The English Football Belt · reign 1,396
Middlesbrough
Took the belt from Derby County, 6–1, on March 5, 1997. Lost it to Sunderland, 1–0, on April 19, 1997.
5Defenses
45Days
30thReign for the club
How it ended
Lost it to Sunderland, 1–0, on April 19, 1997.
Defended against
LeicesterBlackburnChelseaForestWest Ham
The season
- 1996–97: Manchester United had the best record (21–5–12); 7 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 16 times that season.
Every game of the reign
margins from Middlesbrough’s side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,844 | Mar 5, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Derby County 6–1 Game → | +5 | Title change |
| 3,845 | Mar 15, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Leicester City 3–1 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,846 | Mar 19, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Blackburn Rovers 2–1 | +1 | Defense |
| 3,847 | Mar 22, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Chelsea 1–0 | +1 | Defense |
| 3,848 | Mar 24, 1997 | Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest tied 1–1 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,849 | Apr 9, 1997 | Middlesbrough and West Ham United tied 0–0 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,850 | Apr 19, 1997 | Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 1–0 | −1 | Title change |