The English Football Belt · season
The 1996–97 season
37 belt games · 16 title changesNewcastle United carried the belt into the 1996–97 season. It changed hands 16 times among 12 franchises, and Aston Villa finished the season with it. Most defenses: Middlesbrough, 5.
Who held it, in order
EvertonAston VillaNewcastleLeicesterDerbyEvertonMiddlesbroughCoventryBlackburnTottenhamChelseaDerbyMiddlesbroughSunderlandSouthamptonAston Villa
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,817 | Aug 17, 1996 | Everton beat Newcastle United 2–0 | Title change |
| 3,818 | Aug 21, 1996 | Everton and Manchester United tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 3,819 | Aug 24, 1996 | Everton and Tottenham Hotspur tied 0–0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,820 | Sep 4, 1996 | Aston Villa beat Everton 1–0 | Title change |
| 3,821 | Sep 7, 1996 | Aston Villa and Arsenal tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 3,822 | Sep 15, 1996 | Aston Villa and Chelsea tied 1–1 | Tie · defense |
| 3,823 | Sep 21, 1996 | Aston Villa and Manchester United tied 0–0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,824 | Sep 30, 1996 | Newcastle United beat Aston Villa 4–3 | Title change |
| 3,825 | Oct 12, 1996 | Newcastle United beat Derby County 1–0 | Defense |
| 3,826 | Oct 20, 1996 | Newcastle United beat Manchester United 5–0 | Defense |
| 3,827 | Oct 26, 1996 | Leicester City beat Newcastle United 2–0 | Title change |
| 3,828 | Nov 2, 1996 | Derby County beat Leicester City 2–0 | Title change |
| 3,829 | Nov 17, 1996 | Derby County beat Middlesbrough 2–1 | Defense |
| 3,830 | Nov 23, 1996 | Derby County and West Ham United tied 1–1 | Tie · defense |
| 3,831 | Nov 30, 1996 | Derby County beat Coventry City 2–1 | Defense |
| 3,832 | Dec 7, 1996 | Derby County and Arsenal tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 3,833 | Dec 16, 1996 | Everton beat Derby County 1–0 | Title change |
| 3,834 | Dec 21, 1996 | Everton and Leeds United tied 0–0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,835 | Dec 26, 1996 | Middlesbrough beat Everton 4–2 | Title change |
| 3,836 | Dec 28, 1996 | Coventry City beat Middlesbrough 3–0 | Title change |
| 3,837 | Jan 1, 1997 | Coventry City and Sunderland tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 3,838 | Jan 11, 1997 | Blackburn Rovers beat Coventry City 4–0 | Title change |
| 3,839 | Jan 18, 1997 | Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland tied 0–0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,840 | Jan 29, 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur beat Blackburn Rovers 2–1 | Title change |
| 3,841 | Feb 1, 1997 | Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 | Title change |
| 3,842 | Feb 22, 1997 | Chelsea and Manchester United tied 1–1 | Tie · defense |
| 3,843 | Mar 1, 1997 | Derby County beat Chelsea 3–2 | Title change |
| 3,844 | Mar 5, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Derby County 6–1 | Title change |
| 3,845 | Mar 15, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Leicester City 3–1 | Defense |
| 3,846 | Mar 19, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Blackburn Rovers 2–1 | Defense |
| 3,847 | Mar 22, 1997 | Middlesbrough beat Chelsea 1–0 | Defense |
| 3,848 | Mar 24, 1997 | Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest tied 1–1 | Tie · defense |
| 3,849 | Apr 9, 1997 | Middlesbrough and West Ham United tied 0–0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,850 | Apr 19, 1997 | Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 1–0 | Title change |
| 3,851 | Apr 22, 1997 | Southampton beat Sunderland 1–0 | Title change |
| 3,852 | May 3, 1997 | Southampton beat Blackburn Rovers 2–0 | Defense |
| 3,853 | May 11, 1997 | Aston Villa beat Southampton 1–0 | Title change |