| Club: | Notts County |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Manager: | Colin Murphy (until 23 December) Mark Smith (caretaker, 23 December - 16 January) Sam Allardyce (from 16 January) |
| Chairman: | Derek Pavis |
| Stadium: | Meadow Lane |
| League: | Second Division |
| League Result: | 24th (relegated) |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | First round |
| Cup3: | Auto Windscreens Shield |
| Cup3 Result: | Second round |
| League Topscorer: | Martindale (6) |
| Season Topscorer: | Martindale (7) |
| Average Attendance: | 4,239 |
| Prevseason: | 1995–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
During the 1996–97 English football season, Notts County F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
In the 1996–97 season, it was a disaster for Murphy and the club, with a series of heavy defeats that eventually led to his sacking on 23 December 1996. On 16 January 1997, Sam Allardyce made his return to football as manager but he arrived too late to save them from relegation.
See main article: 1996–97 Football League.
Notts County's score comes first[1]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1996 | Preston North End | H | 2–1 | 6,879 | Jones, Martindale | |
| 24 August 1996 | Stockport County | A | 0–0 | 5,271 | ||
| 31 August 1996 | York City | H | 0–1 | 4,600 | ||
| 7 September 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 8,109 | ||
| 10 September 1996 | Watford | H | 2–3 | 3,660 | Martindale (pen), Robinson | |
| 14 September 1996 | Millwall | H | 1–2 | 4,473 | Baraclough | |
| 21 September 1996 | Bournemouth | A | 1–0 | 3,402 | Jones | |
| 28 September 1996 | Wrexham | H | 0–0 | 4,216 | ||
| 1 October 1996 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 5,482 | ||
| 5 October 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 0–1 | 4,506 | ||
| 8 October 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 3–1 | 5,456 | Agana, Heald (own goal), Martindale | |
| 12 October 1996 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–1 | 4,558 | Agana | |
| 15 October 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 0–0 | 4,265 | ||
| 19 October 1996 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 9,372 | ||
| 26 October 1996 | Bristol City | A | 0–4 | 9,540 | ||
| 29 October 1996 | Walsall | H | 2–0 | 3,127 | Strodder, Agana | |
| 2 November 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–2 | 4,363 | Derry | |
| 9 November 1996 | Luton Town | A | 0–2 | 5,664 | ||
| 23 November 1996 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 3,598 | ||
| 30 November 1996 | Bristol City | H | 2–0 | 4,693 | Arkins, Robinson | |
| 3 December 1996 | Brentford | A | 0–2 | 3,675 | ||
| 14 December 1996 | Rotherham United | H | 0–0 | 3,954 | ||
| 20 December 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–3 | 3,125 | ||
| 26 December 1996 | Watford | A | 0–0 | 9,065 | ||
| 11 January 1997 | Wrexham | A | 3–3 | 3,267 | Farrell, Martindale (2, 1 pen) | |
| 18 January 1997 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 5,008 | Martindale (pen) | |
| 25 January 1997 | Walsall | A | 1–3 | 3,261 | Battersby | |
| 1 February 1997 | Luton Town | H | 1–2 | 5,025 | Richardson | |
| 4 February 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 0–2 | 2,757 | ||
| 8 February 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–2 | 2,692 | Regis | |
| 15 February 1997 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | 5,281 | Butler (own goal) | |
| 22 February 1997 | Bury | A | 0–2 | 3,430 | ||
| 25 February 1997 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 5,202 | ||
| 1 March 1997 | Brentford | H | 1–1 | 4,323 | ||
| 8 March 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–1 | 4,047 | |||
| 15 March 1997 | Rotherham United | A | 2–2 | 2,605 | Regis, Redmile | |
| 22 March 1997 | Stockport County | H | 1–2 | 4,238 | Baraclough | |
| 25 March 1997 | Bury | H | 0–1 | 3,306 | ||
| 29 March 1997 | Preston North End | A | 0–2 | 9,472 | ||
| 31 March 1997 | Peterborough United | H | 0–0 | 3,848 | ||
| 5 April 1997 | York City | A | 2–1 | 3,115 | Dudley, Redmile | |
| 12 April 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 4,290 | Derry | |
| 15 April 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–1 | 2,423 | Heathcote (own goal), Jones | |
| 20 April 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–1 | 6,309 | ||
| 26 April 1997 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 4,591 | Dudley | |
| 3 May 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 0–1 | 5,736 |
See main article: 1996-97 FA Cup.
| R1 | 17 November 1996 | Newcastle Town | A | 2–0 | 3,918 | Kennedy, Robinson | |
| R2 | 7 December 1996 | Rochdale | H | 3–1 | 3,584 | Jones, Arkins, Agana | |
| R3 | 14 January 1997 | Aston Villa | H | 0–0 | 13,315 | ||
| R3R | 22 January 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 0–3 | 25,006 |
See main article: 1996-97 Football League Cup.
| R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1996 | Bury | H | 1–1 | 2,141 | Jones | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Bury | A | 0–1 (lost 1–2 on agg) | 2,571 |
See main article: 1996-97 Football League Trophy.
| NR1 | 10 December 1996 | Scarborough | A | 1–0 | 952 | Martindale (pen) | |
| NR2 | 28 January 1997 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–1 (lost 2–4 on pens) | 1,076 | Hunt |