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1996–97 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

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Queens Park Rangers
1996–97 season
ChairmanChris Wright
ManagerRay Wilkins (until September)
Stewart Houston (from September)
StadiumLoftus Road
First Division9th
FA CupFifth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
John Spencer (17)

All:
John Spencer (18)
Highest home attendance17,376 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 31 March)
Lowest home attendance7,354 (vs. Stoke City, 2 November)
Average home league attendance12,554
Biggest win4-0 Vs Southend United (14 December 1996)
Biggest defeat1-4 Vs West Bromwich Albion (28 December 1996)

During the 1996–97 English football season, Queens Park Rangers competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary

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In August 1996, media tycoon Chris Wright, a QPR fan for 20 years, bought the club and also stated his plans for London Wasps to distribute the stadium.

Wright later suggested forming a new Loftus Road plc, including both QPR and London Wasps, on the Alternative Investment Market. A month later, Ray Wilkins left the club by mutual consent after a board meeting when he wanted money in an attempt to sign 34-year-old Ghana skipper Abedi Pele as well as being pushed to retire from his playing career.[1] Ex-Arsenal caretaker manager Stewart Houston took over the reins with former Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch as his assistant.

Houston's first signing for QPR broke the club's previous transfer record when Scottish international striker John Spencer was signed from Chelsea for £2.35 million in November 1996.[2] A month later, his ex-Chelsea teammate and former QPR player Gavin Peacock rejoined the club for a second spell. Northern Ireland international Steve Morrow also joined from Arsenal.

Ultimately, QPR's poor home form during the season cost them a chance of a play-off place and they finished 9th, five points outside the play-off places.

Kit

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View From remained as QPR's kit manufacturers. Telecommunications giant Ericsson replaced Compaq as kit sponsors.

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 +6 68
8 Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55 +3 67
9 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60 +4 66
10 Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48 +4 66
11 Tranmere Rovers 46 17 14 15 63 56 +7 65
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference

Results

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Queens Park Rangers' score comes first

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

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Date Opponent Venue Result Scorers Attendance Position
17 August 1996 Oxford United H 2–1 Gallen, Dichio 14,703 9
23 August 1996 Portsmouth A 2–1 Gallen (2) 7,501 1
28 August 1996 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–1 Dichio 25,767 6
1 September 1996 Bolton Wanderers H 1–2 McDonald 11,225 7
7 September 1996 West Bromwich Albion H 0–2 12,886 10
11 September 1996 Norwich City A 1–1 Impey 14,000 10
14 September 1996 Barnsley A 3–1 Barker, Perry, Dichio 13,003 6
21 September 1996 Swindon Town H 1–1 Murray 13,662 9
28 September 1996 Birmingham City A 0–0 17,430 12
2 October 1996 Port Vale H 1–2 Barker 8,727 13
5 October 1996 Grimsby Town A 0–2 5,472 13
12 October 1996 Manchester City H 2–2 Sinclair, Murray 16,265 14
16 October 1996 Bradford City H 1–0 Brazier 7,776 11
20 October 1996 Tranmere Rovers A 3–2 Slade, McDonald, Charles 7,025 8
26 October 1996 Sheffield United A 1–1 Slade 17,096 9
30 October 1996 Ipswich Town H 0–1 10,562 9
2 November 1996 Stoke City H 1–1 Sinclair 7,354 11
10 November 1996 Crystal Palace A 0–3 15,324 12
16 November 1996 Charlton Athletic H 1–2 Sinclair 12,360 14
23 November 1996 Reading A 1–2 Spencer 12,847 20
30 November 1996 Sheffield United H 1–0 Barker (pen) 11,891 14
7 December 1996 Oldham Athletic A 2–0 Peacock, Spencer 5,590 14
14 December 1996 Southend United H 4–0 Barker (pen), Harris (own goal), Spencer, Peacock 11,117 11
21 December 1996 Huddersfield Town A 2–1 Dichio, Brazier 10,718 8
26 December 1996 Norwich City H 3–2 Peacock, Dichio, McDermott 15,699 7
28 December 1996 West Bromwich Albion A 1–4 Spencer 19,061 9
11 January 1997 Barnsley H 3–1 Spencer (3) 12,058 6
19 January 1997 Port Vale A 4–4 Holwyn (own goal), Impey, Murray, Spencer 5,736 7
29 January 1997 Birmingham City H 1–1 Spencer 12,138 9
1 February 1997 Crystal Palace H 0–1 16,467 10
5 February 1997 Swindon Town A 1–1 Hateley 10,830 9
8 February 1997 Ipswich Town A 0–2 12,983 12
22 February 1997 Stoke City A 0–0 13,121 12
1 March 1997 Oldham Athletic H 0–1 10,180 13
4 March 1997 Charlton Athletic A 1–2 Dichio 10,610 13
8 March 1997 Huddersfield Town H 2–0 McDermott, Spencer 9,789 13
12 March 1997 Reading H 0–2 10,316 13
15 March 1997 Southend United A 1–0 Roget (own goal) 6,747 13
22 March 1997 Portsmouth H 2–1 Murray, Spencer 15,746 12
29 March 1997 Oxford United A 3–2 Yates, Spencer, Peacock 8,365 12
31 March 1997 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–2 Spencer, Peacock 17,376 10
5 April 1997 Bolton Wanderers A 1–2 Morrow 19,198 12
12 April 1997 Grimsby Town H 3–0 Spencer, Murray, Slade 10,765 11
19 April 1997 Manchester City A 3–0 Spencer (2), Slade 27,580 9
26 April 1997 Tranmere Rovers H 2–0 Dichio, Spencer 14,859 7
4 May 1997 Bradford City A 0–3 14,723 9

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 4 January 1997 Huddersfield Town H 1–1 11,776 Hateley
R3R 14 January 1997 Huddersfield Town A 2–1 11,814 Peacock, McDonald
R4 25 January 1997 Barnsley H 3–2 14,317 Peacock, Spencer, Sinclair
R5 15 February 1997 Wimbledon A 1–2 22,395 Hateley

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 First Leg 18 September 1996 Swindon Town A 2–1 7,843 Dichio, Impey
R2 Second Leg 25 September 1996 Swindon Town H 1–3 (lost 3–4 on agg) 6,976 Brazier

Squad

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Position Nationality Name League Appearances League Goals Cup Appearances League.Cup Goals F.A.Cup Goals Total Appearances Total Goals
GK  USA Juergen Sommer 33 3 36
GK  WAL Tony Roberts 13 3 16
DF  ENG Danny Maddix 18 2 27
DF  ENG Trevor Challis 2 2
DF  WAL Karl Ready 28 4 33
DF  NIR Alan McDonald 38 2 5 1 44 3
DF  ENG Rufus Brevett 44 6 50
DF  ENG Matt Brazier 22 2 3 1 30 3
DF  ENG Matt Jackson 7 7
DF  NIR Steve Morrow 5 1 5 1
DF  ENG Steve Yates 16 1 1 17 1
DF  ENG Chris Plummer 4 2 7
MF  ENG Ray Wilkins 4 4
MF  ENG Paul Murray 26 5 5 37 5
MF  ENG Andrew Impey 26 2 3 1 36 3
MF  ENG Simon Barker 38 4 4 42 4
MF  ENG Mark Perry 2 1 2 1
MF  ENG Gavin Peacock 27 5 4 2 31 7
MF  ENG Trevor Sinclair 39 3 7 1 46 4
MF  ENG Mark Graham 16 4 22
FW  ENG Mark Hateley 8 1 2 2 17 3
FW  ENG Kevin Gallen 2 3 2 3
FW  ENG Nigel Quashie 9 14
FW  ENG Michael Mahoney-Johnson 2
FW  AUS Andy McDermott 6 2 6 2
FW  SCO John Spencer 25 17 4 1 29 18
FW  ENG Steve Slade 11 3 16
FW  ENG Lee Charles 6 1 13 1
FW  ENG Danny Dichio 31 7 4 1 43 8


Transfers Out

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Name from Date Fee Date Club Fee
Gregory Goodridge Torquay United 9 August 1995 £100,000 August 1996 Bristol City £50,000
Mark Hateley Rangers 3 November 1995 £1,500,000 August 1996 Leeds United Loan
Michael Mahoney-Johnson Queens Park Rangers Juniors April 1995 August 1996 Wycombe Wanderers Loan
Ray Wilkins Crystal Palace November 1994 September 1996 Wycombe Wanderers Free
Andy McDermott Australian Institute of Sport 5 August 1995 £20,000 March 1997 West Bromwich Albion £400,000
Mark Hateley Rangers 3 November 1995 £1,500,000 July 1997 Rangers £300,000
Alan McDonald Queens Park Rangers Juniors August 1981 July 1997 Swindon Town Free
Danny Dichio Queens Park Rangers Juniors May 1993 July 1997 Sampdoria Free

Transfers In

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Name from Date Fee
Matt Jackson Everton August 1996 Loan
John Spencer Chelsea November 1996 £2,500,000
Gavin Peacock Chelsea November 1996 £800,000
Richard Langley Queens Park Rangers Juniors December 1996
Steve Morrow Arsenal March 1997 £1,000,000
Matthew Rose Arsenal May 1997 £500,000
Lee Harper Arsenal July 1997 £125,000
Mike Sheron Stoke City July 1997 £2,350,000

References

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  1. ^ Stenson, Tony (5 September 1996). "Game over for Wilkins". The Mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2011 – via The Free Library.
  2. ^ Irwin, Mark (22 November 1996). "Spencer in £2.5m move from Chelsea to QPR". The Mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2011 – via The Free Library.
  3. ^ "England 1996–97". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

Notes

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