View source for 1996–97 Football Conference

{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox football league season
 | competition        = [[Football Conference]]
 | season             = 1996–97<ref name="Rothmans"/>
 | winners            = '''[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]]''' (2nd [[Football Conference#Past National League winners|Football Conference title]])
 | continentalcup1    = Promoted to the [[Football League]]
 | continentalcup1 qualifiers = [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]]
 | continentalcup2    = Conference League Cup winners
 | continentalcup2 qualifiers = [[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]
 | continentalcup3    = FA Trophy winners
 | continentalcup3 qualifiers = [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] (3rd [[List of FA Trophy winners|FA Trophy title]]
 | continentalcup4    = Relegated to [[History of the English football league system#1991–2002|Level 6]]
 | continentalcup4 qualifiers = [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]],<br>[[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]],<br>[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]]
 | league topscorer   = [[Lee Hughes]] ''([[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]])'', 30
 | biggest home win   = [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] – [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] 7–1 (30 November 1996);<br>[[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] – [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] 6–0 (28 December 1996);<br>[[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]] – [[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]] 6–0 (19 October 1996);<br>[[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] – [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]] 6–0 (17 August 1996)
| biggest away win    = [[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]] – [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] 1–6 (1 January 1997);<br>[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]] – [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] 0–5 (1 March 1997);<br>[[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] – [[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] 0–5 (24 August 1996);<br>[[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]] – [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] 0–5 (7 December 1996)
 | highest scoring    = [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]] – [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] 4–5 (15 February 1997)
 | matches            = 462
 | total goals        = 1306
 | longest wins       = [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]], 8 matches
 | longest unbeaten   = [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]], 12 matches
 | longest losses     = [[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]], 7 matches
 | highest attendance = [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] v [[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]], 6,489 (25 January 1997)
 | lowest attendance  = ?
 | average attendance = 1,258
 | prevseason         = [[1995–96 Football Conference|1995–96]]
 | nextseason         = [[1997–98 Football Conference|1997–98]]
}}
'''The Football Conference season of 1996–97''' was the eighteenth season of the [[Football Conference]], also known as the ''Vauxhall Conference'' for sponsorship reasons.

==Overview==
[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] won their second Conference title in three years, and this time earned a promotion to the [[Football League]] – thanks to their upgraded stadium – at the expense of [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]].

==New teams in the league this season==
* [[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]] (promoted 1995–96)
* [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] (promoted 1995–96)

==Final  league table==
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDLHA
|res_col_header=PR

|team1=MAC|name_MAC=[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]]
|team2=KID|name_KID=[[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]
|team3=STB|name_STB=[[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]]
|team4=MOR|name_MOR=[[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]]
|team5=WOK|name_WOK=[[Woking F.C.|Woking]]
|team6=NOR|name_NOR=[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]]
|team7=FAR|name_FAR=[[Farnborough Town F.C.|Farnborough Town]]
|team8=HED|name_HED=[[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]]
|team9=TEL|name_TEL=[[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]]
|team10=GAT|name_GAT=[[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]]
|team11=SOU|name_SOU=[[Southport F.C.|Southport]]
|team12=R&D|name_R&D=[[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]]
|team13=STL|name_STL=[[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge Celtic]]
|team14=KET|name_KET=[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
|team15=HAY|name_HAY=[[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]]
|team16=SLO|name_SLO=[[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]]
|team17=DOV|name_DOV=[[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]]
|team18=WEL|name_WEL=[[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]]
|team19=HAL|name_HAL=[[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]]
|team20=BAT|name_BAT=[[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]]
|team21=BRO|name_BRO=[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]]
|team22=ALT|name_ALT=[[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]]

|hwin_MAC=15|hdraw_MAC=4|hloss_MAC=2|hgf_MAC=41|hga_MAC=11|awin_MAC=12|adraw_MAC=5|aloss_MAC=4|agf_MAC=39|aga_MAC=19
|hwin_KID=14|hdraw_KID=4|hloss_KID=3|hgf_KID=48|hga_KID=18|awin_KID=12|adraw_KID=3|aloss_KID=6|agf_KID=36|aga_KID=24
|hwin_STB=15|hdraw_STB=4|hloss_STB=2|hgf_STB=53|hga_STB=23|awin_STB=9|adraw_STB=6|aloss_STB=6|agf_STB=34|aga_STB=30
|hwin_MOR=10|hdraw_MOR=5|hloss_MOR=6|hgf_MOR=34|hga_MOR=23|awin_MOR=9|adraw_MOR=4|aloss_MOR=8|agf_MOR=35|aga_MOR=33
|hwin_WOK=10|hdraw_WOK=5|hloss_WOK=6|hgf_WOK=41|hga_WOK=29|awin_WOK=8|adraw_WOK=5|aloss_WOK=8|agf_WOK=30|aga_WOK=34
|hwin_NOR=11|hdraw_NOR=5|hloss_NOR=5|hgf_NOR=31|hga_NOR=20|awin_NOR=6|adraw_NOR=7|aloss_NOR=8|agf_NOR=30|aga_NOR=34
|hwin_FAR=9|hdraw_FAR=6|hloss_FAR=6|hgf_FAR=35|hga_FAR=29|awin_FAR=7|adraw_FAR=7|aloss_FAR=7|agf_FAR=23|aga_FAR=24
|hwin_HED=10|hdraw_HED=7|hloss_HED=4|hgf_HED=28|hga_HED=17|awin_HED=6|adraw_HED=5|aloss_HED=10|agf_HED=24|aga_HED=33
|hwin_TEL=6|hdraw_TEL=7|hloss_TEL=8|hgf_TEL=21|hga_TEL=30|awin_TEL=10|adraw_TEL=3|aloss_TEL=8|agf_TEL=25|aga_TEL=26
|hwin_GAT=8|hdraw_GAT=6|hloss_GAT=7|hgf_GAT=32|hga_GAT=27|awin_GAT=7|adraw_GAT=5|aloss_GAT=9|agf_GAT=27|aga_GAT=36
|hwin_SOU=8|hdraw_SOU=5|hloss_SOU=8|hgf_SOU=27|hga_SOU=28|awin_SOU=7|adraw_SOU=5|aloss_SOU=9|agf_SOU=24|aga_SOU=33
|hwin_R&D=8|hdraw_R&D=8|hloss_R&D=5|hgf_R&D=30|hga_R&D=25|awin_R&D=6|adraw_R&D=3|aloss_R&D=12|agf_R&D=31|aga_R&D=38
|hwin_STL=9|hdraw_STL=5|hloss_STL=7|hgf_STL=35|hga_STL=29|awin_STL=5|adraw_STL=5|aloss_STL=11|agf_STL=18|aga_STL=29
|hwin_KET=9|hdraw_KET=4|hloss_KET=8|hgf_KET=30|hga_KET=28|awin_KET=5|adraw_KET=5|aloss_KET=11|agf_KET=23|aga_KET=34
|hwin_HAY=7|hdraw_HAY=7|hloss_HAY=7|hgf_HAY=27|hga_HAY=21|awin_HAY=5|adraw_HAY=7|aloss_HAY=9|agf_HAY=27|aga_HAY=34
|hwin_SLO=7|hdraw_SLO=7|hloss_SLO=7|hgf_SLO=42|hga_SLO=32|awin_SLO=5|adraw_SLO=7|aloss_SLO=9|agf_SLO=20|aga_SLO=33
|hwin_DOV=7|hdraw_DOV=9|hloss_DOV=5|hgf_DOV=32|hga_DOV=30|awin_DOV=5|adraw_DOV=5|aloss_DOV=11|agf_DOV=25|aga_DOV=38
|hwin_WEL=9|hdraw_WEL=2|hloss_WEL=10|hgf_WEL=24|hga_WEL=26|awin_WEL=4|adraw_WEL=7|aloss_WEL=10|agf_WEL=26|aga_WEL=34
|hwin_HAL=9|hdraw_HAL=5|hloss_HAL=7|hgf_HAL=39|hga_HAL=37|awin_HAL=3|adraw_HAL=7|aloss_HAL=11|agf_HAL=16|aga_HAL=37
|hwin_BAT=9|hdraw_BAT=5|hloss_BAT=7|hgf_BAT=27|hga_BAT=28|awin_BAT=3|adraw_BAT=6|aloss_BAT=12|agf_BAT=26|aga_BAT=52
|hwin_BRO=8|hdraw_BRO=4|hloss_BRO=9|hgf_BRO=29|hga_BRO=30|awin_BRO=4|adraw_BRO=1|aloss_BRO=16|agf_BRO=12|aga_BRO=37
|hwin_ALT=6|hdraw_ALT=3|hloss_ALT=12|hgf_ALT=25|hga_ALT=34|awin_ALT=3|adraw_ALT=9|aloss_ALT=9|agf_ALT=24|aga_ALT=39

|note_R&D=New club in the Conference
|note_HAY=R&D

|col_CP=#CCCCFF|text_CP=[[Football Conference]] Champions, promoted to [[1997–98 Football League#Third Division|Football League Third Division]]
|result1=CP
|col_CLCW=#E6E6FA|text_CLCW=Conference League Cup winners
|result2=CLCW
|col_FATW=#D8BFD8|text_FATW=[[FA Trophy]] winners
|result5=FATW
|col_RS=#FFCCCC|text_RS=Relegated to the [[1997–98 Southern Football League#Premier Division|Southern League Premier Division]]
|result20=RS|result21=RS
|col_RN=#FFCCCC|text_RN=Relegated to the [[1997–98 Northern Premier League#Premier Division|Northern Premier League Premier Division]] 
|result22=RN
|update=complete|source=<ref name="Rothmans">Glenda Rollin (ed.), Jack Rollin (exec. ed.), ''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98''. Headline, 1997.</ref>
}}

==Results==

{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ALT|team2=BAT|team3=BRO|team4=DOV|team5=FAR
|team6=GAT|team7=HAL|team8=HAY|team9=HED|team10=KET
|team11=KID|team12=MAC|team13=MOR|team14=NOR|team15=R&D
|team16=SLO|team17=SOU|team18=STL|team19=STB|team20=TEL
|team21=WEL|team22=WOK

|name_ALT=[[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]]
|match_ALT_BAT=1–3
|match_ALT_BRO=3–1
|match_ALT_DOV=1–2
|match_ALT_FAR=0–3
|match_ALT_GAT=0–1
|match_ALT_HAL=2–1
|match_ALT_HAY=0–2
|match_ALT_HED=1–1
|match_ALT_KET=4–3
|match_ALT_KID=0–1
|match_ALT_MAC=0–1
|match_ALT_MOR=0–1
|match_ALT_NOR=2–3
|match_ALT_R&D=4–3
|match_ALT_SLO=0–1
|match_ALT_SOU=1–0
|match_ALT_STL=1–0
|match_ALT_STB=1–2
|match_ALT_TEL=2–3
|match_ALT_WEL=1–1
|match_ALT_WOK=1–1

|name_BAT=[[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]]
|match_BAT_ALT=1–2
|match_BAT_BRO=1–0
|match_BAT_DOV=2–1
|match_BAT_FAR=1–1
|match_BAT_GAT=3–0
|match_BAT_HAL=0–0
|match_BAT_HAY=3–1
|match_BAT_HED=2–1
|match_BAT_KET=0–2
|match_BAT_KID=0–3
|match_BAT_MAC=0–3
|match_BAT_MOR=2–1
|match_BAT_NOR=3–2
|match_BAT_R&D=3–2
|match_BAT_SLO=0–0
|match_BAT_SOU=0–2
|match_BAT_STL=0–2
|match_BAT_STB=0–0
|match_BAT_TEL=2–3
|match_BAT_WEL=3–1
|match_BAT_WOK=3–1

|name_BRO=[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]]
|match_BRO_ALT=4–0
|match_BRO_BAT=2–1
|match_BRO_DOV=3–1
|match_BRO_FAR=1–1
|match_BRO_GAT=2–2
|match_BRO_HAL=3–0
|match_BRO_HAY=2–2
|match_BRO_HED=1–0
|match_BRO_KET=1–2
|match_BRO_KID=0–1
|match_BRO_MAC=0–3
|match_BRO_MOR=2–3
|match_BRO_NOR=0–5
|match_BRO_R&D=0–1
|match_BRO_SLO=4–1
|match_BRO_SOU=0–1
|match_BRO_STL=0–1
|match_BRO_STB=1–1
|match_BRO_TEL=2–1
|match_BRO_WEL=1–0
|match_BRO_WOK=0–3

|name_DOV=[[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]]
|match_DOV_ALT=2–2
|match_DOV_BAT=2–2
|match_DOV_BRO=2–0
|match_DOV_FAR=0–0
|match_DOV_GAT=0–1
|match_DOV_HAL=2–2
|match_DOV_HAY=1–0
|match_DOV_HED=2–2
|match_DOV_KET=0–1
|match_DOV_KID=0–5
|match_DOV_MAC=2–1
|match_DOV_MOR=3–0
|match_DOV_NOR=2–2
|match_DOV_R&D=1–1
|match_DOV_SLO=0–0
|match_DOV_SOU=0–1
|match_DOV_STL=2–1
|match_DOV_STB=3–3
|match_DOV_TEL=1–4
|match_DOV_WEL=2–1
|match_DOV_WOK=5–1

|name_FAR=[[Farnborough F.C.|Farnborough Town]]
|match_FAR_ALT=1–1
|match_FAR_BAT=4–1
|match_FAR_BRO=2–1
|match_FAR_DOV=2–3
|match_FAR_GAT=1–2
|match_FAR_HAL=3–0
|match_FAR_HAY=1–1
|match_FAR_HED=1–0
|match_FAR_KET=0–2
|match_FAR_KID=2–1
|match_FAR_MAC=0–1
|match_FAR_MOR=2–2
|match_FAR_NOR=2–2
|match_FAR_R&D=2–2
|match_FAR_SLO=2–1
|match_FAR_SOU=3–3
|match_FAR_STL=1–0
|match_FAR_STB=3–1
|match_FAR_TEL=0–2
|match_FAR_WEL=2–1
|match_FAR_WOK=1–2

|name_GAT=[[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]]
|match_GAT_ALT=1–1
|match_GAT_BAT=5–0
|match_GAT_BRO=1–0
|match_GAT_DOV=1–3
|match_GAT_FAR=1–0
|match_GAT_HAL=0–1
|match_GAT_HAY=1–1
|match_GAT_HED=0–1
|match_GAT_KET=1–1
|match_GAT_KID=3–1
|match_GAT_MAC=0–0
|match_GAT_MOR=0–3
|match_GAT_NOR=5–1
|match_GAT_R&D=1–0
|match_GAT_SLO=2–1
|match_GAT_SOU=2–2
|match_GAT_STL=0–2
|match_GAT_STB=2–2
|match_GAT_TEL=2–3
|match_GAT_WEL=1–2
|match_GAT_WOK=3–2

|name_HAL=[[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]]
|match_HAL_ALT=1–1
|match_HAL_BAT=4–5
|match_HAL_BRO=1–0
|match_HAL_DOV=1–3
|match_HAL_FAR=3–0
|match_HAL_GAT=2–0
|match_HAL_HAY=2–2
|match_HAL_HED=1–0
|match_HAL_KET=2–1
|match_HAL_KID=2–3
|match_HAL_MAC=3–3
|match_HAL_MOR=1–1
|match_HAL_NOR=0–3
|match_HAL_R&D=1–3
|match_HAL_SLO=4–1
|match_HAL_SOU=2–0
|match_HAL_STL=4–1
|match_HAL_STB=4–2
|match_HAL_TEL=0–3
|match_HAL_WEL=1–1
|match_HAL_WOK=0–4

|name_HAY=[[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]]
|match_HAY_ALT=3–1
|match_HAY_BAT=0–1
|match_HAY_BRO=1–0
|match_HAY_DOV=2–0
|match_HAY_FAR=0–0
|match_HAY_GAT=0–0
|match_HAY_HAL=0–0
|match_HAY_HED=4–0
|match_HAY_KET=2–1
|match_HAY_KID=0–1
|match_HAY_MAC=0–2
|match_HAY_MOR=2–3
|match_HAY_NOR=1–1
|match_HAY_R&D=1–1
|match_HAY_SLO=5–0
|match_HAY_SOU=1–1
|match_HAY_STL=0–2
|match_HAY_STB=1–3
|match_HAY_TEL=0–1
|match_HAY_WEL=1–1
|match_HAY_WOK=3–2

|name_HED=[[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]]
|match_HED_ALT=2–2
|match_HED_BAT=2–0
|match_HED_BRO=3–0
|match_HED_DOV=1–1
|match_HED_FAR=0–1
|match_HED_GAT=0–0
|match_HED_HAL=1–1
|match_HED_HAY=2–0
|match_HED_KET=0–0
|match_HED_KID=1–4
|match_HED_MAC=4–1
|match_HED_MOR=2–1
|match_HED_NOR=3–0
|match_HED_R&D=1–0
|match_HED_SLO=2–1
|match_HED_SOU=0–1
|match_HED_STL=2–1
|match_HED_STB=0–0
|match_HED_TEL=0–0
|match_HED_WEL=0–3
|match_HED_WOK=2–0

|name_KET=[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
|match_KET_ALT=3–1
|match_KET_BAT=1–0
|match_KET_BRO=2–0
|match_KET_DOV=1–1
|match_KET_FAR=3–1
|match_KET_GAT=4–1
|match_KET_HAL=4–1
|match_KET_HAY=2–2
|match_KET_HED=0–2
|match_KET_KID=3–1
|match_KET_MAC=1–4
|match_KET_MOR=0–2
|match_KET_NOR=1–0
|match_KET_R&D=[[A6 derby|1–5]]
|match_KET_SLO=0–0
|match_KET_SOU=0–1
|match_KET_STL=1–0
|match_KET_STB=1–2
|match_KET_TEL=0–1
|match_KET_WEL=2–3
|match_KET_WOK=0–0

|name_KID=[[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]
|match_KID_ALT=1–1
|match_KID_BAT=6–0
|match_KID_BRO=1–2
|match_KID_DOV=4–1
|match_KID_FAR=2–3
|match_KID_GAT=3–2
|match_KID_HAL=3–0
|match_KID_HAY=5–1
|match_KID_HED=2–1
|match_KID_KET=4–0
|match_KID_MAC=0–0
|match_KID_MOR=2–2
|match_KID_NOR=1–0
|match_KID_R&D=1–0
|match_KID_SLO=1–2
|match_KID_SOU=3–0
|match_KID_STL=1–1
|match_KID_STB=3–0
|match_KID_TEL=1–0
|match_KID_WEL=3–2
|match_KID_WOK=1–0

|name_MAC=[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]]
|match_MAC_ALT=1–1
|match_MAC_BAT=2–2
|match_MAC_BRO=4–0
|match_MAC_DOV=1–0
|match_MAC_FAR=3–0
|match_MAC_GAT=3–0
|match_MAC_HAL=1–0
|match_MAC_HAY=1–0
|match_MAC_HED=4–0
|match_MAC_KET=2–0
|match_MAC_KID=0–1
|match_MAC_MOR=0–0
|match_MAC_NOR=0–1
|match_MAC_R&D=2–1
|match_MAC_SLO=2–0
|match_MAC_SOU=3–2
|match_MAC_STL=2–0
|match_MAC_STB=2–1
|match_MAC_TEL=2–1
|match_MAC_WEL=1–1
|match_MAC_WOK=5–0

|name_MOR=[[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]]
|match_MOR_ALT=2–1
|match_MOR_BAT=1–1
|match_MOR_BRO=1–0
|match_MOR_DOV=3–1
|match_MOR_FAR=1–1
|match_MOR_GAT=4–0
|match_MOR_HAL=1–0
|match_MOR_HAY=2–4
|match_MOR_HED=2–2
|match_MOR_KET=5–2
|match_MOR_KID=2–3
|match_MOR_MAC=1–0
|match_MOR_NOR=2–0
|match_MOR_R&D=2–0
|match_MOR_SLO=0–0
|match_MOR_SOU=2–1
|match_MOR_STL=0–0
|match_MOR_STB=1–2
|match_MOR_TEL=0–1
|match_MOR_WEL=1–2
|match_MOR_WOK=1–2

|name_NOR=[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]]
|match_NOR_ALT=2–2
|match_NOR_BAT=1–0
|match_NOR_BRO=1–0
|match_NOR_DOV=2–0
|match_NOR_FAR=1–1
|match_NOR_GAT=4–2
|match_NOR_HAL=2–2
|match_NOR_HAY=2–1
|match_NOR_HED=2–1
|match_NOR_KET=2–1
|match_NOR_KID=1–1
|match_NOR_MAC=2–1
|match_NOR_MOR=1–0
|match_NOR_R&D=1–2
|match_NOR_SLO=0–1
|match_NOR_SOU=5–1
|match_NOR_STL=0–1
|match_NOR_STB=0–1
|match_NOR_TEL=1–0
|match_NOR_WEL=0–0
|match_NOR_WOK=1–2

|name_R&D=[[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]]
|match_R&D_ALT=3–2
|match_R&D_BAT=4–1
|match_R&D_BRO=1–2
|match_R&D_DOV=1–1
|match_R&D_FAR=0–2
|match_R&D_GAT=0–4
|match_R&D_HAL=1–0
|match_R&D_HAY=2–2
|match_R&D_HED=0–2
|match_R&D_KET=[[A6 derby|1–0]]
|match_R&D_KID=1–1
|match_R&D_MAC=1–1
|match_R&D_MOR=2–1
|match_R&D_NOR=1–1
|match_R&D_SLO=2–2
|match_R&D_SOU=3–0
|match_R&D_STL=1–1
|match_R&D_STB=0–1
|match_R&D_TEL=2–0
|match_R&D_WEL=3–0
|match_R&D_WOK=1–1

|name_SLO=[[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]]
|match_SLO_ALT=0–1
|match_SLO_BAT=5–2
|match_SLO_BRO=2–0
|match_SLO_DOV=2–2
|match_SLO_FAR=1–1
|match_SLO_GAT=0–1
|match_SLO_HAL=1–0
|match_SLO_HAY=1–3
|match_SLO_HED=2–2
|match_SLO_KET=1–1
|match_SLO_KID=0–2
|match_SLO_MAC=0–0
|match_SLO_MOR=1–2
|match_SLO_NOR=3–4
|match_SLO_R&D=5–0
|match_SLO_SOU=1–1
|match_SLO_STL=4–1
|match_SLO_STB=1–6
|match_SLO_TEL=6–0
|match_SLO_WEL=3–3
|match_SLO_WOK=3–0

|name_SOU=[[Southport F.C.|Southport]]
|match_SOU_ALT=1–3
|match_SOU_BAT=3–1
|match_SOU_BRO=0–0
|match_SOU_DOV=0–1
|match_SOU_FAR=0–3
|match_SOU_GAT=1–1
|match_SOU_HAL=2–1
|match_SOU_HAY=0–2
|match_SOU_HED=1–2
|match_SOU_KET=2–2
|match_SOU_KID=1–0
|match_SOU_MAC=1–5
|match_SOU_MOR=3–1
|match_SOU_NOR=0–0
|match_SOU_R&D=2–1
|match_SOU_SLO=0–1
|match_SOU_STL=3–0
|match_SOU_STB=0–0
|match_SOU_TEL=0–1
|match_SOU_WEL=3–2
|match_SOU_WOK=4–1

|name_STL=[[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge Celtic]]
|match_STL_ALT=1–0
|match_STL_BAT=2–2
|match_STL_BRO=3–0
|match_STL_DOV=4–2
|match_STL_FAR=2–0
|match_STL_GAT=2–5
|match_STL_HAL=2–3
|match_STL_HAY=3–1
|match_STL_HED=1–2
|match_STL_KET=3–1
|match_STL_KID=4–1
|match_STL_MAC=0–1
|match_STL_MOR=2–1
|match_STL_NOR=0–1
|match_STL_R&D=2–0
|match_STL_SLO=2–2
|match_STL_SOU=2–2
|match_STL_STB=0–3
|match_STL_TEL=0–0
|match_STL_WEL=0–0
|match_STL_WOK=0–2

|name_STB=[[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage Borough]]
|match_STB_ALT=2–1
|match_STB_BAT=2–1
|match_STB_BRO=3–0
|match_STB_DOV=4–1
|match_STB_FAR=3–1
|match_STB_GAT=4–1
|match_STB_HAL=6–0
|match_STB_HAY=2–0
|match_STB_HED=3–2
|match_STB_KET=0–0
|match_STB_KID=2–2
|match_STB_MAC=2–3
|match_STB_MOR=4–2
|match_STB_NOR=2–0
|match_STB_R&D=4–1
|match_STB_SLO=2–2
|match_STB_SOU=2–1
|match_STB_STL=1–1
|match_STB_TEL=3–0
|match_STB_WEL=2–1
|match_STB_WOK=0–3

|name_TEL=[[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]]
|match_TEL_ALT=0–0
|match_TEL_BAT=1–1
|match_TEL_BRO=3–1
|match_TEL_DOV=1–0
|match_TEL_FAR=2–0
|match_TEL_GAT=0–3
|match_TEL_HAL=1–1
|match_TEL_HAY=0–0
|match_TEL_HED=1–1
|match_TEL_KET=1–0
|match_TEL_KID=0–2
|match_TEL_MAC=0–3
|match_TEL_MOR=2–3
|match_TEL_NOR=2–2
|match_TEL_R&D=0–5
|match_TEL_SLO=0–2
|match_TEL_SOU=1–0
|match_TEL_STL=1–1
|match_TEL_STB=2–3
|match_TEL_WEL=2–0
|match_TEL_WOK=1–2

|name_WEL=[[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]]
|match_WEL_ALT=1–0
|match_WEL_BAT=2–0
|match_WEL_BRO=1–2
|match_WEL_DOV=1–0
|match_WEL_FAR=0–2
|match_WEL_GAT=2–0
|match_WEL_HAL=0–1
|match_WEL_HAY=1–0
|match_WEL_HED=1–2
|match_WEL_KET=1–2
|match_WEL_KID=0–1
|match_WEL_MAC=0–3
|match_WEL_MOR=1–4
|match_WEL_NOR=1–1
|match_WEL_R&D=0–1
|match_WEL_SLO=3–2
|match_WEL_SOU=2–3
|match_WEL_STL=2–0
|match_WEL_STB=2–0
|match_WEL_TEL=2–1
|match_WEL_WOK=1–1

|name_WOK=[[Woking F.C.|Woking]]
|match_WOK_ALT=7–1
|match_WOK_BAT=2–2
|match_WOK_BRO=1–3
|match_WOK_DOV=1–1
|match_WOK_FAR=0–2
|match_WOK_GAT=1–1
|match_WOK_HAL=2–2
|match_WOK_HAY=1–2
|match_WOK_HED=2–0
|match_WOK_KET=2–1
|match_WOK_KID=2–1
|match_WOK_MAC=2–3
|match_WOK_MOR=1–2
|match_WOK_NOR=3–1
|match_WOK_R&D=4–2
|match_WOK_SLO=2–0
|match_WOK_SOU=0–1
|match_WOK_STL=3–2
|match_WOK_STB=3–1
|match_WOK_TEL=0–0
|match_WOK_WEL=2–1

|update= 
|source= Glenda Rollin (ed.), Jack Rollin (exec. ed.), ''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98''. Headline, 1997.<ref name="Rothmans"/>
}}
{{location map+ |England |float=right |width=400 |caption=Locations of the '''Football Conference 1996–1997 teams''' |places=
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.38 | long=-2.34 |label=<!-- [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.38 | long=-2.40 |label=<!-- [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.34 | long=-2.06 |label=<!-- [[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.14 | long=1.28 |label=<!-- [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.31 | long=-0.76 |label=<!-- [[Farnborough Town F.C.|Farnborough Town]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=54.95 | long=-1.6  |label=<!-- [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.72 | long=-1.86 |label=<!-- [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.52 | long=-0.42 |label=<!-- [[Hayes F.C.| Hayes]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.70 | long=-1.99 |label=<!-- [[Hednesford Town F.C.| Hednesford]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.41 | long=-0.73 |label=<!-- [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.39 | long=-2.25 |label=<!-- [[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.24 | long=-2.13 |label=<!-- [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=54.06 | long=-2.88 |label=<!-- [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.28 | long=-2.47 |label=<!-- [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]]-->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.32 | long=-0.61 |label=<!-- [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.60 | long=-0.63 |label=<!-- [[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.65 | long=-3.01 |label=<!-- [[Southport F.C.|Southport]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.48 | long=-2.04 |label=<!-- [[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge Celtic]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.90 | long=-0.20 |label=<!-- [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.68 | long=-2.45 |label=<!-- [[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.46 | long=0.12  |label=<!-- [[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.32 | long=-0.56 |label=<!-- [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] -->|position=right}}

<div style="position: absolute;left:151px;top:187px;font-size: smaller;">[[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:153px;top:344px;font-size: smaller;">[[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:156px;top:281px;font-size: smaller;">[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:214px;top:348px;font-size: smaller;">[[Farnborough Town F.C.|Farnborough]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:241px;top:67px;font-size: smaller;">[[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:229px;top:163px;font-size: smaller;">[[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:223px;top:241px;font-size: smaller;">[[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:295px;top:336px;font-size: smaller;">[[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:280px;top:263px;font-size: smaller;">[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:98px;top:267px;font-size: smaller;">[[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:217px;top:201px;font-size: smaller;">[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:120px;top:135px;font-size: smaller;">[[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:113px;top:209px;font-size: smaller;">[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:287px;top:275px;font-size: smaller;">[[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:282px;top:325px;font-size: smaller;">[[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:122px;top:169px;font-size: smaller;">[[Southport F.C.|Southport]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:222px;top:183px;font-size: smaller;">[[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:304px;top:304px;font-size: smaller;">[[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:162px;top:244px;font-size: smaller;">[[Telford United F.C.|Telford]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:321px;top:345px;font-size: smaller;">[[Welling United F.C.|Welling]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:289px;top:360px;font-size: smaller;">[[Woking F.C.|Woking]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:370px;top:362px;font-size: smaller;">[[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover]]</div>
}}

{{location map+ | Greater London |float=right |width=369 |caption=Locations of the '''Football Conference teams 1996–1997''' |places=
{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.52 | long=-0.42 |label=<!-- [[Hayes F.C.| Hayes]] -->|position=right}}
{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.46 | long=0.12  |label=<!-- [[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]] -->|position=right}}

<div style="position: absolute;left:62px;top:110px;font-size: smaller;">[[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]]</div>
<div style="position: absolute;left:275px;top:147px;font-size: smaller;">[[Welling United F.C.|Welling]]</div>
}}
==Promotion and relegation==

===Promoted===
* [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] (to the [[Football League Third Division]])
* [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] (from the [[Southern Football League|Southern Premier League]])
* [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]] (from the [[Northern Premier League]])
* [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] (from the [[Isthmian League]])

===Relegated===
* [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]] (from the [[Football League Third Division]])
* [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] (to the [[Northern Premier League]])
* [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] (to the [[Southern Football League|Southern Premier League]])
* [[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]] (to the [[Southern Football League|Southern Premier League]])

==Top scorers in order of league goals==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!width=20| Rank
!width=155| Player
!width=155| Club
!width=50| League
!width=50| [[FA Cup]]
!width=50| [[FA Trophy]]
!width=50| League Cup
!width=50| Total
|-
|'''1'''||align=left| ''' [[Lee Hughes]] ''' ||align=left|''' [[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] ''' ||'''30'''||1||2||1||'''34'''
|-
|2 ||align=left| [[Lennie Dennis]] ||align=left| [[Welling United F.C.|Welling United]] ||21||1||1||2||25
|-
|3 ||align=left| [[Andy Whittaker (footballer)|Andy Whittaker]] ||align=left| [[Southport F.C.|Southport]] ||19||6||2||0||27
|-
|4 ||align=left| [[Gary Abbott]] ||align=left| [[Slough Town F.C.|Slough Town]] ||18||0||0||0||18
|-
|5||align=left| [[Justin Jackson (footballer)|Justin Jackson]] ||align=left| [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] ||17||4||2||0||23
|-
|6||align=left| [[Barry Hayles]] ||align=left| [[Stevenage Borough F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] ||16||3||2||0||21
|-
|=||align=left| [[David Leworthy]] ||align=left| [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] ||16||4||0||0||20
|-
|=||align=left| [[Lee Steele]] ||align=left| [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] ||16||0||0||0||16
|-
|9||align=left| Joe O'Connor ||align=left| [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford]] ||15||9||0||0||24
|-
|=||align=left| [[Paul Thompson (footballer, born 1973)|Paul Thompson]] ||align=left| [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] ||15||6||1||1||23
|-
|=||align=left| [[Clive Walker (footballer, born 1957)|Clive Walker]] ||align=left| [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] ||15||3||1||0||19
|-
|=||align=left| [[Steve Wood (footballer, born June 1963)|Steve Wood]] ||align=left| [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] ||15||0||0||1||16
|-
|13||align=left| [[Mike Davis (footballer)|Mike Davis]] ||align=left| [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] ||14||7||0||0||21
|-
|=||align=left| [[Neil Doherty (footballer)|Neil Doherty]] ||align=left| [[Kidderminster Harriers F. C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] ||14||1||1||0||16
|-
|=||align=left| [[Niell Hardy]] ||align=left| [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] ||14||3||1||0||18
|-
|=||align=left| [[Mickey Norbury]] ||align=left| [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]] ||14||0||0||0||14
|-
|17||align=left| [[Carl Alford]] ||align=left| [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] ||13||2||0||0||15
|-
|=||align=left| [[Ian Arnold]] ||align=left| [[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge Celtic]] ||13||0||0||0||13
|-
|=||align=left| [[Chris Boothe (footballer)|Chris Boothe]] ||align=left| [[Farnborough Town F.C.|Farnborough Town]] ||13||9||0||3||25
|-
|=||align=left| [[Martin Randall]] ||align=left| [[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]] ||13||0||4||0||17
|-
|=||align=left| [[Phil Wingfield]] ||align=left| [[Farnborough Town F.C.|Farnborough Town]] ||13||2||1||0||16
|}
<ref name="Rothmans"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071109074446/http://www.the-english-football-archive.com/league_results/5th_level/1996-1997-results.htm 1996–97 Conference National Results]

{{Conference National Seasons}}
{{1996–97 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 Football Conference}}
[[Category:National League (English football) seasons]]
[[Category:1996–97 in English football leagues|5]]