| Club: | Millwall |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Manager: | Jimmy Nicholl (until 10 February) John Docherty (from 10 February) |
| Chairman: | Peter Mead |
| Stadium: | The Den |
| League: | Second Division |
| League Result: | 14th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | First round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | First round |
| Cup3: | Auto Windscreens Shield |
| Cup3 Result: | Second round |
| League Topscorer: | Crawford (11) |
| Season Topscorer: | Crawford (15) |
| Average Attendance: | 7,743 |
| Prevseason: | 1995–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
During the 1996–97 English football season, Millwall F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
In the 1996–97 season, Millwall had a tough finish to the campaign after being top of the table at the beginning of December which included a poor run of just five wins from their remaining 26 league games that saw them plummet down the table and ended up finishing in a disappointing 14th place. The club also experienced extreme financial difficulties that resulted in them being placed in financial administration for a short time. Jimmy Nicholl was relieved of his duties in February and John Docherty returned on a short term basis to stabilise the club at playing level.[1]
Millwall's score comes first[2]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1996 | Wrexham | H | 1–1 | 9,371 | Crawford (pen) | |
| 24 August 1996 | Watford | A | 2–0 | 9,495 | Harle, Crawford | |
| 27 August 1996 | York City | A | 2–3 | 3,108 | Savage, Malkin | |
| 31 August 1996 | Burnley | H | 2–1 | 9,281 | Newman, Neill | |
| 7 September 1996 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 7,881 | Rogan, Huckerby | |
| 10 September 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 3–3 | 4,442 | Huckerby, Neill, Malkin | |
| 14 September 1996 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | 4,473 | Neill, Robinson (own goal) | |
| 21 September 1996 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | 9,320 | Huckerby, Dair | |
| 28 September 1996 | Preston North End | A | 1–2 | 9,400 | Newman | |
| 2 October 1996 | Stockport County | H | 3–4 | 7,537 | Rogan (2), Hartley | |
| 5 October 1996 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 7,507 | ||
| 12 October 1996 | Chesterfield | H | 2–1 | 7,765 | Neill, Rogan | |
| 16 October 1996 | Bury | H | 1–0 | 6,447 | Rogan | |
| 19 October 1996 | Gillingham | A | 3–2 | 9,305 | Crawford (2), Hartley | |
| 26 October 1996 | Brentford | A | 0–0 | 7,691 | ||
| 30 October 1996 | Blackpool | H | 2–1 | 7,179 | Rogan (2 pens) | |
| 2 November 1996 | Walsall | H | 1–0 | 9,176 | Crawford | |
| 9 November 1996 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | 12,326 | Crawford | |
| 20 November 1996 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–1 | 5,770 | Crawford (2) | |
| 23 November 1996 | Rotherham United | A | 0–0 | 3,286 | ||
| 29 November 1996 | Brentford | H | 0–0 | 7,845 | ||
| 3 December 1996 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 0–1 | 4,550 | ||
| 14 December 1996 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 4,494 | Bright | |
| 18 December 1996 | Luton Town | H | 0–1 | 7,077 | ||
| 26 December 1996 | Peterborough United | H | 0–2 | 8,118 | ||
| 11 January 1997 | Preston North End | H | 3–2 | 7,096 | Cadette, Crawford, Savage | |
| 18 January 1997 | Stockport County | A | 1–5 | 7,502 | Webber | |
| 25 January 1997 | Blackpool | A | 0–3 | 4,523 | ||
| 1 February 1997 | Bristol City | H | 0–2 | 9,158 | ||
| 8 February 1997 | Walsall | A | 1–2 | 3,833 | Bowry | |
| 15 February 1997 | Rotherham United | H | 2–0 | 7,043 | Crawford, Gayle (own goal) | |
| 22 February 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–1 | 2,968 | Doyle | |
| 25 February 1997 | Notts County | H | 1–0 | 5,202 | Savage | |
| 1 March 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 7,539 | Hartley, Dolby | |
| 8 March 1997 | Luton Town | A | 2–0 | 8,585 | Dolby, Hartley | |
| 15 March 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 0–1 | 9,992 | ||
| 18 March 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–0 | 3,695 | ||
| 22 March 1997 | Watford | H | 0–1 | 8,713 | ||
| 28 March 1997 | Wrexham | A | 3–3 | 4,634 | Crawford, Newman, Rogan (pen) | |
| 2 April 1997 | York City | H | 1–1 | 6,161 | Webber | |
| 5 April 1997 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 9,840 | ||
| 8 April 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–1 | 5,324 | ||
| 12 April 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–0 | 5,702 | ||
| 19 April 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 0–1 | 5,935 | ||
| 26 April 1997 | Gillingham | H | 0–2 | 8,946 | ||
| 3 May 1997 | Bury | A | 0–2 | 9,785 |
See main article: 1996–97 FA Cup.
| R1 | 15 November 1996 | Woking | A | 2–2 | 5,448 | Savage, Crawford | |
| R1R | 26 November 1996 | Woking | H | 0–1 | 6,048 |
See main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup.
| R1 1st Leg | 21 August 1996 | Peterborough United | H | 1–0 | 5,145 | Malkin | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 3 September 1996 | Peterborough United | A | 0–2 (lost 1–2 on agg) | 4,610 |
See main article: 1996–97 Football League Trophy.
| SR1 | 7 December 1996 | Hereford United | A | 4–0 | 1,710 | Dair (2), Crawford (2) | |
| SR2 | 7 January 1997 | Colchester United | H | 2–3 | 2,795 | Crawford, Savage |