During the 1996–97 English football season, Swindon Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary With Swindon's financial state getting more precarious, they could not afford to build a side which would be able to win promotion to the Premier League, with McMahon's only significant summer signing the underwhelming Gary Elkins from Wimbledon. In 1996–97 season, Swindon held a mid-table position right up until the middle of March, but then scored just two goals in their last ten games – getting thumped 7–0 at Bolton, 5–1 at Oldham and 4–0 at Ipswich in the process – ending up in a disappointing 19th place.

Final league table

Results Swindon Town's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1996 Norwich CityA0–215,165 24 August 1996 Port ValeH1–18,706Robinson 28 August 1996 Oldham AthleticH1–08,025Allison 31 August 1996 Southend UnitedA3–14,011Watson, Cowe, Finney 7 September 1996 Grimsby TownA1–24,089Cowe 11 September 1996 PortsmouthH0–18,685 14 September 1996 Tranmere RoversH2–18,430Walters (pen), Horlock 21 September 1996 Queens Park RangersA1–113,662Cowe 27 September 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–28,572Horlock 2 October 1996 Bradford CityA1–29,249Walters (pen) 12 October 1996 Oxford UnitedH1–010,811Horlock 16 October 1996 Huddersfield TownH6–07,724Walters, Thorne (3), Allison, Horlock 19 October 1996 Crystal PalaceA2–115,088Allison, Thorne 26 October 1996 ReadingA0–211,018 30 October 1996 West Bromwich AlbionH2–38,909Allen, Thorne 2 November 1996 Manchester CityH2–014,374Allison (2) 16 November 1996 BarnsleyH3–010,837Walters, Gooden, Finney 19 November 1996 Ipswich TownA2–37,086Thorne, Allison 23 November 1996 Birmingham CityA0–116,559 26 November 1996 Sheffield UnitedA0–212,301 30 November 1996 ReadingH3–110,874Horlock, Allison, Walters 7 December 1996 Charlton AthleticA0–210,565 14 December 1996 Stoke CityA0–210,102 22 December 1996 Bolton WanderersH2–28,946Walters, Allison 26 December 1996 PortsmouthA1–010,605Cowe 10 January 1997 Tranmere RoversA1–28,763Horlock 18 January 1997 Bradford CityH1–17,851Horlock 25 January 1997 Grimsby TownH3–39,127Horlock, Allison, Walters 29 January 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–123,003 1 February 1997 Sheffield UnitedH2–18,811Elkins, Holdsworth (own goal) 5 February 1997 Queens Park RangersH1–110,830Brevett (own goal) 8 February 1997 West Bromwich AlbionA2–116,219Allison, Smith 22 February 1997 Manchester CityA0–327,262 26 February 1997 Birmingham CityH3–17,428Bullock, Broomes, Cowe 1 March 1997 Charlton AthleticH1–09,256Allison 4 March 1997 BarnsleyA1–19,789Thorne 8 March 1997 Bolton WanderersA0–713,981 15 March 1997 Stoke CityH1–08,878Thorne 22 March 1997 Port ValeA0–16,142 29 March 1997 Norwich CityH0–310,249 31 March 1997 Oldham AthleticA1–55,699Cowe 5 April 1997 Southend UnitedH0–06,730 12 April 1997 Ipswich TownH0–48,591 19 April 1997 Oxford UnitedA0–28,167 26 April 1997 Crystal PalaceH0–210,447 4 May 1997 Huddersfield TownA0–011,506

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR35 January 1997 EvertonA0–320,411

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 First Leg 20 August 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–07,451Allison, LeitchR1 Second Leg 3 September 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–1 (won 2–1 on agg)10,760R2 First Leg 18 September 1996 Queens Park RangersA1–27,843WaltersR2 Second Leg 25 September 1996 Queens Park RangersH3–1 (won 4–3 on agg)6,976O'Sullivan, Allison, ThorneR323 October 1996 Manchester UnitedA1–249,305Thorne

Squad

References