1996–97 Grimsby Town F.C. season

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

Grimsby Town
1996–97 season
ChairmanBill Carr
ManagerBrian Laws (until 1 November 1996)
John Cockerill (caretaker)
Kenny Swain (caretaker)
StadiumBlundell Park
Division One22nd (Relegated)
FA CupThird Round
League CupFirst Round
Lincolnshire Senior CupRunners Up
Top goalscorerLeague:
All: Clive Mendonca (19)

Season summary

The Mariners were relegated from Division One. Despite flowing goals from Clive Mendonca and good performances from John Oster and newcomer Kingsley Black, Grimsby failed to save themselves. The club had suffered from the losses of ever-present goalkeeper Paul Crichton and Gary Croft, who made a £1.5 million move to Blackburn Rovers. Manager Brian Laws had been sacked late in 1996; John Cockerill and Kenny Swain both had stints as caretaker during the season. At the end of the season, former manager Alan Buckley, who had taken Grimsby from the Fourth to the old Second Division in his first stint in charge, rejoined the club in an attempt to take Grimsby back to the second tier.

Kit

Italian company Lotto became Grimsby's new kit manufacturers, and introduced a new kit for the season.[1] Europe's Food Town remained kit sponsors.

Results

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
20 Huddersfield Town 46 13 15 18 48 61 −13 54
21 Bradford City 46 12 12 22 47 72 −25 48
22 Grimsby Town 46 11 13 22 59 81 −22 46 Relegated
23 Oldham Athletic 46 10 13 23 51 66 −15 43
24 Southend United 46 8 15 23 42 85 −43 39
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Squad overview

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ENG Paul Crichton (Departed in October 1996)
— GK  ENG Jason Pearcey
— GK  ENG Andy Love
— GK  ENG Alan Miller (on loan from Middlesbrough)
— GK  ENG Andy Quy
— DF  ENG Danny Butterfield
— DF  ENG Ashley Fickling
— DF  ENG Tony Gallimore
— DF  ENG Joby Gowshall
— DF  SCO Peter Handyside
— DF  ENG Kevin Jobling
— DF  ENG Brian Laws (Departed in November 1996)
— DF  ENG Mark Lever (captain)
— DF  ENG John McDermott
— DF  ENG Jimmy Neil
— DF  ENG Graham Rodger
— DF  ENG Richard Smith
— DF  ENG Neil Webb
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Michael Appleton (on loan from Manchester United)
— MF  NIR Kingsley Black
— MF  ENG Gary Childs
— MF  ENG Paul Harsley
— MF  WAL John Oster
— MF  ENG Craig Shakespeare
— MF  ENG Nicky Southall
— MF  WAL Paul Trollope (on loan from Derby County)
— MF  SCO Johnny Walker (Departed in November 1996)
— MF  ENG Tommy Widdrington
— MF  ENG Darren Wrack
— FW  IRL Daryl Clare
— FW  ENG Jamie Forrester (Departed in March 1997)
— FW  ENG Jason Lee (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
— FW  ENG Jack Lester
— FW  ENG Steve Livingstone
— FW  ENG Clive Mendonca
— FW  ENG Neil Woods

Transfers & loans

Transfers
Date Pos. Player From club Transfer fee
11 July 1996 MF Tommy Widdrington Southampton £300,000
16 July 1996 MF Kingsley Black Nottingham Forest £25,000
19 July 1996 MF Darren Wrack Derby County £100,000
16 August 1996 DF Neil Webb Nottingham Forest Free
31 August 1996 GK Andy Quy Derby County Free

Loans
Start date End date Pos. Player From club
30 August 1996 1 October 1996 DF Paul Trollope Derby County
17 January 1997 18 March 1997 MF Michael Appleton Manchester United
28 January 1997 8 February 1997 GK Alan Miller Middlesbrough

Transfers
Exit Date Pos. Player To club Transfer fee
31 May 1996 MF Tommy Watson Retired Released
31 May 1996 DF Enzo Gambaro Sturm Graz Released
8 July 1996 MF Paul Groves West Bromwich Albion £600,000
1 August 1996 MF Steve Fraser Lincoln City Free
2 August 1996 MF Jim Dobbin Rotherham United Free
9 August 1996 FW Ivano Bonetti Tranmere Rovers Free
2 October 1996 GK Paul Crichton West Bromwich Albion £250,000
1 November 1996 DF Brian Laws Darlington Sacked
8 November 1996 MF Johnny Walker Mansfield Town £50,000
21 March 1997 FW Jamie Forrester Scunthorpe United Free

Loans
Start date End date Pos. Player To club
4 October 1996 4 November 1996 MF Jimmy Neil Grantham

References
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