DIVISION 3     1996/97
      For full league and cup results  click on by club required.
      P W D L F A Pts
  Leading goalscorer:
Graeme Jones
 (Wigan Athletic)
 31  goals

Peter Shilton played his last match in the Football League for Leyton Orient against Wigan Athletic on January 21st 1997. His 9 League appearances for Leyton Orient during the season saw him become the first player to make 1000 Football League appearances with his final total being 1005.

   1 Wigan Athletic 46 26 9 11 84 51 87 Promoted
    2 Fulham 46 25 12 9 72 38 87 Promoted
    3 Carlisle United 46 24 12 10 67 44 84 Promoted
    Season Results 4 Northampton Town 46 20 12 14 67 44 72 Promoted
    5 Swansea City 46 21 8 17 62 58 71 Play Off
    6 Chester City 46 18 16 12 55 43 70 Play Off
    7 Cardiff City 46 20 9 17 56 54 69 Play Off
    8 Colchester United 46 17 17 12 62 51 68
    9 Lincoln City 46 18 12 16 70 69 66
    10 Cambridge United 46 18 11 17 53 59 65
    11 Mansfield Town 46 16 16 14 47 45 64
    12 Scarborough 46 16 15 15 65 68 63
    13 Scunthorpe United 46 18 9 19 59 62 63
    14 Rochdale 46 14 16 16 58 58 58
    Season Results 15 Barnet 46 14 16 16 46 51 58
    16 Leyton Orient 46 15 12 19 50 58 57
    17 Hull City 46 13 18 15 44 50 57
    18 Darlington 46 14 10 22 64 78 52
    19 Doncaster Rovers 46 14 10 22 52 66 52
    20 Hartlepool United 46 14 9 23 53 66 51
    21 Torquay United 46 13 11 22 46 62 50
    22 Exeter City 46 12 12 22 48 73 48
    23 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 13 10 23 53 70 47

*
      24 Hereford United 46 11 14 21 50 65 47 Left League
     
       Left League Hereford were relegated from the League and were replaced by Conference champions Macclesfield Town (1996/97 Vauxhall Conference table).

* Brighton had two points deducted as a punishment for pitch invasions in their home match against Lincoln on October 1st
     
     
Play Off Semi-Finals     Play Off
1st Leg
Sun May 11 Cardiff City 0 - 1 Northampton Town
Sun May 11 Chester City 0 - 0 Swansea City
2nd Leg
Wed May 14 Northampton Town 3 - 2 Cardiff City
Wed May 14 Swansea City 3 - 0 Chester City
Aggregate scores
Northampton Town 4 - 2 Cardiff City
Swansea City 3 - 0 Chester City
Play Off Final (at Wembley)
Sat May 24 Northampton Town 1 - 0 Swansea City
Northampton Town were promoted to Division 2