Wimbledon 96/97 — The Crazy Gang: Full Squad & Ratings
Wimbledon 1996/97 season — all 18 players rated, best XI, and how to draft them in 38-0.
Draft this era — play 38-0 free Spin the slot machine through 44 historic squads and build your all-time Premier League XI. No download, no account.Wimbledon 1996/97 — Season Story
The last great Crazy Gang side took Wimbledon to eighth in the Premier League and within one game of the FA Cup final, losing the semi to Chelsea. Efan Ekoku led the line, with Vinnie Jones, Robbie Earle and Øyvind Leonhardsen in a midfield that out-fought teams with far bigger budgets. A club with no ground of its own kept embarrassing the establishment.
In the 38-0 dataset the headline names are Efan Ekoku (81 OVR), Vinnie Jones (80) and Robbie Earle (80), and the 18-man squad averages 76.3 OVR — below the 44-squad pool average of 80.7. For drafters, it is a value squad — the elite names at the top are genuine draft prizes, but the tail is thinner, so take the star when the slot lands here. As a classic-era squad it rewards football knowledge — these ratings were earned before analytics ran the game.
Key Players & Ratings
The standout names in this squad are Efan Ekoku (81 OVR), Vinnie Jones (80 OVR), Robbie Earle (80 OVR). Across all 18 players the squad averages 76.3 OVR, which makes it a value squad with hidden gems for drafters who know their history. Ratings are anchored to EA FIFA/FC scores for that specific season, cross-checked against appearance data.
Full 18-Man Squad
| Pos | Player | OVR | Alt positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Neil Sullivan | 78 | — |
| GK | Paul Heald | 72 | — |
| RB | Kenny Cunningham | 78 | CB |
| RCB | Chris Perry | 77 | CB |
| CB | Brian McAllister | 74 | RCB |
| LCB | Dean Blackwell | 75 | CB |
| LB | Alan Kimble | 75 | LWB |
| RM | Marcus Gayle | 78 | RW, ST |
| RM | Neal Ardley | 76 | CM |
| CM | Vinnie Jones | 80 | CDM |
| CM | Robbie Earle | 80 | CAM |
| CM | Øyvind Leonhardsen | 80 | RM |
| CM | Peter Fear | 72 | — |
| ST | Efan Ekoku | 81 | CF |
| ST | Dean Holdsworth | 77 | CF |
| ST | Mick Harford | 74 | — |
| ST | Andy Clarke | 74 | — |
| ST | Jon Goodman | 73 | — |
Best XI — Wimbledon 1996/97
The highest-rated eleven available from this squad in 38-0:
- GK Neil Sullivan 78 OVR
- RB Kenny Cunningham 78 OVR
- RCB Chris Perry 77 OVR
- LCB Dean Blackwell 75 OVR
- RM Marcus Gayle 78 OVR
- RM Neal Ardley 76 OVR
- CM Vinnie Jones 80 OVR
- CM Robbie Earle 80 OVR
- CM Øyvind Leonhardsen 80 OVR
- ST Efan Ekoku 81 OVR
- ST Dean Holdsworth 77 OVR
Drafting This Squad in 38-0
When the draft slot machine lands on Wimbledon 96/97 — The Crazy Gang, you pick exactly one of these 18 players for your all-time XI. In Normal mode you see every rating shown above; in Legend mode the numbers are hidden, so knowing this squad's real hierarchy is your edge. After drafting a full XI you pick a manager and simulate a 38-round season chasing the perfect 38-0-0 record.
FAQ
Who was the best player in Wimbledon's 1996/97 squad?
Efan Ekoku (81 OVR), with Vinnie Jones (80) and Robbie Earle (80) completing the core of the side.
What did Wimbledon achieve in 1996/97?
Wimbledon finished eighth in 1996/97 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
Can I draft this squad in 38-0?
Yes. Wimbledon 96/97 is one of the 44 squads in the draft pool. Land on it during the draft and you can pick one of its 18 players for your all-time XI.