The 1996–97 English Hockey League season took place from October 1996 until April 1997.
The Men's National League was won by Reading with the Women's National League going to Slough.
The Men's Hockey Association Cup was won by Teddington and the AEWHA Cup was won by Ipswich.
Men's National League Premier Division League Standings
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Reading 22 15 2 5 79 53 26 472 Teddington 22 15 1 6 78 56 32 463 Southgate 22 13 2 7 68 55 13 414 Cannock 22 12 3 7 79 52 27 395 Canterbury 2210 5 7 65 59 6 356 East Grinstead 229 7 6 65 52 13 347 Guildford 22 10 3 9 76 64 12 338 Old Loughtonians 2210 2 10 59 56 -3 329 Hounslow 225 6 11 43 65 -22 2110 Barford Tigers 226 2 14 36 70 -34 2011 Surbiton 224 7 11 44 73 -29 1912 Havant 222 2 18 36 73 -37 8 = Champions = Relegated
Women's National League Premier Division League Standings
Pos Team P W D L F A Pts 1 Slough 1411124115342 Ipswich 149323617303 Clifton 147433320254 Sutton Coldfield 144552632175 Doncaster 143472128136 Hightown 144191938137 Trojans 143381829128 Leicester 14338173212 = Champions = Relegated
Men's Cup (Hockey Association Cup)
Quarter-finals Team 1 Team 2 Score St Albans Chelmsford 2-1 Old Loughtonians Reading 2-5 Cannock Teddington 4-6 aet Surbiton Guildford 5-1
Semi-finals Team 1 Team 2 Score Reading St Albans 10-1 Surbiton Teddington 1-3
Final (Held at the Stadium, Milton Keynes on 11 May) Team 1 Team 2 Score Teddington Reading 2-1 Teddington Jon Ebsworth, Tyrone Moore, Phil McGuire, S Dawkins, Tony Colclough, Jason Laslett, Jimmy Wallis, Simon Nicklin, Jon Hauck, Nick Conway, Andy Billson subs D Haydon, Paul Way, G Read Reading Wayne Box GK, John Slay, Jon Wyatt, Charlie Oscroft, Andy Holden, Mark Hoskin, G Edwards, K Sanders, Robert Todd, Mark Pearn, Scott Ashdown subs A Jones, Simon Briscoe, Jonathan Loose
Women's Cup (AEWHA Cup)
Quarter-finals Team 1 Team 2 Score Doncaster Sutton Coldfield 4-1 Clifton Canterbury 3-1 Hightown Aldridge 3-1 Ipswich Slough 4-2
Semi-finals Team 1 Team 2 Score Clifton Ipswich 4-2 Hightown Doncaster 2-0
Final (Held at Milton Keynes on 25 May) Team 1 Team 2 Score Hightown Clifton 2-2 (3-2 p) Hightown Carolyn Reid; Linda Carr (capt), Michaela Morton, Caroline Gilbert, K Walsh; Julie Aspin, Fiona Lee, Michelle Liptrot, Lucy Newcombe, Tina Cullen, Yana Williams Sub Maggie Souyave Clifton Claire Burr; Sue Brimble, Rachel O'Bryan, Michelle Robertson, Louise Hipkins, Lorraine Marsden, Tammy Miller (capt), Elaine Basterfield, Lucy Culliford, Denise Marston-Smith, Juliet Rayden Subs J Martin, J Scullion
References