During the 1996–97 English football season, Oldham Athletic A.F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary The 1996–97 season was a major struggle for Oldham which resulted in Graeme Sharp resigning in February. Sharp was succeeded by Neil Warnock, who had previously achieved promotion success with Scarborough, Notts County (twice), Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle but was unable to save Oldham from relegation to the third tier for the first time in 23 years which was confirmed three months later following Bradford City's win against Charlton Athletic.

Final league table

Results Oldham Athletic's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1996 Stoke CityH1–28,021Redmond 24 August 1996 Crystal PalaceA1–312,822McCarthy 28 August 1996 Swindon TownA0–18,025 31 August 1996 Ipswich TownH3–35,339Rickers, Redmond, Banger 7 September 1996 Sheffield UnitedH0–27,323 10 September 1996 Birmingham CityA0–017,228 13 September 1996 Huddersfield TownA2–310,296McCarthy (2) 21 September 1996 BarnsleyH0–17,043 28 September 1996 Charlton AthleticA0–112,178 1 October 1996 West Bromwich AlbionH1–15,817Ormondroyd 5 October 1996 Port ValeH3–06,051Ormondroyd (2), Banger 12 October 1996 Bolton WanderersA1–314,813Allott 16 October 1996 Norwich CityA0–212,271 19 October 1996 ReadingH1–17,171Örlygsson (pen) 26 October 1996 Southend UnitedH0–06,606 29 October 1996 Grimsby TownA3–03,532Ormondroyd, Halle (2) 2 November 1996 Bradford CityA3–010,855Barlow (3) 9 November 1996 PortsmouthH0–07,639 15 November 1996 Tranmere RoversA1–18,327Ormondroyd 23 November 1996 Oxford UnitedH2–14,851Barlow, Halle 30 November 1996 Southend UnitedA1–15,001Richardson (pen) 7 December 1996 Queens Park RangersH0–25,590 14 December 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–022,528Ormondroyd 21 December 1996 Manchester CityH2–112,992Ormondroyd, Banger 28 December 1996 Sheffield UnitedA2–216,130Henry, Rickers 18 January 1997 West Bromwich AlbionA1–112,103Barlow 25 January 1997 Huddersfield TownH1–28,588Richardson 1 February 1997 PortsmouthA0–19,135 8 February 1997 Grimsby TownH0–36,549 15 February 1997 Oxford UnitedA1–36,868Graham 22 February 1997 Bradford CityH1–29,524Ormondroyd 1 March 1997 Queens Park RangersA1–010,180Banger 4 March 1997 Tranmere RoversH1–25,417Örlygsson , Banger 8 March 1997 Manchester CityA0–130,729 15 March 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersH3–29,661Rickers (2), Barlow 18 March 1997 Charlton AthleticH1–14,969Barlow 23 March 1997 Crystal PalaceH0–15,282 29 March 1997 Stoke CityA1–211,755Barlow 31 March 1997 Swindon TownH5–15,699Richardson (pen), Barlow (3), Rush 5 April 1997 Ipswich TownA0–411,730 8 April 1997 Birmingham CityH2–25,942Richardson (pen), Reid 12 April 1997 Port ValeA2–311,701Garnett, Duxbury 15 April 1997 BarnsleyA0–217,476 19 April 1997 Bolton WanderersH0–010,702 26 April 1997 ReadingA0–28,301Ritchie 4 May 1997 Norwich CityH3–05,562McCarthy, Rush, Barlow

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR35 January 1997 BarnsleyA0–29,936

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 First Leg 20 August 1996 Grimsby TownH0–12,975R1 Second Leg 3 September 1996 Grimsby TownA1–0 (won 5–4 on pens)2,371McCarthyR2 First Leg 17 September 1996 Tranmere RoversH2–23,094Redmond, RichardsonR2 Second Leg 24 September 1996 Tranmere RoversA1–03,711BangerR323 October 1996 Newcastle UnitedA0–136,314

First-team squad

References

Notes