Harman Patil (Editor)

1996–97 Hartlepool United F.C. season

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Chairman
  
Harold Hornsey

Third Division
  
20th

League Cup
  
First round

Stadium
  
Victoria Park

FA Cup
  
First round

Manager
  
Keith Houchen (player-manager until 4 November) Mick Tait (player-manager from 4 November)

During the 1996–97 English football season, Hartlepool United F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

Contents

Season summary

In the 1996-97 season, Hartlepool started the campaign with wins over Colchester United and Fulham, but Houchen's playing career came to an end after the fifth game of the season, against Wigan Athletic, when he retired due to a persistent knee injury. Houchen continued to bemoan referring decisions which seemed to consistently go against Hartlepool. This in turn led to continued punishments from the FA over his use of foul language towards officials. With Hartlepool on a poor run of results at the foot of the table, he left the club by mutual consent on 4 November 1996. His assistant Mick Tait led the club to a 20th-place finish, and organised a benefit match for Houchen against Middlesbrough, which raised £23,000.

There was also a change of ownership in 1997, when Harold Hornsey sold the club to an oil company called IOR.

Final league table

  • Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
  • NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

    • Results

    Hartlepool United's score comes first

    Squad

    Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

    References

    1996–97 Hartlepool United F.C. season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA