1996-97 SEASON: NOT A FAVOURITE FOR MIDDLESBROUGH!

Just just been watching footy on the telly...it's after 5pm..have a guess which match! and now..

The 1997 FA Cup final was the 116th final. It took place on 17 May 1997 at Wembley and was contested by Chelsea and Middlesbrough, the Teesside club appearing in its first FA Cup Final. Chelsea won the match, 2–0, to win the FA Cup for the second time, the first having come in 1970. It was also the club's first major trophy in 26 years.

The match was the first major honour in the career of most Chelsea's players, but for Mark Hughes, it was the fourth time that he had featured in an FA Cup winning side, having played on the winning Man Utd teams of 1985, 1990 and 1994. It was Middlesbrough's second defeat in a Cup Final in the 1996-7 season, they had also lost the Football League Final to Leicester City the previous month and they were also relegated from the Premier League.

Middlesbrough ended a disappointing season with a 2-0 FA Cup Final 1997 defeat against Chelsea! Chelsea's first goal came from Roberto Di Matteo after just 42 seconds! which at the time was the quickest FA Cup Final goal - since beaten by Louis Saha for Everton in 2009 (25 seconds). Chelsea's victory saw their manager, Ruud Gullit, become the first foreign manager to lead his team to an FA Cup triumph - now we wonder when there will be another winning team with an English manager!  Ha, Ha, 

Apart from being beaten in their first FA Cup Final, the 1996/97 season had also seen Middlesbrough beaten in their first League Cup Final (by Leicester) - and they suffered relegation from the Premier League! Busy disappointing moments!! 

The club's Premier League Position was 19th including 3 points deducted for postponing a match without FL permission!! 

Middlesbrough called off their Premier League game at Blackburn without permission the day before the scheduled date of Saturday 21st December 1996. They claimed that they were unable to field a competitive team as they had 23 players unavailable because of injury, illness or suspension!! Blackburn argued that they should have been awarded the points but the match was ordered to be played and Middlesbrough suffered a 3 point deduction and a £50,000 fine. The loss of the points saw them relegated . AND.....

** Middlesbrough were drawn away to Conference side Hednesford Town in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup but the venue was switched to their Riverside Stadium.

+ Middlesbrough's Coca Cola Cup (League Cup) Final against Leicester was played at Wembley and the final replay at Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday FC.

++ Middlesbrough's FA Cup semi-final against Chesterfield was played at Old Trafford, Manchester United FC, and the replay at Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday FC.

Season 1996-7 Played 38 Home W 8 D 5 L 6 F34 A25 Away W2 D 7 L 10 F17 A35 Total Pts 39 19th