1996–97 Gillingham F.C. season
First round | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Iffy Onuora (21) All: Iffy Onuora (23) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highest home attendance | 10,603 vs Coventry City (22 October 1996) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 1,193 vs Cardiff City (10 December 1996) | ||
| |||
During the
Gillingham also competed in three
Background and pre-season
The 1996–97 season was Gillingham's 65th playing in the Football League and the 47th since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938.[1] In the previous season, Gillingham had finished second in the Third Division. The team had thus been promoted to the Second Division, returning to the third tier of the English football league system for the first time since 1989.[2]
Six other players joined the club prior to the start of the new season, four of whom incurred a transfer fee. The highest fee other than that paid for Hessenthaler was £65,000 (equivalent to £130,000 in 2021) for
Second Division
August–December
Gillingham began the season with a home game at
On 15 October, Gillingham defeated Shrewsbury Town 2–1, but then began a run of five league games without a win.[16] With Fortune-West missing, Pulis paired Onuora with various different players in the forward positions.[16] One of these, Steve Butler, scored two penalty kicks against Millwall on 19 October, making him only the fourth player to score from more than one penalty for Gillingham in a Football League match, but Gillingham lost 3–2.[19][20] Defender Guy Butters, a £225,000 (equivalent to £450,000 in 2021) signing from Portsmouth, made his debut in the draw with Preston North End on 26 October,[19] and Pulis further bolstered his defensive options by signing Adrian Pennock from AFC Bournemouth for £25,000 (equivalent to £50,000 in 2021).[21]
Gillingham ended the winless run with a victory over
January–May
Due to the postponement of a number of scheduled matches, the first league game of 1997 did not take place until 18 January and resulted in a 1–1 draw with Notts County.[31] Forward Ade Akinbiyi made his debut, having joined the club days earlier from Norwich City for another new club record fee of £250,000 (equivalent to £500,000 in 2021).[32][33] He scored his first goal for the club seven days later in a 4–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle, the team's biggest win of the season.[16] Gillingham remained undefeated in the league in 1997 until the end of February, a run of six games.[16] The team followed a win over Bristol Rovers on 8 February with victory over York City, the first time they had won two consecutive league games all season, and then gained a third consecutive win by defeating Peterborough United.[16] After this run, Gillingham had climbed to 15th in the table.[34]
In March, Fortune-West was fit again after his injury but could not regain a place in the team due to the form of Onuora and Akinbiyi and was sent on loan to Leyton Orient of the Third Division.[17] Gillingham began the month with a 3–2 defeat to Crewe Alexandra, the first time the team had lost in the league in 1997, but followed it up by defeating sixth-placed Watford, Butler scoring the winning goal against his former club in the final minute.[35][36] Beginning with the game against Wycombe Wanderers on 22 March, Onuora scored in five consecutive matches, making him only the seventh player to achieve this feat for Gillingham in the Football League.[16][37] The first three games of this run resulted in victories over Wycombe, Rotherham and Bristol City.[31] In the next game, against promotion-chasing Brentford, Onuora gave Gillingham the lead but their opponents scored twice to win;[38] Gillingham ended March 15th in the table.[39]
Gillingham's first match of April resulted in a 2–2 draw against Chesterfield; Gillingham were winning until the final minute but then conceded an equalising goal.[40] Seven days later, Gillingham drew 2–2 against AFC Bournemouth in identical circumstances, conceding an equaliser in the 90th minute.[41] Butler scored in both games and also scored in the next two, a victory over Stockport County and a defeat to Blackpool.[31] Gillingham ended the season with three consecutive 2–0 victories, defeating Millwall, Walsall and Shrewsbury. Onuora scored two goals and Akinbiyi three during this run.[31] Gillingham finished the season in 11th place in the table, six points below the promotion play-off places.[30]
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[16]
Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 August 1996 | Bristol City (H) | 3–2 | Fortune-West, Harris, Piper | 7,217 |
24 August 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers (A) | 1–1 | Ratcliffe | 4,582 |
27 August 1996 | Brentford (A) | 0–2 | 5,384 | |
31 August 1996 | Chesterfield (H) | 0–1 | 5,934 | |
7 September 1996 | Burnley (H) | 1–0 | Fortune-West | 6,116 |
10 September 1996 | Luton Town (A) | 1–2 | Chapman | 4,604 |
14 September 1996 | Walsall (A) | 0–1 | 3,419 | |
21 September 1996 | Rotherham United (H) | 3–1 | Onuora (3) | 4,920 |
28 September 1996 | Stockport County (A) | 1–2 | Onuora | 6,049 |
1 October 1996 | Notts County (H) | 1–0 | Onuora | 5,482 |
5 October 1996 | AFC Bournemouth (H) | 1–1 | Onuora | 6,162 |
12 October 1996 | Blackpool (A) | 0–2 | 4,320 | |
15 October 1996 | Shrewsbury Town (A) | 2–1 | Onuora, Bailey | 2,042 |
19 October 1996 | Millwall (H) | 2–3 | Butler (2 pens.) | 9,305 |
26 October 1996 | Preston North End (H) | 1–1 | Onuora | 6,256 |
29 October 1996 | Plymouth Argyle (A) | 0–2 | 4,787 | |
2 November 1996 | Bristol Rovers (A) | 0–0 | 5,530 | |
9 November 1996 | Wrexham (H) | 1–2 | Ratcliffe | 5,094 |
19 November 1996 | Peterborough United (A) | 1–0 | Onuora | 4,136 |
23 November 1996 | York City (H) | 0–1 | 5,048 | |
30 November 1996 | Preston North End (A) | 0–1 | 9,616 | |
3 December 1996 | Crewe Alexandra (H) | 2–1 | Pennock, Smith | 3,575 |
14 December 1996 | Bury (H) | 2–2 | Butler, Ratcliffe | 5,542 |
21 December 1996 | Watford (A) | 0–0 | 7,809 | |
26 December 1996 | Luton Town (H) | 1–2 | Onuora | 8,598 |
28 December 1996 | Burnley (A) | 1–5 | Bailey | 10,004 |
18 January 1997 | Notts County (A) | 1–1 | Puttnam | 5,008 |
25 January 1997 | Plymouth Argyle (H) | 4–1 | Curran (o.g.), Green, Ratcliffe, Akinbiyi | 5,465 |
1 February 1997 | Wrexham (A) | 1–1 | Akinbiyi | 3,193 |
8 February 1997 | Bristol Rovers (H) | 1–0 | Hessenthaler | 6,900 |
15 February 1997 | York City (A) | 3–2 | Onuora, Ratcliffe, Akinbiyi | 2,748 |
22 February 1997 | Peterborough United (H) | 2–1 | Onuora (2) | 6,552 |
1 March 1997 | Crewe Alexandra (A) | 2–3 | Green, Akinbiyi | 3,555 |
8 March 1997 | Watford (H) | 3–1 | Hessenthaler, Onuora (pen.), Butler | 7,385 |
15 March 1997 | Bury (A) | 0–3 | 3,492 | |
22 March 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers (H) | 1–0 | Onuora | 5,932 |
25 March 1997 | Rotherham United (A) | 2–1 | Onuora, Ratcliffe | 2,664 |
29 March 1997 | Bristol City (A) | 1–0 | Onuora (pen.) | 11,276 |
31 March 1997 | Brentford (H) | 1–2 | Onuora | 7,361 |
5 April 1997 | Chesterfield (A) | 2–2 | Butler, Onuora | 3,926 |
12 April 1997 | AFC Bournemouth (A) | 2–2 | Butler, Pennock | 5,008 |
16 April 1997 | Stockport County (H) | 1–0 | Butler | 4,485 |
19 April 1997 | Blackpool (H) | 2–3 | Galloway, Butler | 5,151 |
26 April 1997 | Millwall (A) | 2–0 | Akinbiyi, Onuora | 8,946 |
29 April 1997 | Walsall (H) | 2–0 | Onuora, Butler | 4,095 |
3 May 1997 | Shrewsbury Town (H) | 2–0 | Akinbiyi (2) | 6,183 |
Partial league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Wrexham | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 55 | 50 | +5 | 69 |
9 | Burnley | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 71 | 55 | +16 | 68 |
10 | Chesterfield | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 42 | 39 | +3 | 68 |
11 | Gillingham | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 60 | 59 | +1 | 67 |
12 | Walsall | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 67 |
13 | Watford | 46 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 45 | 38 | +7 | 67 |
14 | Millwall | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 50 | 55 | −5 | 61 |
Cup matches
FA Cup
As a Second Division team, Gillingham entered the 1996–97 FA Cup in the first round. A goal from Butler gave Gillingham 1–0 victory over Hereford United of the Third Division.[42] In the second round, Gillingham played another Third Division team, Cardiff City, and won 2–0 with goals from Onuora and Hessenthaler.[43] The teams from the top two divisions of English football entered the competition in the third round and Gillingham were paired with Derby County of the FA Premier League. The game took place on 14 January and by the midway point of the second half remained goalless, however the referee abandoned the match due to the frozen pitch.[44][45] The game was rescheduled for a week later; with forwards Onuora, Akinbiyi and Bailey all unavailable due to injury or suspension, Gillingham played poorly and lost 2–0.[46][47]
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[48]
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 November 1996 | First | Hereford United (H) | 1–0 | Butler | 5,280 |
7 December 1996 | Second | Cardiff City (A) | 2–0 | Onuora, Hessenthaler | 3,474 |
21 January 1997 | Third | Derby County (H) | 0–2 | 9,508 |
Football League Cup
As a Second Division team, Gillingham entered the
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 August 1996 | First (first leg) | Swansea City (A) | 1–0 | Torpey (o.g.) | 2,711 |
4 September 1996 | First (second leg) | Swansea City (H) | 2–0 | Fortune-West, Butler | 3,633 |
17 September 1996 | Second (first leg) | Barnsley (A) | 1–1 | Ratcliffe | 4,491 |
24 September 1996 | Second (second leg) | Barnsley (H) | 1–0 | Puttnam | 5,666 |
22 October 1996 | Third | Coventry City (H) | 2–2 | Onuora, Ratcliffe | 10,603 |
13 November 1996 | Third (replay) | Coventry City (A) | 1–0 | Smith | 12,639 |
26 November 1996 | Fourth | Ipswich Town (A) | 0–1 | 13,537 |
Football League Trophy
In the first round of the
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[62]
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 December 1996 | First | Cardiff City (H) | 1–2 ( a.e.t. )
|
Piper | 1,193 |
Players
Thirty players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season. Ratcliffe made the most, playing in 52 of the team's 57 games. Smith played 51 times and five other players made more than 40 appearances. Two players made only one appearance each.
Fifteen players scored at least one goal for Gillingham during the season. Onuora was the top scorer; he scored 21 times in the Second Division, once in the FA Cup, and once in the League Cup. His total of 23 goals was the highest by a Gillingham player for five seasons; it was more than twice that of the next highest scorer, Butler, who achieved a total of 11 goals across all competitions.
Player | Position | Second Division
|
FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Ade Akinbiyi | FW | 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 |
Craig Armstrong | DF | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Dennis Bailey | FW | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
Matt Bryant | DF | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
Steve Butler | FW | 38 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 11 |
Guy Butters | DF | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
Richard Carpenter | MF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Ian Chapman | DF | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
Jon Ford | DF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Leo Fortune-West | FW | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
Mick Galloway | MF | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
Jonathan Gould | GK | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Richard Green | DF | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
Mark Harris | DF | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
Andy Hessenthaler | MF | 38 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 3 |
John Humphrey | DF | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Billy Manuel | MF | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Andy Marshall | GK | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Mark Morris | DF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Mark O'Connor | FW | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
Iffy Onuora | FW | 40 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 23 |
Adrian Pennock | DF | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
James Pinnock | FW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Lenny Piper | MF | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 2 |
Dave Puttnam | FW | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
Simon Ratcliffe | DF | 43 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 8 |
Andrew Sambrook | DF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Neil Smith | MF | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
Jim Stannard | GK | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
Glen Thomas | DF | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender
Aftermath
At the end of the season, the Gordon Road stand at Priestfield was demolished and replaced with a new stand in the first significant redevelopment of the stadium for more than 30 years.[66] Harris and Smith left the club to join Cardiff City and Fulham respectively.[67] Following on from the strong finish to the 1996–97 season, Gillingham began the following season mounting a challenge for promotion, which would take the club to the second tier of English football for the first time, but the team ultimately fell short of the play-offs, finishing seventh.[68][69]
References
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- ^ Rollin 2001, pp. 182–183.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 265.
- ^ Rollin 1996, p. 167.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 210.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 156.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 155–156.
- ^ "Andy Hessenthaler steps down as Gillingham manager". BBC Sport. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ "Greatest ever Gills". BBC. 24 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b Triggs 2001, p. 257.
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- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 235.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 87, 167.
- ^ Rollin 1997, pp. 172–173.
- ^ Taylor, Dave (17 August 1996). "A review of the pre-season". Gillingham Vs Bristol City Matchday Programme.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rollin 1997, p. 175.
- ^ a b Triggs 2001, p. 123.
- ^ "League Division 2 table after close of play on 5 October 1996". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ a b Triggs 2001, p. 76.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 349.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 254.
- ^ Parsons, Lindsay (23 November 1996), "The Management", Gillingham Vs York City Matchday Programme
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 208.
- ^ "League Division 2 table after close of play on 30 November 1996". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
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- ^ "Forster's double boost for Brentford; Football: Second Division round-up". The Independent. 27 December 1996. p. S9. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "Gills' bitter pills". Sunday Mirror. 29 December 1996. p. 68. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "Football League Review: Karama ref row". The Observer. 29 December 1996. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "League Division 2 table after close of play on 28 December 1996". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Rollin 1997, p. 31.
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- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 41.
- ^ "Football: Norwich take Rocastle on loan". The Independent. 8 January 1997. p. 21. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ "League Division 2 table after close of play on 22 February 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
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- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 75.
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- ^ Rollin 1997, pp. 82, 174.
- ^ "League Division 2 table after close of play on 31 March 1997". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Rollin 1997, pp. 130, 174.
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- ^ Rollin 1997, p. 598.
- ^ Rollin 1997, p. 600.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 17.
- ^ Haylett, Trevor (15 January 1997). "Soccer: Gillingham are put on ice – Cup round-up". The Guardian. p. 20. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 22.
- ^ Moore, Glenn (22 January 1997). "Derby have the measure of Gills; Gillingham 0 Derby County 2". The Independent. p. 26. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ Rollin 1997, pp. 598–603.
- ^ Rollin 1997, pp. 578–579.
- ^ Rollin 1997, pp. 580, 582.
- ^ Rollin 1997, p. 584.
- ^ a b Brown 2003, p. 106.
- ^ Weaver, Paul (23 October 1996). "Soccer: Gills catch their breath through Onuora – Gillingham 2, Coventry City 2". The Guardian. p. 22. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ Kempson, Russell (23 October 1996). "Coventry are held back by power of Ratcliffe; Football". The Times. p. 44. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ Haylett, Trevor (14 November 1996). "Soccer: Gills leave Strachan stricken – Coca-Cola Cup, third-round replays: Coventry City 0, Gillingham 1". The Guardian. p. 22. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ O'Hagan, Simon (14 November 1996). "Football: Smith ruins Strachan's opening night". The Independent. p. 28. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via Gale.
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- ^ Haylett, Trevor (27 November 1996). "Soccer: Naylor's Suffolk punch floors battling Gills – Ipswich Town 1, Gillingham 0". The Guardian. p. 32. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via Gale.
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Works cited
- Brown, Eric (1998). News of the World Football Annual 1998–99. London: Invincible Press. ISBN 978-0-00218-857-9.
- Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. ISBN 978-1-89946-820-1.
- Elligate, David (2009). Gillingham FC On This Day. ISBN 978-1-9054-1145-0.
- Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1996). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1996–97. London: ISBN 978-0-74727-781-1.
- Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1997). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98. London: ISBN 978-0-74727-738-5.
- Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2001). Rothmans Football Yearbook 2001–02. London: ISBN 978-0-74727-260-1.
- Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. ISBN 978-0-75242-243-5.