First Division 1996/97

Now the Championship.

Bolton won the 1996/97 First Division with 98 points, 18 points ahead of Barnsley. Bolton, Barnsley and Crystal Palace were promoted. Grimsby, Oldham and Southend were relegated. 2.67 goals per game over 552 matches; home sides won 47% and 27% were drawn.

Final table

		P		D	L					Outcome
1	Bolton · Champions	46	28	14	4	100	53	+47	98	Champions
2	Barnsley · Promoted	46	22	14	10	76	55	+21	80	Promoted
3	Wolves	46	22	10	14	68	51	+17	76
4	Ipswich	46	20	14	12	68	50	+18	74
5	Sheffield United	46	20	13	13	75	52	+23	73
6	Crystal Palace · Promoted	46	19	14	13	78	48	+30	71	Promoted
7	Portsmouth	46	20	8	18	59	53	+6	68
8	Port Vale	46	17	16	13	58	55	+3	67
9	QPR	46	18	12	16	64	60	+4	66
10	Birmingham	46	17	15	14	52	48	+4	66
11	Tranmere	46	17	14	15	63	56	+7	65
12	Stoke	46	18	10	18	51	57	-6	64
13	Norwich	46	17	12	17	63	68	-5	63
14	Manchester City	46	17	10	19	59	60	-1	61
15	Charlton	46	16	11	19	52	66	-14	59
16	West Brom	46	14	15	17	68	72	-4	57
17	Oxford	46	16	9	21	64	68	-4	57
18	Reading	46	15	12	19	58	67	-9	57
19	Swindon	46	15	9	22	52	71	-19	54
20	Huddersfield	46	13	15	18	48	61	-13	54
21	Bradford	46	12	12	22	47	72	-25	48
22	Grimsby · Relegated	46	11	13	22	60	81	-21	46	Relegated
23	Oldham · Relegated	46	10	13	23	51	66	-15	43	Relegated
24	Southend · Relegated	46	8	15	23	42	86	-44	39	Relegated

Watch the season unfold Where teams in each position finished

Where this season ranks

2.67 goals per game: 6th highest of 34 complete Championship seasons on file.
Champions’ 98 points: 10th highest of 34 seasons with 24 clubs.

Season in numbers

Measure	1996/97	League average
Goals per game	2.67	2.57
Home wins	47%	44%
Draws	27%	27%
Away wins	25%	28%
Goalless draws	8%	8%
Home advantageHome minus away points per game	0.66 pts/game	0.49 pts/game
Champions’ points	98	94
Most points relegated	46	46
Fewest points safe	48	49

League average: every complete Championship season on file except this one; points thresholds only from seasons with 24 clubs.