| Continentalcup1: | New club in league |
| Nextseason: | 1897–98 |
The 1896–97 season was the ninth season of The Football League.
Beginning in the 1894–95 season, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.
During the first six seasons of the league, (up to the 1893–94 season), re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league.
| Competition: | First Division |
| Season: | 1896–97 |
| Winners: | Aston Villa 3rd English title |
| Relegated: | Burnley |
| League Topscorer: | Steve Bloomer (24 goals) |
| Biggest Home Win: | (25 December 1896) (9 January 1897) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (28 November 1896) |
| Highest Scoring: | (26 September 1896) (25 December 1896) (17 April 1897) |
| Matches: | 240 |
| Total Goals: | 751 |
| Longest Wins: | 6 matches Everton |
| Longest Unbeaten: | 12 matches Aston Villa |
| Longest Losses: | 6 matches Everton |
| Highest Attendance: | 40,000 (3 October 1896) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 1,000 (24 October 1896) (9 January 1897) |
| Average Attendance: | 7,734 |
| Prevseason: | 1895–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1897–98 |
| Competition: | Second Division |
| Season: | 1896–97 |
| Winners: | Notts County |
| Promoted: | Notts County |
| Relegated: | Burton Wanderers |
| League Topscorer: | John Murphy Tom Boucher (22 goals each)[1] |
| Biggest Home Win: | (26 December 1896) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (24 October 1896) |
| Highest Scoring: | (26 December 1896) |
| Matches: | 240 |
| Total Goals: | 907 |
| Longest Wins: | 6 matches Notts County Small Heath |
| Longest Unbeaten: | 10 matches Newton Heath |
| Longest Losses: | 12 matches Lincoln City |
| Prevseason: | 1895–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1897–98 |
The Football League test matches were a set of play-offs, in which the bottom First Division teams faced the top Second Division teams. Each First Division team plays both Second Division teams in a mini league format, the top two finishers would then be considered for election for First Division membership whilst the bottom two finishers would be invited to play in the Second Division.
The First Division teams, if finishing in the top two, would retain their places in the division. If a Second Division team does so, it would be considered for First Division membership through an election process. Bottom-two Second Division teams would stay in the Second Division.
Reference works, such Encyclopedia of British Football[2] and Association Football,[3] present the following table with the heading given above.
It is likely that the league decided on re-election to the First Division and on promotion and relegation on the basis of the summary table above.