1996–97 Portsmouth F.C. season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Portsmouth F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.
Season summary
In the summer of 1996, Terry Venables arrived at Portsmouth as a consultant, later taking over as chairman after buying the club for £1. The team enjoyed a run to the FA Cup quarter-finals, beating Premiership side Leeds United en route, but finished just short of the qualifying places for the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League.Final league table
Results
Portsmouth's score comes firstLegend
Football League First Division
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 4 January 1997 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–1 | 23,626 | McLoughlin, Hall |
| R4 | 25 January 1997 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 15,003 | Hall, Bradbury, Hillier |
| R5 | 15 February 1997 | Leeds United | A | 3–2 | 35,604 | McLoughlin, Svensson, Bradbury |
| QF | 9 March 1997 | Chelsea | H | 1–4 | 15,701 | Burton |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 First Leg | 20 August 1996 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–0 | 3,102 | Burton |
| R1 Second Leg | 4 September 1996 | Leyton Orient | A | 0–1 | 3,177 | |
| R2 First Leg | 18 September 1996 | Wimbledon | A | 0–1 | 3,811 | |
| R2 Second Leg | 25 September 1996 | Wimbledon | H | 1–1 | 4,006 | Carter |