1996–97 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

English football club season March 2015 May 2026 Queens Park Rangers 1996–97 Ray Wilkins (until 3 September)Stewart Houston (from 16 September) Chris Wright Loftus Road First Division 9th FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Second round John Spencer (17) John Spencer (18) 17,376 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 31 March) 7,354 (vs. Stoke City, 2 November) 12,554 _white_hoops _bluehoops3 _white_hoops _white_hoops_color 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF _blackborder _blackcollar _blackborder _blackbottom _blacktop FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 1995–96 1997–98 4-0 Vs Southend United (14 December 1996) 1-4 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 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.Stenson Tony Game over for Wilkins http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Game+over+for+Wilkins.-a061337181 The Free Library The Mirror 5 September 1996 14 October 2011 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.Irwin Mark Spencer in £2.5m move from Chelsea to QPR http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Spencer+in+pounds+2.5m+move.-a061282168 The Free Library The Mirror 22 November 1996 14 October 2011 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 View From remained as QPR's kit manufacturers. Telecommunications giant Ericsson replaced Compaq as kit sponsors. Final league table 1996–97 Football League First Division y QPR Football League Championship play-offs#1997 Play-off results Results Queens Park Rangers' score comes first Legend WinDrawLoss Football League First Division DateOpponentsVenueResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition 17 August 1996Oxford UnitedH2–1Gallen, Dichio14,7036 23 August 1996PortsmouthA2–1Gallen (2)7,5014 28 August 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA1–1Dichio25,7676 1 September 1996Bolton WanderersH1–2McDonald11,2256 7 September 1996West Bromwich AlbionH0–2 12,88610 11 September 1996Norwich CityA1–1Impey14,00010 14 September 1996BarnsleyA3–1Barker, Perry, Dichio13,0036 21 September 1996Swindon TownH1–1Live statistics Queens Park Rangers vs Swindon Town - Championship 1996/97 https://www.besoccer.com/match/swindon-town/queens-park-rangers-fc/199739555Murray 27'13,6629 28 September 1996Birmingham CityA0–0 17,43012 2 October 1996Port ValeH1–2Barker8,72713 5 October 1996Grimsby TownA0–2 5,47213 12 October 1996Manchester CityH2–2Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City away 1996/97 – City Til I Die https://www.citytilidie.com/latest/qpr-away-199697/ 20 April 2026 www.citytilidie.comSinclair 22', Murray 30'16,26512 16 October 1996Bradford CityH1–0Brazier7,77611 20 October 1996Tranmere RoversA3–2Slade, McDonald, Charles7,0258 26 October 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–1Slade17,0969 30 October 1996Ipswich TownH0–1 10,5629 2 November 1996Stoke CityH1–1Sinclair7,35411 10 November 1996Crystal PalaceA0–3 15,32412 16 November 1996Charlton AthleticH1–2Sinclair12,36015 23 November 1996ReadingA1–2Spencer12,84719 30 November 1996Sheffield UnitedH1–0Barker (pen)11,89116 7 December 1996Oldham AthleticA2–0Peacock, Spencer5,59014 14 December 1996Southend UnitedH4–0Barker (pen), Harris (own goal), Spencer, Peacock11,11711 21 December 1996Huddersfield TownA2–1Russell Steve 28 August 2015 From December 1996: Huddersfield Town (1) – QPR (2) https://www.indyrs.co.uk/2015/08/from-december-1996-huddersfield-town-1-qpr-2/ 27 April 2026 Independent Rs en-GBDichio 45', Brazier10,7187 26 December 1996Norwich CityH3–2Peacock, Dichio, McDermott15,6996 28 December 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–4Spencer19,06171 January 1997Swindon TownAPP 11 January 1997BarnsleyH3–1Spencer (3)12,0586 19 January 1997Port ValeA4–4Holwyn (own goal), Impey, Murray, Spencer5,7367 29 January 1997Birmingham CityH1–1Spencer12,1387 1 February 1997Crystal PalaceH0–1 16,46710 5 February 1997Swindon TownA1–1TownEnders.com - Swindon Town FC - Match Centre https://www.townenders.com/match.php?match_id=19970131 23 April 2026 www.townenders.comHateley 41'10,8307 8 February 1997Ipswich TownA0–2 12,9831019 February 1997ReadingHPP 22 February 1997Stoke CityA0–0 13,12112 1 March 1997Oldham AthleticH0–1 10,18013 4 March 1997Charlton AthleticA1–2Dichio10,61013 8 March 1997Huddersfield TownH2–0McDermott, Spencer9,78913 12 March 1997ReadingH0–2 10,31613 15 March 1997Southend UnitedA1–0Roget (own goal)6,74713 22 March 1997PortsmouthH2–1Murray, Spencer15,74611 29 March 1997Oxford UnitedA3–2Yates, Spencer, Peacock8,36512 31 March 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH2–2Spencer, Peacock17,37610 5 April 1997Bolton WanderersA1–2Morrow19,19812 12 April 1997Grimsby TownH3–0Spencer, Murray, Slade10,76511 19 April 1997Manchester CityA3–0Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers 1996/97 – City Til I Die https://www.citytilidie.com/latest/qpr-home-199697/ 20 April 2026 www.citytilidie.comSpencer 49', 53' Slade 76'27,5809 26 April 1997Tranmere RoversH2–0Dichio, Spencer14,8597 4 May 1997Bradford CityA0–3 14,7239 FA Cup 1996–97 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AAttendanceScorersR34 January 1997Huddersfield Town (First Division)H1–111,776Hateley 88'R3R14 January 1997Huddersfield Town (First Division)A2–111,814Peacock 26', McDonald 89'R425 January 1997Barnsley (First Division)H3–2The Trevor Sinclair goal - History - Queens Park Rangers News https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/47445/the-trevor-sinclair-goal--history 23 April 2026 Loft For Words en14,317Peacock 20', Spencer 26', Sinclair 74'R515 February 1997Wimbledon (FA Premiership)A1–2April 202622,395Hateley 41' Coca-Cola Cup 1996–97 Football League Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AAttendanceScorersR2 First Leg18 September 1996Swindon Town (First Division)A2–17,843Dichio 77', Impey 79'R2 Second Leg25 September 1996Swindon Town (First Division)H1–3 TownEnders.com - Swindon Town FC - Match Centre https://www.townenders.com/match.php?match_id=19970704 23 April 2026 www.townenders.com(lost 3–4 on agg)6,976Brazier 55' Friendlies DateQPR Programme Guide http://www.qpr-prog.co.uk/programmesSeasonDetails.php?season=1996/97 14 February 2026 www.qpr-prog.co.ukOpponentsVenueResultF–AScorersAttendance24-Jul-96Millwall v Queens Park RangersA26-Jul-96Wycombe Wanderers v Queens Park RangersA30-Jul-96Barnet v Queens Park RangersA2-Aug-96Brentford v Queens Park RangersA3-Aug-96Leyton Orient v Queens Park RangersA6-Aug-96Fulham v Queens Park RangersA10-Aug-96Queens Park Rangers v WimbledonH Squad PositionNationalityNameLeague AppearancesLeague GoalsCup AppearancesCoca-Cola Cup GoalsF.A.Cup GoalsTotal AppearancesTotal GoalsGKUSAJuergen Sommer33336GKWALTony Roberts13316DFENGDanny Maddix18227DFENGTrevor Challis22DFWALKarl Ready28433DFNIRAlan McDonald38251443DFENGRufus Brevett44650DFENGMatt Brazier22231303DFENGMatt Jackson77DFNIRSteve Morrow5151DFENGSteve Yates1611171DFENGChris Plummer427MFENGRay Wilkins44MFENGPaul Murray2655375MFENGAndrew Impey26231363MFENGSimon Barker3844424MFENGMark Perry2121MFENGGavin Peacock27542317MFENGTrevor Sinclair39371464MFENGMark Graham16422FWENGMark Hateley8122173FWENGKevin Gallen2323FWENGNigel Quashie914FWENGMichael Mahoney-Johnson2FWAUSAndy McDermott6262FWSCOJohn Spencer2517412918FWENGSteve Slade114164FWENGLee Charles61131FWENGDanny Dichio31741438 Transfers Out NamefromDateFeeDateClubFeeGregory GoodridgeTorquay United9 August 1995£100,000August 1996Bristol City£50,000 Mark HateleyRangers3 November 1995£1,500,000August 1996Leeds UnitedLoanMichael Mahoney-JohnsonQueens Park Rangers JuniorsApril 1995August 1996Wycombe WanderersLoanMatthew JacksonEverton19 Aug 1996 Loan Sep 96EvertonLoan Ray WilkinsCrystal PalaceNovember 1994FreeSeptember 1996Wycombe WanderersFreeSieb DijkstraMotherwell12 July 1994 £250,000 Dec 96Dundee United£50,000 Lee SharpLincoln United23 Oct 1995 Nominal Feb 97Retired (Inj.)Andy McDermottAustralian Institute of Sport5 August 1995£20,000March 1997West Bromwich Albion£400,000 Transfers In NamefromDateFeeSteve SladeTottenham12 July 1996 £350,000 Paul BruceQueens Park Rangers Juniors15 July 1996 Matt JacksonEverton19 Aug 1996 LoanKarl OwenQueens Park Rangers JuniorsOct1996 John Spencer Chelsea21 Nov 1996 £2,500,000 Gavin PeacockChelsea21 Nov 1996 £800,000Richard LangleyQueens Park Rangers Juniors31 Dec 1996 Steve MorrowArsenal27 Mar 1997 £1,000,000David WhittleQueens Park Rangers Juniors1 Mar 1997 Wayne PurserQueens Park Rangers Juniors21 Apr 1997 Matthew RoseArsenal19 May 1997 £500,000Paul HartQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMay1997 Mario LusardiQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMay1997 Rik LopezQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMay1997 Richard GrahamQueens Park Rangers JuniorsJune1997 Lee HarperArsenal6 June 1997 £125,000 Jeff WoolseyArsenalJune1997 Free Fraser MurrayQueens Park Rangers JuniorsJune1997 References Notes notes Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. seasons Queens Park Rangers