User:Pascopedral/1996–97 Hereford United F.C. season

The 1996–97 season was Hereford United 's 73rd season in existence and their 25th consecutive season in the Football League. This season marked the end of 19 consecutive seasons in the fourth tier of English football as Hereford were relegated to the Football Conference after finishing bottom of the league in 24th. It would take the club nine seasons to return to this level. Hereford also competed in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

This season also marked the first time since Halifax Town in the 1992–93 season that a club would be relegated from the Third Division to the Conference. Had goal difference been the deciding factor to separate clubs level on points rather than goals scored this season, Hereford would have survived and Brighton & Hove Albion relegated instead.

Despite finishing 6th in the previous season and losing out to Darlington in the play-off semi-finals, Hereford lost their talisman and the league's top goalscorer, Steve White, before the season started. He was replaced with Gillingham striker Adrian Foster.

Entering the final fixture of the season, a relegation decider against Brighton at Edgar Street, Hereford needed to win whilst Brighton could afford to simply avoid defeat. Both clubs were level on points, and whilst Hereford possessed the superior goal difference, Brighton had scored more goals and thus ultimately proved decisive. Brighton secured the point they required for survival, the match ending 1–1, condemning Hereford to Non-League football for the first time since their election to the Football League in 1972.

FA Cup
Hereford entered the competition in the first round proper.

Football League Cup
Hereford entered the competition in the first round.

Football League Trophy
Hereford entered the competition in the first round.