1996–97 Arsenal L.F.C. season

Arsenal Ladies
1996–97 season
ChairmanPeter Hill-Wood
ManagerVic Akers
StadiumHayes Lane
Premier LeagueWinners
FA CupSemi Finals
Premier League CupSecond Round
London County CupWinners
Biggest win0–9 (vs Southampton Saints, Premier League, 26 January 1997)
9–0 (vs Huddersfield Town, FA Cup, 02 February 1997)
Biggest defeat1–0 (vs Doncaster Rovers Belles, Premier League, 16 November 1996)

1–0 (vs Wembley, FA Cup, 30 March 1997)

1–2 (vs Doncaster Rovers Belles, Premier League Cup, 24 November 1996)

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 (1980-05-12) 12 May 1980 1996 Wembley
Sara King 1996
Defenders
Kirsty Pealling (1975-04-14) 14 April 1975 1987 Arsenal Academy
Faye White (1978-02-02) 2 February 1978 1996 Three Bridges
Clare Wheatley (1971-02-04) 4 February 1971 1995 Chelsea
Kim Jerry-Silver (1977-10-06) 6 October 1977 1997 Wembley
Jenny Canty (1976-03-22) 22 March 1976 1991 Limehouse
Vicki Slee (1973-03-09) 9 March 1973 1991 Millwall Lionesses
Michelle Curley (1972-04-30) 30 April 1972 1988 Arsenal Academy
Kelley Few (1971-10-17) 17 October 1971 1991 Romford
Lisa Spry 1988 Arsenal Academy
Gill Wylie 1991 Tottenham Hotspur
Midfielders
Joanne Broadhurst (1967-11-27) 27 November 1967 1995 Doncaster Belles
Sian Williams (captain) (1968-02-02) 2 February 1968 1990 Millwall Lionesses
Emma Coss (1979-05-09) 9 May 1979 1992 Arsenal Academy
Siobhan Kane (1975-03-28) 28 March 1975 1996 Castle Rovers
Sharon Barber 1988 Tottenham Hotspur
Linda Watt 1995 Watford
Laura Ray 1996
Forwards
Marieanne Spacey (1966-02-13) 13 February 1966 1993 Wimbledon
Rachel Yankey (1979-12-01) 1 December 1979 1996 Mill Hill United
Natasha Daly (1979-11-29) 29 November 1979 1996 Mill Hill United
Kelly Smith (1978-10-29) 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

Matchday123456789101112131415161718
GroundAAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHHA
ResultLWWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Source: FA WPL
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
01 September 1996 1 Doncaster Belles 1–0 Arsenal
  • Walker 23'
Report
14 September 1996 2 Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal Anfield
Report Stadium: Anfield
22 September 1996 3 Arsenal 4–0 Ilkeston Town Bromley
Report Stadium: Hayes Lane
06 October 1996 4 Wembley 1–1 Arsenal Wembley
Report
Stadium: Vale Farm
20 October 1996 6 Everton 1–5 Arsenal
  • McGrady 60'
Report
08 December 1996 8 Arsenal 3–2 Doncaster Belles Bromley
Report
Stadium: Hayes Lane
06 April 1997 14 Croydon 0–2 Arsenal
Report
27 April 1997 16 Arsenal 3–0 Liverpool Highbury
12:00 BST Report Stadium: Highbury

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
30 March 1997 Semi-finals Wembley 0–1 Arsenal Borehamwood
  • Koch 81'
Report Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 289

FA Women's Premier League Cup

27 October 1996 First round Liverpool 1–2 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
  • Stansbury
Report Stadium: Plough Lane

See also

References

  1. ^ Connolly, Kevin (19 April 1997). "Marieanne and Rachel make it three in a row". Arsenal vs Blackburn Rovers Matchdaty Programme: Page 21.
  2. ^ Connolly, Kevin (12 April 1997). "Girls set up title finale". Arsenal vs Leicester City Matchday Programme: Page 21.
  3. ^ Connolly, Kevin (24 November 1996). "Girl Gunners seek speedy revenge". Arsenal vs Southampton Matchday Programme: Page 21.
  4. ^ "Arsenal 0-1 Wembley". The Women's FA Cup.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Arsenal Ladies". www.arsenal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2000-09-18. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  7. ^ "Arsenal Ladies". www.arsenal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2001-06-26. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  8. ^ "Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday – FA Premier League, Monday September 16th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  9. ^ "Siobhan Kane - Player changes, player transfers | Soccerdonna". www.soccerdonna.de. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  10. ^ "Arsenal v Aston Villa – FA Premier League, Saturday December 28th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  11. ^ "Aussie is the Gunner's number one". Hayes & Harlington Gazette. 11 September 1996. p. 68.
  12. ^ "Arsenal v Chelsea – FA Premier League, Wednesday September 4th 1996". The Arsenal Collection. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  13. ^ "Arsenal Ladies". www.arsenal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2000-09-18. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  14. ^ a b "Cove all set to land the double". Aberdeen Herald & Post. 6 March 1997. p. 49.
  15. ^ "FÚTBOL FEMENINO". www.orgullonacional.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  16. ^ Howell, Bill (7 June 1997). "Michelle aims to beat the pain barrier...and the docs". Aberdeen Evening Express. p. 49.
  17. ^ "Royals slump to first defeat". Reading Evening Post. 9 October 1996. p. 23.
  18. ^ "Arsenal FC Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2025-02-14.