During the 1996–97 English football season, Plymouth Argyle F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
Season summary In the 1996–97 season, Plymouth manager Warnock was sacked within a year as the club narrowly avoided being relegated back to the basement division. Warnock's assistant Mick Jones became his successor.
In February 1997, Plymouth participated in "The Battle of Saltergate" – in a 2–1 win at Chesterfield, a fight broke out in the 88th minute, involving all 20 outfield players. Chesterfield's Darren Carr and Kevin Davies and Plymouth's Tony James and Richard Logan were all sent-off. To make matters even worse, Argyle's Wembley hero Ronnie Mauge had already been sent-off in the 36th minute. It was the first time in Football League history that five players were sent off in one game.
Final league table
Results Plymouth Argyle's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Second Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1996 York CityH2–19,035Corazzin, Heathcote 24 August 1996 WrexhamA4–43,920Evans, Littlejohn (2), Logan 27 August 1996 WatfordA2–07,349Billy, Littlejohn 30 August 1996 Preston North EndH2–19,209Evans, Logan 7 September 1996 Notts CountyH0–08,109 10 September 1996 BrentfordA2–35,377Mauge, Corazzin 14 September 1996 Stockport CountyA1–35,087Evans (pen) 21 September 1996 Bristol RoversH0–18,879 28 September 1996 Crewe AlexandraA0–33,797 1 October 1996 Peterborough UnitedH1–14,929James 5 October 1996 MillwallH0–07,507 12 October 1996 WalsallA1–03,720Littlejohn 15 October 1996 BournemouthA0–13,818 19 October 1996 Bristol CityH0–09,645 26 October 1996 BurnleyA1–29,602Evans 29 October 1996 GillinghamH2–04,787Evans, Illman 2 November 1996 Luton TownH3–37,134Mauge, Evans (2, 1 pen) 9 November 1996 Wycombe WanderersA1–25,456Williams 19 November 1996 ChesterfieldH0–34,237 23 November 1996 BuryA0–13,582 30 November 1996 BurnleyH0–06,289 3 December 1996 BlackpoolA2–22,690Wotton, Littlejohn 14 December 1996 Shrewsbury TownH2–25,075Mauge, Evans 21 December 1996 Rotherham UnitedA2–12,269Illman, Evans 26 December 1996 BrentfordH1–49,525Illman 11 January 1997 Crewe AlexandraH1–04,767Logan 18 January 1997 Peterborough UnitedA0–06,288 25 January 1997 GillinghamA1–45,465Evans 1 February 1997 Wycombe WanderersH0–05,024 8 February 1997 Luton TownA2–26,439Littlejohn, Evans 15 February 1997 BuryH2–05,486Logan, Corazzin 22 February 1997 ChesterfieldA2–15,833Evans, Saunders 25 February 1997 Bristol RoversA0–26,005 1 March 1997 BlackpoolH0–15,585 8 March 1997 Rotherham UnitedH1–04,717Corazzin (pen) 15 March 1997 Shrewsbury TownA3–23,414Billy (2), Illman 22 March 1997 WrexhamH0–15,468 29 March 1997 York CityA1–13,917Corazzin 31 March 1997 WatfordH0–06,836 5 April 1997 Preston North EndA1–18,503Saunders 8 April 1997 Stockport CountyH0–05,089 12 April 1997 MillwallA0–05,702 15 April 1997 Notts CountyA1–22,423Collins 19 April 1997 WalsallH2–05,535Saunders, Barlow 26 April 1997 Bristol CityA1–315,368Williams 3 May 1997 BournemouthH0–06,507
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR116 November 1996 FulhamH5–07,104Mauge, Evans (2, 1 pen), Littlejohn, CorazzinR26 December 1996 Exeter CityH4–112,911Evans, Mauge, Billy, LittlejohnR34 January 1997 Peterborough UnitedH0–17,299
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 BrentfordA0–13,034R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 BrentfordH0–0 (lost 0–1 on agg)5,180
Football League Trophy
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersSR110 December 1996 BournemouthH2–0944Illman, WottonSR214 January 1997 Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–01,295WottonSQF11 February 1997 Northampton TownH0–21,499
Players First-team squad Squad at end of season
References
Notes