During the 1996–97 English football season, Wimbledon competed in the Premier League. The season marked 20 years since Wimbledon's election to the Football League and was their eleventh successive season of top division football. It was one of the most successful of the club's history as they finished eighth in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of both domestic cups.
The opening day of the season saw Wimbledon lose 3–0 at home toManchester Unitedin a game mostly remembered forDavid Beckham's late goal from inside his own half. The Dons also lost their next two games, but then went on a 19-match unbeaten run, including seven league wins in a row. A 1–0 overBlackburn Roversin December left them 3rd in the table, one point behind leaders Arsenal. The team's form tailed off in the second half of the season and they missed out on the chance of European qualification, finishing 8th.
Wimbledon also reached the semi-finals of both domestic cups. Their FA Cup run saw them knock out holders Manchester United but they lost 3–0 to the eventual winnersChelseaatHighbury.In the League Cup they were eliminated on away goals byLeicester City,who also went on to win the trophy. The sale ofØyvind LeonhardsentoLiverpoolat the end of the season left managerJoe Kinnearwith a big hole to fill in a squad which had, so far, achieved so much on a shoestring budget.
^Sullivan was born inSutton,England,but also qualified to representScotlandinternationally and made his international debut forScotlandin 1997.
^Jones was born inWatford,England,but also qualified to representWalesthrough his maternal grandfather and made his international debut forWalesin December 1994.
^Thatcher was born inSwindon,Englandand represented them atU-21level, but also qualified to representWalesinternationally through his grandmother and made his international debut forWalesin March 2004.
^Earle was born inNewcastle-under-Lyme,England,and was called up for England without playing, but also qualified to representJamaicainternationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1997.
^Ekoku was born inCheetham,England,but also qualified to representNigeriainternationally and made his international debut forNigeriain 1994.
^Gayle was born inHammersmith,London,and represented them atU-18level, but also qualified to representJamaicainternationally through his father and would make his international debut forJamaicain 1998.
^Jupp was born inHaslemere,England,but also qualified to representScotlandinternationally and represented them atU-21level.
^Euell was born inLambeth,England,and represented them atU-21level, but also qualified to representJamaicainternationally through his father and would make his international debut forJamaicain November 2004.
^Cort was born inSouthwark,England,but also qualified to representGuyanainternationally and would make his international debut forGuyanain 2011.