Football League Division 3  1996/97

(The League used highest goals scored to rank clubs equal on points rather than goal difference)

Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts Notes
1st   Wigan Athletic 46 26 9 11 84 51 +33 87 ▲Champions
2nd   Fulham 46 25 12 9 72 38 +34 87 ▲Runners Up
3rd   Carlisle United 46 24 12 10 67 44 +23 84 ▲Promoted
4th   Northampton Town 46 20 12 14 67 44 +23 72 ▲PO Winners
5th   Swansea City 46 21 8 17 62 58 +4 71 Playoffs
6th   Chester City 46 18 16 12 55 43 +12 70 Playoffs
7th   Cardiff City 46 20 9 17 56 54 +2 69 Playoffs
8th   Colchester United 46 17 17 12 62 51 +11 68 -
9th   Lincoln City 46 18 12 16 70 69 +1 66 -
10th   Cambridge United 46 18 11 17 53 59 -6 65 -
11th   Mansfield Town 46 16 16 14 47 45 +2 64 -
12th   Scarborough 46 16 15 15 65 68 -3 63 -
13th   Scunthorpe United 46 18 9 19 59 62 -3 63 -
14th   Rochdale 46 14 16 16 58 58 0 58 -
15th   Barnet 46 14 16 16 46 51 -5 58 -
16th   Leyton Orient 46 15 12 19 50 58 -8 57 -
17th   Hull City 46 13 18 15 44 50 -6 57 -
18th   Darlington 46 14 10 22 64 78 -14 52 -
19th   Doncaster Rovers 46 14 10 22 52 66 -14 52 -
20th   Hartlepool United 46 14 9 23 53 66 -13 51 -
21st   Torquay United 46 13 11 22 46 62 -16 50 -
22nd   Exeter City 46 12 12 22 48 73 -25 48 -
23rd   Brighton & Hove Albion 46 13 10 23 53 70 -17   47* -
24th   Hereford United 46 11 14 21 50 65 -15 47 ▼Relegated

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Football League Third Division Playoffs

Semi Finals 1st Leg

Date Home Score Away
Sun May 11 Cardiff City 0-1 Northampton Town
Sun May 11 Chester City 0-0 Swansea City

Semi Finals 2nd Leg

Wed May 14 Northampton Town 3-2 Cardiff City
Northampton Town won 4-2 on aggregate
Wed May 14 Swansea City 3-0 Chester City
Swansea City won 3-0 on aggregate
Final
Sat May 24 Northampton Town 1-0 Swansea City

 

End of Season Notes

 * Brighton & Hove Albion were deducted two points as a punishment for pitch invasions in their match against Lincoln City on October 1st 1996
 ▼Peterborough United were Relegated from Football League Division 2
 ▼Shrewsbury Town were Relegated from Football League Division 2
 ▼Rotherham United were Relegated from Football League Division 2
 ▼Notts County were Relegated from Football League Division 2
 ▲Wigan Athletic were Promoted to Football League Division 2
 ▲Fulham were Promoted to Football League Division 2
 ▲Carlisle United were Promoted to Football League Division 2
  Northampton Town Qualified for the Playoffs
  Swansea City Qualified for the Playoffs
  Chester City Qualified for the Playoffs
  Cardiff City Qualified for the Playoffs
 ▲Northampton Town were Promoted to Football League Division 2 via the Playoffs
 ▼Hereford United were Relegated to the Football Conference
 ▲Macclesfield Town were Promoted from the Football Conference