| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chairman: | Frank Teasdale |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 9th |
| Cup1 Result: | 2nd Round |
| Cup2 Result: | 3rd Round |
| Cup3 Result: | 2nd Round |
| League Topscorer: | Paul Barnes (24) |
| Season Topscorer: | Paul Barnes (25) |
| Highest Attendance: | 16,186 v Preston North End (25 December 1996) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 2,281 v Charlton Athletic (24 September 1996) |
| Average Attendance: | 9,027[1] |
| Pattern B1: | _vneck |
| Pattern So1: | _band_blue |
| Leftarm1: | 3BB9FF |
| Body1: | 990033 |
| Rightarm1: | 3BB9FF |
| Shorts1: | 990033 |
| Socks1: | 990033 |
The 1996–97 season was Burnley's 2nd successive season in the third tier of English football. They were managed by Adrian Heath in his only full season since he replaced Jimmy Mullen in March 1996.
|}
| Pos | Player | From | Fee | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MF | £65k | 23 July 1996 | |||
| DF | Free | 1 August 1996 | |||
| MF | Free | 15 August 1996 | |||
| FW | £400k | 6 September 1996 | |||
| DF | Loan | 16 October 1996 | |||
| MF | £100k | 29 November 1996 | |||
| DF | Free | 21 January 1997 | |||
| FW | Loan | 27 March 1997 |
| Pos | Player | To | Fee | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Free | 31 May 1996 | |||
| MF | Free | 31 May 1996 | |||
| DF | Free | 31 May 1996 | |||
| FW | Released | 31 May 1996 | |||
| Matthew Taylor | Released | 31 May 1996 | |||
| FW | Free | 31 May 1996 | |||
| MF | £30k | 10 July 1996 | |||
| DF | Free | 25 July 1996 | |||
| MF | Free | 30 July 1996 | |||
| MF | Free | 16 August 1996 | |||
| FW | Loan | 6 September 1996 | |||
| FW | Loan | 11 October 1996 | |||
| FW | Loan | 1 November 1996 | |||
| FW | £150k | 12 March 1997 | |||
| FW | Loan | 27 March 1997 |
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(384 away)
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(7,000 away)
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