1996–97 Grimsby Town F.C. season

Despite flowing goals from Clive Mendonca and good performances from John Oster and newcomer Kingsley Black, Grimsby failed to save themselves.The club had suffered from the losses of ever-present goalkeeper Paul Crichton and Gary Croft, who made a £1.5 million move to Blackburn Rovers.Manager Brian Laws had been sacked late in 1996; John Cockerill and Kenny Swain both had stints as caretaker during the season.At the end of the season, former manager Alan Buckley, who had taken Grimsby from the Fourth to the old Second Division in his first stint in charge, rejoined the club in an attempt to take Grimsby back to the second tier.Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.
Grimsby TownBrian LawsJohn CockerillKenny SwainBlundell ParkDivision OneFA CupLeague CupLincolnshire Senior CupClive Mendonca1995–961997–98Football League First DivisionTommy WiddringtonSouthamptonKingsley BlackNottingham ForestDarren WrackDerby CountyNeil WebbAndy QuyPaul TrollopeMichael AppletonManchester UnitedAlan MillerMiddlesbroughJason LeeTommy WatsonEnzo GambaroSturm GrazPaul GrovesWest Bromwich AlbionLincoln CityJim DobbinRotherham UnitedIvano BonettiTranmere RoversPaul CrichtonDarlingtonJohnny WalkerMansfield TownJamie ForresterScunthorpe UnitedJimmy NeilGranthamShrewsbury TownJohn OsterGary CroftBlackburn RoversAlan BuckleyHuddersfield TownBradford CityOldham AthleticSouthend UnitedJason PearceyAndy LoveDanny ButterfieldAshley FicklingTony GallimorePeter HandysideKevin JoblingMark LeverJohn McDermottGraham RodgerRichard SmithGary ChildsPaul HarsleyCraig ShakespeareNicky SouthallDaryl ClareJack LesterSteve LivingstoneNeil WoodsGrimsby Town F.C. seasons1993–941994–951998–991999–20002000–012001–022002–032003–042004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212022–232023–242024–251996–97 in English football1998 FIFA World CupUEFA QualificationGroup 2Glenn HoddlePremier LeagueFootball LeagueFirst DivisionSecond DivisionThird Divisionplay-offsFootball ConferenceIsthmian LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueSouthern LeagueCombined Counties LeagueEastern Counties LeagueEssex Senior LeagueHellenic LeagueKent LeagueMidland AllianceMidland Football CombinationNorth West Counties LeagueNorthern Counties East LeagueNorthern LeagueSouth Midlands LeagueSpartan LeagueSussex County LeagueUnited Counties LeagueWessex LeagueWest Midlands (Regional) LeagueWestern LeagueQualifying roundsCharity ShieldFA TrophyFootball League TrophyChampions LeagueUEFA CupCup Winners' CupIntertoto CupArsenalAston VillaChelseaCoventry CityEvertonLeeds UnitedLeicester CityLiverpoolNewcastle UnitedSheffield WednesdaySunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWimbledonBarnsleyBirmingham CityBolton WanderersCharlton AthleticCrystal PalaceIpswich TownManchester CityNorwich CityOxford UnitedPortsmouthPort ValeQueens Park RangersReadingSheffield UnitedStoke CitySwindon TownWolverhampton WanderersBlackpoolBournemouthBrentfordBristol CityBristol RoversBurnleyChesterfieldCrewe AlexandraGillinghamLuton TownMillwallNotts CountyPeterborough UnitedPlymouth ArgylePreston North EndStockport CountyWalsallWatfordWrexhamWycombe WanderersYork CityBrighton & Hove AlbionCardiff CityCarlisle UnitedChester CityColchester UnitedFulhamHartlepool UnitedHull CityNorthampton TownRochdaleSwansea CityTorquay UnitedWigan Athletic