The 1996–97 season was a big struggle for Southend as they suffered relegation after finishing bottom of Division One . Ronnie Whelan left the club and he openly admitted when he took the job he didn't know the first thing about being a manager.
Source:
[ 1] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(R) Relegated
Southend United's score comes first
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
17 August 1996
Tranmere Rovers H
1–1
4,264
Rammell
24 August 1996
Oxford United A
0–5
6,382
27 August 1996
Portsmouth A
0–1
5,579
31 August 1996
Swindon Town H
1–3
4,011
Byrne
7 September 1996
Bolton Wanderers H
5–2
4,475
Boere (2), Nielsen , Williams , Marsh
10 September 1996
Charlton Athletic A
0–2
8,497
14 September 1996
Norwich City A
0–0
12,461
21 September 1996
Port Vale H
0–0
4,025
28 September 1996
Crystal Palace A
1–6
14,858
Williams
1 October 1996
Sheffield United H
3–2
3,716
Boere (2), Marsh
5 October 1996
Bradford City A
0–0
10,156
13 October 1996
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
1–1
5,550
Marsh
16 October 1996
Grimsby Town H
1–0
3,305
Tilson
19 October 1996
Huddersfield Town A
0–0
9,578
26 October 1996
Oldham Athletic A
0–0
6,606
29 October 1996
Manchester City H
2–3
8,707
Williams , Rammell
2 November 1996
Reading H
2–1
5,002
Nielsen , Marsh (pen)
9 November 1996
Ipswich Town A
1–1
10,146
Rammell
16 November 1996
West Bromwich Albion H
2–3
5,120
Rammell , Williams
23 November 1996
Stoke City A
2–1
12,821
Williams , Sigurðsson (own goal)
30 November 1996
Oldham Athletic H
1–1
5,001
Nielsen
7 December 1996
Barnsley A
0–3
7,483
14 December 1996
Queens Park Rangers A
0–4
11,117
20 December 1996
Birmingham City H
1–1
5,100
Williams
26 December 1996
Charlton Athletic H
0–2
7,508
28 December 1996
Bolton Wanderers A
1–3
16,357
Rammell
18 January 1997
Sheffield United A
0–3
15,049
25 January 1997
Port Vale A
1–2
5,588
Thomson
28 January 1997
Crystal Palace H
2–1
5,061
Thomson , Boere
1 February 1997
Ipswich Town H
0–0
7,232
8 February 1997
Manchester City A
0–3
26,261
15 February 1997
Stoke City H
2–1
4,625
Thomson , Rammell
22 February 1997
Reading A
2–3
7,683
Boere (2)
25 February 1997
Norwich City H
1–1
5,169
Thomson
1 March 1997
Barnsley H
1–2
4,855
Thomson
5 March 1997
West Bromwich Albion A
0–2
16,125
8 March 1997
Birmingham City A
1–2
13,189
Marsh
15 March 1997
Queens Park Rangers H
0–1
6,747
22 March 1997
Oxford United H
2–2
4,102
Boere , Lapper
28 March 1997
Tranmere Rovers A
0–3
7,563
31 March 1997
Portsmouth H
2–1
6,107
Gridelet , Rammell
5 April 1997
Swindon Town A
0–0
6,730
12 April 1997
Bradford City H
1–1
6,697
Rammell
19 April 1997
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
1–4
25,095
Rammell
26 April 1997
Huddersfield Town H
1–2
4,762
Boere
4 May 1997
Grimsby Town A
0–4
7,367
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
R3
15 January 1997
Leicester City A
0–2
13,982
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
R1 First Leg
20 August 1996
Fulham H
0–2
3,084
R1 Second Leg
3 September 1996
Fulham A
2–1 (lost 2–3 on agg)
4,297
Nielsen, Rammell
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^ "England 1996–97" . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010 .
