The 1896–97 season was the 16th season of competitive association football and 5th season in the Football League played by Small Heath F.C., an English football club based in Birmingham. In 1895–96, Small Heath finished in 15th position in the 16-team First Division and were relegated via the test match system. In 1896–97, they finished 4th in the Second Division.
Small Heath entered the 1896–97 FA Cup at the first round (round of 32) and lost in that round for the fifth consecutive year, this time to Notts County. In local competitions, they were eliminated in the semi-final of the Birmingham Senior Cup and the first round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, on each occasion beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Twenty-three different players represented the club in nationally organised competitive matches during the season and there were 12 different goalscorers. Alex Leake appeared in every match, and the top scorer was Jimmy Inglis with 16 goals. The highest attendance was around 7,500, significantly down on the previous season.
Background
The Nottinghamshire Guardian suggested Small Heath would "have to greatly improve their present team if they are to make a very prominent display even in [the second] division next season.""Sports and Pastimes". Nottinghamshire Guardian: p.3. 2 May 1896. Billy Ollis, last season's captain, moved on to Hereford Thistle of the Birmingham & District League, Jack Oliver returned to non-League football in his native north-east, Harry Haynes joined Southern League club Southampton St Mary's, Ted Devey left for Burton Wanderers, and Adam Fraser returned to Scotland,"Athletics". The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post: p.3. 16 October 1896."Middlesbrough v. Southwick". The Yorkshire Herald: p.7. 2 November 1896."The Week's Sport". Hampshire Telegraph: p.2. 20 June 1896."Football Items". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.12. 17 August 1896."Opening of the Football Season". The Dundee Courier & Argus: p.6. 11 August 1896. but the major loss was that of Fred Wheldon. Wheldon scored 116 goals from 175 matches in league and FA Cup for Small Heath, and the only match he missed in six seasons was when his sister died on the morning of the game.Matthews (1995), Complete Record, pp. 131, 140–43."Notes on Sport". Birmingham Daily Post: p.7. 11 February 1895. He joined League champions Aston Villa for a fee which, after much speculation, was confirmed at Small Heath's Annual General Meeting as £350 guaranteed, plus the proceeds of a match to be played between the two clubs. The £350 fee was reported to be a transfer record.'Centre-Forward' (29 June 1896). "Facts and Fancies". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.11. "Speculation has been rife in football circles as to the price paid by Aston Villa for the transfer of Wheldon, the Small Heath inside left. It turns out that the terms are higher than have ever been concluded, if being officially stated at the annual meeting of the Small Heath club in Birmingham on Friday evening that the sum guaranteed was £350, with a prospect of a still further amount conditional on the proceeds of a match to be played in the autumn. Aston Villa are also paying Wheldon a big salary for his services".
Review
September–October Small Heath prepared for the new season with a friendly match at Aston Villa in connection with Fred Wheldon's transfer. Wheldon scored twice as Villa won 3–1, Small Heath's goal coming from Walter Abbott. Because the kickoff was delayed until six o'clock, the match ended in near darkness."Aston Villa v Small Heath". The Yorkshire Herald: p.8. 2 September 1896."Aston Villa v Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 2 September 1896. The League season began with a spirited performance at home to Newcastle United on a rain-soaked pitch. First-half goals from Alex Leake, Jimmy Inglis with a header from Tom Farnall's free kick, and Jack Jones gave Small Heath a 3–1 victory,'Observer' (7 September 1896). "Games and Comments". Northern Echo (Darlington): p.4. prompting the press to predict a finish in the test match positions."Football Notes". Daily News (London): p.3. 12 September 1896."Sports and Pastimes". Nottinghamshire Guardian: p.3. 12 September 1896. In the return fixture, Newcastle led 3–2 at half time – three goals for Richard Smellie against Jones's two – but were reduced to ten men, William Graham having broken his arm. Inglis tied the scores in the second half but the home team scored a late winner."Newcastle United v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 14 September 1896. Two days later, Small Heath enjoyed a comfortable home win against Darwen in an early-evening match. Inglis opened the scoring with a header, then in the second half, a disputed goal was allowed, and a fine shot from Billy Walton and two goals from William Robertson made the final score 5–1."Small Heath v. Darwen". Liverpool Mercury: p.7. 15 September 1896."Small Heath v. Darwen". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 15 September 1896.
In a poor game, Small Heath suffered an unexpected defeat at home to Lincoln City. The Leicester Chronicle suggested that "if the Heathens have any pretentions towards regaining their position in the First Division, as we believe is their ambition, they will have to show form vastly different from last Saturday.""Football Notes" Leicester Chronicle: p.6. 26 September 1896. An Inglis header gave his team a first-half lead on a slippery surface at Burton Swifts, and both sides wasted chances before Swifts equalised with ten minutes left."Burton Swifts v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 28 September 1896."Burton Swifts v. Small Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 28 September 1896.
A 2–1 defeat at home to Burton Swifts"Small Heath v. Burton Swifts". The Standard (London): p.8. 5 October 1896. preceded a visit to league leaders Newton Heath and reunion with former captain Caesar Jenkyns. The home side had the better of the first half, in torrential rain following a thunderstorm just before kickoff, but the closest they came to scoring was when Smith hit the bar. In the second half, Newton Heath scored from a scrimmage, but Jones equalised for Small Heath after the forwards rushed downfield."Newton Heath v. Small Heath". The Standard (London): p.6. 12 October 1896."Newton Heath v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 12 October 1896."Newton Heath v. Small Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 12 October 1896. Playing with the benefit of the slope, Walsall took the lead twice in the Staffordshire Cup, but on change of ends, Small Heath equalised, and scored twice more in extra time to progress to the next round."Other Matches". The Standard (London): p.8. 13 October 1896.
In mid-October, former England international forward Dennis Hodgetts joined from Aston Villa. The Dundee Courier & Argus assessed the player thus:"Football Notes". The Dundee Courier & Argus: p.5. 29 October 1896. He made his debut on a dull, damp day at home to Gainsborough Trinity. Small Heath took a two-goal lead through Inglis and Leake, the visitors brought the scores level before half time, and with 15 minutes left, Trinity's John Scott was sent off for striking Jack Jones."Small Heath v. Gainsbro' Trinity". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 19 October 1896. When the matter came before the County Association, the player received a suspension of one week – the minimum punishment permissible – because of his 17 years unblemished conduct and having acted under "great provocation, Jones having kicked him off his legs and he 'only cleaned one hand on him'.""Lincolnshire Football Association". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 5 November 1896. Small Heath were overwhelmed by four goals to nil by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Staffordshire Cup."Staffordshire Cup". The Yorkshire Herald: p.5. 20 October 1896. Perhaps fortunate to find Walsall without their first-choice goalkeeper and three forwards, Small Heath won 6–1 away from home, with two goals from Inglis and Walton and one apiece from Jones and Charles Izon. Despite the convincing nature of their victory, the Leicester Chronicle thought it was probably too late for the team to reach the test match positions."Walsall v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 26 October 1896."Football Notes". Leicester Chronicle: p.7. 31 October 1896. John Logan, late of Partick Thistle, made his debut in a 1–0 defeat at home to Grimsby Town which proved his only appearance in the English leagues."Small Heath v. Grimsby Town". The Leeds Mercury: p.8. 2 November 1896.Matthews (1995), Complete Record, p.107.
November–December Having no competitive fixture scheduled during the early part of November, Small Heath played Wolverhampton Wanderers in a friendly as part of a day of musical and sporting entertainments at the Crystal Palace grounds."Entertainments, Exhibitions, &c.". The Standard (London): p.1. 7 November 1896. On a raw day, only 500 spectators watched Small Heath's 2–0 victory"Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 9 November 1896. which failed to entertain the Penny Illustrated Paper:'Banshee' (14 November 1896). "Our Winter Game". The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times (London): p.313.
Back in the League, Woolwich Arsenal took an early lead at Coventry Road but were 4–1 down by half time, Hodgetts scoring twice and Walton and Robertson once each. In the second half James Brock pulled one back for the visitors, but Charlie Hare, on his debut after joining from the Arsenal a few days before, made the final score 5–2."Football. The League". The North-Eastern Daily Gazette: p.3. 12 November 1896."Small Heath v. Woolwich Arsenal". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 16 November 1896. The visit to Darwen produced a 2–0 defeat which could have been heavier had the home club not had two second-half goals disallowed."Darwen v. Small Heath". The Yorkshire Herald: p.7. 23 November 1896. According to the Leicester Chronicle, "the match between Newton Heath and Small Heath, as usual, when these teams meet, was not a very scientific one, the players on both sides being too prone to play the man instead of the ball.""Football Notes". Leicester Chronicle: p.7. 5 December 1896. Jimmy Inglis had to leave the field "badly winded", and Hare had several shots from distance, but the only goal was scored by Jones after five minutes."Small Heath v. Newton Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 30 November 1896.