| Owner: | Samesh Kumar |
| League Result: | 7th |
| League Topscorer: | Steve White (13) |
| Season Topscorer: | Steve White (14) |
| Cup1 Result: | 2nd round |
| Cup2 Result: | 1st round |
| Cup3 Result: | 2nd round |
| Average Attendance: | 3,594 |
| Highest Attendance: | 6,144 (v Fulham, 9 November 1996) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 1,667 (v Darlington, 15 October 1996) |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
The 1996–97 season was Cardiff City F.C.'s 70th season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the fourth tier of English football, finishing seventh, before being beaten 4–2 on aggregate by Northampton Town in the play-offs.
The season saw Cardiff sack two managers during the course of the year. Phil Neal continued in his role from the previous season before leaving the club, taking the role of assistant manager at Manchester City, and was replaced by Russell Osman. However Osman himself lasted just five matches and was replaced by Kenny Hibbitt, the man who had made way for Phil Neal the previous season.
First team squad. [1]