.)
Ritchie   77' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 10,793
22 October 1996 (1996-10-22) R3 York City 0–2 Leicester City York
19:45 BST Lennon   60'
Grayson   86'
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 8,406
27 November 1996 (1996-11-27) R4 Leicester City 2–0 Manchester United Leicester
19:45 GMT Claridge   38'
Heskey   77'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,428
21 January 1997 (1997-01-21) QF Ipswich Town 0–1 Leicester City Ipswich
19:45 GMT Robins   42' Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: David Elleray
18 February 1997 (1997-02-18) SF 1st leg Leicester City 0–0 Wimbledon Leicester
19:45 GMT Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 16,021
Referee: Stephen Lodge
11 March 1997 (1997-03-11) SF 2nd leg Wimbledon 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(1–1(a) agg.)
Leicester City London
19:45 GMT Gayle   23' Grayson   53' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 17,810
Referee: Alan Wilkie
6 April 1997 (1997-04-06) Final Leicester City 1–1 (a.e.t.) Middlesbrough London
15:00 BST Heskey   118' Report Ravanelli   95' Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 76,757
Referee: Martin Bodenham
16 April 1997 (1997-04-16) Final Replay Leicester City 1–0 (a.e.t.) Middlesbrough Sheffield
19:45 BST Claridge   100' Report Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 39,428
Referee: Martin Bodenham

First-team squad

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Squad at end of season[2][3]

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   ENG Kevin Poole
2 DF   ENG Simon Grayson
3 DF   ENG Mike Whitlow
4 DF   ENG Julian Watts
5 DF   ENG Steve Walsh (captain)
6 MF   TUR Muzzy Izzet
7 MF   NIR Neil Lennon
8 MF   ENG Scott Taylor
9 FW   ENG Steve Claridge
10 MF   ENG Garry Parker
11 FW   ENG Emile Heskey
12 FW   ENG Mark Robins
13 GK   USA Kasey Keller
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF   ENG Colin Hill
15 DF   SWE Pontus Kåmark
16 DF   FRA Franck Rolling
17 DF   ENG Spencer Prior
18 DF   SCO Matt Elliott (vice-captain)
19 DF   ENG Rob Ullathorne
20 FW   ENG Ian Marshall
21 MF   JAM Jamie Lawrence
22 DF   ENG Neil Lewis
24 MF   ENG Steve Guppy
25 MF   ENG Stuart Wilson
26 MF   SCO Stuart Campbell
28 MF   GER Sascha Lenhart

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF   ENG Jimmy Willis (retired)
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 MF   ENG Stuart Slater (to Watford)

Reserve squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF   ENG Sam McMahon
27 FW   ENG Justin Harrington
29 GK   ENG Paul Hyde
No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK   ENG Ian Andrews
33 DF   ENG Martin Fox

Transfers

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Date Pos. Name From Fee
17 August 1996 DF   Spencer Prior   Norwich City £600,000[4]
17 August 1996 GK   Kasey Keller   Millwall £900,000
31 August 1996 FW   Ian Marshall   Ipswich Town £800,000
1 September 1996 MF   Sascha Lenhart   Royal Antwerp Free transfer
16 January 1997 DF   Matt Elliott   Oxford United £1,600,000
17 February 1997 DF   Robert Ullathorne   Osasuna £600,000
28 February 1997 MF   Steve Guppy   Port Vale £850,000
Date Pos. Name To Fee
23 August 1996 MF   Mark Blake   Walsall Free transfer
27 November 1996 MF   Stuart Slater   Watford Free transfer
14 March 1997 GK   Paul Hyde   Leyton Orient Free transfer
22 June 1997 DF   Jamie Lawrence   Bradford City £50,000
22 June 1997 DF   Neil Lewis   Peterborough United £75,000
26 June 1997 DF   Simon Grayson   Aston Villa £1,300,000
Transfers in:   £5,350,000
Transfers out:   £1,425,000
Total spending:   £3,925,000

References

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  1. ^ Moore, Glenn (17 April 1997). "Claridge's five-star silver service". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  2. ^ "FootballSquads – Leicester City – 1996/97".
  3. ^ "All Leicester City players: 1997".
  4. ^ "On the move". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 18 August 1996. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2012.[dead link]