1896–97 Everton F.C. season
| 1896–97 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Dick Molyneux | ||
| The Football League | Seventh | ||
| Top goalscorer | John Bell 15 | ||
| Highest home attendance | 45,000 vs Liverpool 21 November 1896 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 6,000 vs Wolves 31 October 1896, vs Burnley 28 November 1896 and vs Bury 24 April 1897 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 15,913 | ||
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The 1896/97 Football League season was the ninth in Football League history with Everton having been an ever present in the top division. The club played thirty-five games in England's two major competitions, winning eighteen, drawing three and losing fourteen. The club finished the season in seventh place, eight points clear of the test match relegation place, and reached their second F A Cup final but again lost, this time 2-3 against Aston Villa.
In each of the previous two seasons Everton had started the calendar year on top of the League, only to falter in the second half of the season. In their bid to strengthen the forward line they brought in Jack Taylor from his hometown club St Mirren, slotting into the role vacated by Tom McInnes who had departed during the summer for Luton Town to join the forward line of Bell, Chadwick, Milward and Hartley.
Elsewhere the familiar half back line of Boyle, Holt & Stewart would line up in front of full back, Smart Arridge, who would be partnered in defence this year by David Storrier after James Adams had returned to his former club Hearts
On paper this side looked as good as any in the First Division but there was uncertainty over the ability of the inexperienced goalkeeper, Harry Briggs, who had stepped in to make just one appearance the previous season after the departure of Jack Hillman.
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