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The 1896/97 Football League season was the ninth in Football League history with Everton having been an ever present in the top division. The club played thirty-five games in England's two major competitions, winning eighteen, drawing three and losing fourteen. The club finished the season in seventh place, eight points clear of the test match relegation place,〔() 〕 and reached their second F A Cup final but again lost, this time 2-3 against Aston Villa. ==Season review== In each of the previous two seasons Everton had started the calendar year on top of the League, only to falter in the second half of the season. In their bid to strengthen the forward line they brought in Jack Taylor from his hometown club St Mirren,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Article - The Everton Collection )〕 slotting into the role vacated by Tom McInnes who had departed during the summer for Luton Town 〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Double trouble: unravelling the careers of two footballers called Thomas McInnes )〕 to join the forward line of Bell, Chadwick, Milward and Hartley. Elsewhere the familiar half back line of Boyle, Holt & Stewart would line up in front of full back, Smart Arridge, who would be partnered in defence this year by David Storrier after James Adams had returned to his former club Hearts On paper this side looked as good as any in the First Division but there was uncertainty over the ability of the inexperienced goalkeeper, Harry Briggs, who had stepped in to make just one appearance the previous season after the departure of Jack Hillman. With the exception of the inclusion of John Cameron in place of Hartley, this was the team that won their opening game against The Wednesday, while Barker made his debut at the back, in place of Arridge in their second game, another victory over Wolves that took the Toffeemen joint top of the table with Bolton, albeit already having a game in hand on the Trotters.〔() 〕 The Merseysiders went on to win four of their opening five games before embarking on a dreadful slump that provided just a solitary victory in their next nine games.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Everton results 1896/97 )〕 Much of the blame for Everton's form was placed on goalkeeper, Harry Briggs, cited by fans as the weak link of the team. In November Everton took action. Firstly giving a trial to St Mirren's Scottish International keeper, John Patrick, who promptly returned to Scotland, leaving Everton to continue their search. Bob Menham was signed from Luton Town and was instantly installed as first choice keeper. The change initially looked to have been a wise one as, shortly after Menham's arrival, Everton embarked on a run of seven consecutive League and Cup victories to put themselves right back into the title race, four points behind leaders, Aston Villa with ten games remaining.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE - Season 1896–97 )〕〔() 〕 The last of those victories was Everton's first round cup tie with Burton Wanderers and it seemed that the cup run once again affected their League form as they now went on a run of six consecutive League defeats which killed any lingering title ambitions.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Everton results 1896/97 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「1896–97 Everton F.C. season」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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