| Club: | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Season: | 1896–97 |
| Stadium: | Northumberland Park |
| League: | Southern League |
| League Result: | 4th |
| League2: | United League |
| League2 Result: | 8th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fifth Qualifying Round |
| League Topscorer: | Robert Clements (10) |
| Nextseason: | 1897–98 |
The 1896–97 season was the first season that Tottenham Hotspur turned professional, and they competed in two leagues during the season. The Southern League and the United League. In the FA Cup, Tottenham played three qualifying games and in the third, they went away to Luton, where they lost 3–0. There were also a total of 26 recorded friendly games played that season.
Tottenham turned professional in order to join the Football League but were rejected after coming bottom of a poll with just two votes. Instead, the club were then elected to the Southern League.[1]
See main article: United League (football).
See main article: 1896–97 Southern Football League.