1996–97 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

November 2025 February 2015 January 2024 Huddersfield Town 1996–97 Malcolm Asquith Brian Horton Kirklees Stadium Division One 20th FA Cup Third round(eliminated by Queens Park Rangers) League Cup Third round(eliminated by Middlesbrough) Andy Payton (17) Andy Payton (19) 17,358 vs Manchester City (18 January 1997) 5,094 vs Colchester United (19 September 1996) 3–0 vs Wrexham (20 August 1996)3–0 vs Birmingham City (8 October 1996) 0–6 vs Swindon Town (16 October 19966) 1995–96 1997–98 The 1996–97 season for Huddersfield Town failed to carry on the good work of the previous and nearly saw Town relegated back to Division Two. Following the heavy spending on players in the closed season, much was expected of the Terriers in the 1996–97 season but, despite a bright start from new striker Marcus Stewart, Horton was unable to improve on the team's consistently poor away form that had ended the side's playoff bid the previous year. Long-term injuries to Stewart and Andy Morrison did little to help things and, with the previously strong home form becoming increasingly patchy, the Terriers struggled at the wrong end of the table. It was perhaps the least celebrated summer signing, Andy Payton, who notched an impressive tally of 20 goals and helped staved off the threat of relegation as the side scrambled to 20th, just 8 points and 2 places above the drop zone. Injuries and illness forced Town to play 35 players during the season, then a record, which would actually be broken the following season. Brian Horton's job was seemingly under threat, although he wouldn't leave the McAlpine Stadium until October 1997. Squad at the start of the season -- England GK Steve Francis -- Wales GK Tony Norman -- England DF Sam Collins -- Scotland DF Tom Cowan -- England DF Jon Dyson -- England DF Kevin Gray -- Republic of Ireland DF Thomas Heary -- Wales DF Steve Jenkins -- Scotland DF Andy Morrison -- Republic of Ireland DF Robbie Ryan -- England DF Lee Sinnott -- England MF Simon Baldry -- England MF Darren Bullock -- England MF Simon Collins -- England MF Gary Crosby -- England MF Paul Dalton -- England MF Rob Edwards -- England MF Lee Makel -- England MF Paul Reid -- England FW Iain Dunn -- Grenada FW Delroy Facey -- England FW Ian Lawson -- England FW Michael Midwood -- England FW Andy Payton -- England FW Rodney Rowe -- England FW Marcus Stewart Review Town made a promising start beating Charlton Athletic 2–0 in front of the highest home crowd for an opening day game for 24 years. This was followed up by wins over Ipswich Town, Oldham Athletic, Reading & Birmingham City, but then a spell of 9 games without a win,November 2025 including a 6–0 defeat at Swindon Town,https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-and-argus/184798158/ Depleted Town suffer nightmare The Telegraph & Argus 17 October 1996 43 0307-3610 Newspapers.com left manager Brian Horton in the lurch. Form wasn't helped by the consistent injuries to top players such as Marcus Stewart and Andy Morrison, but Town slowly tried to recover, but their best run of the season came during the Christmas and New Year period when they went 5 games unbeaten, but they then went on a run of 1 win in 10, which propelled them into relegation territory. By the end of the season, top scorer Andy Payton's goals were starting to dry up, but a win on the penultimate day of the season against already relegated Southend United made certain that Town would play Division 1 football the next season. Squad at the end of the season -- England GK Steve Francis -- Wales GK Tony Norman -- England DF Sam Collins -- Scotland DF Tom Cowan -- England DF Jon Dyson -- England DF Darren Edmondson -- England DF Kevin Gray -- Republic of Ireland DF Thomas Heary -- Wales DF Steve Jenkins -- Scotland DF Andy Morrison -- Republic of Ireland DF Robbie Ryan -- England DF Lee Sinnott -- England MF Simon Baldry -- England MF David Beresford -- Wales MF Marcus Browning -- England MF Wayne Burnett -- England MF Gary Crosby -- England MF Paul Dalton -- England MF Rob Edwards -- Scotland MF Lee Glover on loan from Rotherham United -- England MF Jeremy Illingworth -- England MF Lee Makel -- Grenada FW Delroy Facey -- England FW Peter Kaye -- England FW Ian Lawson -- England FW Michael Midwood -- England FW Andy Payton -- England FW Rodney Rowe -- England FW Marcus Stewart Results Division One DateOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendancePosition17 August 1996Charlton AthleticH2–0Bullock [15], Morrison [85]11,8583rd25 August 1996BarnsleyA1–3Cowan [44]9,78712th31 August 1996Crystal PalaceH1–1Payton [33]11,16616th7 September 1996Ipswich TownA3–1Payton [47, 67], Stewart [51]10,6617th10 September 1996Tranmere RoversH0–110,18111th13 September 1996Oldham AthleticH3–2Stewart [15, 85], Gray [90]10,2967th22 September 1996Stoke CityA2–3Worthington [7 (og)], Stewart [36]9,14714th28 September 1996ReadingH1–0Payton [34]10,33011th8 October 1996Birmingham CityH3–0Edwards [17], Stewart [23], Dalton [45]10,9047th12 October 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–1Cowan [51]14,9606th16 October 1996Swindon TownA0–67,72410th19 October 1996Southend UnitedH0–09,57810th26 October 1996Port ValeH0–111,01712th30 October 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA0–022,37613th2 November 1996Bolton WanderersA0–215,86515th8 November 1996Bradford CityH3–3Dalton [42], Lawson [45], Crosby [48]14,12613th16 November 1996Oxford UnitedA0–17,46015th19 November 1996Manchester CityA0–023,31417th23 November 1996Grimsby TownH2–0Payton [24, 27]10,59013th30 November 1996Port ValeA0–06,02615th3 December 1996Sheffield UnitedA1–3Payton [14]14,70015th7 December 1996Norwich CityH2–0Payton [34, 56]10,74913th14 December 1996PortsmouthA1–3Makel [51]6,95417th21 December 1996Queens Park RangersH1–2Payton [51]10,71818th26 December 1996Tranmere RoversA1–1Payton [21]10,13418th28 December 1996Ipswich TownH2–0Lawson [50], Payton [85]11,46718th1 January 1997Stoke CityH2–1Makel [6], Edwards [63]11,91912th18 January 1997Manchester CityH1–1Lawson [78]17,35813th25 January 1997Oldham AthleticA2–1Payton [71, 83]8,56613th28 January 1997ReadingA1–4Payton [9]5,71013th1 February 1997Bradford CityA1–1Crosby [1]17,37314th8 February 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH0–215,26715th15 February 1997Grimsby TownA2–2Stewart [44], Edwards [48]6,19716th22 February 1997Bolton WanderersH1–2Cowan [16]15,86116th1 March 1997Norwich CityA0–213,00117th4 March 1997Oxford UnitedH1–0Makel [27]11,27614th8 March 1997Queens Park RangersA0–29,78918th15 March 1997PortsmouthH1–3Stewart [35]10,51220th22 March 1997BarnsleyH0–014,75420th31 March 1997Sheffield UnitedH2–1Dalton [1], Cowan [18]14,55119th5 April 1997Crystal PalaceA1–1Payton [61]13,54120th9 April 1997Charlton AthleticA1–2Dalton [77]11,03220th12 April 1997Birmingham CityA0–114,39420th19 April 1997West Bromwich AlbionH0–012,74820th26 April 1997Southend UnitedA2–1Payton [23], Beresford [67]4,76220th4 May 1997Swindon TownH0–011,50620th FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendance4 January 1997Round 3Queens Park RangersA1–1Crosby [64]11,77614 January 1997Round 3 replayQueens Park RangersH1–2Edwards [7]11,814 League Cup DateRoundOpponentsHome/AwayResultF – AScorersAttendance20 August 1996Round 1 1st LegWrexhamH3–0Stewart [12, 25, 53]5,1783 September 1996Round 1 2nd LegWrexhamA2–1Payton [10], Edwards [55]1,776 Huddersfield won 5–1 on aggregate17 September 1996Round 2 1st LegColchester UnitedH1–1Cowan [45]5,09424 September 1996Round 2 2nd LegColchester UnitedA2 – 0 (aet: 90 mins: 0 – 0)Stewart [98], Simon Collins [110]4,095 Huddersfield won 3–1 on aggregate23 October 1996Round 3MiddlesbroughA1–5Payton [87]26,615 Appearances and goals NameNationalityPositionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSimon BaldryENGMF2 (5)000002 (5)0David BeresfordENGMF61000061Marcus BrowningWALMF1300000130Darren BullockENGMF26 (1)1204032 (1)1Wayne BurnettENGMF33 (2)01 (1)03037 (3)0Sam CollinsENGDF10 (6)00 (2)02 (2)012 (10)0Simon CollinsENGDF3 (1)0001 (1)14 (2)1Tom CowanSCODF4241051485Gary CrosbyENGMF19 (5)2210021 (5)3Paul DaltonENGMF17 (12)4001 (2)018 (14)4Simon DaviesWALMF30000030Iain DunnENGFW1 (4)000001 (4)0Jon DysonENGDF18 (5)0200 (2)020 (7)0Darren EdmondsonENGDF1000000100Rob EdwardsENGMF24 (9)3214 (1)130 (10)5Delroy FaceyGRNFW1 (2)000001 (2)0Steve FrancisENGGK4201050480Lee GloverENGMF1100000110Kevin GrayENGDF36 (3)1004040 (3)1Thomas HearyIRLDF2 (3)010003 (3)0Jeremy IllingworthENGMF2 (1)000002 (1)0Steve JenkinsWALDF3302050400Peter KayeENGFW0 (1)000000 (1)0Ian LawsonENGFW8 (10)31 (1)01 (3)010 (14)3Lee MakelENGMF1932030243Andy MorrisonSCODF9 (1)1002011 (1)1Tony NormanWALGK40100050Andy PaytonENGFW381720524519Paul ReidENGMF20 (2)01 (1)04025 (3)0Rodney RoweENGFW1 (6)0000 (1)01 (7)0Robbie RyanIRLDF2 (3)000002 (3)0Lee SinnottENGDF29 (1)0002031 (1)0Marcus StewartENGFW19 (1)7104424 (1)11Paul TisdaleMLTDF1 (1)000001 (1)0Mike WilliamsENGMF20000020 References 1996-97 Hudd