1996–97 Football League First Division
| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bolton Wanderers |
| Promoted |
Bolton Wanderers Barnsley Crystal Palace |
| Relegated | Hereford United |
|
← 1995–96
1997–98 →
|
|
| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bolton Wanderers (3rd second tier title) |
| Direct promotion to FA Premier League |
Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley |
| Promoted to FA Premier League through play-offs | Crystal Palace |
| Relegated |
Grimsby Town, Oldham Athletic, Southend United |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1476 (2.67 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | John McGinlay (Bolton Wanderers), 24 |
|
← 1995–96
1997–98 →
|
|
| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bury (2nd third tier title) |
| Direct promotion |
Bury, |
| Promoted through play-offs | Crewe Alexandra |
| Relegated |
Notts County, Peterborough United, Rotherham United, Shrewsbury Town |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1257 (2.28 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Tony Thorpe (Luton Town), 28 |
|
← 1995–96
1997–98 →
|
|
| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Wigan Athletic (1st fourth tier title) |
| Direct promotion |
Wigan Athletic, Carlisle United, Fulham |
| Promoted through play-offs | Northampton |
| Relegated to Conference | Hereford United |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1383 (2.51 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Graeme Jones (Wigan Athletic), 31 |
|
← 1995–96
1997–98 →
|
|
The 1996–97 Football League (known as the Nationwide Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 98th completed season of The Football League.
Bolton Wanderers returned to the Premiership in superb fashion, hitting 100 goals and taking 98 points. Barnsley were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history, while Crystal Palace returned after a two-year absence by winning the play-offs.
The decline of Oldham Athletic continued, falling into the third tier for the first time in 23 years, and just three years after being in the Premiership. Grimsby Town and Southend United joined them in relegation to the Second Division.
Bury won their second consecutive promotion, taking the Second Division title, joined them in automatic promotion, and play-off winners Crewe Alexandra completed the trio moving up.
Going down were Peterborough United, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United and Notts County. County had been in the top division just five years earlier.
Wigan Athletic won the Third Division title on goals scored from Fulham. Carlisle United and play-off winners Northampton Town also won promotion to the Second Division.
Hereford United were the first club for four years to be relegated to the Conference after finishing bottom. Conference champions Macclesfield Town replaced Hereford (two years after Town had been denied entry to the Third Division). In December, Brighton & Hove Albion were 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Third Division, having had 2 points deducted for a pitch invasion. However a draw in their final game at Hereford kept Brighton in the league, and sent United down.
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