| Club: | Charlton Athletic |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Chairman: | Richard Murray |
| Stadium: | The Valley |
| League: | Football League First Division |
| League Result: | 15th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Third round |
| League Topscorer: | Leaburn (8) |
| Season Topscorer: | Leaburn/Whyte (9) |
| Highest Attendance: | 15,301 vs. Barnsley (15 February 1997) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 8,497 vs. Southend United (10 September 1996) |
| Average Attendance: | 11,356 |
| Prevseason: | 1995–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
During the 1996–97 English football season, Charlton Athletic F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.
After missing out on promotion to the Premier League the season before in the play-offs, Alan Curbishley was looking to steer Charlton to automatic promotion the following season but it turned out to be a disappointing season for the Addicks, finishing in 15th place.
Charlton Athletic's score comes first
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1996 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–2 | 11,858 | ||
| 24 August 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–1 | 9,642 | Leaburn | |
| 3 September 1996 | Manchester City | A | 1–2 | 25,963 | Newton | |
| 6 September 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | 21,072 | ||
| 10 September 1996 | Southend United | H | 2–0 | 8,497 | Stuart, Mortimer | |
| 14 September 1996 | Reading | H | 1–0 | 10,831 | Leaburn | |
| 20 September 1996 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–2 | 10,558 | Allen | |
| 28 September 1996 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–0 | 12,178 | Whyte | |
| 12 October 1996 | Portsmouth | A | 0–2 | 6,641 | ||
| 15 October 1996 | Sheffield United | A | 0–3 | 14,080 | ||
| 19 October 1996 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 3–3 | 11,091 | Whyte (2), Chapple | |
| 26 October 1996 | Oxford United | H | 2–0 | 10,626 | Kinsella, Leaburn | |
| 29 October 1996 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–4 | 5,527 | ||
| 2 November 1996 | Norwich City | A | 2–1 | 14,145 | Allen, Kinsella | |
| 16 November 1996 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–1 | 12,360 | Poole, Allen | |
| 20 November 1996 | Birmingham City | H | 2–1 | 8,574 | Allen, O'Connell | |
| 23 November 1996 | Bradford City | H | 0–2 | 12,256 | ||
| 26 November 1996 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–3 | 14,412 | Whyte | |
| 30 November 1996 | Oxford United | A | 2–0 | 7,080 | Barness, Whyte | |
| 4 December 1996 | Stoke City | A | 0–1 | 7,456 | ||
| 7 December 1996 | Swindon Town | H | 2–0 | 10,565 | Leaburn, Whyte | |
| 14 December 1996 | Port Vale | H | 1–3 | 10,003 | Chapple | |
| 21 December 1996 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–1 | 16,279 | ||
| 26 December 1996 | Southend United | A | 2–0 | 7,508 | Kinsella, Robinson | |
| 28 December 1996 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 12,259 | ||
| 1 January 1997 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–1 | 10,186 | Robson | |
| 11 January 1997 | Reading | A | 2–2 | 7,614 | Lisbie, Whyte | |
| 18 January 1997 | Stoke City | H | 1–2 | 9,901 | Barness | |
| 1 February 1997 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–2 | 4,139 | ||
| 7 February 1997 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 3–1 | 11,283 | Kinsella, Leaburn, Robson (pen) | |
| 15 February 1997 | Barnsley | H | 2–2 | 15,301 | Nicholls, Lee | |
| 22 February 1997 | Norwich City | H | 4–4 | 12,405 | Kinsella, Robson, Lee, Leaburn | |
| 1 March 1997 | Swindon Town | A | 0–1 | 9,256 | ||
| 4 March 1997 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–1 | 10,610 | Leaburn, Balmer | |
| 8 March 1997 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–1 | 15,000 | Lee, Robinson | |
| 15 March 1997 | Port Vale | A | 0–2 | 5,905 | ||
| 18 March 1997 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–1 | 4,969 | O'Connell | |
| 22 March 1997 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–1 | 17,378 | Robinson, Balmer | |
| 31 March 1997 | Birmingham City | A | 0–0 | 14,525 | ||
| 5 April 1997 | Manchester City | H | 1–1 | 15,000 | Leaburn | |
| 9 April 1997 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–1 | 11,032 | Newton (2) | |
| 12 April 1997 | Barnsley | A | 0–4 | 11,701 | ||
| 19 April 1997 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | 12,342 | Bright (2) | |
| 25 April 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–4 | 21,880 | Kinsella | |
| 1 May 1997 | Bradford City | A | 0–1 | 15,780 | ||
| 4 May 1997 | Sheffield United | H | 0–0 | 12,589 |
See main article: 1996–97 FA Cup.
| R3 | 5 January 1997 | Newcastle United | H | 1–1 | 15,000 | Kinsella | |
| R3R | 15 January 1997 | Newcastle United | A | 1–2 | 36,398 | Robson |
See main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup.
| R2 First Leg | 17 September 1996 | Burnley | H | 4–1 | 4,874 | Leaburn, Robinson (2), Allen | |
| R2 Second Leg | 24 September 1996 | Burnley | A | 2–1 (won 6–2 on agg) | 2,281 | Allen, Whyte | |
| R3 | 23 October 1996 | Liverpool | H | 1–1 | 15,000 | Whyte | |
| R3R | 13 November 1996 | Liverpool | A | 1–4 | 20,714 | Newton |
Squad at end of season