Match of the Day
Season 1996/97
199653 episodes
Episode 1
11th August 1996: FA Charity Shield: Manchester United v Newcastle United
Aug 11, 19961h 20m
Highlights of the traditional curtain raiser of the domestic season, the FA Charity Shield, with Manchester United taking on Newcastle United at Wembley. Alex Ferguson's side, who won the Premiership and FA Cup double last season, contains several new faces, including summer signings Jordi and Karel Poborsky, as well as Footballer of the Year Eric Cantona. Newcastle, who were league runners-up and lost twice to United last season, will be looking to get the season off to a flying start with victory in their first appearance at Wembley for 20 years.
Episode 2
17th August 1996
Aug 17, 19961h 20m
Action from two of the top fixtures on the opening day of the new season in the FA Premiership, with champions Manchester United away to Wimbledon and Liverpool at Middlesbrough.
Episode 3
21st August 1996
Aug 21, 19961h 20m
Highlights of the FA Premiership match between Chelsea and Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge.
Episode 4
24th August 1996
Aug 24, 19961h 20m
Action from two of today's key games in the FA Premiership, including West Ham's game against Southampton at Upton Park. The Hammers' close season signings include Portugal's Paolo Futre and Romanian striker Florin Raducioiu, while Southampton recently appointed former Liverpool and Rangers' boss Graeme Souness as their new manager. Plus, highlights from the all-Midlands clash between Coca-Cola Cup holders Aston Villa and newly promoted Derby County, and all today's other goals and talking points.
Episode 5
1st September 1996: Moldova v England
Sep 1, 19961h 20m
Highlights of Moldova v England, Glenn Hoddle's opening match as coach and the national team's first qualifying match for the 1998 World Cup tournament, to be staged in France.
Episode 6
4th September 1996
Sep 4, 19961h 20m
Action from tonight's Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United, from Roker Park.
Episode 7
7th September 1996
Sep 7, 19961h 20m
Action from today's key games in the Premiership, including the clash of the roses at Elland Road where Leeds United entertain rivals Manchester United. There's also talking points and goals from the day's other Premiership games.
Episode 8
14th September 1996
Sep 14, 19961h 20m
Highlights from two of today's top games in the Premiership, including Newcastle United against Blackburn Rovers.
Episode 9
21st September 1996
Sep 21, 19961h 20m
Highlights from two of today's top games in the Premiership including Liverpool v Chelsea at Anfield.
Episode 10
28th September 1996
Sep 28, 19961h 20m
Highlights from two of today's top games in the Premiership, including Everton v Sheffield Wednesday at Goodison Park.
Episode 11
12th October 1996
Oct 12, 19961h 20m
Highlights of the day's big Premiership game between Manchester United and Liverpool, from Old Trafford. Plus, a roundup of all the action from this afternoon's other matches.
Episode 12
19th October 1996
Oct 19, 19961h 20m
Highlights of the day's big Premiership game between Nottingham Forest and Derby County, from the City Ground. Plus, a roundup of all the action from this afternoon's other matches.
Episode 13
26th October 1996
Oct 26, 19961h 20m
Highlights from two of today's top games in the Premiership, including Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.
Episode 14
2nd Novermber 1996
Nov 2, 19961h 20m
Highlights from two of today's top games in the Premiership, including Manchester United v Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Episode 15
9th November 1996: England v Georgia
Nov 9, 19961h 20m
Highlights of England's World Cup qualifying match against Georgia in Tbilisi. Plus action from the group seven qualifier between Holland and Wales, while Northern Ireland face a daunting game away against European champions Germany.
Episode 16
16th November 1996
Nov 16, 19961h 20m
Highlights of the day's top FA Premiership match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. Plus highlights from the rest of the day's Premiership fixtures.
Episode 17
23rd November 1996
Nov 23, 19961h 20m
Action from today's Midlands derby between Coventry City and Aston Villa at Highfield Road, plus highlights and talking points from the rest of the day's Premiership fixtures.
Episode 18
30th November 1996
Nov 30, 19961h 20m
Featuring highlights of the day's top FA Premiership match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park. Plus an update on the rest of the day's Premiership games.
Episode 19
7th December 1996
Dec 7, 19961h 20m
Featuring highlights of the day's top Premiership match between Arsenal and Derby County at Highbury. Including action from the second round of the FA Cup, as second and third division sides aim to make it into the third round. Plus an update on the rest of the day's games, and the latest Goal of the Month competition.
Episode 20
9th December 1996: FA Cup Third Round Draw
Dec 9, 19961h 20m
Coverage of the draw from Lancaster Gate.
Episode 21
21st December 1996:
Dec 21, 19961h 20m
Action from today's FA Premiership matches, including highlights of the match between Everton and Leeds United at Goodison Park.
Episode 22
28th December 1996
Dec 28, 19961h 20m
Highlights of two of today's top matches in the FA Premiership including Newcastle United against Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park. Plus all the goals and talking points from the day's other games.
Episode 23
1st January 1997
Jan 1, 19971h 20m
All the goals and key moments from the day's Premiership games, including highlights of the match at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Episode 24
4th January 1997: FA Cup Third Round
Jan 4, 19971h 20m
Featuring highlights from Highfield Road of the FA Cup third-round match between Coventry City and Woking. Plus highlights of a tricky away tie for West Ham United and action from the all-Premiership match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Highbury.
Episode 25
5th January 1997: FA Cup Third Round: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Jan 5, 19971h 20m
Coverage from Old Trafford of this FA Cup third-round tie. United have reached the final for the last three years and won the cup for a record ninth time last season. That put them one ahead of Spurs who last won in 1991. Live coverage of the fourth-round draw follows.
Episode 26
11th January 1997
Jan 11, 19971h 20m
Action from today's FA Premiership matches, including highlights of the match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park.
Episode 27
18th January 1997
Jan 18, 19971h 20m
Action from today's FA Premiership matches, including highlights of the match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield.
Episode 28
25th January 1997: FA Cup Fourth Round
Jan 25, 19971h 20m
Featuring highlights of two of today's FA Cup fourth-round matches.
Episode 29
26th January 1997: FA Cup Fourth Round: Chelsea v Liverpool
Jan 26, 19971h 20m
Coverage of this outstanding FA Cup fourth-round tie from Stamford Bridge between Ruud Gullit's cosmopolitan Chelsea side and an impressive Liverpool lineup. Live coverage of the fifth-round draw follows.
Episode 30
1st February 1997
Feb 1, 19971h 20m
Featuring highlights of two matches from today's Premiership programme, including Leeds United v Arsenal, in which new Leeds manager George Graham takes on his old club. Plus goals from the day's other fixtures in the Premiership and the Goal of the Month competition.
Episode 31
15th February 1997: FA Cup Fifth Round
Feb 15, 19971h 20m
Highlights from two key FA Cup fifth-round ties.
Episode 32
16th February 1997: FA Cup Fifth Round: Leicester City v Chelsea
Feb 16, 19971h 20m
Coverage of this FA Cup fifth-round tie from Filbert Street. Followed by the quarter-final draw.
Episode 33
22nd February 1997
Feb 22, 19971h 20m
Highlights of today's FA Premiership match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Episode 34
1st March 1997
Mar 1, 19971h 20m
Highlights from St James' Park of the FA Premiership match between Newcastle United and Southampton.
Episode 35
8th March 1997: FA Cup Sixth Round
Mar 8, 19971h 20m
Featuring FA Cup highlights from the game between Derby and Middlesbrough, plus a review of the Premiership match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Including all the goals and news from the day's other Premiership fixtures.
Episode 36
9th March 1997: FA Cup Sixth Round: Sheffield Wednesday v Wimbledon
Mar 9, 19971h 20m
Coverage of this FA Cup quarter-final tie from Hillsborough. Followed by the semi-final draw.
Episode 37
15th March 1997
Mar 15, 19971h 20m
Including highlights of the Premiership match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Plus today's goals and news.
Episode 38
22nd March 1997
Mar 22, 19971h 20m
Featuring highlights from Highfield Road of the Premiership match between Coventry City and West Ham United.
Episode 39
29th March 1997
Mar 29, 19971h 20m
Featuring highlights from Wembley of England's friendly international against Mexico. Plus highlights of today's World Cup qualifying matches: Scotland v Estonia, Wales v Belgium, and Northern Ireland v Portugal.
Episode 40
5th April 1997
Apr 5, 19971h 20m
Featuring highlights of two of today's key matches in the FA Premiership, including Nottingham Forest v Southampton at the City Ground.
Episode 41
12th April 1997
Apr 12, 19971h 20m
Highlights of two of today's top fixtures, including the match between Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United at Ewood Park.
Episode 42
13th April 1997: FA Cup Semi Final: Wimbledon v Chelsea
Apr 13, 19971h 20m
Coverage of this all-Premiership FA Cup semi-final from Highbury. It is Chelsea's third appearance in this stage of the competition in the last four years while Wimbledon haven't reached an FA Cup semi-final for nine years.
Episode 43
13th April 1997: FA Cup Semi Final: Middlesbrough v Chesterfield
Apr 13, 19971h 20m
Highlights of today's other FA Cup semi-final between Middlesbrough and Chesterfield at Old Trafford. Having not reached a major cup final competition in their history, Boro are on the verge of achieving the feat twice in the same season. For Chesterfield this is the biggest match in their history and they are the first side from outside the top two divisions to reach the last four in the FA Cup since Plymouth Argyle 13 years ago.
Episode 44
19th April 1997
Apr 19, 19971h 20m
Highlights of two of today's top fixtures in the FA Premiership including the match that could decide the title between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield.
Episode 45
3rd May 1997
May 3, 19971h 20m
Including highlights of Manchester United's match at Leicester City, the first of four matches in the last week of the season for United as they bid to retain the Premiership title.
Episode 46
3rd May 1997
May 3, 19971h 20m
Including highlights of Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal v Newcastle United.
Episode 47
5th May 1997
May 5, 19971h 20m
Highlights of the clash between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, as United play their second of four matches in the space of nine days.
Episode 48
6th May 1997
May 6, 19971h 20m
Highlights of tonight's two vital FA Premiership matches affecting issues at both ends of the table. Liverpool face Wimbledon at Selhurst Park, looking for their first away win against the home side since 1990, while West Ham United entertain Newcastle United at Upton Park, hoping for vital points to help them also avoid relegation.
Episode 49
8th May 1997
May 8, 19971h 20m
Tonight Manchester United and Middlesbrough are both involved in important matches as the Premiership title and relegation battles near their conclusion. At Old Trafford, United face Newcastle, while at the other end of the table, FA Cup finalists Middlesbrough's punishing schedule continues with their re-scheduled match at Blackburn Rovers.
Episode 50
11th May 1997
May 11, 19971h 20m
All the drama from the final day of the FA Premiership season. West Ham visit Old Trafford at the end of a difficult week for Manchester United during which they've already played three matches. Southampton end their season at Aston Villa, and Coventry finish with a tricky away game at Tottenham.
Episode 51
17th May 1997: FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Middlesbrough
May 17, 19971h 20m
Highlights of today's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Middlesbrough at Wembley.
Episode 52
24th May 1997: England v South Africa
May 24, 19971h 20m
Highlights of tonight's historic friendly international between England and South Africa at Old Trafford. This is the first meeting between the two nations and the first England international to take place at the home of Manchester United since 1938.
Episode 53
31st May 1997: England v Poland
May 31, 19971h 20m
Highlights of England's World Cup qualifier against Poland at the Slaski stadium in Chorzow.