In the 1996–97 season, Preston manager Peters kept faith with the majority of his promotion winning outfit from last season, reinforcing his squad at various stages of the season with players who would be crucial to the club's success in subsequent campaigns. Mark Rankine joined from Wolves , Sean Gregan from Darlington for £350,000 and Michael Jackson from Bury. Slowly the team that had got Preston promoted were moved on, as the club looked to build for the future.
Source:
[ 1] Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Preston North End's score comes first [ 2]
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
17 August 1996
Notts County A
1–2
6,879
Bryson
24 August 1996
Bristol Rovers H
0–0
9,752
27 August 1996
Crewe Alexandra H
2–1
9,498
Wilkinson (2)
30 August 1996
Plymouth Argyle A
1–2
9,209
Wilkinson
7 September 1996
Bristol City A
1–2
8,016
Kilbane
10 September 1996
York City H
1–0
6,276
Ashcroft
14 September 1996
Bournemouth H
0–1
8,268
21 September 1996
Wrexham A
0–1
5,299
28 September 1996
Millwall H
2–1
9,400
Holt , Saville
1 October 1996
Watford A
0–1
6,434
5 October 1996
Peterborough United H
3–4
8,874
Ashcroft (2), Holt
12 October 1996
Stockport County A
0–1
8,405
15 October 1996
Walsall A
0–1
3,224
19 October 1996
Shrewsbury Town H
2–1
8,333
Seabury (own goal), Reeves
26 October 1996
Gillingham A
1–1
6,256
Kilbane
29 October 1996
Burnley H
1–1
12,652
Reeves
2 November 1996
Rotherham United H
0–0
8,997
9 November 1996
Chesterfield A
1–2
4,759
Reeves
19 November 1996
Luton Town H
3–2
7,004
Moyes (2), Ashcroft
23 November 1996
Wycombe Wanderers A
1–0
4,920
Ashcroft (pen)
30 November 1996
Gillingham H
1–0
9,616
Davey
3 December 1996
Bury A
0–3
5,447
13 December 1996
Blackpool H
3–0
14,626
Bennett (2), Reeves
21 December 1996
Brentford A
0–0
5,365
28 December 1996
Bristol City H
0–2
10,905
11 January 1997
Millwall A
2–3
7,096
Davey (2, 1 pen)
18 January 1997
Watford H
1–1
8,735
Bennett
25 January 1997
Burnley A
2–1
16,186
Ashcroft (2)
1 February 1997
Chesterfield H
0–1
8,681
8 February 1997
Rotherham United A
1–0
3,556
Reeves
11 February 1997
Bournemouth A
0–2
4,769
15 February 1997
Wycombe Wanderers H
2–1
7,923
McKenna , Davey
22 February 1997
Luton Town A
1–5
6,454
Reeves
25 February 1997
York City A
1–3
2,515
Cartwright
1 March 1997
Bury H
3–1
8,749
Moyes , Reeves , Stallard
8 March 1997
Brentford H
1–0
9,489
Bryson
15 March 1997
Blackpool A
1–2
8,017
Davey
18 March 1997
Wrexham H
2–1
8,271
Reeves , Ashcroft
23 March 1997
Bristol Rovers A
0–1
6,405
29 March 1997
Notts County H
2–0
9,472
Reeves , Moyes
31 March 1997
Crewe Alexandra A
0–1
4,407
5 April 1997
Plymouth Argyle H
1–1
8,503
Reeves
12 April 1997
Peterborough United A
0–2
5,040
19 April 1997
Stockport County H
1–0
10,298
Bryson
26 April 1997
Shrewsbury Town A
2–0
5,341
Gregan , Davey
3 May 1997
Walsall H
2–0
10,800
Holt , Reeves
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
NR1
9 December 1996
Chesterfield A
2–0
1,169
NR2
21 January 1997
York City A
0–1
1,428
[ 3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
