title: 1996–97 Hull City A.F.C. season
text: # 1996–97 Hull City A.F.C. season
  
  During the 1996–97 English football season, Hull City A.F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.
  
  ## Season summary
  
  A ten match unbeaten league run at the beginning of the 1996–97 season saw Hull remain in the top six until the beginning of October, but the side drifted towards a mid table placing by Christmas. The Tigers progressed through to the second round of the FA Cup following an extraordinary first round replay against Whitby Town. Duane Darby scored a double hat-trick in Hull's 8–4 victory.
  
  Their league form was less impressive, and Hull finished in 17th place – their lowest ever position. The campaign was played out amid growing unrest from the dwindling support. The abuse generated against Dolan and chairman Martin Fish led Christopher Needler – son of the former chairman – to sell his major shareholding.
  
  In July 1997, the Needler family's ownership of the club was at an end. David Lloyd, captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team and a multi-millionaire, was the new Hull City owner. He also acquired the Hull Rugby League club and ran the two in a joint operation.
  
  ## Final league table
  
  | Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 15 | Barnet | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 58 |
  | 16 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 57 |
  | 17 | Hull City | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 57 |
  | 18 | Darlington | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 64 | 78 | −14 | 52 |
  | 19 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 52 | 66 | −14 | 52 |
  
  ## Results
  
  Hull City's score comes first
  
  ### Legend
  
  | Win | Draw | Loss |
  | - | - | - |
  
  ### Football League Third Division
  
  | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 17 August 1996 | Darlington | H | 3–2 | 4,224 | Darby (3) |
  | 24 August 1996 | Carlisle United | A | 0–0 | 5,407 | |
  | 27 August 1996 | Hereford United | A | 1–0 | 2,820 | Darby |
  | 31 August 1996 | Barnet | H | 0–0 | 4,605 | |
  | 7 September 1996 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | 3,451 | Doncel-Varcarcel |
  | 10 September 1996 | Lincoln City | A | 1–0 | 3,069 | Peacock |
  | 14 September 1996 | Colchester United | A | 1–1 | 3,073 | Gordon |
  | 21 September 1996 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 3,886 | Darby |
  | 28 September 1996 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | 2,961 | |
  | 1 October 1996 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–1 | 3,579 | Gordon |
  | 5 October 1996 | Scunthorpe United | H | 0–2 | 5,414 | |
  | 12 October 1996 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–1 | 4,490 | Brien |
  | 15 October 1996 | Scarborough | A | 2–3 | 3,425 | Turner (2) |
  | 19 October 1996 | Fulham | H | 0–3 | 3,986 | |
  | 26 October 1996 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–1 | 3,887 | Peacock, Trevitt |
  | 29 October 1996 | Cardiff City | H | 1–1 | 2,775 | Gilbert |
  | 2 November 1996 | Cambridge United | H | 1–3 | 3,563 | Brown |
  | 9 November 1996 | Chester City | A | 0–0 | 2,085 | |
  | 20 November 1996 | Torquay United | H | 2–0 | 1,775 | Darby, Peacock |
  | 23 November 1996 | Exeter City | A | 0–0 | 3,423 | |
  | 30 November 1996 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | 3,537 | Doncel-Varcarcel |
  | 3 December 1996 | Northampton Town | A | 1–2 | 3,519 | Darby |
  | 14 December 1996 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–3 | 3,762 | |
  | 21 December 1996 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 3–1 | 2,830 | Mason (2), Darby |
  | 26 December 1996 | Lincoln City | H | 2–1 | 4,892 | Darby, Mason |
  | 1 January 1997 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–1 | 1,944 | Joyce |
  | 11 January 1997 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | 2,810 | Mann |
  | 18 January 1997 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–1 | 2,286 | |
  | 25 January 1997 | Cardiff City | A | 0–2 | 2,328 | |
  | 1 February 1997 | Chester City | H | 1–0 | 2,513 | Gordon |
  | 8 February 1997 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 3,029 | |
  | 15 February 1997 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 2,668 | Joyce, Gordon |
  | 22 February 1997 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 2,072 | Greaves |
  | 25 February 1997 | Rochdale | A | 2–1 | 1,349 | Joyce, Darby |
  | 1 March 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 3,495 | Darby |
  | 8 March 1997 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–0 | 3,274 | |
  | 15 March 1997 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 3–0 | 3,373 | Joyce (2), Darby |
  | 22 March 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 0–1 | 3,847 | |
  | 29 March 1997 | Darlington | A | 0–1 | 3,024 | |
  | 31 March 1997 | Hereford United | H | 1–1 | 2,818 | Greaves |
  | 5 April 1997 | Barnet | A | 0–1 | 1,668 | |
  | 12 April 1997 | Scunthorpe United | A | 2–2 | 4,257 | Quigley, Lowthorpe |
  | 15 April 1997 | Colchester United | H | 1–2 | 2,035 | Darby |
  | 19 April 1997 | Leyton Orient | H | 3–2 | 2,647 | Peacock, Mann, Rioch (pen) |
  | 26 April 1997 | Fulham | A | 0–2 | 10,588 | |
  | 3 May 1997 | Scarborough | H | 0–2 | 3,774 | |
  
  ### FA Cup
  
  | Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | R1 | 17 November 1996 | Whitby Town | A | 0–0 | 3,337 | |
  | R1R | 26 November 1996 | Whitby Town | H | 8–4 (a.e.t.) | 2,900 | Darby (6), Peacock, Mann |
  | R2 | 7 December 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–5 | 3,756 | Joyce |
  
  ### League Cup
  
  | Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Scarborough | H | 2–2 | 2,134 | Rioch, Quigley |
  | R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Scarborough | A | 2–3 (lost 4–5 on agg) | 2,656 | Rioch (pen), Gordon |
  
  ### Football League Trophy
  
  | Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | NR1 | 10 December 1996 | Chester City | H | 3–1 | 553 | |
  | NR2 | 28 January 1997 | Carlisle United | A | 0–4 | 3,716 | |
  
  ## Squad
  
  Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
  
  | No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | — | GK | NIR | Roy Carroll |
  | — | GK | ENG | Aidan Davison (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) |
  | — | GK | ENG | Steve Wilson |
  | — | DF | ENG | Neil Allison |
  | — | DF | IRL | Tony Brien |
  | — | DF | ENG | Rob Dewhurst |
  | — | DF | ESP | Antonio Doncel-Varcarcel |
  | — | DF | ENG | Mark Greaves |
  | — | DF | ENG | Adam Lowthorpe |
  | — | DF | ENG | Neil Mann |
  | — | DF | ENG | Gregor Rioch |
  | — | DF | ENG | Sam Sharman |
  | — | DF | ENG | Simon Trevitt |
  | — | DF | ENG | Ian Wright |
  | — | MF | ENG | Stuart Elliott (on loan from Newcastle United) |
  | — | MF | CAN | Patrick Dickinson |
  | No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
  | — | MF | SCO | Kenny Gilbert |
  | — | MF | ENG | Warren Joyce |
  | — | MF | NIR | Jamie Marks |
  | — | MF | ENG | Scott Maxfield |
  | — | MF | ENG | Richard Peacock |
  | — | MF | ENG | Mike Quigley |
  | — | MF | ENG | Christian Sansam |
  | — | MF | ENG | Paul Wharton |
  | — | FW | SCO | Andy Brown |
  | — | FW | ENG | Duane Darby |
  | — | FW | ENG | Lee Ellington |
  | — | FW | ENG | Paul Fewings |
  | — | FW | ENG | Gavin Gordon |
  | — | FW | ENG | Andy Mason |
  | — | FW | ENG | Robbie Turner (on loan from Cambridge United) |
  