The 1996–97 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England. Promotion to and relegation from the Football League returned after a three-season absence, with one relegation spot in Division Three. Overview Premier League Manchester United won their second consecutive title, despite a spell in the autumn where they lost three games and conceded 13 goals. They won the title by seven points, as Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool fell away in the closing weeks. Nevertheless, their tally of 75 points is the lowest ever recorded by a Premier League winner. Newcastle United finished second again and qualified for the Champions League preliminary stages, while Arsenal, Liverpool and Leicester City (League Cup winners) qualified for the UEFA Cup. The three teams relegated were Sunderland, Middlesbrough (after a three-point deduction) and Nottingham Forest. Division One Bolton Wanderers secured promotion to the Premiership after scoring 100 goals and 98 points. Barnsley were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history, while Crystal Palace returned after a two-year absence by winning the play-offs. The decline of Oldham Athletic continued, with the club falling into the third tier for the first time in 23 years, and just three years after being in the Premiership. Grimsby Town and Southend United joined them in relegation to Division Two. Division Two Bury won their second consecutive promotion, taking the Division Two title, Stockport County joined them in automatic promotion, and play-off winners Crewe Alexandra completed the trio moving up. Peterborough United, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United and Notts County were relegated. County had been in the top division just five years earlier. Division Three Wigan Athletic won the Division Three title on goals scored from Fulham. Carlisle United and play-off winners Northampton Town also won promotion to Division Two. Hereford United were the first club for four years to be relegated to the Conference after finishing bottom of Division Three. Conference champions Macclesfield Town replaced Hereford (two years after Town had been denied entry to Division Three). Peter Shilton who joined Leyton Orient F.C. at the beginning of the season, became the first footballer to make 1000 league appearances in English football on 22 December 1996. Events This was only the second time that all four divisional champions came from the same historical county, Lancashire. In 1972-73 all four - Liverpool, Burnley, Bolton and Southport - were also Lancashire-based. Keegan quits Newcastle On 5