1996–97 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, Queens Park Rangers competed in the Football League First Division.

Queens Park Rangers
1996–97 season
Chairman Chris Wright
Manager Ray Wilkins (until September)
Stewart Houston (from September)
StadiumLoftus Road
First Division9th
FA CupFifth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
John Spencer (17)
All:
John Spencer (18)
Highest home attendance17,376 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 31 March)
Lowest home attendance7,354 (vs. Stoke City, 2 November)
Average home league attendance12,554
Biggest win4-0 Vs Southend United (14 December 1996)
Biggest defeat1-4 Vs West Bromwich Albion (28 December 1996)

Season summary

In August 1996, media tycoon Chris Wright, a QPR fan for 20 years, bought the club and also stated his plans for London Wasps to distribute the stadium.

Wright later suggested forming a new Loftus Road plc, including both QPR and London Wasps, on the Alternative Investment Market. A month later, Ray Wilkins left the club by mutual consent after a board meeting when he wanted money in an attempt to sign 34-year-old Ghana skipper Abedi Pele as well as being pushed to retire from his playing career.[1] Ex-Arsenal caretaker manager Stewart Houston took over the reins with former Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch as his assistant.

Houston's first signing for QPR broke the club's previous transfer record when Scottish international striker John Spencer was signed from Chelsea for £2.35 million in November 1996.[2] A month later, his ex-Chelsea teammate and former QPR player Gavin Peacock rejoined the club for a second spell. Northern Ireland international Steve Morrow also joined from Arsenal.

Ultimately, QPR's poor home form during the season cost them a chance of a play-off place and they finished 9th, five points outside the play-off places.

Kit

View From remained as QPR's kit manufacturers. Telecomunications giant Ericsson replaced Compaq as kit sponsors.

Final league table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 +6 68
8 Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55 +3 67
9 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60 +4 66
10 Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48 +4 66
11 Tranmere Rovers 46 17 14 15 63 56 +7 65
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
See also: Play-off results

Results

Queens Park Rangers' score comes first

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendance Position
17 August 1996Oxford UnitedH2–1Gallen, Dichio14,703 9
23 August 1996PortsmouthA2–1Gallen (2)7,501 1
28 August 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA1–1Dichio25,767 6
1 September 1996Bolton WanderersH1–2McDonald11,225 7
7 September 1996West Bromwich AlbionH0–212,886 10
11 September 1996Norwich CityA1–1Impey14,000 10
14 September 1996BarnsleyA3–1Barker, Perry, Dichio13,003 6
21 September 1996Swindon TownH1–1Murray13,662 9
28 September 1996Birmingham CityA0–017,430 12
2 October 1996Port ValeH1–2Barker8,727 13
5 October 1996Grimsby TownA0–25,472 13
12 October 1996Manchester CityH2–2Sinclair, Murray16,265 14
16 October 1996Bradford CityH1–0Brazier7,776 11
20 October 1996Tranmere RoversA3–2Slade, McDonald, Charles7,025 8
26 October 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–1Slade17,096 9
30 October 1996Ipswich TownH0–110,562 9
2 November 1996Stoke CityH1–1Sinclair7,354 11
10 November 1996Crystal PalaceA0–315,324 12
16 November 1996Charlton AthleticH1–2Sinclair12,360 14
23 November 1996ReadingA1–2Spencer12,847 20
30 November 1996Sheffield UnitedH1–0Barker (pen)11,891 14
7 December 1996Oldham AthleticA2–0Peacock, Spencer5,590 14
14 December 1996Southend UnitedH4–0Barker (pen), Harris (own goal), Spencer, Peacock11,117 11
21 December 1996Huddersfield TownA2–1Dichio, Brazier10,718 8
26 December 1996Norwich CityH3–2Peacock, Dichio, McDermott15,699 7
28 December 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–4Spencer19,061 9
11 January 1997BarnsleyH3–1Spencer (3)12,058 6
19 January 1997Port ValeA4–4Holwyn (own goal), Impey, Murray, Spencer5,736 7
29 January 1997Birmingham CityH1–1Spencer12,138 9
1 February 1997Crystal PalaceH0–116,467 10
5 February 1997Swindon TownA1–1Hateley10,830 9
8 February 1997Ipswich TownA0–212,983 12
22 February 1997Stoke CityA0–013,121 12
1 March 1997Oldham AthleticH0–110,180 13
4 March 1997Charlton AthleticA1–2Dichio10,610 13
8 March 1997Huddersfield TownH2–0McDermott, Spencer9,789 13
12 March 1997ReadingH0–210,316 13
15 March 1997Southend UnitedA1–0Roget (own goal)6,747 13
22 March 1997PortsmouthH2–1Murray, Spencer15,746 12
29 March 1997Oxford UnitedA3–2Yates, Spencer, Peacock8,365 12
31 March 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH2–2Spencer, Peacock17,376 10
5 April 1997Bolton WanderersA1–2Morrow19,198 12
12 April 1997Grimsby TownH3–0Spencer, Murray, Slade10,765 11
19 April 1997Manchester CityA3–0Spencer (2), Slade27,580 9
26 April 1997Tranmere RoversH2–0Dichio, Spencer14,859 7
4 May 1997Bradford CityA0–314,723 9

FA Cup
Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1997Huddersfield TownH1–111,776Hateley
R3R14 January 1997Huddersfield TownA2–111,814Peacock, McDonald
R425 January 1997BarnsleyH3–214,317Peacock, Spencer, Sinclair
R515 February 1997WimbledonA1–222,395Hateley

League Cup
Main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 First Leg18 September 1996Swindon TownA2–17,843Dichio, Impey
R2 Second Leg25 September 1996Swindon TownH1–3 (lost 3–4 on agg)6,976Brazier

Squad
Position Nationality Name League Appearances League Goals Cup Appearances League.Cup Goals F.A.Cup Goals Total Appearances Total Goals
GK  USA Juergen Sommer 33 3 36
GK  WAL Tony Roberts 13 3 16
DF  ENG Danny Maddix 18 2 27
DF  ENG Trevor Challis 2 2
DF  WAL Karl Ready 28 4 33
DF  NIR Alan McDonald 38 2 5 1 44 3
DF  ENG Rufus Brevett 44 6 50
DF  ENG Matt Brazier 22 2 3 1 30 3
DF  ENG Matt Jackson 7 7
DF  NIR Steve Morrow 5 1 5 1
DF  ENG Steve Yates 16 1 1 17 1
DF  ENG Chris Plummer 4 2 7
MF  ENG Ray Wilkins 4 4
MF  ENG Paul Murray 26 5 5 37 5
MF  ENG Andrew Impey 26 2 3 1 36 3
MF  ENG Simon Barker 38 4 4 42 4
MF  ENG Mark Perry 2 1 2 1
MF  ENG Gavin Peacock 27 5 4 2 31 7
MF  ENG Trevor Sinclair 39 3 7 1 46 4
MF  ENG Mark Graham 16 4 22
FW  ENG Mark Hateley 8 1 2 2 17 3
FW  ENG Kevin Gallen 2 3 2 3
FW  ENG Nigel Quashie 9 14
FW  ENG Michael Mahoney-Johnson 2
FW  AUS Andy McDermott 6 2 6 2
FW  SCO John Spencer 25 17 4 1 29 18
FW  ENG Steve Slade 11 3 16
FW  ENG Lee Charles 6 1 13 1
FW  ENG Danny Dichio 31 7 4 1 43 8


References
  1. Stenson, Tony (5 September 1996). "Game over for Wilkins". The Mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2011 – via The Free Library.
  2. Irwin, Mark (22 November 1996). "Spencer in £2.5m move from Chelsea to QPR". The Mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2011 – via The Free Library.
  3. "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

Notes
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