DIVISION 1    1996/97
 

Leading goalscorer:
John McGinlay
 (Bolton Wanderers)
 24  goals

   P W D L F A Pts
    1 Bolton Wanderers 46 28 14 4 100 53 98 Promoted
    2 Barnsley 46 22 14 10 76 55 80 Promoted
    3 Wolverhampton W. 46 22 10 14 68 51 76 Play Off
    4 Ipswich Town 46 20 14 12 68 50 74 Play Off
    5 Sheffield United 46 20 13 13 75 52 73 Play Off
    6 Crystal Palace 46 19 14 13 78 48 71 Promoted
    7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 68
    8 Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55 67
    9 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60 66
    10 Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48 66
    11 Tranmere Rovers 46 17 14 15 63 56 65
    12 Stoke City 46 18 10 18 51 57 64
    13 Norwich City 46 17 12 17 63 68 63
      14 Manchester City 46 17 10 19 59 60 61
      15 Charlton Athletic 46 16 11 19 52 66 59
      16 West Bromwich Albion 46 14 15 17 68 72 57
      17 Oxford United 46 16 9 21 64 68 57
      18 Reading 46 15 12 19 58 67 57
      19 Swindon Town 46 15 9 22 52 71 54
      20 Huddersfield Town 46 13 15 18 48 61 54
      21 Bradford City 46 12 12 22 47 72 48
      22 Grimsby Town 46 11 13 22 60 81 46 Relegated
      23 Oldham Athletic 46 10 13 23 51 66 43 Relegated
      24 Southend United 46 8 15 23 42 86 39 Relegated
     
     
Play Off Semi-Finals     Play Off
1st Leg
Sat May 10 Crystal Palace 3 - 1 Wolverhampton W.
Sat May 10 Sheffield United 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
2nd Leg
Wed May 14 Wolverhampton W. 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Wed May 14 Ipswich Town 2 - 2 Sheffield United  (aet)
Aggregate scores
Crystal Palace 4 - 3 Wolverhampton W.
Sheffield United 3 - 3 Ipswich Town
   (Sheffield United won on away goals)
Play Off Final (at Wembley)
Mon May 26 Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Sheffield United
Crystal Palace were promoted to the Premier Division