The 1996–1997 season was the 118th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and their first season back in the Football League First Division after relegation from the Premier League. It covers the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. After 102 years, this was the club's last season at Burnden Park.

Results

Nationwide League Division One DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance17 August 1996Port ValeA1–1Thompson 23'10,05720 August 1996Manchester CityH1–0Frandsen 49'18,25724 August 1996Norwich CityH3–1Blake (2) 27', 77', Johansen 46'13,5071 September 1996Queens Park RangersA2–1McGinlay 28', Thompson 90'11,2257 September 1996Southend UnitedA2–5Blake 23', McGinlay 31'4,47510 September 1996Grimsby TownH6–1Johansen (2) 9', 80', Blake (2) 19', 54', Lee 78', Taylor 90'12,44814 September 1996PortsmouthH2–0Blake 49', Fairclough 86'14,24821 September 1996Bradford CityA4–2Thompson 1', Blake (2) 20', 84', Frandsen 55'12,03428 September 1996Stoke CityH1–1Blake 42'16,1952 October 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA2–1McGinlay (2) 39', 86'26,54012 October 1996Oldham AthleticH3–1Johansen 7', McGinlay 20', 31'14,81315 October 1996Tranmere RoversH1–0Sellars 51'14,13619 October 1996Charlton AthleticA3–3McGinlay (2) 23', 61'(pen), Blake 73'11,09125 October 1996BarnsleyA2–2McGinlay 1'(pen), Thompson 49'9,41329 October 1996ReadingH2–1Sellars 40', McGinlay 58'12,6772 November 1996Huddersfield TownH2–0Thompson 20', McGinlay 72'15,86513 November 1996Birmingham CityA1–3Sheridan 75'17,03316 November 1996Crystal PalaceH2–2Sheridan 11', McGinlay 21' (pen)16,89219 November 1996Oxford UnitedA0–07,51722 November 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–1Blake 10'17,06930 November 1996BarnsleyH2–2Blake 20', Thompson 88'16,8528 December 1996West Bromwich AlbionA2–2Frandsen 37', Fairclough 62'13,08214 December 1996Ipswich TownH1–2Bergsson 70'13,31422 December 1996Swindon TownA2–2Green 58', McGinlay 84'8,94826 December 1996Grimsby TownA2–1Taggart 26', Blake 72'8,18528 December 1996Southend UnitedH3–1Sellars (2) 30', 33', McGinlay 76' (pen)16,3571 January 1997Bradford CityH2–0Lee 64', Sellars 84'16,19211 January 1997PortsmouthA3–0Blake (2) 55', 89', Johansen 74'10,46718 January 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH3–0McGinlay 21', Curle 58'(og), Blake 62'18,98029 January 1997Stoke CityA2–1Pollock 28', McGinlay 54'15,6451 February 1997Birmingham CityH2–1Pollock 29', McGinlay 78'(pen)16,7378 February 1997ReadingA2–3Thompson 61', McGinlay 64'10,73915 February 1997Sheffield UnitedH2–2Paatelainen 4', Fairclough 20'17,92222 February 1997Huddersfield TownA2–1Fairclough 22', Taggart 47'16,0612 March 1997West Bromwich AlbionH1–0Blake 34'13,2584 March 1997Crystal PalaceA1–1Fairclough 90'16,0358 March 1997Swindon TownH7–0Thompson 30', Frandsen 36', Pollock 53', Bergsson (2) 82', 89'McGinlay 85', Blake 87'13,98115 March 1997Ipswich TownA1–0McGinlay 26'16,18718 March 1997Port ValeH4–2Frandsen 9', Glover 38'(og), Fairclough 81', Blake 83'14,15022 March 1997Norwich CityA1–0Sellars 24'17,5855 April 1997Queens Park RangersH2–1Fairclough 44', McGinlay 49'19,1989 April 1997Manchester CityA2–1Paatelainen 38', Sellars 58'28,02612 April 1997Oxford UnitedH4–0Thompson (2) 32', 48', Sellars 40', Blake 61'15,99419 April 1997Oldham AthleticA0–010,70225 April 1997Charlton AthleticH4–1Thompson 46', Taggart 65', McGinlay (2) 89'(pen), 90'21,8804 May 1997Tranmere RoversA2–2McGinlay 27', Pollock 77'14,309

F.A. Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance21 January 1997Round 3Luton TownA1–1Pollock 26'7,41425 January 1997Round 3ReplayLuton TownH6–2McGinlay 8', Blake 52', 66', Thompson 64', Pollock83', Green 90'9,7134 February 1997Round 4ChesterfieldH2–3Taylor 14', Green 89'10,854

Coca-Cola Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance18 September 1996Round 2 First LegBristol CityA0–06,35124 September 1996Round 2 Second LegBristol CityH3–1 (aet)3–1 (agg)McGinlay 47', Blake 92', Thompson 107'6,36722 October 1996Round 3ChelseaH2–1McGinlay 22', Blake 43'16,86727 November 1996Round 4Tottenham HotspurH6–1McGinlay 6, 37', 74' (pen), Taggart 60', Blake 79', Taylor 86'18,6218 January 1997Round 5WimbledonH0–216,968

Transfers

Transfers in

PlayerFromDateFee Michael Johansen FC Copenhagen 1 August 1996 £1,250,000 Per Frandsen FC Copenhagen 7 August 1996 £1,250,000 Jamie Pollock Middlesbrough 15 November 1996 £1,500,000 John Sheridan Sheffield Wednesday 19 December 1996 £180,000 Neil Cox Middlesbrough 21 May 1997 £1,500,000

Transfers out

PlayerToDateFee Mark Walton Fulham 1 August 1996 Free Fabian de Freitas CA Osasuna 1 August 1996 Free Alan Stubbs Celtic 1 August 1996 £3,500,000 Saša Ćurčić Aston Villa 23 August 1996 £4,000,000 Wayne Burnett Huddersfield Town 20 September 1996 £100,000 Mark Patterson Sheffield United 22 December 1996 £300,000 Aidan Davison Bradford City 14 March 1997 Free

Loans in

PlayerFromDate FromDate To John Sheridan Sheffield Wednesday 12 November 1996 18 December 1996

Loans out

PlayerToDate FromDate To Stuart Whittaker Wigan Athletic 30 August 1996 10 September 1996 Wayne Burnett Huddersfield Town 6 September 1996 19 September 1996 Aidan Davison Ipswich Town 9 October 1996 9 November 1996 Aidan Davison Hull City 29 November 1996 25 January 1997

Appearances Bolton used a total of 22 players during the season.

PPlayerPositionFLFACLCTotal1 Chris FaircloughDefender46 (0)3 (0)5 (0)54 (0)2= Nathan BlakeStriker42 (0)3 (0)5 (0)50 (0)2= Gerry TaggartDefender43 (0)2 (0)5 (0)50 (0)4 John McGinlayStriker43 (0)1 (0)5 (0)49 (0)5 Per FrandsenMidfielder40 (1)2 (1)4 (1)46 (3)6 Scott SellarsMidfielder40 (2)2 (0)3 (1)45 (3)7= Keith BranaganGoalkeeper36 (0)0 (0)4 (0)40 (0)7= Jimmy PhillipsDefender36 (0)0 (0)4 (0)40 (0)9 Alan ThompsonMidfielder34 (0)1 (1)4 (0)39 (1)10 Guðni BergssonDefender30 (3)2 (0)3 (0)35 (3)11 Michael JohansenMidfielder24 (9)1 (1)3 (0)28 (10)12 Jamie PollockMidfielder18 (2)3 (0)0 (1)21(7)13 David LeeMidfielder13 (12)0 (1)2 (1)24 (8)14 John SheridanMidfielder12 (7)2 (0)2 (0)16 (7)15= Bryan SmallDefender10 (1)3 (0)1 (0)14 (1)15= Gavin WardGoalkeeper10 (1)3 (0)1 (0)14 (1)17 Steve McAnespieDefender11 (2)0 (0)1 (0)12 (2)18 Scott GreenDefender7 (5)1 (1)0 (0)8 (6)19 Andy ToddDefender6 (9)0 (0)1 (2)7 (11)20 Scott TaylorStriker2 (9)1 (0)0 (3)3 (12)21 Simon ColemanDefender0 (0)1 (0)0 (0)1 (0)22 Wayne BurnettDefender0 (1)0 (0)0 (0)0 (1)

Top scorers

PPlayerPositionFLFACLCTotal1 John McGinlayStriker2415302 Nathan BlakeStriker2023253 Alan ThompsonMidfielder1111133= Scott SellarsMidfielder80085 Chris FaircloughDefender7007

References