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The fortunes of Rovers had steadily been declining for years but the 1896/97 saw this change. Not in terms of the decline…just in terms of the speed in which that decline happened. Quite simply Rovers were in freefall and in great danger of a first relegation. That usual means of soothing the aches and pains of league football, the FA Cup, was absolutely no help at all. It was obvious where the problems were. All over the pitch! The team had been shy in front of goal the previous season yet scored even less this time round and yet it wasn’t as if they kept a tight ship at the other end. The 62 goals they conceded in this season was the worst record in the entire division. Of the cup winning sides of the start of the decade, only Geordie Anderson and George Dewar remained and they were hardly spring chickens by this then. Both would leave at the end of season to cut the final playing links with the cup sides although Anderson would make a fleeting return in a desperate attempt to help out his by then doleful old side.

The season had actually started very well for Rovers with only one loss in the first six games which included a thumping 4-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and a 3-2 win over Burnley. For the next three months however they were wretched, despite a 1-0 win at Turf Moor which meant that Rovers did the double over them that season. Preston weren’t quite so accommodating, winning 3-1 at Deepdale and then 4-0 (ouch!) at Ewood. It was probably the nature of some of the defeats that were more worrying than the defeats themselves as quite simply they were often being walked over. Aston Villa went on to win the league and cup double that year to match the feat of the Preston ‘Invincibles’ of 1889 and won 5-1 at Ewood on their way. Their worst results came away from home though as they lost 6-0 at both Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as 7-0 at Sheffield United.

By March they looked to be in real trouble but somehow put together a run of three victories which carried them to safety. However as they then followed that up by losing their last three games they finished 14th out of the 16 clubs and so were only just safe. The two teams below them were Burnley and, surprisingly, the mighty Sunderland. Sunderland survived via the test match playoffs but Burnley automatically went down; however they would soon be back in the top flight but not before clashing with Rovers once again. Once again no Rovers players managed to take their scoring tally into double figures.