During the 1996–97 English football season, Preston North End F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary In the 1996–97 season, Preston manager Peters kept faith with the majority of his promotion winning outfit from last season, reinforcing his squad at various stages of the season with players who would be crucial to the club's success in subsequent campaigns. Mark Rankine joined from Wolves, Sean Gregan from Darlington for £350,000 and Michael Jackson from Bury. Slowly the team that had got Preston promoted were moved on, as the club looked to build for the future.

Final league table

Results Preston North End's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1996 Notts CountyA1–26,879Bryson 24 August 1996 Bristol RoversH0–09,752 27 August 1996 Crewe AlexandraH2–19,498Wilkinson (2) 30 August 1996 Plymouth ArgyleA1–29,209Wilkinson 7 September 1996 Bristol CityA1–28,016Kilbane 10 September 1996 York CityH1–06,276Ashcroft 14 September 1996 BournemouthH0–18,268 21 September 1996 WrexhamA0–15,299 28 September 1996 MillwallH2–19,400Holt, Saville 1 October 1996 WatfordA0–16,434 5 October 1996 Peterborough UnitedH3–48,874Ashcroft (2), Holt 12 October 1996 Stockport CountyA0–18,405 15 October 1996 WalsallA0–13,224 19 October 1996 Shrewsbury TownH2–18,333Seabury (own goal), Reeves 26 October 1996 GillinghamA1–16,256Kilbane 29 October 1996 BurnleyH1–112,652Reeves 2 November 1996 Rotherham UnitedH0–08,997 9 November 1996 ChesterfieldA1–24,759Reeves 19 November 1996 Luton TownH3–27,004Moyes (2), Ashcroft 23 November 1996 Wycombe WanderersA1–04,920Ashcroft (pen) 30 November 1996 GillinghamH1–09,616Davey 3 December 1996 BuryA0–35,447 13 December 1996 BlackpoolH3–014,626Bennett (2), Reeves 21 December 1996 BrentfordA0–05,365 28 December 1996 Bristol CityH0–210,905 11 January 1997 MillwallA2–37,096Davey (2, 1 pen) 18 January 1997 WatfordH1–18,735Bennett 25 January 1997 BurnleyA2–116,186Ashcroft (2) 1 February 1997 ChesterfieldH0–18,681 8 February 1997 Rotherham UnitedA1–03,556Reeves 11 February 1997 BournemouthA0–24,769 15 February 1997 Wycombe WanderersH2–17,923McKenna, Davey 22 February 1997 Luton TownA1–56,454Reeves 25 February 1997 York CityA1–32,515Cartwright 1 March 1997 BuryH3–18,749Moyes, Reeves, Stallard 8 March 1997 BrentfordH1–09,489Bryson 15 March 1997 BlackpoolA1–28,017Davey 18 March 1997 WrexhamH2–18,271Reeves, Ashcroft 23 March 1997 Bristol RoversA0–16,405 29 March 1997 Notts CountyH2–09,472Reeves, Moyes 31 March 1997 Crewe AlexandraA0–14,407 5 April 1997 Plymouth ArgyleH1–18,503Reeves 12 April 1997 Peterborough UnitedA0–25,040 19 April 1997 Stockport CountyH1–010,298Bryson 26 April 1997 Shrewsbury TownA2–05,341Gregan, Davey 3 May 1997 WalsallH2–010,800Holt, Reeves

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR116 November 1996 AltrinchamH4–18,286Reeves (3), AshcroftR27 December 1996 York CityH2–37,893Ashcroft (2, 1 pen)

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg 20 August 1996 Wigan AthleticA3–23,713Wilkinson (3)R1 2nd Leg 3 September 1996 Wigan AthleticH4–4 (won 7–6 on agg)5,767Davey, Wilkinson, Atkinson, McDonaldR2 1st Leg 17 September 1996 Tottenham HotspurH1–116,258HoltR2 2nd Leg 25 September 1996 Tottenham HotspurA0–3 (lost 1–4 on agg)20,080

Football League Trophy

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNR19 December 1996 ChesterfieldA2–01,169 Atkinson, BennettNR221 January 1997 York CityA0–11,428

Statistics Appearances and goals

|colspan=14|Player(s) who featured whilst on loan but returned to parent club during the season:

|colspan=14|Player(s) who left during the season:

|colspan=14|Player(s) out on loan:

Awards and Nominations

Club Awards Award Player Notes Player of the Year Sean Gregan

References