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 |
-
|
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 |