The 1996/97 season saw Steve Joel, Peter Davenport (caretaking) and Ronnie Moore
in charge and a disappointing 11th place finish, the bright spot once again being
the goal scoring of Andy Whittaker who grabbed another 19 league goals. A disappointing
FA Trophy defeat at Colwyn Bay (0-2) in front of a gate of 928 containing hundreds
of travelling Sandgrounders put Moore under pressure but he saw the season out
before leaving to manage his former club, Rotherham.

