1996–97 Arsenal L.F.C. season
| 1996–97 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Peter Hill-Wood | ||
| Manager | Vic Akers | ||
| Stadium | Hayes Lane | ||
| Premier League | Winners | ||
| FA Cup | Semi Finals | ||
| Premier League Cup | Second Round | ||
| London County Cup | Winners | ||
| Biggest win | 0–9 (vs Southampton Saints, Premier League, 26 January 1997) 9–0 (vs Huddersfield Town, FA Cup, 02 February 1997) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 1–0 (vs Doncaster Rovers Belles, Premier League, 16 November 1996) 1–0 (vs Wembley, FA Cup, 30 March 1997) | ||
|
| |||
The 1996–97 season was Arsenal Ladies Football Club's 10th season since forming in 1987. The club participated in the National Division of the FA Women's Premier League, winning their third League Title since promotion, and were also able to retain the London County Cup for a third year in a row by defeating Millwall Lionesses in the Final.[1] However, they failed to progress in the Premier League Cup and the FA Cup, losing to Doncaster Rovers Belles and Wembley respectively.[2][3][4]
Squad information & statistics
First team squad
| Name | Date of Birth (Age) | Since | Signed From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| Sarah Reed | 12 May 1980 | 1996 | Wembley |
| Sara King | 1996 | ||
| Defenders | |||
| Kirsty Pealling | 14 April 1975 | 1987 | Arsenal Academy |
| Faye White | 2 February 1978 | 1996 | Three Bridges |
| Clare Wheatley | 4 February 1971 | 1995 | Chelsea |
| Kim Jerry-Silver | 6 October 1977 | 1997 | Wembley |
| Jenny Canty | 22 March 1976 | 1991 | Limehouse |
| Vicki Slee | 9 March 1973 | 1991 | Millwall Lionesses |
| Michelle Curley | 30 April 1972 | 1988 | Arsenal Academy |
| Kelley Few | 17 October 1971 | 1991 | Romford |
| Lisa Spry | 1988 | Arsenal Academy | |
| Gill Wylie | 1991 | Tottenham Hotspur | |
| Midfielders | |||
| Joanne Broadhurst | 27 November 1967 | 1995 | Doncaster Belles |
| Sian Williams (captain) | 2 February 1968 | 1990 | Millwall Lionesses |
| Emma Coss | 9 May 1979 | 1992 | Arsenal Academy |
| Siobhan Kane | 28 March 1975 | 1996 | Castle Rovers |
| Sharon Barber | 1988 | Tottenham Hotspur | |
| Linda Watt | 1995 | Watford | |
| Laura Ray | 1996 | ||
| Forwards | |||
| Marieanne Spacey | 13 February 1966 | 1993 | Wimbledon |
| Rachel Yankey | 1 December 1979 | 1996 | Mill Hill United |
| Natasha Daly | 29 November 1979 | 1996 | Mill Hill United |
| Kelly Smith | 29 October 1978 | 1996 | Wembley |
| Kara Lee Reynolds | 1996 | Texas Lightning | |
| Yvette Rean | 1995 | Watford | |
| Emma Hastings | 1995 | Dunstable | |
| Liz Benham | 1996 | Croydon | |
| Emma Burke | 1995 | Arsenal Academy | |
| Pat Pile | 1990 | ||
Transfers, loans and other signings
Transfers in
| Announcement date | Position | Player | From club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996[5] | FW | Natasha Daly | Mill Hill United |
| 1996[5][6] | FW | Rachel Yankey | Mill Hill United |
| 1996[5][7] | DF | Faye White | Horsham |
| 1996 | GK | Sarah Reed | Wembley |
| 1996[8] | FW | Kara Lee Reynolds | Texas Lightning |
| 1996[9] | MF | Siobhan Kane | Castle Rovers |
| December 1996[10] | FW | Kelly Smith | Wembley |
| 1996[11] | GK | Sara King | |
| 1996[12] | MF | Laura Ray | |
| 1997[13] | DF | Kim Jerry-Silver | Wembley |
Transfers out
| Announcement date | Position | Player | To club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996[14] | MF | Samantha Britton | Cove Rangers |
| 1996 | FW | Conchi Sánchez | Retired |
| 1996[5][15] | GK | Roser Serra | Barcelona |
| 1996 | FW | Julie Newell | Chelsea |
| 1996[14][16] | FW | Michelle Sneddon | Cove Rangers |
| 1996 | GK | Kathy Simmonds | Langford |
| 1996[17] | FW | Julia Brown | Portsmouth |
| 1996 | FW | Kelly Townsend | |
| 1996 | Carly Cruickshank |
Club
Kit
Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: JVC[18]
Home
|
Away
|
Competitions
FA Women's Premier League National Division
Partial league table
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 65 | 9 | +56 | 49 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 6 | +30 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 3 | +26 |
Results by matchday
| 01 September 1996 1 | Doncaster Belles | 1–0 | Arsenal | |
|
Report |
| 22 September 1996 3 | Arsenal | 4–0 | Ilkeston Town | Bromley |
|
Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| 13 October 1996 5 | Arsenal | 4–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Bromley |
| Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| 20 October 1996 6 | Everton | 1–5 | Arsenal | |
|
Report |
|
| 03 November 1996 7 | Arsenal | 7–0 | Southampton Saints | Bromley |
|
Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| 08 December 1996 8 | Arsenal | 3–2 | Doncaster Belles | Bromley |
|
Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| 26 January 1997 9 | Southampton Saints | 0–9 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
|
| 09 February 1997 10 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Wembley | Potters Bar |
| Report | Stadium: The Lantern Stadium |
| 22 February 1997 11 | Millwall Lionesses | 0–4 | Arsenal | Bermondsey |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Surrey Docks Stadium |
| 19 March 1997 12 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Croydon | Potters Bar |
| Report | Stadium: The Lantern Stadium |
| 23 March 1997 13 | Ilkeston Town | 0–3 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
|
| 27 April 1997 16 | Arsenal | 3–0 | Liverpool | Highbury |
| 12:00 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Highbury |
| 29 April 1997 17 | Arsenal | 6–0 | Millwall Lionesses | The Skyline Stadium |
| Report |
| 05 May 1997 18 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–3 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
FA Women's Cup
| 19 January 1997 Fourth round | Arsenal | 6–0 | Barry Town | Bromley |
| Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| 02 February 1997 Fifth round | Arsenal | 9–0 | Huddersfield Town | Bromley |
|
Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| 02 March 1997 Quarter-finals | Ilkeston Town | 2–4 | Arsenal | |
|
Report |
| 30 March 1997 Semi-finals | Wembley | 0–1 | Arsenal | Borehamwood |
|
Report | Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: 289 |
FA Women's Premier League Cup
| 27 October 1996 First round | Liverpool | 1–2 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
|
| 24 November 1996 Second round | Doncaster Belles | 2–1 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
London County Cup
| 22 December 1996 Quarter-finals | West Ham United | 0–4 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
| 26 January 1997 Semi-finals | Wimbledon | 3–4 | Arsenal | Wimbledon |
|
Report | Stadium: Plough Lane |
| 13 April 1997 Final | Arsenal | 2–0 | Millwall Lionesses | Hendon |
| Report | Stadium: Claremont Road |
See also
References
- ^ Connolly, Kevin (19 April 1997). "Marieanne and Rachel make it three in a row". Arsenal vs Blackburn Rovers Matchdaty Programme: Page 21.
- ^ Connolly, Kevin (12 April 1997). "Girls set up title finale". Arsenal vs Leicester City Matchday Programme: Page 21.
- ^ Connolly, Kevin (24 November 1996). "Girl Gunners seek speedy revenge". Arsenal vs Southampton Matchday Programme: Page 21.
- ^ "Arsenal 0-1 Wembley". The Women's FA Cup.
- ^ a b c d "Arsenal v West Ham United – FA Premier League, Saturday August 17th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ "Arsenal Ladies". www.arsenal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2000-09-18. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ^ "Arsenal Ladies". www.arsenal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2001-06-26. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ^ "Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday – FA Premier League, Monday September 16th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ "Siobhan Kane - Player changes, player transfers | Soccerdonna". www.soccerdonna.de. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ "Arsenal v Aston Villa – FA Premier League, Saturday December 28th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ "Aussie is the Gunner's number one". Hayes & Harlington Gazette. 11 September 1996. p. 68.
- ^ "Arsenal v Chelsea – FA Premier League, Wednesday September 4th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ "Arsenal Ladies". www.arsenal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2000-09-18. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ^ a b "Cove all set to land the double". Aberdeen Herald & Post. 6 March 1997. p. 49.
- ^ "FÚTBOL FEMENINO". www.orgullonacional.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ Howell, Bill (7 June 1997). "Michelle aims to beat the pain barrier...and the docs". Aberdeen Evening Express. p. 49.
- ^ "Royals slump to first defeat". Reading Evening Post. 9 October 1996. p. 23.
- ^ "Arsenal FC Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2025-02-14.